Standard disclaimer. Sailor Moon is not mine, the idea and the show belong to people much richer than I. Please don't sue!
Dimmer however is mine…
of course if someone wants to use him or any of his transformations for ANY reason "thbbt" go ahead. You have my complete and total permission, mostly so I can read it too -. I only request you tell me… Hell, I don't care if you do it without my permission, it's not like I could find out anyway.
Warning: mild language, some violent scenes
-Psst! The story starts here…-
"It's still really coming down out there." Lita let the curtain fall back from the window of the temple. They had retreated back to it, being the closest place around. She looked around at her friends, lying down, apprehensive, and still a little frightened by the night's events.
Dawn had broken but it was hard to tell with the darkness of the rain clouds still hovering over the city. Everyone was here, except Rei. She was in the next room with Valor, they were both looking after Dimmer. He had told them he'd offer a way of explanation after things were all settled.
All of the girls had bruises and sprains, traded for fractures and breaks, from their scout forms. They wouldn't be able to fight again for a while.
Mina looked up toward Lita. "Rough night?" she smiled.
"Yeah," Lita smirked, "rough." The words somehow brought back thoughts of Ken. It was a rough night for him too. He needed blood, and happened to be her type. He was out of critical condition, the doctors seemed quite surprised at this considering what she explained had happened. She looked down at the bandage at her arm. She felt drained. Tired. Whether tired from the fight, or from giving blood, she couldn't tell. Maybe it was the mental exhaustion from meeting Ken again, only to have him nearly ripped from her for eternity. His broken camera hung from her neck, the film would be okay, but the camera was totaled from the crash. She once again moved the curtain to look outside. She wanted to sleep for a week, but she also wanted to see this through. The explanation Valor promised would be given soon. She wanted to know what all this was about. She looked backed to her forlorn looking friends.
The silence was deafening in that room. They were hoping to chase away some of the gloom with conversation, but every word they tried so far seemed broken, and useless.
"Look at us. We're moping around here as if the world ended, and we're just after saving a friend."
"…at the cost of another. Sometimes the price is very heavy for such things." The voice that came with the sound of the opening door was that of a child. He stood in the doorway, a small boy about the age of 9 or 10, with long dark blue hair, tied up into a pony tail in back, stepped into the room. His eyes were glowing a bright blue, showing them a timeless intelligence. He was carrying a man-sized bundle, which looked rather tricky for the child to carry, wrapped in a blood dripping sheet.
"Who…?" Amy was about to ask before the boy held up a hand.
"I used much of my power to defeat Dimmer, and than to heal him now, and I still have one more purpose here to fulfill, that will require much more power. This form allows me to save this power until later. Remaining as Night's Valor drains me of that power." The boy explained in a kind voice.
"I see. So this is what you really look like? You're just a child?" Lita asked thoughtfully.
"Indeed.", Valor nodded in reply, "Just call me Arkand. In truth Lita, while in this form, I even have the mindset of a Child. I'm using what's left of my power to control this form. Which accounts for the mystical blue lights coming from my eyes." He smiled.
"Arkand…?" Amy wondered a little stunned.
"How is he?" Serena interrupted quickly.
"He'll be fine. He's sleeping now." Rei answered with a smile as she walked in behind the child that now seemed to replace Valor. "And grandpa will be okay too."
They weren't expecting to hear anything different really. They all still felt the presence of power Valor held, no matter what form he was in or what name he preferred to use. The silent funk the girls seemed to be in seemed to slowly dissipate with the news though
"…and him?" Amy questioned the bloody bundle he held in his arms.
"I will see to it, that Talenite will live to see another night as well. That would be the other business I must take care of." The boy replied
"You can do that?!" Serena gasped, "You can really bring Talenite back even though…?"
"He was ripped to pieces?" Arkand jokingly finished for her, seeing her hesitate.
"Yes. It's not a simple task, turning back time, for any reason, especially while trying to focus in on one individual. Would you believe it's actually more difficult to turn back time for one than it is for thousands?"
"I think I see why." Amy voiced her thoughts, "It would be a lot easier to find a larger group than it would be to try to root out one individual."
"Exactly right." Arkand nodded. "It will take some time, I will bring his body with me to help in the search. It shouldn't take long though, about a week to find his specific time. I will be able to spend my full time at this task. It was by Fate's order himself after all, so it gets top priority. The guardian of time gave me the order herself. It was a surprise to me. I didn't even know Dimmer had went werewolf, let alone had been that way for two weeks. My only regret is I couldn't have come sooner. Had I have known, I would have been here as quick as I could. Maybe this could have been avoided…" He looked pitifully down at Talenite's broken mass, covered respectfully by the stained sheet, before letting it fade quickly away leaving only a few magical sparkles twinkling in its place before they too faded away.
"Went werewolf? You mean you knew he…?" Amy ignored the light show and continued her with her questions.
"Yes I discovered we had lycanthropy the hard way when I transformed one time myself. The Council of Fate himself had to step in to stop me. No one is sure when we contracted the disease. I fear that the only one with that knowledge was in fact Dimmer, and it was lost with all of Dimmer's when he first arrived."
"You're a werewolf too?!" Luna sat up straight, stirring a surprised Artemis from his catnap beside her.
"Not 'too' Luna. Dimmer and I are the same, two halves of a whole. We are a single lycanthrope as we are a single person."
"I see, so it's no coincidence that you both have the same name."
"Quite so Amy. We've the same mother, same past, we are the same person. When he was younger, the Council of Fate had found his world, and recognized the power inside him. There is a large background story to it if you'd like to hear the tale. Dimmer is resting uneasily right now, It would be better if I occupied your time, rather than letting you see him quite yet."
"For sure! This might finally explain how he fell on our doorstep." Lita answered for ther group who had silently unanimously agreed.
"I see. So I shall start at the beginning how it was told to me by the Council of Fate. Perhaps we all should get comfortable." he nodded to Rei and let her pass by him to find a place with her friends. Serena was already fishing out Rei's hidden secret stash of pastries and treats. Rei grumbled quietly as she snatched some from her, even if that was wha they were here for, she shouldn't always immediately dug into them. They all laughed as Arkand made a straight beeline towards the few bags of cheesy poofs.
"I shall warn you all this tale is as a puzzle." He smiled as he took two bags back to his seat, there are yet many pieces missing and many questions unanswered. If you have any questions, feel free to interrupt, I'll answer all I can."
"Then may I ask a question before we begin?"
"By all means. Ms. Mizumo."
"Just what is this council of fate, you talk as if they're one person, but not, are they like Dimmer and you?"
"Not even a small amount alike I'm afraid. The origins of Council of Fate is a sad one indeed. A world galaxies upon galaxies far from here, and hundreds of thousands of dimensions far from this one, was caught in a horrible cycle of degradation, hate, deception, and depression. It was a very 'powerful in magic' society, whose main focus of magic was the destruction, deception and manipulation of others. Their thoughts were only of themselves and the few others they may have cared for. Because of their uncaring attitude towards their world and people living there, everything was deteriorating, including the ground they stood on, and the resources they depended on. A council formed, one that allowed all and any to join, one whose purpose was to save their world, to save their people before it was too late.
The Council that formed was not a popular one, their studies had proven some horrible facts the people living there, had either not wanted brought out, or simply did not want to read, instead deceiving themselves in the end. As the end came closer the council's numbers swelled, and they immediately began work on a solution. The council divided their efforts on many different fronts, but the one that showed the most promise soon appeared above all the others.
A golem. A golem made from…"
"Wait, What's a golem?" Mina interrupted as she threw her hand up involuntarily.
"A golem is an extremely powerful and magically created creature made to any certain purpose. The bodies of a golem can differ greatly, from rocks, to ice, even to bone. They can be created from near anything."
"How can you determine the just how powerful one would be?" Amy asked thoughtfully, "the element they're created from?"
"Not at all Amy, although their element can give them some added attributes, the power of a golem depends on the quality of magic it's made from. The golem the council had formed in fact, was actually flesh. They put it in the shape of beautiful human male, and it was the most powerful golem ever made since the beginning of all of time. We know, because the guardian of time helped me check it out."
"Who's this Guardian of time?" Darien asked quietly, as he rubbed his jaw it was still rather painful for him to talk.
"I'm afraid that is one thing I cannot answer. Mostly 'cause she asked me not to, for you will all meet her sometime in the future, and she fears time has been disrupted enough without her introducing herself too soon. She is quite picky about punctuality, as you can imagine." Arkand grinned as he earned a few giggles from the girls, "Now where was I? Ah yes, they had started making a golem. It was an arduous task, for though the making of any golem is quite the complex accomplishment, the many people in the council had argued and argued upon how it should look or what it should be made from, nor were any of them used to cooperating on this magnitude of a project. At last they had decided it should look like themselves, only more beautiful, a human being better than any other, of course this also caused many arguments, on just what was true beauty. That argument was never finished.
The body lay finished to the point of only needing a power supply, as the argument grew into a fight, and then to a war, which escalated into many wars, the body was all but forgotten. In order for the body to be completed to become the true leader that would lead them all to redemption, it need a pure and true power source, and it had to be one powerful enough to allow the golem to function eternally.
One day a handful of children found it while exploring, none older then ten years old. All of them scarred from the wars, and wishing to find a place of peace. All of them were killed by the security measures the Council had placed around the golem. The eternal souls of all the children that died that day were sucked into the eternal body of the golem, to this day it is their minds that control that golem, and they have formed their own council inside the mind of that golem. They call themselves the Council of Fate, so though Fate is only one being he is also many. They go by 'him, they, Council, Fate, or Council of Fate', it doesn't matter to him.
He uses the power of deception, and manipulation to stop what happened to his own world from happening to others. With each arcane circle he creates he helps to balance out the universe by sealing within the circle the fate into a different cycle, one of balance, caring, love, and learning. For every vile deed, a caring one, for every horrible disaster, there is a beautiful miracle. A true balance of all things, that he has given to so many dimensions. He seals their fates along their road of destiny, making sure their world can last for an eternity."
"Why the balance? Why doesn't he just make all the bad stuff just, go away?" Serena blurted out past some random mouthful of pastry.
"That's the first thing he tried Serena, but after a while the cycle always collapsed, and the people could do nothing for themselves, they never felt the need to advance their civilizations, or even to hunt food for their families, they were always content with what they had. A balance of good and evil is necessary for a cycle to take place."
"Hm.." Serena fiddled with Darien's coat as she thought about her answer.
"This is all well and good, but the real story you were going to tell was about you and Dimmer wasn't it?" Lita smirked at how far off topic they got.
"Hey you guys asked, I'm just answering over here, to continue where I left off, the Council of Fate had traveled through many different worlds. He had learned and seen many different things, he had become the most powerful being ever seen. Despite all this power, their were three distinct magic powers he did not know, and could not use. He came across such powers during his travels. A tunnel, or doorway to other dimensions, that he could travel through to save that dimension from a fate of destruction that it would have eventually seen. It was the power of space that had made these tunnels. Along it he seen passages through time itself, and time was another power he could not understand clearly. In one dimension no sooner than he had finished sealing the eternal cycle of this dimension's inhabitants, had one stood in defiance in front of him. It turned out a being that could defy fate and nullify any power Fate had over him existed here in your realm.
The creator of Time and Space stood against the Council of Fate, the one who had created the tunnels through time and space that the council had traveled through. His ignorance and selfishness led this soul believe such cycles were not needed, and instead called the dimensions of people that had fallen to the Council's power slaves!
It came down to a huge extremely powerful fight with the one who's name is roughly translated to this language as Nightfall."
"Oh we got to the ultimate villain part did we?"
"Shh.. Lita I wanna hear!" Mina gestured quickly that Arkand continue. All of the girls and animals in the room were now paying very close attention to the boy's story.
"Indeed, Nightfall can be called a villain, but not quite, it was simple a matter of different beliefs. He too believed in the good hearts of people, only I believe his expectations were much too high. He believed that their good hearts would never cause the destruction and continually ignored Fate's council. To this day the Council has no idea how he defied his powers, but after a war broke out between them both, like none all of time will never see again, or in this case has never even seen. For during the end of the struggle, when Nightfall was finally ending the reach of his endurance, he fled. As he did, he also wiped the timeline clean of him ever existing there, and sealed the tunnel he ran through. The Council of Fate had claimed victory but at great cost, for during the struggle, Nightfall had managed to break the arcane circle that held his own fate, and only retreated to amass troops that would stand with him against Fate.
The Council took to arms quickly, and hunted down Nightfall to the ends of all dimensions and back, finding that Nightfall had broken every arcane circle of fate that he had come across as he ran, restoring those dimensions to chaos. Fate quickly laid waste to those that stood against him, so that they could not spread, and had claimed victory over ever place he'd come across Nightfall's troops, and even Nightfall himself on the few occasions he had stayed long enough for Fate to find him.
Finally Nightfall and his beloved had escaped from him completely and left no sign of himself ever again.
No longer worried, The Council decided to let the wounded man alone, and put searching for him on a back burner, until one day he came across a city of light, a city more beautiful than any he had ever seen. This light would be the third magic that the Council of Fate can never wield. It was in this dimension he came across the moon kingdom."
Everyone gasped, startled at the revelation, for everyone there knew what power it was that the Sailor Scouts held, that it was the power of light that guided them.
"Don't get me wrong girls, he can throw fireballs, and ice bolts, lighting. and whatnot, but you girls all hold in your hearts a beautiful gift of light, a glimmer of something he could never copy or replace. The power you hold is held in every heart that lives, but it shines so bright in this dimension, that it puts all others to shame. The thought of learning how to also wield such a beautiful power had occurred to the Council, but the golem created by that horrible and pitiful society could never hope to hold that light. Instead he desperately sought to make sure such a beautiful light was preserved, and after more was learned about it, maybe even spread it to other dimensions. So he weaved his arcane circles, and sealed the fate of this universe as well."
"But it was here he once again ran into Nightfall, under the guise of Father Time. Father Time had taught his power over space and time to two separate individuals, both had the power of light that floods this dimension. Upon the Council's arrival Nightfall had stabbed himself in the chest with the dark swiveled dagger known as Tanoc. That dagger Dimmer uses as a focus point to transform, has the ability to both, suck out, and transfer souls."
Arkand paused in the story, half expecting an interruption, only silent looks of concentration, and inquisitive eyes greeted him. He nodded and continued.
"After sucking out a huge portion of his own soul, he took what was left of his dying strength, and stabbed it into the young boy child to whom he was teaching the power of space, and flung him far into a random dimension. Nightfall died in front of his apprentice of time, who is now the Guardian of time I spoke of earlier, and in front of the Council of Fate who took his apprentice under his wing. They spoke of many things, and The Council slowly grasped the principles of the magic of time, though even now he still has a extremely hard time with it. He's yet to have any idea how Nightfall had taught the little girl of no more than 10 so much about that power in so short a span of time, though he's suspicious she was older than her looks tell. Only she knows the answer, and she's not telling.
"What happened to the boy?" Amy interrupted his rambling about the guardian.
"Ah, but here's where the tale lays unfinished, and is so full of holes. We are not sure. The council found me, or Arkand if you'd prefer, on the edge of a cliff, and quite suicidal. I have had a hard time recently, and it would be the reason Dimmer isn't that talkative about his past. I'm sure he's more than a little ashamed about that night, I know I am. Fate stole me from him then."
The room around him had broken into what's and why's from every direction as everyone was surprised this new information.
"I'm sorry girls, but nine years ago I was ripped from Dimmer's body, I don't know how or what in his life lead him to that, though I imagine there is one among you that might know." He looked knowingly at Rei, she looked as stunned at the news as everyone else.
"He was going to go that far?! Kill!" Rei shouted as she tried marched towards the door while everyone suddenly grabbed on and pinned her down.
"Eh?! Oh no you don't! I just got 'im back to 'ealth! You ain't killin' anythin'! Beside if he hada went with the who suicide deal, he'd've been dead olong before you met 'im 'ere!" Arkand blurted out in as fine a Cape Breton accent as Dimmer ever had, as he picked her up by the shoulders, lifted her over his head, and sat her right back down where she was sitting.
Rei just glared at everyone who'd look in her direction. She was still going to kill him, she'd just have to wait until he could defend himself, that's all.
"There. Ahem…" Arkand coughed, "Where was I? Ah yes, the end. After finding the dimension that child was sent to, Fate searched for him specifically, and he found me. Though we are all unsure on whether or not I am the original boy who was sent from this dimension so long ago, I do carry that power, but most significantly true is I bare the wings of Valor. Unfortunately it was too late for my world, being there so long, Nightfall's power that allowed him to defy fate had grown. So much that any that had contact with me, had ever thought of me, thought of a thought that I once had, and lived on that world, was doomed to chaos, for no fate of theirs could ever be sealed. It was quite contagious, it wasn't long until most of their Canada was enveloped than their world.
I've spent the last couple centuries growing up again and again throughout different dimensions, taking the time to learn the last gift Nightfall left with us. The power of space. The Wings of Valor possess not only that power, but the ability to control that power. I was supposedly the embodiment of that power, stripped from Dimmer, in Fate's concern that the power, left not mastered, might someday cause harm to Dimmer, the people he cares for, or the world he lived in. I was supposed to be the end of Nightfall's rebellion, the last trace of it. Apparently though, Nightfall still had some tricks up his sleeve."
"Dimmer still has the wings of Valor, and a lot of power, and that power lead him here. You, nor this Fate, or this Guardian of Time, have any idea how or why, and this Fate is worried that Nightfall's last strike will be through Dimmer." Amy finished for him.
"Exactly right again!" Arkand smiled, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised Amy, but you really are quite remarkable."
Amy simply blushed.
"Was there any questions?"
"Who was Nightfall's beloved?"
"He had two actually. You Rei, were the first, and that love was the main reason all of this took place."
"What? Me? I don't know anything about any Nightfall!"
"Ah, but he knew very much about you, and you once knew very much about him. Three times this universe had to be reset and resealed by Fate, as the cycle was broken. Way back then he had went by a different name, he only took Nightfall on as his powerful persona. His first name was, can I get a drum roll please?"
THIS IS A DRUM ROLL FROM NOWHERE (kinda eerie isn't it? Hey! You're scared, I know you are…I know.. I.. I know you're not paying any attention to me..
--;; Dammit!)
"Arkand! That's right ladies and gents, and this wonderful, overused name can be yours too! All for three simple payments of $9,999.99! Guaranteed a Rei will love ya, or your money baACK!" He let out a quick yelp as the raven haired wonder dove for his throat, as the others tried to stop their laughing and hold her back.
"What-did-you-just-SAY?!" Rei accentuated each syllable by smacking the boy's head off the floorboards, she probably would've stopped sooner, but he just kept laughing like he enjoyed it, which only spurned her on. "You got a lot of nerve trying to say I love you like that!"
"Not what I meant! Honestly!" he held back her arms from his throat easily as he laughed. "Three times the cycle has been broken, this being the third, and each time the cycle was broken, you and a boy by the name of 'Arkand' stole your heart and you, his."
"Explain." Rei got off him and sat in a way that spoke that she could pounce again at any moment if he said something she didn't like.
"Sure, sure. Okay, the first time," He counted on his fingers, "It was Arkand, who chose to stand against the cycle Fate chose, he became Nightfall and fought Fate 'til he was forced to flee from this dimension.
The second time, was the time" He counted on the next finger, "'I' was sent here to grow up, as Arkand, I was about your age in this world, and more of a prankster than anything else. Which is why I am well used to Rei throttling me like that, I'm sure I had all of you throttle me at one point or another. I even had Luna throttle me once! That was a classic… ya see I replaced Serena's milk…"
"On with it!" Rei's head grew about fifty times as large as she shouted.
"Uh, yes'm!" Arkand quickly obeyed as he felt less than a foot tall.
"Aw, I wanted to hear about that one too…" Serena's quiet voice was heard in the background, it was abruptly ignored.
"Anyway, I should have listened to Fate's and the Guardian of Time's warnings, I ended up getting involved and broke the cycle myself. Once I learned of what it was your fate to be, I decided I had to do something to help. I ignored both their warnings, and joined you all in your battles against Beryl. Now the power balance was to far in our favor, every fight we won easily, and you guys never had a chance to learn everything that you needed to know. I helped too much. The moon princess wasn't able to learn how to use the silver emporium crystal in time. I thought I could stand up to Beryl for you, but I was wrong. We lost, you lost… It was then the wolf inside myself woke up, it was what destroyed Beryl in that cycle, and Fate fought me back to the state I'm in. I am here now to help prevent Dimmer from making the same mistake I did." He finished with a sigh, "I've given up everything, a home." He looked around the temple with a small smile, lost in his memories.
"Friends," He looked towards the group of people staring at them as if remembering them all from long ago.
"Even…" He gazed longingly at Rei but never finished his sentence, instead looking down at the floor.
"Third, and finally this cycle has once again been broken, and the three of us, The Council of Fate, The Guardian of time, and I, Night's Valor have been working our asses off to try to stop it from happening again. This time, through Dimmer."
Rei sat stunned at the news, the day at the hospital flooded back into her mind, It seemed to all make since, the kiss, those eyes, that smile… "How come I… How come we don't remember?"
"When resetting the cycle, we reset your memories as well. Wiping clean all you remember to a state that your universe could be cycled properly again. A task using the magic of time to wind back your minds to a more malleable time."
"So this Guardian of time wiped you and Nightfall from our memories?" Mina asked with a puzzled look."
"Yes and no Lita. Yes, After Nightfall's deeds it was her that wiped him from everyone's memory, but using the amounts of power of time I possess, I destroyed myself from your minds, doing so proved my loyalty in The Council's eyes. It was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do."
The room was silent for a few moments before Lita spoke up again. "If Nightfall's love was Rei, how did he take her with him, and still leave her here?"
"Ah, but I said he had two loves didn't I?" Arkand perked up, a smile quickly replacing the frown as the questions stopped being about himself… so to speak…, "During his timeless travels as he fled from space to space, we encountered another being, with more light than any we have ever found. Her names were many, much like Nightfall himself. Elendil was always the one I preferred, but I believe the one she was most known for, and the one she most favored was Artemis."
Everyone turned to look at the white cat, who's ear had twitched as Arkand said the name.
"Hey, it can be a guy's name too!."
Everyone just laughed, except for Luna, who was staring blankly into space. "Something wrong Luna?" Artemis nudged her softly and broke her out of her trance.
"Wha..? No." She shook the far away memories of their creator from her head. "Nothing at all."
"Good then, I believe there were a few of you that wanted to see Dimmer after I was done?"
Each of the girls looked at each other then stood up in turn.
"Please be quiet, he's resting now. He's as exhausted as everyone else here. It will take time for him to recover. His injuries are beyond even me. The wings themselves prevent me from healing him as much as I normally would be able to, but besides wounds of the body are the scars of the mind…" Arkand looked back silently, and knowingly toward the hall.
"What do you mean?" Amy asked worriedly, had Dimmer caught some unseen injury like shock or something worse that they didn't know about? Valor's sword was formed from a pure lightning bolt! Certainly it might have some added effects…
"No not what you're thinking Amy. He will have to deal with what he's done, that will be worse than anything I could do, and his decision here, may determine the question of Fate restoring itself in this world."
"You mean if he chooses you or Sundown right?"
"Yes and no." Arkand sighed, "Sundown, we believe is the remnants of Nightfall lurking through Dimmer's soul, at least the name he chose seems similar enough to be that. Sundown is a puzzle to us all, we know nothing about him. He's at the very least, Nightfall's last wild card."
"Well I've got some good news for you then. Dimmer has given up being Sundown! The transformations caused him a lot of pain, and we decided it would be better for him to depend on us to do our jobs." Rei smiled at the young boy half expecting the kid to jump with glee at her news, what she got was a forlorn stare.
Arkand watched her smile… He wished he could tell, wished he could abandon everything for her, just like he did before, but he knew all too well how that turned out. But that smile, it was almost worth the risk of anything for that smile. Thoughts of her bloodied corpse flooded his mind, and he shook his head. It was worth the risk of everything he had, except for that smile itself… Suddenly it clicked in, what she had said.
"It's true Rei. If he makes the right decision in the coming weeks, this nightmare will end for all of you, you'll be able to live happily under the Council of Fate's watchful eyes. Then we can be one again. Me… Dimmer…I can be a whole person again."
Rei didn't answer, instead she thought as she walked. Sundown too said Dimmer and he were one, but he also said Valor too was part of Dimmer, like they were 1/3 parts of Dimmer each, did Valor purposely leave out that fact? Rei guessed it didn't matter now anyway, Sundown was gone forever.
"Now if you are all ready to see him? Just come this way, try not to crowd him too much! And try not to wake him… It's been a long couple of weeks for all of you." Arkand whispered as he opened the door to let the group in.
Everyone looked in on the sleeping Dimmer. His breathing was even, he hardly ever looked so peaceful as he did when in deep sleep, but that might be mostly because he usually got very little sleep. His shirt was off, and his chest area was covered with bandages, obvious handiwork of Rei. He rolled a little in sleep, showing why the blankets were no longer on him and lying in a mess on the floor beside the bed. He must have kicked them off. The room was bathed in white light despite the closed curtains, and no lights on. It was this that grabbed the girl's attention first.
The wings had yet to go back to where they come from inside his back. Instead they were bandaged up like his arms and chest, they looked like the wings of a dove, only broken and deformed.
"I'll have to leave you all now. You will see me again though." Arkand's voice whispered into the quiet room, "Take care, I will be back by the week's end to check up on Dimmer, and with good news on Talenite."
Amy turned to face him, "Thank you Arkand You saved us all, healed us, and helped us in every way I can think of."
"Thank Fate Amy, without him, I couldn't have done any of this. I wouldn't even have known, take care of Dimmer, and I'll see you all when I come back." And at that he disappeared in the same light and tiny sparkles as Talenite's body had vanished into before.
She joined the group in checking on Dimmer, things no longer seemed right without him around, even if the smile had seemed to die off from his face for a while after his memories returned. It wasn't his smile anyway. It was his presence, it just came to feel right, like he belonged here…like.. like he belonged with her…. Not like he belonged with Rei though! It was something a little less than that she was sure, or perhaps it was something a little more than that?
She knew she was a smart girl and she recognized depression and it's symptoms when she felt it the two weeks before. She did her best to concentrate on other things. Talked to Talenite about the nature, and behavior of a werewolf, helped Greg coordinate the plans of evacuating the city and hiding its citizens in pre-designed shelters. She stayed up late into the morning with her studies like she always did. She did everything she possibly could do to keep her mind on things, anything to she could do to drive away the thoughts of having to hurt Dimmer, or how he had to be starving and lonely out in the cold, dark woods. She knew as a werewolf it wouldn't effect him much, but no matter what form he took he was still "her" Dimmer, and she worried herself sick while he was out there. Then when fighting the werewolf the only thing she could seem to think about was getting him back.
As she walked into the room most of the other girls parted to allow her room to see how he was. Rei was kneeling by his bed, the same way she always had whenever not being able to help with Valor's healing administrations,
"And where she better damn well be if she proclaimed to love 'her' Dimmer" Her mind stated.
She chased away the thought/threat her mind suddenly blurted out uncharacteristically. She didn't know why, but she had become a little vehement at the thought of Dimmer liking Rei, more then he did her. She was completely for the two, after all she loved Greg, and would never wish for more then what he was to her. She knelt beside Rei, and smiled at her. She loved these two, yet every time she looked at Rei and Dimmer, she felt almost as if she was losing something more close to her than anything else…
"They deserve each other, and will be good for one another." She thought to herself, and her envious feelings faded away. They were both great friends and she could hardly ask for more then that from them, and now that they got together, she was thrilled at the thought. She could tell how much they cared, the way Dimmer would watch Rei, and do everything he could to remain in her good favors, the nervous way he'd talk to her, the way he always spoke about her… the way Rei now tied up bangs away from his face in the hair clasps she had got for him, they must have fallen out during his transformation No one saw her pick them up. The golden-colored hair clasps reflected the supernatural light from the wings making them shine brilliantly.
Nevertheless, she felt she should be the one mothering Dimmer. So she did, as she got up and tucked the blankets in a little tighter.
Dimmer smiled in his sleep, and snuggled in closer to the blankets.
Amy felt herself smile softly, pressed her lips to her fingers, and her fingers to his forehead in a affectionate gesture, then found a seat on the other side of the futon he was on, opposite of Rei.
Rei tried not to watch as Amy claimed the other side of Dimmer's bed, and tried not to grit her teeth the second that hand reached Dimmer's unconscious form. She knew Amy and Dimmer were close, but it was only times like this that you could ever really tell how close. In front of others, they'd mostly argue, but the way they smiled when they did it, the way he made jibes at her, and had gotten her to make jibes back… well you could tell…
The first person he ever seen as he entered their world, and for a while the only thing he'd be able to remember was her face… The only person that could even understand him when he talked…
That would have an effect on anybody, but Amy's huge amount of affection stemmed from somewhere else, she never seemed this close to anyone else. She didn't think Amy would move in on Dimmer, she would have done so already, and everyone knew her feeling towards Greg. But seeing the touch of her fingers to Dimmer's forehead like that… well she remembered that type of kiss. Dimmer gave something akin to it to her, the night before the Negaverse attacked, and this insanity commenced…. She imagined she could still taste his fingers on her lips.
And now...
Now he lay so still in front of her, his rest deep, and peaceful…
"He looks like an angel…" Serena whispered into the silent room.
Darien felt no twinge of jealousy. He simply smiled quietly while watching Serena's eyes twinkle, reflecting the mystical light. Her eyes looked so happy again, so full of hope.
An angel…
It's strange how such a being as an angel, that for all anybody could tell, was nothing more then fiction, could inspire such hope, such happiness...
He looked to Dimmer hoping to see what she seen, but his eyes also took in the reality of the situation, the bloodied bandages wrapped mostly around him, and pikened siking along their outskirts, hinting at the large bruises that lay under them. The slight tinge of pink glowing from the wings from bloodstains. Dimmer indeed looked like an angel, but he looked like one that was fallen and broken…
He slowly, and slightly shook his head. To him, it was a disheartening sight. He watched Serena as she continued to stare…
"How does she manage to only ever see the good side of things like that?" It was a question his mind thought on constantly lately. In the moments of near giving up, and he few small periods of rest he managed to get in the woods, his dreams now always strayed to her. Her and that constant bright outlook, and how much he wanted to protect all the good she was able to see, all those things that could cause those eyes to smile like they did now at her returned friend. The more of her he seen the more she surprised him. With her strength, courage and with a light that shined from within that could outshine Valor's wings any day of the week… was that the power Arkand talked about tonight, did he have that power as well? That ability to see the good in people, it was indeed powerful.
Luna was snuggled up to Artemis, as she looked on. They had done it. Dimmer was back with them, in time his injuries would be healed, and Amy was already very close to solving the riddle that kept them away from the Negaverse.
They would have Chad back soon after that. Then the group would be together again, in a few days everyone would be healed, and they could fight off the Negaverse's attacks at full force once more. The decision to follow Fate would be made, and victory would be practically given to them.
She looked on as Artemis stared up, he was somewhat worried about Dimmer, he was very quiet, and somewhat contemplative since he came back. She hadn't gotten to ask what it was like in the Negaverse, how he got out, how he managed to survive in enemy territory for two whole weeks all by himself. Just a cat… no…
He wasn't just a cat was he? He was something much, much more. And so was she. And now… she'd never forget it… But then she had been told tonight, that their creator is the cause of Fate's inability to do it's job, but he was still a good person, even Arkand said that. A good person with different beliefs, that began a war that spanned both time and space.
Artemis for his part, stared up at the hurt young man in front of him. Luna's eyes on himself was making him nervous so he avoided her gaze. He never apologized for that last fight they had, and she was still snuggling up to him… that Luna would opt to stay close to him despite him not admitting his fault to whatever argument they had… well it was rather hard to comprehend. He didn't even think she'd notice he was gone, it was only two weeks after all. The last fight like that they had, she didn't speak to him, even see him again for a month in a half! As far as his relationship with her had gone before he had always had only two options.
He could be right, or he could be happy.
He couldn't count the number of times he went against every belief he had and went with the famous answer to that question, he chose to be happy. Just so he could remain close to her. So the situation for him right now left him feeling awkward…
Instead he found his gaze turned toward Dimmer. He often felt his gaze fall on that young man. Wondering about him, about his injuries. He felt an affection for him like he felt for few others… he didn't know why. He knew ,though, that affection, or maybe instinct? Lead him straight to Dimmer when they came across the werewolf in the park. And that wasn't the first time. He always seemed to know exactly where Dimmer was when he went looking for him for some reason.
He could only guess at it's meaning, and he was just now realizing this ability was even occurring… It was quiet, and lonely in those caves. He couldn't speak, not if he wanted to live. He learned how to plan things out in his mind before going to do something, and he learned how to think quick many times to avoid capture. It felt good being here, beside his friends, in and out of the dark and the cold. He only wished Dimmer was awake, and wasn't going to be through a whole lot of pain when he finally did wake up.
Mina watched happily as Luna snuggled up to Artemis. "Cat's really can blush…" She thought as she giggled to herself as his white fur was rather poor at hiding it. There was no one else in the world she was as close to as she was to Artemis. She realized this when he had left. Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder, it just makes people realize what they hadn't noticed they had, until it went missing…
Serena noticed and looked questioningly at her.
Mina gave her a quick glance then turned her eyes back toward the felines.
Serena took the hint and followed Mina's gaze. She smiled. Her thoughts on the matter of Luna and Artemis? "It's about damn time!"
She joined in with Mina in her giggling.
Lita rewarded the two cats with a smirk. The sight of Dimmer as he was now, hadn't helped her mood any. She wanted to see justice for what happened to Ken, instead all she got was another hurt friend, and thoughts on how she was responsible for part of it. She had started to love his attitude, his way of thinking. She was lucky to find the schedule Dimmer made for them, but she had stopped going by it. Instead, she had started going by a much different schedule, a much more advanced and dangerous one. Dimmer's. She found it while looking for more tips and stuff in his room, to her surprise there were notepads scattered about the place all filled with notes, tips, and diagrams of what not to do, and what to look out for.
Everyone kept saying it came naturally to him, so this really surprised her. He had put so much work into it, and she doubted even he realized how much. It, for a certainty, came as a natural talent for him, but what made him so great was all the work he put into it besides that. His philosophies were a load of bull, and he knew it. It was probably what she liked so much about them. They were mostly about figuring out human limits, then discarding them, so humans could soar past anything anybody thought they could do. So what was some of the bull?
One of those human limits was called the laws of physics. He had proven, even without the aid of magic these laws could be dismissed and discarded, just like everything else that tried to put limits on what they could do.
But it surprised her how it worked, as long as you believed you could be better, you could be, as long as you believed it was possible, it was, and as long as you did everything you could to attain it, you would.
Sure it was more of a romantic sounding phrase by some idealist somewhere, not meant to actually work in reality, but it was working! By believing she could be better and all she had to do was strive to attain it, she could tell just how far she had come. Like her sensei, she had even taken to sleeping only a few hours each night, she was so excited to start her training again the next day, she was always looking forward to seeing what Dimmer would have done that day. She was always wondering, "Just how much stronger will I be after this? How much further will I go today?!"
And now the strongest person she'd ever met, lay down on a bed before her, sleeping like a fallen angel sleeps… She hadn't realized how much respect she had for this guy until seeing him like that. It just didn't seem right to see a guy like that near death on a bed, it was strange how this was her second time seeing him like that.
Seeing the two cats together, it reminded her that there were other things then just being strong. Dimmer found that out, there were a lot of personal notes written along side of those martial art notes he made. She knew that Dimmer wasn't letting to the surface all of his feelings, most he kept hidden away in a place where no one could find them. She remembered reading Rei had found that place. Like a cycle this just focused her mind once again on Ken.
"We should go." Lita spoke quietly.
"Yes, Dimmer has a lot to recover from, and so do you girls. Get a good night sleep tonight. You all made me very proud today." Luna whispered and turned looked up to the girls, you could hear the pride in her voice as she spoke.
"Yeah, that's right. We've all been through a lot today. And don't forget, everyone has school in the morning." Artemis gave them all a teasing glance.
There was a collective female "aaaaaaawwwww" at this, as all the teenage girls shuffled out the door. Darien simply shook his head as he followed behind Serena. It would be the first time in college in two weeks, he probably failed the year now, lost honors for a certainty, but it was somehow worth it.
"Hey Rei? Amy? You two will be okay?" Serena poked her head back in the door.
"We'll be fine, meatball head. Now go on, get some sleep, you can't afford to miss anymore school."
Serena stuck her tongue out at Rei and smiled a good bye at Amy before her head disappeared around the corner again.
"When is that girl going to grow up?" Rei's voice came out as a low whispered growl.
"Probably when time itself dies of old age." Came an injured, quiet voice.
The voice startled Rei. She wasn't expecting any kind of answer, Amy always seemed to keep her own opinions to herself when it came to Serena's and Rei's arguments. It was safer that way. Both girls looked at each other slowly then down to see Dimmer's tired eyes barely open.
"Rei, cut 'er some slack, she's only fourteen, she's just a kid…" Dimmer yawned, and gave a pained look to Amy as he sat up on his elbows, he took notice of his hand in hers.
"Hey Aimes, you weren't worried 'bout me were ya? Thought you knew by now that there ain't nothin that keeps me down for very long."
"Dimmer!" The two girls squealed and were about to glomp onto the boy when a pair of strong arms stopped them.
"Watch it ladies! That's a rather hurt person you're trying to hug, there."
At this they were quickly let go, before turning around to see a plain clothes police officer, standing there grinning like a mad man.
"John!" both stopped in surprise before looking at Dimmer's wings then back at him.
"Hey! Don't worry, I can keep a secret. I knew about the wings and every injury Dimmer had, along with how I would have to hurry up here without him and my partner just to stop you two from breaking those big feather dusters anymore then what they are. Greg's already told me all about everything.
"What? Who?" Rei looked around dumbfounded, while a large, knowing smile started to make itself known on Amy's face. "He's here?"
"Of course?" Greg panted, a little short of breath, trying to come in back first through the door.
"Greg! What a surprise, What are you doing here?" Amy got up quickly to help him with whatever he seemed to be pulling through the door.
After fighting with the door a little, and before Amy could see what he was doing, Greg managed to back in far enough to turn the wheelchair he was pushing around.
"I came to see how Dimmer was doing. And I figured he could use the company."
"Pidge! What happened?!" It was Dimmer's hurt, and surprised voice that sounded out behind the girls. He squeezed his own eyes shut in obvious pain as he sat up completely now, slowly bringing the wings with him. Both girls were immediately beside his bed helping him.
"What? This? That blonde monster woman decided to clip my spine with whatever she shot at me. This is nothing. You're in more of a mess then I am, just look at yourself."
"Heh, I'd rather not." Dimmer tried to take it in stride…
where was he again? Why did his back hurt so much? Where was that weird light coming from? And what was that sudden mental flash that woke him up? It was like de jah vu of what Greg must've went through to get up the long stairs to the temple with the wheel chair in tow, all by himself. What happened to Pidge? What happened? Where was Chad?!
"Guys, Chad! He went off toward the docks!"
"Shhh… we know Dimmer, we'll explain it all later."
"You look like you've got a lot of questions kid." Pidge said, as he wheeled himself over taking Amy's spot beside the bed.
"Yeah, you could say that. Last thing I remember, I was in the woods, with… Talenite… we were watching you guys fight, and when the demon was summoned… I ran, it's all I remember, running.. " He looked downward in a way that showed he was concentrating hard, trying to remember what happened… he was having a dream. It was an awesome one, he was visiting a far off place, a place that now only existed for him in memories, but once it was his reality… wasn't it? He dreamed about Mike, he looked so lonely, but then, Mike always looked lonely. He talked to him in his dream. They talked for hours, of what was happening to each other, and what they had learned. He felt free somehow just talking to him, like part of himself that was missing had come back, if just for a little while, he remembered his words, "You're not alone Dimmer… We're here, I'm here. Even if it's only in memories and dreams, I am here."
Mike had told him he was famous in that place, that you couldn't go down the street with out hearing his name from people. He said they were looking for a way to get him out, he said they were close to finding it.
All they needed was his help.
But that was just a dream… so he tried to concentrate further before a hand was placed on his shoulder.
Broken out of his thoughts of dreams he looked up to the raven haired beauty staring down at him in concern, and wondered if he had strayed into another dream. She was so beautiful, caring, loving, it was surreal. How? Why? The answers he'd never learn, he knew it didn't matter, as long as she was real, and as long as how he felt for her was real…
"Dimmer, shhh, it might be better if you didn't remember some things…" she spoke in a quiet, caring voice. It wasn't a voice one heard often coming from Rei. He smiled as he listened to her, she usually chose to show her concern for people in a much louder way. "It's been two weeks since you last remember."
"What?! Not again…"
"Huh?" everyone looked startled.
"What do you think?! For the longest time I couldn't remember anything about me, now I just missed out on two more weeks of my life, which I gather must have sucked, cause Pidge is in a wheel chair, Amy and Rei look like they've been through hell and back, Chad and Talenite ain't here, and I'm in bed, feeling like I got hit by 5 consecutive busses, with a new pair of wings, and no memories of what happened!"
"Dummy!" Rei swatted him, "Don't get so worked up! Besides that, we all worked our asses off trying to get you to this point, you ungrateful twerp!"
"Ow! Okay, okay! Sheesh…"
Most people in the room laughed, the mood started to actually become a little bit more cheered up.
"Well Dimmer, let me fill help you in with some current events. Chad's on the MIA list since that scuffle with the demon two weeks ago."
"Not anymore Pidge, he showed up today, he's been brainwashed by the Negaverse."
"Wha?" Dimmer looked to Amy, "That was supposed to be Darien…Shit, fate really is screwed up now..."
"Not exactly" Greg volunteered, "Though I still haven't got my gift for the future completely back, and though that was supposed to be the way things happened Dimmer, Fate is changing it's plans to suit what really did happened."
"Well at least there's that."
Pidge coughed, "If you'll allow me to continue?"
"Oh yeah sorry Pidge, I wanna hear this, that just caught me off guard."
"Understandable. The scouts went through a rather large fight yesterday trying to bring you to your current condition, probably against the most powerful opponent they've ever fought."
"What did Beryl send after you guys now? And what the heck did it do to me?"
"Nevermind that for now Dimmer, some things can wait." He felt Rei give a slight squeeze to the shoulder her hand was on. She hadn't moved it since she had swatted him. Dimmer nodded and turned back to Pidge.
"As you know, you've grown wings, and there's not a soul here that can tell you why. Once again you've managed to baffle us all, and I'm beginning to wonder if you'll be anything other then a mystery to us." Amy and REi stared at each other but kept hteir mouths shut. An explanation for another time.
"Heh, sorry Pidge, and before you guys ask, no, people from my world don't have wings."
"Your world?"
"Do yourself a favor John, don't ask." Dimmer shook his head, and brought a hand up to rub his temples, he was starting get a headache besides everything else.
"Fair enough, but I'll wanna hear about it after you're feeling better."
"Sure thing. Sounds like you've all had quite a time of things, how's everyone else?"
"They're fine Dimmer, you just missed them. They'll probably be by tomorrow to see you. We're not the only ones who had big week, you must be tired yourself. Try to get some sleep."
"Well that might be a little difficult…" Dimmer turned back to the wings, moving slowly so not to rip himself open, "I've never slept on wings before, it can't be comfortable…"
"I'll go fix you something to help that," Rei said getting up, "I've been looking into Grandpa's medicine books, and I found a nice tea recipe that's good for making someone sleep."
"Uh… right" Dimmer sweatdropped, she was probably looking for that for sometime before this, she always hated his sleeping habits. Rei wasn't far from slipping things into people's tea if she thought it was in their best interest … "thanks…"
"I think that's our cue to leave Pidge, hey Dimmer, it's good to see you up eh? Keep those spirits up we're all rooting for you here."
"The whole force, we're all in this together. Coming Greg?" Pidge waved good bye as John turned him around and wheeled him out.
"In a minute." He looked to Amy, "you need a way home Amy?"
"Yeah, now that I know Dimmer's alright. That okay Dimmer?"
"Yeah sure, go on, have fun you two," he winked at Greg, who blushed almost half as much as Amy.
Amy gave him a playful swat, "You stop that. Take care Dimmer." She leaned over to hug him, taking care to stay away from most of the sore spots on his back, which happened to take up most of his back…
"You too Aimes." He hugged her back, whatever happened must have put everyone through a lot of worryin' to treat me like this' he thought to himself. Ah well can't be as bad as falling off Tokyo tower and getting hit by lighting twice…
She released Dimmer and waved as she walked out the door Greg held opened for her. Greg looked back in on Dimmer, there was an awkward silence between the two, You could tell Greg was searching for something to say.
"Dimmer, you alright?" it was all he could come up with, it didn't matter he was certain Dimmer understood.
"Yeah, no worries b'y. You take care with her right?"
"Of course," Greg stared after Amy, and then back to Dimmer. He knew Dimmer didn't know yet, there was no way for him to know. It was so obvious to him, didn't anyone else see it? But being the only one to know, it put Greg in a place where he didn't know what to say. He knew they would find out soon enough. "You take care of yourself from now on okay? We're all worried about you."
"Like I said, no worries." What was this? And why was it coming from Greg of all people? "Worries only make people die quicker. Things'll work out. You shouldn't keep her waitin' ya know? Doin' that to girls tends not to be good for your health."
Greg nodded, smiled and waved as he slid close the door behind him. He sighed. Greg had known for a while now, but he couldn't come out and say it, people would think he's insane… He had to let them discover it for themselves. Though Greg's main power of telling the future seemed weaker then it used to be, all of the limited abilities his powers had before seemed to be strengthening. Being able to tell what's happening in the present for one, some images of the past, and still a few in the future, but recently a newer ability seemed to come to him. The power of telepathy, or see into another's mind. He had just done so with Dimmer, and what he saw there, confirmed what he had saw in the images. He remembered his first flashes into the future and present, he had no idea what to make of it then, but he could tell what they were now. And he just witnessed Dimmer experiencing the same type of thing. Dimmer was born with his abilities. Although obviously no where near as strong… and he looked so much like her, he smiled, anything that reminded Greg of her made him smile. But what did Dimmer's ability showing itself mean? Dimmer having a bit more of an edge against enemies maybe? That's good. He was proud of him, as proud as he could be.
He remembered what Dimmer had said, he had things worked out, not to worry… Once again Greg sighed to himself. "I'm sorry Dimmer, the worries for you are just beginning, but I trust you. It's the least I can do, after all, you are my …"
"Greg!" Amy called out, much more cheerful then she had been for the last two weeks. It was good seeing her back to her old self again. "Come on! We have to go! Don't keep the officers waiting!"
"Okay Amy, I'm coming now."
Sailor Moon Says!
"Hi again, Sailor moon here! Today Lita was feeling really guilty. All of her vengeful feelings, only turned to regret. They always seem to. Vengeance is always wanting more, and never leaves you satisfied, it only ever leaves you with guilt, knowing you've accomplished nothing but hurting someone. In the end it isn't really worth it, especially over small things. Remember, for whatever reason you have, everything you do to get back at them is all towards the goal of hurting someone... a grudge will hurt you more then it can ever hurt them.
Reality Check:
Author "to hell with you guys! This chapter took long enough! P
Reviewers Ahoy:
Ishkabod: Dude! thanks for the reviews, hopefully more laughs came your way sometime during this chapter. Indeed such was my first fight scene ever. I may try going that detailed again after this. Might help stop that DBZ thing from happening.
Hart: Eh yo again Hart! Hope ya haven't completely forgot about me. Yes the story with the monkey kid is indeed Dragonball (notice no 'Z' so refers to the first series) you may have noticed references to a couple other anime throughout this fic, like say Ranma 1/2, and Slayers.
As for little girl killing? Well, actually it was written in the diagram of the chapter to kill her to show just how sick, twisted, and uncaring the werewolf could be. Talenite just kinda jumped in there on his own without my permission, which is why I have to bring him back so quickly! Jeez, he still has some major plot lines to deliver…
The end was confusing? I thought I made it clear… oh well, try to remember all reality checks should be kinda tacked on to each other, they'll make sense as its own part of the story, I swear! As for updating soon? Heh… heh…ugh… read formal apology below?
Sonar de mercury: Done and done.
Endnotes:
All readers have my apologies. I ended last time saying "with any luck" well, I was quite incorrect, for one manner of luck harassed me much. The manner of luck known as 'bad'. I had indeed finished this chapter, and in fact another after it, when a multiple amount of evil viruses decided it was high time to eat my hard drive.
And so they did.
And so I cried.
After buying a new cpu, months of trying to force myself to rewrite my precious lost chapters, and was near to throwing it all away, someone came to me with copies of the chapters I sought. Horrid, unedited chapters of painful reading, that I have edited and put here now, Valor's explanation was completely missing from this chapter and was rewritten from scratch, and now I must go back and read through so much fic in order to stop the plot holes from swallowing it whole.
I have no idea how long til next update, but I'll try to make it somewhat quicker than the last 7 or so !?MONTHS?!
Ugh, anyway, I am extremely sorry about keeping all of you waiting. It has been a most… umm… frustrating… time, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter to make up for it. Peace.