ALL THAT GLITTERS

Chapter 6: "The Place Of Anything You Want"
A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic

By Bill K.

Fisheye paused at the door of the temple. The temple maiden wanted to enter, but he was unsure if he should. His lord, Helios, knelt before the alter, lost in deep concentration and Fisheye didn't want to disturb him.

Helios had been like this for hours. He searched the provinces of his influence, the dreams of mortals, searching for the love of his life. The Princess Usagi, Neo-Sailor Moon, was missing from the court of Crystal Tokyo, vanished ironically during a journey to see him. While others searched real space, Helios scoured the Dream Space. Perhaps she was the victim of foul play. Perhaps she had just taken a wrong turn and was lost. Relentlessly Helios searched with his mind. He had to find her and save her if he could.

And if it was too late - he at least had to know.

"Fisheye," a whispered voice came from behind the "maiden" with the sea foam green tresses and the flowing white gown, "resist the impulse to intrude." Fisheye found his fellow temple maiden, Ravonna, behind him, a single blonde lock dangling into eyes that seemed to see the past, present and future all at once.

"I know I shouldn't," Fisheye grimaced, embarrassed at being caught. "But it's just so hard to look at him like that. He's got a strangle-hold on it, but his very soul is so filled with desperation and anxiety. Tell me you can't feel it?" Fisheye glanced back at the priest of the land of dreams, the crystal horn affixed on the man's forehead catching the low light of the room. "We're his attendants. Can't we do something?"

"He has not asked for our assistance," Ravonna replied. "We must be ever ready to provide it when asked, but until we are asked we must remain in the background. Our Lord searches a vast realm for a single light. Were he to miss that light because he was distracted by unwelcome assistance, how much would we be assisting him?"

Ravonna observed the answer didn't satisfy Fisheye. She thought back to her sister, Evionne, who Fisheye had succeeded. Evionne would not have been satisfied, either. The woman reached out and caressed the surprised Fisheye's cheek with her hand.

"It is difficult, I know, to stand and wait when your urge is to act," Ravonna said with a hint of admiration. "We, too, serve who only stand and wait."

"That'll be small comfort if the worst happens," Fisheye scowled. "You know the future. Will she be found?"

"That is not for you to know, Fisheye," Ravonna replied tightly, "until it actually comes to pass." Regretting her ire, the woman softened, a hand reflexively guiding her blonde hair behind one ear. "I will say this: The Princess Usagi will not be saved by our Lord."

"Then why are we letting him waste his time like this?" Fisheye demanded.

"It keeps him busy," Ravonna whispered.


From inside a ball of white energy, five young teens looked at their surroundings.

"Oooooooooh!" cooed Sailor Pallas. "Look at the pretty colors!"

Swirling around the ball was a kaleidoscope of colors dancing and cavorting to a rhythm only they heard. It was a dazzling display and filled more than one of them with a tremendous sense of wonder and awe.

"Where do you suppose it's coming from?" Ceres asked.

"Sensei Mercury-Sama could probably explain it," Juno replied. "If I had to guess, it's probably light photons skidding against the edge of our energy bubble. Pallas, don't get distracted by the light show. We need you to concentrate on picking up the Princess's thoughts."

"Yes, Juno," Pallas replied penitently. Her eyes closed reluctantly and she went back to trying to pick up other thoughts.

"I don't get it," Vesta said. "We've teleported before and we've never seen a light show before."

"Maybe we're not traveling as fast because Sailor Moon isn't with us," Saturn proposed. "I'm just glad we were able to take off at all."

"Thanks to you," Ceres added.

"Me?"

"Come on, Saturn, we all know who gave us the extra boost," Ceres said. "If it were just us Asteroids, we'd still be on the Aero-pad."

"But I didn't do anything," Saturn maintained. "I'm no more powerful than any of you. Certainly not as powerful as Usa."

"You don't see it, do you?" Vesta grinned. Saturn looked at her curiously. "You're big leagues, Saturn. We're just trainees. You've fought with the Outer Senshi. You helped the Queen when she was Sailor Moon. And you've got a lot of kick in that little body of yours. Maybe you're not at the Princess's level, but you're not far behind. Sometimes I wonder what you can't do."

"No, that's not true," Saturn shook her head.

"Face it, girl. You're more powerful than the four of us combined."

"No."

"We don't hate you for it. That's the way it is. And hey, you're on our side, so that makes it a good thing."

"I'm not more powerful than any of you," Saturn maintained.

"Hate to break this to you, but you are," Vesta countered.

"I'M NOT!" Saturn cried. Instantly her cheeks colored and her gaze dropped.

"Saturn," Juno ventured, "there's nothing wrong with it."

Saturn kept her eyes down. She swallowed as if she were swallowing her mortification.

"You wouldn't say that," she whispered timidly, "if you'd seen - what I've seen."

An embarrassed silence filled the next few moments.

"Anything, Pallas?" Ceres asked.

Pallas vacantly shook her head, her eyes still closed and her mind still on task. The light show continued outside the suddenly cramped and confining energy sphere.


"I'm loathe to admit it," sighed Ami, sitting in her control chair, "but I'm beginning to think this course of action is impractical."

She was parked before Endymion's computer console in Endymion's den, the den that housed his vast and imposing computer control room. His gigantic computer network was focused on the task of tracking his daughter's journey into the inter-dimensional hyperspace nexus between their reality and that of Elysian. Endymion was at the main console, controlling the search through his cybernetic control chair which linked his mental commands to the computer. Assisting him was Ami and Artemis, while the others looked on with barely concealed concern. They had been at this for nearly ninety minutes, plotting all possible points Sailor Moon could have departed from her course to Elysian and scanning those courses for signs of her.

"We'll find her," Endymion maintained as he searched.

"But how soon?" Artemis asked wearily. "Simple process of elimination could take years to work."

"Years?" they heard Serenity gasp.

"And that's assuming she remains stationary," Ami added.

"I'm open to suggestions," Endymion replied thinly.

"Well, it isn't very scientific," Artemis began, "but instead of using a computer to track her path, maybe you need to do it."

Endymion stopped and looked at the cat curiously.

"You're tuned into her psychically," the white cat continued. "All you have to do is head for that point," and he pointed with his paw at the sensor map coordinates flashing on the screen, "then follow her projected path until you pick up some mental trace of her."

"Would that work?" Makoto posed.

"I think so," Rei responded. "Maybe I'm prejudiced, but I'd rather trust in Endymion's psychic link to Usa than a bunch of machines any day."

Artemis scowled and shifted uncomfortably. "It might not work. There might not be a trace of her left to pick up. Or she might have taken a different path than the projected one and you'd be searching a dead end. But I think you've got a better chance of picking her up than these computers do."

Endymion considered things for a moment. When he rose to his feet, everyone in the room knew he'd decided.

"I'm going with you," Serenity proclaimed. Endymion turned to her.

"Serenity," he began.

"Endymion, she's my daughter as much as she is yours! I need to go, too! I need to find her!"

"Someone has to stay," he tried to reason with her. "My mental link with her is stronger than yours. Logically I should be the one to go."

"Crystal Tokyo can live without me for a few days!" Serenity argued.

"It might take longer."

"I don't care!"

"Serenity," Endymion countered. "The Door of Time - it has to be safeguarded."

"Your Majesties," Sailor Pluto spoke up. "Do not concern yourselves with the door. I pledge to return to my post immediately. Nothing and no one shall pass - upon my - my newly returned life. This I swear."

Serenity turned back to Endymion, expectant now that his last argument had been trumped. When he didn't surrender, her large blue eyes began to water.

"Don't start crying," Endymion warned. He couldn't stand up to her tears and they both knew it.

"I'm not doing it on purpose," Serenity whimpered, falling into her familiar spot against his chest. "I just want to find her, Endymion! I need to know she's safe!"

Endymion sighed in frustration. He could feel everyone's eyes on him. He could feel his will melting away under the storm of her tears. He didn't want her with him. There was no way anyone could know what was out there, what their daughter might have stumbled into. The thought of Serenity possibly exposed to that danger was more than he could handle.

And if the worst happened and their daughter was found dead - he didn't want Serenity to see that. It was bad enough he would have to see it.

But it was just so hard to say 'no' to her when she was like this.

"I'll go," he said. Endymion pulled her away from his chest until they could meet eye to eye. "I'll find her."

"But . . ." Serenity began.

"We don't know what's out there," he said as sternly as he could manage in the face of those big blue eyes. "We don't know what's happened. You need to stay behind."

"Why?" she howled.

Endymion gave her a timid grin. "Just in case something happens to me, too." He felt her clench up. "If that happens, I'll need you and the senshi to save the day - Sailor Moon."

For a moment he thought she was going to disintegrate before his eyes. They all thought it. For a moment the only thing that seemed to be holding Serenity up was Endymion's grip on her upper arms. Then resigned acceptance came and the moment passed. Serenity nodded her head in defeat. And once again Endymion felt like a gigantic heel for disappointing her. Serenity turned and headed for the aero-pad. The senshi fell in behind her. Ami offered Endymion a timid glance of support as she followed her leader.

"I'll get Diana and keep looking down here," Artemis told him. Endymion nodded and headed for the door.

Up on the aero-pad, Endymion walked out to the center. Serenity stood off to one side, her four senshi along with Haruka and Michiru a pace behind her. The wind whipped along the pad, billowing skirts and tousling hair. The tails of Endymion's pastel gray tuxedo flapped in the strong gust, much the way Serenity's trails of blonde hair did.

Endymion took his place, then turned for a last look at the love of his long life. Without warning, Serenity burst forward and ran up to him. He was about to admonish her again, but held his tongue. Serenity reached him, braced herself with her hands on his chest, stood up on tiptoe and kissed him.

"You come back to me," she whimpered, on the verge of tears again. "I mean it!"

"I hear and obey, Your Majesty," Endymion replied. He leaned in and kissed her again. Serenity's lips clung to his, not wanting to release.

Finally he pulled away. She retreated a few steps. Endymion closed his eyes. Invoking the Gold Crystal, Endymion converted his form from matter to energy and sprang from the surface of the aero-pad into the heavens.

She sensed them before she felt them. Hands gently grasped her shoulders and she knew they were Makoto's. Her hands spread from her body. A hand closed around one and she knew it was Rei. The other was clasped and she knew it was Minako. Ami's presence hovered near by.

They'd come home safely. They had to.


"PALLAS HEARD HER!" Sailor Pallas squealed suddenly. "PALLAS HEARD THE PRINCESS!"

"Where?" Ceres gasped out, then realized that normal directions were meaningless in the inter-dimensional nexus they were in.

"Is she in trouble?" Saturn asked.

"She seems very happy," Pallas said, struggling to keep her concentration locked on the thoughts of Sailor Moon. "She keeps saying 'I love you, Helios'."

"I thought Helios said she wasn't with him," Vesta asked. "Suppose he actually lied to the King?"

"I don't know," Juno said. "The King seemed sure he couldn't."

"Yeah, well love finds a way," Ceres smirked.

"Or maybe it's something else," Juno proposed. "Pallas, are you still connected with the Princess?"

"Yes, Juno," Pallas murmured. "But Pallas isn't sure how long she can hold it."

"Can you take over the teleport sphere and guide it to her?"

"Pallas can try," the senshi squeaked. "But please don't be mad at her if she can't."

"Promise, Pallas," Juno smiled.

The senshi all felt the energy sphere shift. The on-rushing colors were no longer swirling. Now they rushed at them like speed lines. The sensation of passing through something flushed through their young bodies, much as it had when they entered the dimensional nexus. They were seconds away from their destination and all five senshi prepared.

The group materialized on the surface of a strange planet. Its surface was brown soil and rock while the sky was a deathly purple. The atmosphere was thin, but there, and Sailor Juno and Sailor Saturn suddenly realized just how fortunate they were that there was an atmosphere, for no one had thought that far ahead in case there wasn't one. The terrain was dotted with peculiar stalks at random intervals. The green stalks were about five feet high with about a half dozen or so long tapered leaves growing out of them. There were no flowers and hardly enough sunlight to sustain them. No other plant or animal life seemed to exist in the area. Instantly fascinated, Ceres studied them at a careful distance while the others looked around.

"I don't see Sailor Moon anywhere," Saturn proclaimed.

Just than Pallas sank to one knee. Vesta was by her side in an instant.

"You OK, Stupid?" Vesta asked with unconcealed concern.

Pallas nodded. "Pallas's head hurts a little," she whispered. "Pallas is sorry, but she couldn't hear the Princess anymore. This is as close as she could get us."

"It's OK," Vesta hugged her. "You did good." Pallas looked up at her and beamed.

"So where's here?" Juno asked. "And where's Sailor Moon?"

"And why would she come here?" Saturn continued the train of thought. "Was she helping someone?"

"Maybe this is where she and Helios meet secretly," Vesta proposed. "Not the most romantic spot I've ever seen, but I guess it's not where so much as who you're with."

"This isn't right," Ceres announced. The others looked at her curiously. She was kneeling on the ground, some soil in her hand.

"What isn't?" Juno asked.

"This!" she repeated, shaking the soil at the others. "This soil is practically barren! And from the sandy consistency, there isn't a lot of rainfall in this area."

"So?" Vesta growled.

"So what's keeping these plants alive?" Ceres demanded. "Look at them! They're not as healthy as they could be, but they're not nearly as bad off as they should be, given the environment they're in! They're not drawing nourishment from the soil!"

"The sun?" Saturn guessed.

"Not to this degree," Ceres shook her head. "Sure, they probably get a little bit of photosynthesis from those leaves, but not enough to explain growth like that. And there's no flowers for pollination, either! No seed pods!"

"So what?" barked Vesta. "Nobody but you cares about a bunch of stupid plants! We're here to find the Princess, not wonder about a bunch of flowers! Let's go!"

Ceres was about to respond when everyone's attention was caught by a boot scraping against a rock. They turned and found Sailor Pallas walking blindly toward one of the stalks.

"Pallas?" Juno called out. When she didn't respond, Vesta started toward her.

"Mommy?" Pallas asked aloud as she walked toward the stalk. It was an astonished tone, as if the senshi couldn't believe her good fortune.

"Pallas, come back here!" Vesta shouted as she sprinted toward the girl.

"MOMMY!" Pallas cried, breaking into a run. Before Vesta could get to her, Pallas reached the stalk and wrapped her arms around it, hugging it gratefully.

And before the horrified eyes of the other senshi, the stalk's long leaves came to life and wrapped tightly around Sailor Pallas. The girl went limp in their grasp, her head lolling back. And though her eyes were vacant and unseeing, she had the most satisfied smile on her face.

Continued in Chapter 7