Stone Ashes: Chapter 5

By: DreamHeart (a.k.a. smileybecka)

AN: I know that its been a long time, I promise the fic is not dead. Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon or any of its characters. I DO OWN the story. Remember plagiarism is bad.


Haruka stuffed her hands in her pockets as she paced the length of the cavern. She was frustrated, frustrated that she was useless. Her tawny eyes flickered once more to her princess.

Serena was curled up into a ball in Darien's lap with her tear stained face buried in Darien's chest. She was scared out of her mind. It was to be expected. The explosions that were going on outside were enough to deafen one . . . worse than any other thunderstorm. Rubbing her back Darien cooed words of comfort in her ear, trying to calm her down.

Haruka's eyes clouded with anger and desperation. She felt like punching a wall. She felt so helpless as she watched her princess cower in the prince's arms – helpless to stop the attack and helpless to save the princess' family.

Her eyes darted then to the Senshi of Time, who met her with a calm even gaze. It unnerved and infuriated her all at the same time. Haruka forced herself to look away and instead picked up her pace. The only thing that held her tongue was the knowledge that the Outers' presence would disrupt the time continuum. Disrupt the time continuum? There were always threats to the time continuum – their presence was no different. Suddenly she could feel Setsuna's eyes boring into her back but chose to ignore it. She would obey orders . . . even though disobeying those orders might save her liege pain.

Sighing Haruka suddenly stopped, ran a hand over her face, and then turned to her lover.

Michiru was sitting cross-legged as she leaned against the wall. Holding Hotaru's hand more to comfort herself than the younger senshi, Michiru glanced up meeting Haruka's gaze.

It was only for a few seconds but it felt like a lifetime. Haruka could feel every emotion that Michiru was experiencing and was unsurprised to find that they mirrored her own. All except one that is – an overwhelming sense of fear and dread all for the little girl that both of them considered to be their only child.


Venus stood in a pool of blood shaken to the core. Closing her eyes she prayed that the grisly scene was just merely an illusion. But no matter how much she wished or prayed, she knew the truth – her parents were dead. And as she opened her eyes once more, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Stepping forward she was bombarded by the sick sweetly smell of blood. It was everywhere. As she walked her heels splashed her calves with the sanguine liquid in cold indifference to her inner agony.

Standing above her mother, Venus bit her lip as guilt threatened to overwhelm her. The chant had triggered this; she should have killed her the moment it began . . . but she didn't know. She didn't know. It was a pitiful excuse of an apology but that's all she could offer the decapitated, dismembered woman before her, her mother . . . Mama.

Mama. Mama that would scold her for being boy-crazy, flighty, and irresponsible. Mama, the one who took care of her when she was sick, that would surprise her with a new dress when she was depressed, the one who had talked her father into letting her keep Artemis and drove her to her first modeling job. Mama, her mama, the one that she'd often fought with but loved nonetheless . . . the very same Mama whose face was transfixed in horror.

Venus felt bile rise up in throat. Forcing herself to look away she caught a glimpse of her father. Sinking to her knees, she continued to stare at her father. He was slumped over in a corner of the room and apparently had suffered a similar fate.

Venus placed a hand over her eyes and gulped. She wanted to scream, to cry. She felt more like a lost little girl than she did a Senshi and had the distinct impulse to curl up into a ball and die. She was just as responsible for their deaths as she was the deaths of her people.

'Enough!' a voice echoed in her mind. 'Get up.'

Venus didn't move.

'Get up, now. There is a time and a place for everything and this isn't it.'

The voice was liquid steel. She glanced up, forced herself up, and answered, 'And when is, Kunzite?'

'Nothing will change what happened. There are still the prince and princess to think of.'

She could almost see him standing there – ordering her to fulfill her duty. She imagined him in his crisp white uniform, his long hair tied back loosely at the base of his neck, his lavender gaze ice. But she remained bolted in place.

'How long do you think it will be before Eris figures out how to escape Jupiter's grasp? How long will you sit there full of self pity? Interrogate her, get the information you need, and kill her.'

Venus recoiled and grabbed her cheek as if he had slapped her. She knew he was right – he always was. Her crystal eyes glanced tearfully over her parents once more before becoming chips of steel. Her crystal sword materialized in her hand and she stormed out of the room.

And somewhere Kunzite smiled.


"Let's get going," Mars gently prodded. "There's no time to waste."

Nodding Mercury surveyed the devastation once more before turning on her heel and breaking into a run. It was not long before Mars had caught up with her.

Surveying the road before them with fresh eyes, Mercury frowned. The impact of the asteroid had effectively destroyed all nearby buildings which would leave them stranded once they encountered the panicked masses again. In fact, most of the surrounding area had been pretty much leveled leaving them with little or no protection from detection. Not to mention the possibility of flash fires, which once again appeared in her mind's eye. "We need to be more careful than ever," she called to Mars. "It was safer when we at least had some sort of cover."

'We're sitting ducks,' Mars sighed. "How much farther do you think it is to the hospital?"

"A few miles at least."

"Be on the look out for anything we can use as cover. Evasive tactics." But as soon as the words were out of her mouth she saw them - two streams of fire tearing through the sky.


Venus entered the hallway like an angry thundercloud with Kunzite's words still burning her ears. Watching Jupiter's eyes widen in horror as she approached she met her emerald gaze with an icy stare, her intent more that apparent – 'Move.'

Numb with shock Jupiter mutely complied. Then quicker than she could blink, Venus was kneeling and had Eris by the roots of her hair.

"Now we're going to play a little game," Venus said in a dangerously low tone as she lovingly drew her blade across the vulnerable snow white flesh of Eris' throat. Smiling to herself as she watched a small trickle of blood escape, Venus slammed her to the ground. Standing now, she could practically smell Eris' fear. Taking advantage of this Venus ground her heel in the small of her back. Ignoring Jupiter's piercing gaze on her back, she brought her sword down with a quick flick of her wrist just an inch above the back of Eris's neck. "My sword is going to start an inch above your neck and for each lie you tell me it gets half an inch closer until you're dead. Now let's begin. Who do you work for?"

Silence.

"I believe the lady asked you a question," Jupiter demanded as she stepped away from the wall to join Venus. "Who do you work for?"

"Orpheus. I work for Orpheus," Eris replied.

"Good now we're getting somewhere. Now," Venus paused. "What does he want with the crystal."

"I don't know."

"Wrong answer," Jupiter growled as Venus lowered her blade half an inch.

Eris gulped. "He wants what is rightfully his. He wants to rule the universe."

'Same old, same old. Why do they always think the crystal is theirs?' Venus wondered. "Why the asteroid strike?"

"I don't know."

"Strike two, next one you die," Jupiter stated as she folded her arms across her chest.

Eris inhaled sharply as she felt the cold crystal blade press against her skin. "You posed too great of a threat. It'd be easier to get the crystal with the Senshi out of the way."

"Why not try and conquer the Earth like all the others?"

"I don't know, I swear," Eris begged.

Leaning down Venus murmured in her ear, "Such a pity, but I will more than enjoy this." With that she plunged her sword through Eris' neck.


On the Moon, a man with short blue-black hair and grey eyes leaned against the ruins of the prayer room, the room that only the queen could enter over a millennia ago surveying the Earth. He had sharp features, wore black trousers and a matching black military style jacket with silver trim and silver buttons,

Suddenly a man materialized behind him. Quickly kneeling and bowing his head he stated, "My lord, Eris is dead."

Without turning the grey-eyed man replied, "I know."

"She had the tracking crystal, sire."

Turning his head to look at his subservient, his grey eyes quickly fell upon a man with cropped silver hair, dressed in black boots, trousers, and a muscle shirt. "That is most unfortunate . . . but no matter. The Senshi have other weaknesses." Then he turned to completely face the man who knelt before him, his grey eyes meeting with the man's amethyst gaze. "Send word that Charon is to increase the asteroid strike immediately. Then see to it that our forces fan out. I want that crystal."

"That's suicide. We'll lose the majority of our forces."

"You will do as ordered," the grey-eyed man growled as a crackling ball of dark energy formed in the palm of his hand, "or die."

"Forgive me. You are a wise man, my lord. I will do as you command."

Wiseman. "Retrieve that crystal at all costs. You are dismissed." With that the grey-eyed man returned to gazing at the Earth. An evil grin crossed his face, as he felt his minion leave to carry out his orders. 'There will come a day when the White Moon wishes it never exiled me. Do you remember that day, Selene? Do you remember those words? I told you that just before they sealed me in that pitiful excuse of a black hole, trying to exile me from this universe. But of course you remember and now your grandchild will pay the price – with blood, as I take from her what is rightfully mine.'


Closing her eyes for but a moment, Setsuna silently analyzed the time stream. She could practically feel every emotion that was coursing through Venus' veins, but that was not important. What was important was that Venus' parents were dead and so was one of the enemy. Opening her eyes, she reminded herself of her mission, of her duty . . . time to go.

Pushing herself up, she closed her eyes once more and almost instantaneously was bathed in a shower of green stars. A moment later she was fully transformed. Turning then to the stunned faces that surrounded her, she assured them, "My duty is to protect you during the Great Freeze but my lingering presence threatens to disrupt the time continuum. You must face this fate alone. Forgive me." With that she opened a portal with the wave of her hand and stepped into it, leaving her confused stunned comrades in her wake never giving them a chance to respond.

Entering the mists of the Time Gate, Pluto listened to the comforting sound of her heels clicking against the stone floor as her eyes silently searched for something.

"I knew you would return . . . sooner or later," a voice called.

Continuing towards the voice she heard the voice call again.

"I granted you entrance when you told me your purpose was to guard them. But as guardian I cannot allow anyone entrance, not even you. You knew that and still you came."

"You seem to forget," Pluto answered, "the fact that I could have easily entered by force. I am stronger than you now – the result of fighting beside my fellow Senshi for all those years and witnessing many years of war and peace in Crystal Tokyo."

Magenta eyes identical to her own could now be seen flashing in the dim light. "Is that why she sent you? Because I am not strong enough to guard them?"

"Yes and no," Pluto responded as she stopped just feet away from what appeared to her twin. They were identical – from her emerald hair right down to the tip of her boot. Identical except that the woman that stood before her had softer features and a rounder face . . . youthful characteristics.

"May I remind you that I also lived in Crystal Tokyo, raised by Uranus and Neptune, while you fought beside your fellow Senshi in the past, and was then sent to train in the Silver Millennium? And when I was ready was sent here to guard the present, just as you guard the future."

"Trained during years of peace, you have never seen battle. It is much different. Your training ended because I could no longer remain in the past without disrupting the time stream. The Neo-Queen summoned me to the future and you were bound by law to remain always at this gate – under penalty of death."

The younger senshi's eyes flashed dangerously once more. "Exceptions are made everyday. The Queen could have released me, just as she released you all those years ago. So explain."

Leaning against her staff a sly smile graced her lips. "Why? You've already explored my time line. You know why I'm here. You know who is behind the attack."

Her younger counterpart furrowed her brow. "You are here to protect them from the man who will lead the Black Moon, Wiseman. I can see no more beyond the initial attack of Crystal Tokyo. But the Gate must always be guarded . . . . I assume she –"

"Yes, Saturn is guarding it in my stead, just as she did after the defeat of the Black Moon."

"Why couldn't she guard them or guard the -- " The younger senshi's eyes widened with realization. "Oh no."

"So now you know. There is no one beside you in this time capable of guarding the Gate. None of the others would be able to endure the solitude – they'd go insane. Who else would be strong enough to guard them while they are in such a vulnerable state? It is only fitting that they receive the best possible protection."

Bowing the younger senshi murmured, "I understand."

"Good and now we wait."


Everything was a blur. Mercury could remember Mars' scream and hitting the ground again, but that was it. All she knew was the somehow they had managed to cheat death once more and somehow her feet were pounding against the ground bringing her closer and closer to her mother. That's all that mattered – getting to her mother faster than ever. She didn't even know if Mars was behind her, she assumed she was but she couldn't be sure.

But as Mercury climbed a small incline the world suddenly came to a resounding halt. She stood rooted to the ground in total shock. Wrapping her arms around herself she sank numbly to the ground . . . but her eyes, her eyes never left the sight before her.

It was a huge pile of smoldering debris – no longer even recognizable as Tokyo General.

'Gone.' That single horrible cruel word echoed throughout her mind, throughout her very soul. 'Gone.'

Running up behind her, Mars felt her heart break the moment she set eyes on the hospital. All hope was gone that Ami's mother was alive. The university was gone, the hospital was gone, and so was everything in between for that matter. Forcing herself to look away from the devastation, Mars looked to her friend. Mercury was trembling now, rocking back and forth – practically on the verge of a total breakdown. Kneeling down beside her, Mars gathered the trembling girl in her arms. Resting her chin on Mercury's shoulder, she whispered, "It's ok. Just let it all out."

At that Mercury felt something inside her snap. The tears that she had been suppressing flooded down her face and her throat finally voiced the soul-searing pain that throbbed in her chest.

As the scream left Mercury's lips, Mars felt the Earth tremble as wave after wave of power surged from the petite woman's body. 'What the - ?' Mars' eyes widened as she watched the smoldering remains of the hospital and the surrounding area become encased in ice . . . in just a matter of seconds.

Mars' mind was running wild as she continued to comfort the sobbing woman in her arms. Is the Great Freeze happening already? Or was that just Mercury's powers responding to her emotions? Could Mercury be the reason for the Freeze?

But she was not allowed to continue with that train of thought, for just then the air around them began to swirl causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end and sending her senses into overdrive.

"Thanks for the smoke signals, ladies, they led us straight to you," a rich baritone sang in her ear.

Whirling around Mars found that there was no one there.

"Just tell us where the crystal is," a sultry and distinctively female voice purred to her left. "And we'll get this over with quick."

"But not necessarily painlessly," a raspy male voice called out in front of her. While to her right, someone let out a low chuckle.

'Four. There are four of them and we're surrounded . . . . And Mercury is in no condition to fight.' Daring to glance at the still crumbling woman in her arms, Mars knew that she couldn't, wouldn't, make her fight. Releasing Mercury, Mars stood and took a protective stance in front of her.

The air around them began to swirl once more causing her hair to dance. Frowning at her invisible enemies a thought struck her. 'Why should the bad guys be the only ones allowed to play dirty?' Then with her eyes smoldering dangerously, she whispered her attack, "Burning Mandala."Streams of fire flew from her fingertips creating a fiery circle as she turned.

Once the smoke began to clear four figures were just discernable in front o her – three men and a woman. As her visibility improved it was obvious that they were all dressed in black – black slacks and black military boots – and all slightly singed. Apparently the leader was the tall muscular man with short red hair. His bangs fell slightly into his bright violet eyes, while his sleeveless black muscle shirt showed off the expanse of his chest and his large sinewy arms. The woman leaned against him intimately. Her hair and skin starkly contrasted against her black tank top and other apparel, almost seeming translucent. Her long white blonde mane was tied back in a ponytail at the base of her neck to keep it from falling in her cat-like blue eyes.

The two men flanked the pair – each seemingly of average build and sporting a simple black t-shirt. The one to the left of the pair had short unruly black hair that fell into his eyes; while the one to the right had short wavy russet-colored hair and piercing green eyes.

Disentangling himself from the blonde, the leader stepped forward. "A firebrand, I see, my lovely. Not one to beat around the bushes, eh? So let me make this short and sweet."

'The baritone, the first voice,' Mars noted as she silently measured each of them up.

"My name is Lucius and you know why we're here. So where is it?"

"Like it would be that easy," Mars growled.

"Suit yourself." Then snapping his fingers, he called, "Bella."

Within a blink of an eye Mars was off the ground with the blonde's hand firmly around her throat.

Then suddenly a scream let loose, turning all attention to Mercury.

Her eyes, though still a bit bleary, were blazing. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides, as she emitted wave after waved of power.

And in the distance the ice encased ruins of Tokyo General exploded.

Closing her eyes Mars silently braced for impact.

Lucius and his men turned just in time to see hundreds of shards of ice hurdling towards them, before they were impaled. Bella, on the other hand, never saw what hit her. A shard beheaded her before embedding itself in Mars' thigh.

Falling to the ground, Mars threw Mercury half a grin. "Quick and dirty but nonetheless effective." But even as the words were leaving her mouth, spots of darkness began invading her vision and time began to stand still – until finally the darkness claimed her and she slumped to the ground unconscious.