It was a sunny cool day when Elysion was able to leave the med wing. She was very happy when Ami said she could leave, she didn't like to be so inactive for so long. She took a deep breath and stretched. She smiled as she walked along the sidewalk, just enjoying the fact that it didn't have for wall. For some reason, she developed a small phobia of small-enclosed spaces. She couldn't fathom way she did; only that she did.

Shrugging it off, she thought about the next thing, why there hadn't been any real attacks lately. Sure a few minor attack, but nothing to the scale, as it had been when Uranus was attacked. She shivers a little as her thoughts turned towards the Senshi of the Wind. 'Such a proud figure reduced to a person barely alive and weak. She needs her crystal, that is the only way to save her.' She stops outside a building staring at it. There were little signs and dolls in the window. She tilts her head and went in, intrigued by the name of the store: 'Guujin Players'.

She walks into the store and looks around. She was amazed how some of the puppets and dolls seemed old and very antique, yet a few of them were modern. "What an odd store."

She mutters and stops, staring at a particular doll. The doll was African based, with braids on its head and little bead decorating it. It had a necklace that seemed to be made of black marble and white, red and black beads. She blinks and looks closely at it. The puppet's skirt seemed to be hand sown with little shapes that was mostly triangles that ranged with the necklace scam. She noticed the eyes were closed and there was an earring in it's left ear. She reached up and touched the puppet.

"Who's there?" An elderly voice calls out. "Come on, tell me!"

To Elysion, he sounded defensive, as if expecting trouble. She let her hand fall to her side and walks over to the man. She was correct in both being defensive and old. The man was holding his cane, as if ready to attack anyone who was foolish enough to take something from there. His face was wrinkled and his beard neatly trimmed, as was his mustache. He would a white shirt underneath a brown buckskin vest and black slacks with polished black shoes.

Elysion looks at him, almost curiously and bows, showing respect to the elderly man. "I'm Elysion, sir." She looks at him as she straightens up. "I came to this shop because I was curious. You have beautiful puppets here." She paused a moment before asking, "And what shall I call you, sir?"

The old man looks at her with intelligent, yet oddly warm, dark eyes, as if measuring her worth. "You may call me what ever you wish, Elysion." He smiles, "You're a proud one I see, yet very aware."

She blinks, not sure whether or not to thank him. Deciding on the latter then former, she smiles at him, "Thank you, grandfather." She said deciding she should call him that since he reminded her of a kind grandfather, "You do not mind if I call you that?"

He shook his head; "It has been long since I had company. I do not mind." He gestured his cane to the chair across from him. "Have a sit my dear."

She did so looking around, "This place seems odd, yet I think it is very lovely. I like the puppets." She gestured to one. "They are very well made, I like that."

He nods, "Yes, I have gathered many on my travels around the world." He leans back, "From the Heart of Africa to Canada and Brazil, I find puppets made all over the world. They are beautiful things, aren't they?"

She nods and looks at another one, "I do not think I would dare touch one in fear it would break."

The old man studies her for a moment, "Do you believe in souls, Elysion?"

She blinks, surprised at the question and nods, "If not souls then life force."

"Do you believe dolls have a life of their own? That they house the souls of those gone by?"

She tilts her head, regarding him. Curiosity was lit in her eyes as she studies him. "If puppets had such things, the they would not be puppets, would they?"

He raise a bushy brow and smiles a little, "Even those with souls are being played by the puppet master, who pulls and tugs at the strings."

'I never thought of that.' She stares at him, 'A puppet is like a slave, per se. The Master orders the slave around and pulls at their strings making them do things. If you cut the strings, the puppet will be free to run away and the show would end.' She blinks almost amazed at her own sense of logic. "Cut the strings and the play would be over, the puppet would be free."

The elderly man nods smiling that she understood. "The puppet master and strings can be anything, Elysion. Sometimes the strings and master are necessary, and sometimes they are not. It is all how the puppet sees them."

Elysion walked home, her mind filled with the day's events. Meeting the old man had been a surprise and was an interesting encounter. Overall, she enjoyed going there and spending time with him. He was an interesting fellow. 'He even put on a puppet show for me and let me play with some of them. I think I would visit him everyday, if I have the time.' A smile tugged at her lips as the sun was setting leaving the moon to take the sky as it's domain.

As she neared the palace, Elysion had an uneasy feeling that someone was watching her. She glances back feeling a little more edgy because she didn't see anyone that was particularly following her. She bit her lower lip and continued to the palace, passing everyone around her. Her heart began to pound harder and harder as she felt the urge to run become more irresistible with each passing moment. Soon, she found herself running full out, dodging and pushing some people, making a way through the crowd.

She stops abruptly backing away, nearly falling to the ground. She searched the crowd, but no one stopped, no one paid any attention to the distressed girl. She looks back and took off down an alley, trying to lose her pursuer in the maze of the city. She ran until she found herself trapped. She knew very well she couldn't transform in front of him.

"Leave me alone!" She snarls bringing up her fist. "I've done nothing to you!"

He smiles, "No, but you will do something for me, dear Elysion."

She narrows her eyes and jumps up over his head and ran away.

He smiles, grinning really, watching her retreat to the crystal palace.

She nears the palace once again; slowing down after she had made sure he was no longer following her. She shivered, shaken greatly by the encounter. She took in a shaky breath and let it out as she attempted to calm her nerves down. As soon as she was sure she was no longer afraid or shaking uncontrollably, she walks in, almost calmly to the door. It was almost as if nothing had happened. Just as she stepped in, a loud roar erupted behind her, making her jump and spin around to see what had created such a sound.

'Oh great' she thought somewhat bitterly, 'another shadow demon.' Heaving a sigh, she raised her hand as the others arrived. "TERRA POWER, MAKE UP!" She chants and transformed into Neo Terra. She walks out of the safety of the shield barrier looking up at the monstrous thing of darkness.

"Just what we need." Neo moon complained. "Another one of those retched things!"

"Be glad that you are not facing it alone." Venus told her, reprimanding her lightly.

Just as she said that, Lady Avon appears. "So, if it isn't you pathetic senshi!" She crowed, "Ready to give up?"

Mars snarls, "Never you tramp!" She starts chanting, "Mars Flame SNIPER!!!"

The fiery arrow whizzed by the woman's dress, catching it on fire. Lady Avon screams and glares at Mars as it went out. "You're NEXT!!!"

"ROSE BARGE!!!" Neo Terra had jumped up and thrown a rose up in the air. As she did so, the rose petals multiplied and blinded the woman, stopping her next attack.

Smiling Terra fell down, readying her landing when an enormous hand swat at her. The momentum carried her over, hitting a tree and sinking down, unconscious. The hand reached out and grabbed Mars and Neptune, who scarcely had time to react as it took their crystals. Their transformations faded to reveal their clothes they had before.

Lady Avon laughed at the senshi, even after they had managed to pull enough power together and destroy the beast.

"Ahahahaa…" She grins maliciously, holding the two precious crystals of Neptune and Mars. "It seems the invincible Senshi of the Sol System, are not as powerful as they say!"

Again, her laughter was heard as she disappears.

Neo Terra groans softly as she tries to wake up, she looked up as the vile woman disappeared. With a small whimper, she falls back unconscious.

An: a little more exciting...who's this old man? what the hell is going on?

Even I dunna know...O.o;; oh well R&R