I do not own any of the copyrighted characters in this fanfic. The characters I create and the idea, however, are mine. Enjoy!
AN - I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! I must apologize for the cliffies, but they are necessary for what I have planned in the future. *smiles mischievously* I'll try not to make it too bad, however. Well, enough of my rambling. Please review!
Dealing Fate's Hand
Chapter 4
Setsuna's eyes fluttered behind her eyelids, however she was too tired to open her eyes. She could feel the carpet underneath her, but strangely, she also felt a source of warmth. She tried to move, but her body was weak, and for some reason, her energy was almost completely spent. What had happened to her? That, she couldn't remember.
"Setsuna, please open your eyes."
The voice sounded close to her, and she became vaguely aware of a pair of arms that supported her. Someone was holding her… but why? She slowly began to remember that some sort of energy had struck her; dark, negative energy that began draining her strength, and caused her to feel faint. But what happened after that? She heard the voice calling out to her again, and using all the strength she could muster, she tried opening her eyes.
"Setsuna, wake up!"
The voice was more insistent this time. Groaning slightly, Setsuna shifted her head to the side, and slowly opened her eyes. As her eyesight came back into focus, she looked around the room, noticing that the shrine guardians looked down at her with worried expressions on their faces. Finally, she looked up, and found herself staring into a familiar face.
"Darien," she asked uncertainly.
"Yeah," he answered, relief replacing the look of concern that had been expressed on his face. "You really had us worried, Setsuna."
"Wha-" Setsuna trailed off, and weakly brought up her hand, placing it against her forehead. Her head shifted to the side slightly, causing her hair to fall into her face. "I feel strange," she stated softly.
"You shouldn't strain yourself," Darien warned. "Setsuna, what happened to you?"
"I… can't quite explain it," she answered, looking back up at Darien. Fear clouded her eyes, as he stared deep into their depths, however when she blinked, it was gone.
"Setsuna-"
"Do not worry about me," she interrupted, a gentle smile appearing on her face. "Now please, help me stand."
"Sure," he stated, taking her hand and pulling her up as he stood. Once she was on her own feet, she swayed a bit, and Darien pulled her to him, steadying her.
"Thank you," she said quietly, as the phone rang. Mia went to the receiver, picking it up.
"Hello," she greeted, then growing silent as she listened to the caller. "Oh, Ryo," she exclaimed, causing the others to look at her. She pulled the phone away from her ear, holding it against her chest. "What should tell him," she asked, whispering the question.
"Not a thing," Setsuna stated, frowning slightly. "We can not let them know anything, until I know, myself, what is happening." Mia nodded her head, and then began talking on the phone once again.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Aislyn watched the scene in the Koji living room through a magic ball and waved her arm in disgust, causing some of the candles in the room to flicker. As her arm dropped back down to her side the scene disappeared, changing the magic ball into a crystal orb. Her hands balled up into fists at her side, as her pale blue eyes flashed with unchecked anger.
"Seems I have underestimated you, Sailor Pluto," she stated in a soft, low voice. Her magical energy began to spark around her frame, causing the orb to begin cracking. "I will not be denied my dream!" As she screamed, the crystal orb shattered, sending jagged pieces flying through the air. She flinched slightly, as a glass shard flew past her, cutting her face.
"What troubles you, Mistress?"
"Your failure," Aislyn sighed, turning as four figures suddenly appeared, half-shrouded in shadow. As she walked, she heard the click of boots against the marble floor from behind her, and she continued to speak. "Girls, I crafted you from perfection, and you still failed me."
"We did not mean to," they exclaimed as one. And, as one, they watched as Aislyn sat in a chair not quite a throne, yet was an ornately decorated and overstuffed seat. Coming forward, two of the girls kneeled at either side of her, while the third kneeled by her feet, and the last tended to the wound on her cheek.
"Your failure is but one," Aislyn spoke. "I have already taken care of the problem." She paused, a semi-kind smile appearing on her face as she looked at the girls. "I have a gift for each one of you."
"You do," the girl by her feet exclaimed, her blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"I do. Now hold out your hands," Aislyn stated. The girls did as they were told, and Aislyn closed her eyes in concentration. When she opened them again, each of the girls held in her hand an orb bearing a different symbol.
"What do we do with them," the girl tending to Aislyn's cheek questioned, her pastel pink eyes wondering.
"I've waited too long for my revenge," Aislyn began. She held out her palm, and the girls watched as a magic ball with the image of Setsuna appeared. "Sailor Pluto is the only one who can interfere with my plans. Take your gifts, and cause her to fight you. My magic will take over from that point."
As Aislyn was speaking, the girls had gotten up, and now stood in front of her. "We will not fail," they exclaimed, bowing at the waist. As they turned to leave, she held up her hand.
"Remember that my interests are not the only ones to keep in consideration." She stared at each girl, her meaning very clear. Her expression was serious, and the girls swallowed noisily. Bowing, the four girls began to disappear.
"Sailor Pluto will be sorry she interfered with your plans, Mistress," their voices were heard, followed by the sound of girlish laughter. Aislyn pursed her lips, as she continued to stare at the space they had been standing.
"You're a strong one, young Princess Rini," she spoke, as an image of the sleeping child appeared in the magic ball. "I do hope you will awaken soon. Things will be more interesting that way." A small breeze suddenly blew through the room, billowing Aislyn's fine, lilac hair, and blowing the candles out.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Ryo, you worry too much," Mina exclaimed, as she and the others crowded around the phone booth, where the Wildfire armor bearer stood. "Nothing is going to go wrong! Mia and the others are fine."
"Mina's right," Kento added. "Besides, Lady Kayura and the Warlords are warriors themselves. So why are you so worried?"
"I just feel the same way that Serena does," Ryo commented, dialing the number at the Koji residence. "Why would they hold a meeting without us, unless they didn't want us to know something. I'll just feel better once I know for sure that everything's fine."
"They're probably just having a party," Lita stated as a blush crept over her cheeks. "Or maybe Anubis asked Mia to marry him, and they wanted to celebrate with the others, without us around."
"Do you really think he asked Mia to marry him," Mina asked, a dreamy look appearing on her face. "That would be we could be her bride's maids!"
"And she would be a spring bride," Rei exclaimed as she, too, began to daydream. "That sounds so romantic!"
"Maybe they're being secretive purposely," Sage commented dryly. "And you're overreacting in the same, exact way they thought you would." The three girls turned to him and glared, causing him to laugh nervously.
"Mia, hi," Ryo exclaimed suddenly, causing the others to grow silent. They leaned forward, straining to hear what was being said. "How are things there?" There was a long, silent pause, before Mia finally answered.
"Oh, Ryo! Why are you calling while out on your date? Has something happened?"
"No," he replied slowly, wondering why she would ask him such a question. "Mia, are you sure nothing's wrong? You sound worried about something. Did the meeting go well?" Again, she didn't answer right away.
"The meeting went fine, Ryo. As a matter of fact, we're about to wrap things up here, and-" Her sentence was cut off by scream, followed by a loud thud.
"Mia," Ryo exclaimed. He looked at the others, as they, too, began to look worried. "Mia, answer me," he stated into the phone frantically. "What's going on? What happened?" After a pregnant pause, Mia finally answered.
"Sorry, Ryo, I dropped the phone. It was only Yuli. He's had a nightmare."
"Mia," he began skeptically. "I know you, and something's not right." He frowned when she didn't answer. The only thing he could hear was screaming, and some other noises in the background. "Mia, I don't think-"
"I have to go, Ryo. Please, don't worry about things here, and enjoy the rest of your date." Before he had the chance to reply, Mia's end of the line went dead. He returned the phone to its' holder, and slowly turned around towards his friends.
"Well," Serena prompted. "What's going on?"
"What was that screaming, Ryo," Amy asked almost at the same moment. When he didn't answer the girls' questions, Rowen frowned and stepped forward.
"Ryo," he stated, shaking his friend by the shoulder. "What did Mia say?"
"That scream," Ryo trailed thoughtfully, looking up at his friends. "Mia said it was Yuli, but I don't think it was him. It didn't sound like him at all."
"Well then, no use standing around here wondering about it," Sai commented. "We should get back to the house, and see for ourselves." Wordlessly, the teens began running down the street, headed towards Mia's house.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Mama, Papa," Rini cried out in her sleep. "Please help me! No, don't leave me alone. Don't go!" The child had begun screaming and thrashing about in her sleep, startling the adults with her sudden outburst. In her surprise, Mia had dropped the phone, and she fumbled to pick up the receiver.
"What evil spirit has invaded that girl," Sekhmet asked loudly, causing Mia to frown in his direction and wave her hand for his silence. Sighing as Darien went to Rini's side, she put the phone back up to her ear.
"Mia! What's going on? What happened?"
"Sorry, Ryo, I dropped the phone," she apologized. "It was only Yuli. He's had a nightmare." She tuned the sound of his voice out as she glanced back over at Darien, who tried to rouse Rini from her fitful sleep.
"Mia…?" Yuli's sleepy voice came from the stairwell, causing Mia's face to grow pale. She turned to look at him, however he was staring at Rini, a frightened look on his face.
"Mia, I don't think-"
"I have to go, Ryo," she blurted out, cutting him off in the process. "Please, don't worry about things here, and enjoy the rest of your date." She slammed the phone down, just as Yuli ran over to her, burying his face into her stomach.
"Mia," he exclaimed in a muffled voice. He looked up towards her, tears streaming down his face. "What's wrong with Rini? Why is she screaming? Why?"
"It will be alright, Yuli," she stated in a soothing voice, kneeling down next to the boy and pulling him into a hug. She looked over the top of his head towards Darien, who still tried to awaken Rini.
"Rini, it's alright," Darien exclaimed, gently shaking her. Slowly, her screams subsided, and she opened her watery eyes, looking up at him. "You're safe now, Rini," he said quietly. "You're not alone."
"Darien," she wailed, lunging forward and burying her face into the crook of his neck. As she sobbed, he gently rubbed her back, whispering reassurances to her.
"Rini," Yuli asked uncertainly, as her whimpering subsided. She pulled away from Darien and looked over in the boy's direction, and a look of confusion appeared momentarily on her face. As Yuli began to go to her side, Setsuna brought up a hand, motioning for him to stop.
"Small Lady," she began. She kneeled by the couch where Darien held Rini, and placed a hand gently on the girl's shoulder. "Can you tell us what's happened? Why have you returned to the past?" The girl's emotionless gaze shifted from Yuli to Setsuna, and as she focused on the woman's face, anger flashed in her eyes.
"You," she screamed, lashing out at her, and slapping her across the face. Setsuna fell back, and brought a hand up to her stinging face gingerly.
"Small Lady!"
"Everything's your fault," Rini continued, ignoring the outburst from the shrine guardians. "It's all your fault! Why didn't you stop them?"
"Rini," Darien exclaimed, frowning. "Stop this at once!" She tried to attack Setsuna once again, however he held her by the arms tightly. "Why are you acting like that towards Setsuna? What's her fault?"
"You're supposed to care about me," she whispered, confusion clouding her features. "You're both supposed to care about me!" She jerked away from his grasp, and ran towards the door, however Kale grabbed her.
"Small Lady," he stated calmly. "You are not going anywhere."
"Let me go," she screamed.
"I will not, child," he replied. "Not until you settle down."
Rini tried unsuccessfully to pull away, and slowly began to relax. As Kale let her go, White Blaze, who had followed Yuli downstairs, began to growl and advance towards her.
"White Blaze, don't," Yuli exclaimed, trying to hold the tiger back. "You know her! She's your friend!" The tiger broke away from him, however, running towards the girl. Just as he jumped towards her, biting an invisible object near the girl, the rings on the Ancient's staff began to chime.
"What in the world," Kayura whispered, as the staff appeared, floating as it materialized in front of her. The staff's rings continued to chime, and as it levitated towards where White Blaze stood, a brilliant light spilled forth. As the light slowly faded, Dais was the first to notice a thin, red line wrapped around Rini.
"I see," he stated, as he and the others gathered around the girl. "White Blaze sensed the presence of evil magic, even before we did."
"It is powerful magic indeed," Anubis commented. He patted the top of White Blaze's head, causing the tiger to drop the line from his mouth and sit on his haunches.
"What can we do," Mia asked, directing the question towards Kayura. The woman studied Rini, following the path of the line with her eyes.
"It would seem the source is without," she stated, pointing towards the door. The thread of a line led from Rini, trailing out the front door.
"Rini," Darien began, kneeling next to the girl. She looked at him, her eyes slightly dazed. She leaned forward, suddenly disappearing.
"Rini," Yuli exclaimed. He ran towards the door, and Mia yelled out after him.
"Yuli, come back here!" She ran out after him, and the others followed. Mia caught Yuli, just as Darien and Setsuna made it out onto the front yard. Kayura and the Warlords stood on the porch, watching as the boy called out for his best friend.
"Do you see Small Lady anywhere," Kayura asked, walking down the steps. Suddenly, she spun around as she heard the Warlords scream in pain.
"A barrier," Dais sneered, as dark energy spread across an invisible wall. "For some reason, we can not leave the porch." Next to him, Sekhmet cursed.
"It must be the work of Aislyn," he stated. "It's the only possible explanation."
"Mia, Yuli," Ryo's voice shouted. The sound of feet against pavement was heard, as Ryo and the rest of the teenagers ran up the driveway, and finally reached the lawn.
"Setsuna," Serena gasped, upon seeing the woman. "What are you doing here?"
"Princess-"
"Serena," Yuli cried out, interrupting Setsuna. "Did you see her? Have you seen Rini?"
"Rini," Kento asked in surprise. "Yuli, Rini's gone. She went back to the future, with Lotus and Kitiana. They left months ago."
"But she was here," Yuli argued. "You have to believe me! She was here, and she disappeared. It was Aislyn! Aislyn took Rini!"
"Aislyn," Serena asked. "Who is she? Yuli, I don't understand."
"Of course you don't," a young, feminine voice spoke, followed by laughter. The warriors stood on guard, as suddenly, four young women appeared. Their bizarre hairstyles and clothing, however, made them appear almost childish. The girl, who had spoken, stepped forward, pulling a whip tautly in her hands.
"What did you do to Rini," Yuli demanded
"Do you mean, her," she asked, pulling on her whip slightly and making the young princess appear.
Serena gasped, not believing her eyes. "Rini," she exclaimed, causing the girl to look over at her blankly. She tried to run over to her future daughter, however Setsuna stepped forward, putting out an arm in front of her.
"Enough of your games," Setsuna stated calmly. "You are the ones who attacked me at the time gates, causing me to flee. Who are you?" The girls looked at each other and smiled.
One of the girls waved her arms excitedly, causing the strange ornaments of the headband she wore to clink together. "Parapara will go first," the energetic girl exclaimed, her blue hair pulled up into a single bun on the top of her head. Her sisters gave her an annoyed look.
"I think you already have, Parapara," the girl next to her exclaimed. She brushed aside a lock of her pink bangs, as she looked back towards Setsuna. A bow adorned the bun at the top of her head, and two looped streamers fell down her back. "I am Cerecere."
"Junjun." Her green eyes flashed, as she looked over the group. Her chocolate-colored hair wrapped around in a braid across the front of her head, and then was pulled back into three ponytails, sticking up in different directions.
"And I am Vesves," the girl holding the whip spoke. Her long, red hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with beads of pearl tying it off into sections. She pulled the whip taut once again, when suddenly a rose broke through the line, causing Vesves to fall over. Rini swayed, and then fell to the ground, motionless.
"Hey," Junjun exclaimed angrily, glaring at Darien, as she helped her sister stand. As Darien began to pull out another rose and his mask, Setsuna put a hand on his arm, causing him to stop.
"Darien," she stated, shaking her head. She turned back towards the girls, stepping forward. "If it is a fight that you want, it's a fight you shall get!" She raised her arm and her pen appeared in her hand, the sign of Pluto blazing at the top of it. "Pluto Planet Power!" Behind her, from their confined space, the four Warlords screamed in protest.
Lady Kayura suddenly sensed a magical presence in the air. "No, Setsuna! Stop," she screamed. Her warning, however, came too late.
The four sisters raised their arms into the air as well; the orbs Aislyn had given them appearing in their hands. The four orbs shot out towards Setsuna, hitting her in the chest and passing through her. Her eyes grew big, and her pen slowly slipped from her hand.
"Setsuna," Serena screamed, running towards the woman. Darien caught her as she began to fall, and slowly lowered her to the ground. The four orbs floated ominously overhead.
"Setsuna," he stated, taking her hand and holding it to his chest. "Setsuna, say something!"
"I-I-" Setsuna stuttered, trailing off as she gasped for air. Serena joined her side, and held her other hand. Setsuna looked from one face to the other, as tears pooled in her eyes and spilled over. "I'll be fine." As she closed her eyes, the sign of Pluto faded from her pen, and the orbs floated back over to the sisters. They looked at the orbs strangely, as the signs upon them now radiated with energy.
"Let's go," Cerecere stated, as each of the girls grabbed the orb floating in front of her. She, Junjun, and Vesves all flipped backwards, disappearing on the spot.
"Wait for Parapara," she exclaimed, gasping as the barrier holding back the Warlords suddenly dissipated. She took a few steps back and waved in Yuli's direction. "Bye-bye!" After performing several cartwheels, she giggled and flipped backwards, disappearing as well.
Mia's hands covered her mouth, as Yuli broke away from her, running over to Rini. Lady Kayura and the Warlords gathered around Serena, Darien, and Setsuna, and as Kayura waved the Ancient's staff over the fallen soldier, she sighed.
"It's as I feared," she stated. "Aisyln's dark magic has taken affect on her. She shall be fine, however, with a few days' rest."
"You lied to us." Lady Kayura turned to Ryo, who had spoken. "You said nothing was wrong," he stated, hurt expressed on his face. "You haven't changed a bit."
Kayura flinched slightly from the sting of his words, turning her back to him. "At the time, Ryo of Wildfire, there was only a concern, not a problem." She looked back towards Darien. "We should get Setsuna into the house," she stated softly.
"Alright," he murmured. Grunting slightly as he picked Setsuna up, he followed behind Lady Kayura as she led the way back to the house.
To Be Continued. . .
Phew, done! *boos and jeers are heard* Now, now! Don't complain… I wrote this part, just so there wasn't too bad of a cliffhanger at the end. This chapter is also longer than I usually write them, so I do expect more reviews! ^_~