Stone Ashes
Chapter 3
by - DreamHeart (a.k.a. - smileybecka)
AN – Hey, ya'll! Hope you enjoyed the holidays. This chapter and the majority of the first two were edited/beta'd for me by Princess Serenity Usagi Chiba. Unfortunately she won't be able to edit for me all the time, so I'm in the market for a new editor/beta. Someone who can catch my mistakes and let me bounce ideas off of them. If you're interested feel free to email me or PM me at ASMR (smileybecka) or the forums at princessserenityDOTnet. Thanks!
On another note, 'A Fallen Rose' just won third place in Best FanFiction of the Year at in their Annual People's Choice Awards .
DISCLAIMER – I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon or any of its characters BUT I DO OWN the story. Remember plagiarism is bad!
Ami was unusually tired today. For some reason she just couldn't manage to fall asleep and stay asleep lately. Just when she entered her R.E.M. cycle she would suddenly wake up. It was as if a part of her didn't want to dream.
It was definitely peculiar – and it was what forced her to drag herself up the one hundred steps of the shrine. Inwardly she cursed the architect as she passed under the torri; however, her complaint became a thing of the past when she suddenly felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders – at least for the time being. They say that the torri is the gateway between the worlds – the spiritual and mortal. She sighed. She was bewildered, for once in her life, and that scared her most of all.
'I've got to stop this. No more worries, Ames. Relax. Your friends are here.' She slid open the rice paper screen door to Rei's room to find that everyone was already the, even Serena. She smiled to herself at that fact. Serena was truly becoming a princess. 'No,' she corrected herself, 'a queen.'
"Ami! You've got to try this strawberry cheesecake that Lita brought. It's to die for!" Serena squealed as she popped another forkful of cake into her mouth.
Some things never change.
Lita smirked at the comment. "You sure do know how to flatter a girl, Sere."
It was then that Ami noticed her friend's haggard appearance. Something was definitely wrong. There were dark circles under Lita's eyes that were prominent even through the obvious lengths the girl had gone through to conceal them. Her normally neat ponytail was absent; instead Lita's wavy chestnut brown hair was left cascading down her back. There was also that habit of hers – kneading her hands together or cracking her knuckles – which she only did when she was agitated or nervous.
But she was not allowed to continue on with her train of thought as Mina's bell like voice pierced through her thoughts.
"Let's get started, shall we?"
"Yes, of course," Luna answered. She shook her head lightly in Serena's direction. The girl had taken such charge of things at the last meeting. It had made her want to burst her buttons with pride, but now Serena seemed content just to eat her cake and listen to the proceedings. Luna would have to take charge. "It's been almost a month since the fire reading and there has been no indication of an attack or of the Freeze. The fire, as we know from experience, is never wrong."
"We must remain vigilant with the training regardless. Venus, report," Artemis ordered.
Straightening immediately at the sound of her name, Mina began, "The training sessions have been going quite well. Lately we have been primarily focused on honing our hand-to-hand combat skills and everyone is showing improvement. Though I would like to continue working on these skills I do not wish that we devote the entire session to them any longer. It was necessary to have such intense training sessions before because we were irony, but I believe . . . ."
"It's 'rusty,' Venus," Artemis interjected. "Please continue."
"Yes, of course, rusty. Now as I was saying, I believe that it would better serve us to practice using our powers. Serenity and Endymion need to learn to better control their crystals and the Senshi need to increase our power levels if we are to protect and serve them to the best of our abilities in the future."
"Well said, Minako. Do as you see fit," Artemis smiled. He had trained her well. His little Minako, Mina for short, but he just never could seem to break himself of the habit of calling her by her rightful name, the name she was given at birth on Venus. True, she still had her flakey moments but that couldn't be helped. It was just her personality and he wouldn't have had it any other way.
"Serena?" Luna called bringing her charge out of her sugar daze. "Do you have anything to add? Any new business?"
Putting down her fork, Serena looked to Darien and then to the Senshi for any suggestions. "None that I can think of at the moment. Do any of you?"
'It's now or never.' Taking a deep breath Lita forced the words to come out of her mouth. "I have some new business, but before I begin I ask that there be no interruptions. This is going to be hard enough as it is."
"We'll save our questions to the end," Rei promised.
Six nodding heads in agreement eased the tension in her chest a bit.
"Ok, I've been having some rather 'strange' and 'disturbing dreams this past week." Taking a deep breath she plunged on, "I've been dreaming of the Silver Millennium and of Nephrite. I never even met him until that day, the day I learned that I was Jupiter and I'm dreaming about him. But these dreams aren't like any of the others we've ever had. They're so vivid, it's frightening. I can almost hear his voice long after I've woken up." 'Not to mention feeling his hot breath on the back of my neck or his strong arms encircling my waist.' "It's almost as if he were there, but he's dead. I killed him. He's long since dead. And what haunts me the most is the fact that I'm reliving my death during the Silver Millennium, a death that occurred at his hands. He slit me open all the way from my groin to the base of my throat and then as I lay dying he gently traces my jaw line and breathes in the fragrance if my hair. And with my last bit of life coursing through my veins I hurled a lightening bolt straight at his head. It's those last words that cut me deeper than any sword ever could – 'I love you, Lita, my firefly.'" She was openly trembling now though she didn't notice it. Nor did she notice when Serena and Ami each put an arm around her for support, she just plowed on because if Lita stopped now she wouldn't be able to talk about it again for awhile. "I don't understand why! The dreams that come before and after this horrible grisly scene are of a much gentler kinder man who loved me. And I can't help but feel like a fool for loving him too. But why, why after so many years? Why now? Whose sick twisted game is it to torture me this way?"
Dabbing away the tears that were freely flowing down Lita's cheeks, Serena whispered, "Are the rest of you having similar dreams?"
Silence was the response she was given.
It seemed to last for a lifetime.
Sitting there stone-faced Rei was inwardly screaming. No, this couldn't be happening. How could Serena be asking them to face these demons together? They had each loved a general of Earth, each been betrayed, and each killed at their lover's hands. No, she could not, would not, face this. But as her mulberry eyes once again came to rest on Lita's crumbling form a knot formed in her chest. Guilt. She was ashamed of her selfishness and suddenly realized the strength it must have taken Mina to even talk to her about it.
"I have," Mina and Rei confessed in unison.
Looking to Rei, Mina smiled. It seemed that the priestess had taken the first step in accepting their past – all for the sake of a friend. She was proud of her. She had come a long way since their conversation weeks ago and Mina now wondered if Rei's hesitance was because she too had relived her death. "I have not relived my death, though Artemis told me a long time ago how it happened. After I killed Zoisite he charged at me enraged and ran me through with his sword but in the process he impaled himself on mine."
Suddenly the room began to spin around Ami . . .
'Zoisite . . . .'
. . . .And Ami passed out.
"Ami!"
"Ami!"
There was a flash of reddish blonde hair. And then in a moment he stood before her. His long strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail tied with a blue ribbon but a few stray strands framed his face. With the sunlight dancing upon it seemingly giving him a halo.
"You're dead," she whispered. "Mina killed you. This isn't real."
The hope that had shined so brightly in his emerald eyes just moments before grew dimmer as he allowed his facial expression to grow somber. Taking a step towards her, he offered her his hand, "Please, Ami."
Never missing a beat she began to back away from him, with wide clear eyes studying him his every move for any indication of a threat. But as she studied his movements her traitorous eyes couldn't help but hungrily drink in every detail of his gold trimmed grey uniform, the insignia that named him Endymion's fourth general pinning his jacket shut at his collar. She also recognized the insignia next to it – the symbol of Mercury.
"Ami, remember, please, Ami."
"No, you heard them. You heard Lita. How can you ask this of me?"
"You can't suppress it forever, Echo."
"Don't call me that," she snapped. She didn't know why but a part of her ached when he called her that name. 'It was obviously a term of affection but why 'Echo'? It was the name of the water nymph that fell in love with Narcissus. The nymph that had been cursed - cursed to echo the words of others, never to be able to speak for herself. The nymph that wasted away pining after Narcissus.'
"Echo –"
Clutching both sides of her head in both anger and frustration as part of her writhed in pain, Ami screamed, "I told you not to call me that! Not now, not ever!"
Making use of this momentary weakness, Zoisite closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her trembling form. Bearing the tirade of her fists against his chest, her struggling to free herself of his touch, her screams to let her go, to leave her alone, to leave her in peace, and her angry tears, all he could do was whisper, "Remember, Echo. Remember why I called you that, remember the first time we met, the first time we kissed, our first fight. Remember it all – the good and the bad. Don't let fear rule your life anymore. Let them help you and then you can pass judgment on my soul."
Letting out a shaky breath in defeat Ami dropped her hands to her sides and slowly nodded.
"Good." Brushing away the tears from her eyes affectionately, he pressed something into her hand and released her. "Until we meet again, my sweet Echo."
As he turned as walked away the world began to spin until the next thing she knew was that . . . .
She was on the battlefield fighting back to back with Lita against each wave of the Dark Kingdom's minions with Mina and Rei just a few thousand yards away.
Everything had happened so fast. One minute they were all enjoying one blessed night of peace during these tumultuous times and the next they were being told of the desecration of their homes and facing the destruction of the Moon Kingdom as well.
She could see them all standing there in the Queen's private chambers just moments after those dreadful words had been spoken. Lita had fallen to her knees and sobbed into her hands. Mina had collapsed into a nearby chair too stunned to even cry. She had run into Serenity's open arms allowing the silent soul wracking sobs to pour out of her. But Rei had just stood there stone faced and whispered the words she would never forget, "The worst is yet to come." Rei had known and never said a word.
'Mercury, scan the defenses and report,' Mina's telepathic command rang in her ears breaking her previous train of thought.
Willing her visor to appear before her eyes it only took a few moments for her to complete her task. 'We have to make our way back to the palace. The gates won't hold for much longer without us. The city's already fallen. We have to protect Serenity.'
'You heard her ladies. We'll each take a gate – Mars, north, Jupiter, west, Mercury, east, and I'll take the south.'
As the last of Mina's orders reverberated over their telepathic link she spotted them, the Shitennou, standing at the top of a nearby hill. Taking only the time to finish off a youma she shouted over their link, 'Look! They've come back, just as promised!'
Indeed it was the Shitennou that made their way towards the still fighting Senshi, barely noticing the blood soaked battlefield around them. A strange wind blew causing their hair to fly sinisterly around them, their eyes each holding a tinge of red.
'Thank the gods,' she heard Lita whisper as she placed a well aimed kick to the side of a youma's head effectively breaking its neck.
'Keep at it. They'll be here soon enough,' Rei called, but her voice held a touch of sadness that Ami chose to ignore.
Despite the alarm bells that Rei's words had caused to echo in her mind, Ami allowed her heart to rule just this once as she left Lita's side for the comfort of his arms. She needed to kiss him, to hold him, to hear him speak her name at least one last time for her to continue protecting Serenity, to continue fighting. For once she didn't care what the consequences might be because they might not even live to see tomorrow. All that mattered was that the man she had freely given her heart and soul to was safe and had come to help her, to help them. Just one last time and she could die fulfilling her duty.
'Ami! Come back! They're coming! Lita needs your help! This could mean a court marshal!' Mina's frantic pleads fell on deaf ears as Ami continued onward.
And she was almost within in the reach of her husband's arms when she heard Mina scream. Turning around she spotted the reason. Artemis was lying at Nephrite's feet with chest full of razor sharp throwing stars that had pierced his armor.
'Ami! Get back here now! There's still time, Ami!' Rei begged as Ami changed direction and began to move towards Artemis. 'There's something wrong . . . .'
But the last of Rei's words were lost to Ami as, to her horror, a sword emerged from her abdomen and she felt his hot breath on her ear as he breathed, "So long, Echo."
Then kissing her temple Zoisite pulled his sword out of her back, allowing her to fall to her knees at his feet clutching her stomach, and began to wipe it clean on his pant leg with a smug smile.
Blinded by his own arrogance he never saw Venus's deadly blow coming and in one swift move she severed his head from his body.
But Ami never knew this. In her final moments she berated herself for her weakness as memories of her life flashed before her like snapshots in a photo album – the first time she met Serenity, when she had learned that she was a Mercury, the first time she met her friends, the first time she met Zoisite, their first kiss, taking him home to Mercury to meet her family, his proposal, their marriage, everything. And then with her last breath she whispered, "I hate you, Zoi, my Narcissus, I hate you."
"Darien, do something. Why can't you just heal her? What's wrong?" Serena pleaded for the thousandth time since Ami had become unconscious.
"I don't know, Sere. We just have to wait and see. Just pray," Darien whispered in reply.
A few moments afterward Ami began to stir and her eyes fluttered opened.
Serena launched herself at her friend with tears in her eyes, "Oh, Ami! We were so worried. Don't ever do that again! Are you ok?'
"Let her sit up a bit, Sere," Darien told her gently.
Serena let out a breath of air she hadn't realized she was holding, did as asked, and joined the others in the little circle they had formed around Ami when she had first passed out.
And it was only then that Ami noticed that there was something in her left hand as she slowly sat up. Opening her hand she found a fist full of blood and at the center of it the bloody sliver Mercury insignia that Zoisite had worn in her dream. At the sight of it tears began to run down her cheeks and a soul worn sob escaped her throat.
Serena wrapped her in arms once again allowing her friend to just let it all out as the others sat shocked and teary eyed at her open bloody hand and the symbol that lay nestled in it.
Once she had calmed down a bit, it was Rei that broke the uneasy silence, "What did you see?"
Taking a deep breath and fighting back the urge to cry, even though she had no more tears to shed, Ami whispered, "I saw him. He was wearing his Terran uniform and the insignia that names him Endymion's fourth general and this," once again showing them her bloody hand.
"Let me take care of that," Darien offered taking her hand into his own to heal it.
Nodding she saw a gentle golden light surround her hand and in a few moments her hand was good as new. Withdrawing her hand, Ami whispered, "Thank you," and continued. "He begged me to remember, took me in his arms, and then pressed something into my hand. I suppose it was this, the Mercury insignia. It names him the Prince of Mercury, my husband. And then I was on the battlefield with you and I saw them. I saw him and I ran to him. Rei begged me not to, but I did anyways. Nephrite attacked Artemis and as I moved to help him, Zoisite ran me through with his sword and whispered in my ear 'So long, Echo.'"
"What does this mean? None of us have actually had an encounter with them other than in our memories before, not to mention waking up with something they had given us?" Mina inquired.
"I don't know," Rei answered. "I've been sleeping in fifteen minute intervals for these past three weeks, since I had my dream. Something must be happening or changing. There's no doubt about it something very important is going to happen."
Clearing his throat to get their attention, Darien pulled a small velvet pouch out of his pocket. "I think I have something that may be able to help us understand." Opening it, he pulled four small gemstones out and laid them flat in his hand. "The general's souls have been trapped here since the destruction of Metallia. They were afraid that they would again fall to evil since Beryl condemned them to be in her service in every life since the Silver Millennium and encased themselves in these stones to prevent their rebirth. I believe that the combined power of the Golden and Silver Crystals will be able to break them of this curse one day. They have been advising me and are most definitely not who they were during the Dark Kingdom. They may have the answers to the questions you have. It is up to you whether or not you want to talk to them." Handing each of the Senshi their former lover's respective stone, he instructed them, "If you want to talk to them just say their names and they'll appear in spirit."
Glancing hesitantly at one another and the stones each of the Senshi nodded.
"It's worth a try," Lita said.
Giving them a small smile, Serena hugged Ami and said, "It's ok."
"Kunzite."
"Jadeite."
"Nephrite."
"Zoisite."
Each whispered their former soul mate's, husband's, lover's, name one by one. And one by one the stone in their hand glowed with a soft golden light and shattered.
Author's Notes: And the plot thickens. A few things to note:
R.E.M. is the first stage of our sleep cycles. It is in this stage of sleep that dreams occur. Ami's sub-conscious was preventing her from entering this stage . . . keeping her from dreaming.
The complete Narcissus/Echo myth can be found in Edith Hamilton's "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes." It's a Greek myth and the reasoning behind its use in this story will become clearer as the story progresses.
Beryl did curse them to be HER warriors every time they are reborn. You can find it in Vol. 3 of the manga. And in Vol. 2 & 3 you can find the confirmation that the Shitennou were Endymion's Generals . . . or more accurately Princes in their own right. After all Shitennou means "Four Heavenly Kings."
As you can see the final battle and the deaths of the Senshi are becoming clearer with each new dream . . . kind of like the pieces of a puzzle. Ami's dream? Well, you'll just have to stay tuned to find out the meaning of that one.
Don't forget to review!
