~~A/N: Here we go! Chapter Four! Now we really start moving…~~

At dawn the next day, the five men stood outside the inn, making the final checks on their equipment. While Mamoru finished checking each snowspeeder, Kunzite secured his throwing stars in various pockets and flaps, while Nephrite did the same with his slightly larger discs. Jadeite was making sure his crossbow was ready to hand while Zoisite checked and rechecked his quiver of arrows, slinging his bow over his back. Swords were strapped on, and heavy cloaks donned. Mamoru looked up from his final check and nodded. He leapt onto the first speeder, while Kunzite and Zoisite took the second and Nephrite and Jadeite the last. As he took up position, Zoisite turned and saw Urawa in the doorway. The old man smiled and nodded, and Zoisite threw him a salute as Kunzite gunned the engine, and they took off into the white wastes. 

They rode in single file: Kunzite took the lead, with Zoisite keeping a constant eye on their surroundings, bow in hand ready to fire if he had to. Mamoru rode next, alone, while Nephrite drove the last, Jadeite poised with crossbow at the ready. Zoisite scanned the endless white wastes with a warrior's eye, searching for any sign of movement. *We come, Mercury,* he thought. *We come for you.*

For half the day they travelled in silence, each man with his own thoughts. Suddenly, Zoisite tapped Kunzite on the shoulder, and raised a clenched fist. Obediently, the speeders slowed and stopped, each man reaching for his weapon. "What is it, Zoi?" Mamoru asked, drawing a throwing dagger from his pocket.

"Over there," came the reply, and a point. Zoisite stood silently, targeting the unknown enemy. He sensed the others straining their eyes to see what it was. He tensed, feeling it draw nearer.

"I can't see anything," Mamoru frowned. "Are you sure…" He was cut off as a roar split the air, as the snow itself seemed to rise up and hurl itself towards them. Jadeite yelled as he grabbed his crossbow, but Zoisite was faster, loosing his arrow at the snarling mass of white. The projectile found its mark, and the creature jerked backwards, falling to the ground. Jadeite leapt lightly off the speeder and approached the thing gingerly, crossbow at the ready.

"What was that thing?" he asked, prodding it with the tip of his weapon.

"I believe they're called snow dancers," Zoisite said, coming up beside him. "They're not all that dangerous if you have the right weapons. It's the U-Tahimes you have to watch out for. They are the ones that possess the power of illusion, that can make men uncontrollable, and attack anyone."

"Right." Mamoru nodded. "Everyone, make sure you keep a sharp eye out." They remounted the speeders and sped off.

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The rest of the day passed uneventfully. As darkness began to fall they set up camp. The two-and three-man tents they had brought with them could be converted into a single five-man tent, which was very speedily erected, none of the men wanting to try it after the sun had set. After their sparse dinner was consumed, Jadeite had a question.

"Zoi?

"Yeah?"

"How did you know that snow dancer thing was there? I was looking at the same place you were, and I could only see snow."

"You're not the only one who wants to know that one Jadeite," Kunzite said, looking concernedly at the younger man. 

"I… I don't know," Zoisite answered hesitantly. "I could… feel something evil when I stopped us, and then… I could just see it, I can't explain why." He sounded frustrated as he said it. Zoisite was one who prided himself on knowing the answers to the questions. Mamoru bit his lip thoughtfully. 

"Well, whatever it was, it served us well today."

Nephrite, who had been sitting silently in thought, spoke up suddenly. "Could it have something to do with the Senshi imprisoned here?"

"Nani? What do you mean?" Zoisite asked.

"We carry her crystal, yes? Maybe… it or she is helping us."

"Possibly. Whatever it is, luck, fortune or divine intervention, let's hope it lasts."

"Amen to that," Kunzite said solemnly. He looked towards the door of the tent. "It's getting dark. We should probably get some sleep."

"Agreed," Mamoru nodded. Zoisite crawled over to sit near the door.

"I'll stay up and keep first watch."

"I'll take second," Jadeite offered.

"Third," Nephrite said.

"Fourth," Kunzite.

"So I'll take last," Mamoru nodded. "Goodnight then." With that, he and the other three crawled into their sleeping bags. Soft snoring soon filled the tent, courtesy of Jadeite, who was sleeping on his back again. Zoisite couldn't help a grin when Kunzite rolled over and poked the snorer hard in the side. Jadeite merely shifted over onto his side without even waking up. Shifting into a slightly more comfortable position, Zoisite's eyes fell on his pack. Reaching out, he snagged a strap and pulled it towards him. Reaching into the centre part, he withdrew the casket containing the sapphire crystal. He opened it and stared at the crystal. *What is this feeling I get every time I see or touch this?* he wondered. *Why do I feel I have to find her? Are we connected in some way? What is it, then, this feeling? Who are you, Sailor Mercury, that you have this power over me?* He sighed and looked at the door. *I do know this. the sooner I find you, the sooner I will know the answers to my questions. I will find the knowledge I seek.*  He sat back and glanced at his watch. Still a while before he had to wake Jadeite for his watch. He closed his eyes and dropped into a light mediative trance: deep enough to calm his mind, light enough so he could hear anything approaching.

Thoughts and images swirled through his mind. He saw the map from Mercury's casket: each geographical feature plotted in miniature, the position of the small camp clearly marked. Surrounding the camp was a ring of blue light, and coming off from that was a blue line, running off into the frozen wasteland. He followed the line until it came to a great pillar of crystalline ice…

His eyes snapped open. *Damn!* He shook his head and checked the time. *Wakey wakey Jadeite.* Zoisite extended a foot and not-so-gently nudged the other man's sleeping form. A muffled curse from Jadeite told him he was awake. Zoisite laughed silently and made his way to his sleeping bag as Jadeite took up his vacated position at the door. Flashing the other man a cheeky grin, Zoisite was asleep within seconds. 

Again he was looking at the map. This time, he followed the blue line, flying along it. Again the crystalline ice pillar came into view. He landed at the base, and went up to two great doors carved into it. Opening them, he strode into a corridor. He followed the corridor down, following the twists and turns, until it turned sharply and opened out into a great chamber. In the middle of the room was a square pillar. Three sides of it were the same white crystal ice, but the fourth was clear…

There she was, inside the pillar. Sailor Mercury. She floated, surrounded by water, with tiny shards of ice in it. They swirled around her in a constant dance, the ice occasionally cutting into her skin. When that happened, a thin line of blood would spill into the water, and she would throw back her head and give a silent cry of pain. The blood would be absorbed into the water, and the wound would heal. Zoisite moved towards the clear panel and rested his hand on it… it was freezing. His gaze searched her face as her head drifted upwards… suddenly her eyes snapped open and locked with his…

~~Waha! CLIFFHANGER!!! I love being evil… *grins*

Here again, be thanks!

Pyro*Chic: And the game is on! Here we go! And thanks for reviewing me AGAIN!

Astgal: Oh, yes, there will be fighting…

Kitn: Ooo!! Well, here's more for ya!

CountessMeliara: Constructive criticisms noted. Thanks.

Serenity's Rose: Next chapter has arrived!

Nabooru: Oh, yes, swords, precious… MULTIPLE REVIEWER!!! Mesa love you!

Persephone: Waiting for Usagi? *grins*

Nova33; Why Mercury isn't going to come is was in last chappie.