Digimon: Silver Star Story

Episode Eighteen: The Ancient Shrine, Part One

"…And then," Ginny said, almost to the point of babbling, the little creature she had found purring contently from her lap as she scratched it behind the ears, "Professor McGonagall went ahead and transfigured herself into a cat. She does this every year for the students, from what I'm told."

Matt chuckled. "So, she's a shape shifter?"

"No, she's an Animagus."

"An ani-what?"

Ginny smiled. "An Animagus. It's someone who has the ability to become a certain animal. Professor McGonagall, for starters, can transform into a cat."

Matt whistled. "Man, talk about interesting. I assume she doesn't cough up hairballs when she's human."

"I wouldn't know. I never had the thought of asking her that."

"Well, it must give you and your friends…well, the friends in your world…something to think about."

As soon as those words were uttered, Matt would have given anything and everything to take them back. Almost immediately, Ginny's features darkened slightly, and her smile vanished. "Umm…Ginny?" he asked hesitantly. "Did I say something wrong?"

Ginny turned away, so her features were hidden from him. She didn't want him to see her like this, brooding over the past. "No, you didn't say anything wrong. It's just…I really don't allow people to get close to me. It's kind of a defense mechanism I developed from last year."

Now he was confused. They hadn't really talked about her first year at Hogwarts, simply because they hadn't known each other long enough to spill one another's darkest secrets. What had happened in her first year at Hogwarts was among those secrets. It was the one question he had been dying to ask, though. And it was obvious that this was something that was hurting her.

"Ginny, what happened in your first year?" he finally asked gently, deciding to take a chance. 'Probably this Tom Riddle guy. It sounds like she had a few problems with him.'

Ginny didn't turn around, though she wanted to. "I…" she hesitated. "I don't want to talk about it," she finally said. "It's too painful."

He scooted a little close, putting a hand on her shoulder. He could sympathize with her on that. Some of the decisions he had made in the Digital World were not ones he was very proud of. "Okay. Now, I'm not going to press," he said quietly, "but you can't keep it locked inside forever. Sooner or later, you going to have to talk to someone about it."

Ginny chuckled darkly, their little furry friend looking up with something approaching sympathy. "The last time I shared my feelings with someone, he ended up being someone else entirely. Someone…not entirely pleasant. So, I made a decision never to do that again."

'Mental note; if I ever meet this Tom Riddle, hurt him badly.' "And look where it got you," he retorted out loud. "Look, all I know about you is what you have told me, and vice versa. We both have stuff that we want to keep hidden. But the thing about keeping things hidden? Sooner or later, they come to light, and in a way we don't want them to." He snapped his fingers. "Tell you what. I'll tell you my deepest, darkest, secret, and you can tell me yours. Deal?"

Ginny turned around, ready to reply, when suddenly-

Matt, time to wake up.

She looked at Matt in confusion. "Friend of yours?" she inquired.

Matt sighed. He had lost the chance to learn more about her, and all because it was morning. "Sora," he replied, rubbing his head irritably. "She's one of my fellow Digi-Destined… and really crazy about waking up on time. I don't think she's ever slept in once in her life."

"Ah." Ginny suddenly stretched. "Looks like I'm going to wake up, too." She smiled apologetically. "Guess we're going to have to finish this conversation tomorrow night."

"Guess so," Matt replied, disappointed as always. So close, and yet so far. He didn't understand why he felt this way, only that he did. "Well, see ya tonight."

"You too. Bye."

-
Eyes blinked slowly open, as sleep faded away.

Serena stretched out languidly, getting the blood flowing through her limbs before getting to her feet. She smiled as she took in everything around her… which wasn't a whole lot, considering she was in a hut.

And she was not alone. Not surprising, considering that Rini and Amy as well as the cats were bunking with her. And for the most part, they were all still asleep. Quite surprising, Serena mused, as it was usually her they were trying to wake up, not the other way around.

Unsurprisingly, Amy was up as well, straightening her shirt out. "Morning, Serena," she said in greeting, a little surprised. Serena waking up without assistance was almost unheard of. If anything, it was akin to pulling teeth. It seemed that only Amy still possessed the ability to do the impossible.

Then again, Serena had been getting up without so much prodding, so maybe Lunar was having a more positive influence on her than they thought.

"Morning, Ames," Serena returned, smiling. She knew why Amy was surprised, and was giddy about it. "And yes, I woke up without help. It happens sometimes, probably because of your presence." Her attention shifted to the last bed. "So, how do we wake her up?"

Amy looked at Rini as well, a smirk appearing. "Well, we could always do what we did to Mother," she mused thoughtfully.

"I think dumping ice cold water on her is a little extreme at this point. Maybe get a feather and tickle her feet?"

"Excellent idea."

"Do that, and I'll turn both of you bright neon green," Rini grumbled, slowly waking up. "How can you two be so chipper in the morning? You especially, Meatball Head?"

Serena shrugged. "I can get up early, I just choose not to. Besides, you're just as bad."

"Can't imagine why," Luna One replied, jumping up on the bed. "I can say with absolute certainty that I'm surprised that Serena is wide awake."

The girl in question rolled her eyes at that statement. "Luna, three months ago. The 15th."

"That was one day."

"I still got up early."

"And you were meeting up with Amy for some quality bonding."

"I had a good reason to get up, then."

Amy giggled while helping Rini put her boots on. "Honestly Serena, you need to find a different reason for rising early," she said. "After all, we're each dating a wonderful man. You should be waking up early for Darien, not me."

"But you're my Goddess, Amy," Serena replied, batting her eye lashes innocently.

Now Rini began giggling, remembering similar scenes in the Crystal Palace whenever the two girls were far from the public eye. At least she knew that this was something that had been going on their whole lives… and most likely from their previous lives as well. Speaking of… "Were they like this in the Silver Millennium, Luna?" she asked.

Luna One chuckled. "Oh, yes, she answered. "If anything, it was far more apparent."

-
In another hut, Luna Two awoke first, as always. However, unlike Serena, she didn't wake up happy, or even content.

It had been another night of disturbing dreams for her, thus making it difficult for her to be happy for the day. At least she didn't wake up screaming, which had happened quite a few times. Deciding to keep that good thing going and not waking up her roommates(Jessica, Mimi, and Palmon,) she decided to make her way outside.

Looking around, the blunette observed how quiet and peaceful Lann was in the morning, something that she found to be quite similar to home. In fact, with the exception of the feel of the air, which was rather humid, she could almost believe that she was back in Burg, greeting the day.

The air helped clear her mind and revitalize her, letting her think more clearly about what she had seen last night. Unlike previous dreams, which were pretty much the same, this one was different. It focused more on the Goddess herself, while she was speaking to someone. But who was it, and why was that person shrouded in fog? 'This must be how T.K. and the others feel like when they have those dreams,' she thought morosely.

"Morning, Luna."

Startled, Luna Two turned around, eyes wide. "Jessica, you scared me!" she exclaimed. Damn, the girl could be quiet when she wanted to be. How could someone so boisterous be so quiet when walking?

Jessica grinned. "I get it from my Mom," she replied to the unspoken question. "She was so quiet sometimes, that you actually had to look over at her to make sure she was still with you… even when she was right next to you. Drove Dad insane most days." She chuckled a little at that, before focusing on Luna once again. "But that's not why I came out here. I wanted to know… if you're alright."

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"You look tired and preoccupied, like you're trying to figure out something, but haven't figured it out."

"You're amazingly perceptive."

"And really good at getting people to talk. So spill."

And, for one, brief moment, Luna Two seriously considered saying no in a very bratty manner. After all, she barely knew this girl, and didn't really know if she could trust her with this. What was more, she had no idea what she was seeing. How could talking about it to someone else possibly help her?

But that moment passed, and she remembered that Jessica was training to be a Priestess. Not only were they good at healing people, but they were also fairly good dream interpreters. Maybe… just maybe, she could help in figuring this out.

Nodding decisively to herself, she started walking, Jessica following immediately. "Well… for as long as I remember, I have been having strange dreams," she began quietly, as there were some early risers wandering around. "For the most past, it's the same dream every night. I… always wake up before it before it finishes, and I barely remember what I've seen."

Jessica nodded in understanding. "Most people don't usually remember what they've seen when they were asleep. Dreams are usually just the mind's desire to remain active during our downtime."

Luna Two sighed. Jessica wasn't telling her anything that their local priest hadn't already told her. So much for getting help.

"But… every now and then, someone with considerable magical potential can either see the future or the past in their dreams," Jessica continued on, having not finished. "Do you have any clues as to the location of your dreams? A face, or a marker of some sort?"

Luna Two perked up at this. Perhaps there was a chance. "Well… there was a platform of some sort… a man with pale skin… a man with brown hair and green eyes… a baby… and that's it."

"Did the man look like Alex?"

"… No. It didn't look like him at all."

Jessica nodded. "Then we have our first real identity," she stated with certainty. "I think the man you're seeing in your dreams is Dragonmaster Dyne."

And… just like that, for the first time in her life, shock shot through Luna Two like a tidal wave. It was something she had never considered, but was it possible… was it really that simple? "I'm… I'm seeing the past," she murmured. "By the Goddess… I'm seeing the past… but when in the past? And why?"

"Well… there may be a way to find out." Jessica paused for a second, so Luna could focus back on her fully. "There is an ancient shrine that is believed to have been constructed when the Silver Star was first colonized," she stated. "It's considered a spiritual safe zone as no one, not even the demons of the Frontier, dare desecrate it. It is said to enhance one's magic, to allow one to see things that are buried in your subconscious." She sighed. "Unfortunately, it hasn't been visited in over a hundred years due to the Heresy Wars, and I honestly don't know how important it is to you to go visit it. ...But I figured that you should have an option if you're interested."

Luna Two nodded eagerly, her good cheer returning full force. "Of course I'm interested!" she almost… almost… squealed. "If I can learn anything about the past, I'll go for it… within reason, of course."

"Then let's go talk to the others. Now that the main problem is dealt with, we have some time. With any luck, they'll be all for it."

-
"We don't have time to go sight seeing!" Nash snapped irritably. "We're still in the middle of a mission, for Goddess's sake!"

"A mission that we completed!" Jessica retorted back, retracting her earlier statement to Luna Two. Apparently, not everyone would be going for it. And though Nash was the most vocal, he actually did have some support from a few of the others, like Mimi, Jupiter, and Sailor Pluto. The rest of them were on the fence, so to speak, waiting to see how this latest spat turned out.

And let it be known, Nash may have been arrogant, but he was not lazy. He was simply focused on a task to the point of obsessive. It could be useful, but could also be worse than being lazy in many cases. Like now, for instance.

"'A mission isn't completed until you have made your report,'" Nash quoted from memory. "Master Ghaleon's drilled those words into my head when I first became his apprentice. You get from Point A to Point B, complete the task, then return. No delays unless unavoidable."

Now, keep in mind that this was going outside, and it was late morning. As a result, there were more people walking around. Now, most of them were ignoring the pseudo drama that was forming, but another visitor did not, and started walking over to them.

Tai sighed, rubbing his eyes in irritation. Nash was starting to look more and more like he had a serious case of OCD. But it wasn't something that someone needed to lose their cool over. So, he decided to become involved before blows were dealt. "Nash, if I recall correctly, Ghaleon didn't give us a time table for this mission. You do need to give a report, but we can also relax for a few days, and we can help someone find some answers." He grinned. "Besides, there is also the historical aspect here. What if you were to find something that the historians missed, something that is extremely significant? Think of the prestige that could be yours."

Alex grinned as he saw that Nash was beginning to weaken. "Plus, if you help someone with their problem, you'll earn brownie points with Mia," he added, which proved to be the clincher.

Nash sighed at long last, shoulders slumping a bit. "Alright, alright," he finally conceded, smiling. "We can go there, I'll help Luna with her quest." His smile widened. "Besides, you're right, helping a friend is always a good thing."

"And no truer words could ever be spoken," a voice said behind them, one most of them were familiar with. "Hello again to all of you!"

Everyone turned around as one, pleasantly surprised. "Phacia!" Nash exclaimed. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

The Head Priestess, dressed in a far simpler version of her priest robes, smiled, all the warmth she possessed in it. "Visitors to the Shrine were constantly speaking of a new Dragonmaster in this region, so I took it upon myself to investigate the matter."

Nall landed on Alex's shoulder. "He was a fake," he said. "And even worse, he was a fish thief! So we took care of him for you! Didn't we, Alex?"

Alex grinned. "Actually, we let Mimi and Palmon take care of it. And they did a great job."

Palmon lowered her head to cover the smile growing on her face. "Stop, you're making me blush all the way to my roots!"

Phacia's smile faded, and she frowned. "I was so pleased to hear that a new Dragonmaster had been born… and now he turns out to be a common criminal." She found an empty spot to sit down. "I pray that the rumors of a Magic Emperor also turn out to be spurious as well."

Serena nodded. "We all do," she assured her, having remembered reading the bulletins as they were posted up at the Shrine. "He really doesn't sound like a good man."

Alex sighed, his good mood evaporating. Just when he thought everything was going to be simple from here on out, he gets a new wrinkle. "I guess my journey has become all the more important. A Dragonmaster is now a necessity."

"Agreed." Phacia leaned forward a bit, some of her good cheer reasserting itself. "But enough about things beyond our control. I seemed to have come at a rather good time. So, what's going on?"

"Oh, we're going to a nearby shrine!" Nall stated. "It's about two days ride from here!"

"… I know of the shrine you speak of. It was quite a popular tourist attraction, if I recall my history." Phacia was quiet for a second. "Is it alright if I accompany you?" she asked. "I'm most curious as to what it looks like after all of this time."

Tai looked at the others, most of them already nodding. Seeing as how everyone happened to like Phacia, none of them had a problem with her joining them. "Sure," he said. "We just need to get supplies, and we'll head out."

"Excellent. I need to replenish my own supplies anyways. One hour time?"

"An hour sounds good."

"I shall see you in an hour, then." Phacia rose, bowing to them. "I am grateful that you are all alright." With those words of gratitude, she made her way towards the town.

"Well," Alex rose as well, stretching out, "we have a bit of time before we need to leave, so let's get everything we're going to need, say our goodbyes, and try and not kill one another."

Everyone was in agreement of that, and started talking animatedly about this newest part of their adventure… except for Jessica, who was busy watching Phacia walk away, a curious expression on her face.

-
"One thing I do not like; having to haggle for a decent price for your stuff," Darien grumbled, filling his bag. "Why can't it be the same as it is in Meribia, with prices set?"

Greg chuckled at this. "Darien, we all used to do this back in the day," he reminded him. "You should be used to this." He shrugged. "Besides, it's not as if haggling is extinct on Earth."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it." Darien's expression softened as he caught sight of Serena and Amy, talking and giggling, with Rini hanging off of Serena's back, smirking. "I wonder what they're talking about," he mused.

"Us no doubt." Greg grinned as Amy pointed to them. "They do seem to enjoy gossiping about us, for whatever the reason. To be quite honest, I didn't even know Amy knew how to gossip."

"You should have seen her when Serena and I started dating. There are quite literally no secrets between them." Darien paused for a moment, as a thought came to him. "Greg… have you noticed anything… different about Serena?" he asked.

"… Not really. There's the usual hairstyle, the same eye color, and the same cheery personality. The only thing I saw that was different was how coordinated she's become. Maybe being at the Shrine has helped."

"It's more than that. She's more energized, and far more lively than before. Her body is far fitter than even one month of hard labor could account for. Even her hair is more vibrant than before… which is saying something, as it's always vibrant." Darien paused there for a second. "She's also more… focused than before, and definitely more attentive."

Now that Darien mentioned it… Greg took a harder look at Serena, and blinked. Darien was right, it seemed. Serena did look a whole lot better. Her hair definitely had a far healthier sheen than when they had left her at the Shrine at the beginning of their journey. Her posture was much better, and she didn't seem to be having any trouble keeping Rini on her back. "You've got a good point. But it's probably nothing. I mean, Amy's not overly concerned. When she gets worried, we'll get worried. You know that better than anyone."

And that was the clincher for them all. Amy was literally their barometer for how much trouble Serena was in. More than they did with the other Senshi, more than Darien and Greg, Amy and Serena shared a bond that was unbreakable. Nothing would change that.

That alone was enough for Darien to force his concerns to the back of his mind, almost slapping himself for his paranoia. "Well, we better get over there before they start inventing weird stories about us."

"You mean they haven't, already?"

-
Lilika put the last of the supplies in her bag, then handed it to Mimi. "Here, you can carry this," she said, smiling mirthfully.

Mimi took it, shaking her head. "You're like the sister I never had."

"Or wanted," Palmon threw in.

"Hey, at least she isn't. I understand they're very dangerous," Matt stated as he pointedly ignoring Kari's rather insulted glare, though he saw Tai's rather quick nod of agreement to that. It made him wonder what happened back home… when Kari was being her typically sweet self, and Tai was being Tai.

Looking around, he caught sight of something he hadn't seen when they had first arrived; one of Sere's traveling salesmen setting up shop a short distance away. The ony reason he knew it was one of Sere's was because of the bright red SERE'S SHOP emblazoned on the silver banner. "Hey guys, I'll be back," he promised, walking over to him.

The salesman looked up to see the young man approach him, and smiled. Hello there, young traveler," he said in greeting. "What can I do for you on this day?"
'Cheerful salesman. I like that.' Matt began looking at the various charms in the display case. "Don't need it…don't need it…Hello!" he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes fastening on one particular pendant.

The pendent in question was apparently made of mythril, because it shined like it. It had been molded into the shape of a flower, with what looked like a diamond in the center. "What about this one?" he asked, pointing at it.

The salesman pulled it out, examining it closely. "Ah, this is one of my better pieces," he said. "I made it almost twenty years ago. Someone actually bought its counterpart ten year before. It's made of an alloy called mythril. It's light as a feather, but as strong as dragonhide. In fact, the only thing not made of mythril is the diamond in the center, welded into it when it was put through the purification process."

'Wow, Ginny will like this,' Matt thought. "Okay, how much?" He pulled out his money pouch.

"Now, according to everyone I've spoken to, this alone is worth five thousand silver." The salesman thought it over for a second. "But, I'm not greedy. I'll sell it to you for… ninety."

Matt pulled the silver from his pocket, and handed it to him. The salesman put the pendent into a small box, handing it over to the young man. "Thanks. I know someone who would probably love this." He bowed once in farewell, then walked back over to the rest of the group.

The salesman nodded to himself, smiling. Sere was going to very happy when she heard about this.

-
Phacia knew that she had made Jessica very curious as to who she was, but it wasn't something she could be concerned about. After all, it wasn't as if she could do anything about it.

She knew who Jessica deAlkirk was, of course. It was difficult not to. A half human, half beastman, she was the daughter of "Hell Mel," ruler of Meribia and one of the Four Heroes. And, if everything she had heard was accurate, just as adventurous as her Old Man. She had her mother's sense of justice though, and had been known to leave the Shrine to take care of situations others could not. Truly, a hero in the making.

Unfortunately, this meant that her studies in the healing arts was rather incomplete, which would only hinder her in the long run. To top it all off, she was also as hot headed as her father, prone to rushing in without thinking first. That would probably get her killed one day if she didn't cool her passions down a bit.

Smiling to herself, Phacia paid for her supplies, gave her horse some oats, and contemplated the strangeness that had become her life. Here she was; a spy for the Vile Tribe, and she was trying to help her supposed 'enemies' on a quest. She knew that she was just asking to be discovered, but she couldn't help it.

After all, Jessica wasn't there the day she had first set foot in the Shrine…

(Althena's Shrine, One month Prior)

The plan was simple in its scope; Infiltrate the Shrine of Althena, put herself into a position where she could obtain information on the Goddess and her current military strength, and to learn all she could of the Tower at the top of the mountain.

It was simple in the beginning, of course. But it would be far more difficult as soon as she got in. She would be spending most of her time in the presence of those who served her enemy.

The simple part however… also proved to be the most fun.

She simply walked into the Shrine like any other pilgrim. She wasn't stopped by the priest at the entrance, or anyone else as she walked through the Shrine. She went immediately to the Prayer Room, following two other travelers that were there to actually pray. Her attention was temporarily diverted when a young woman with the strangest hairstyle she had ever seen walked past, heading for the library, but that was brief. She soon focused on her destination; the massive Statue of Althena that near the center of the room.

Stopping in front of the statue, Phacia was immediately struck by how… unimpressive it truly was. It looked liked it had been chiseled out of marble, but without any real warmth. 'Might be the reason why they pray fervently to their Goddess,' she mused bitterly. 'They want to see the real thing, and bask in Her presence.'

Thinking about the Goddess sent a surge of anger through her, which she managed to quell before she did something stupid and give herself away. Casting the spell that she had selected for this mission required a great deal of concentration, and sheer willpower for maximum effectiveness… and to insure that it wasn't detected by those around her.

With nary a word, only a slight tilt of her head, the spell was cast. An invisible field expanded from her location, slowly encompassing the Prayer Room, enveloping every single person in there. Not a single person detected anything out of the ordinary… which was good for her.

The energy continued to expand, going through the walls, entering every single room of the Shrine, then expanding to the surrounding grounds. Not a single priest stirred from their spots. Not a single priest was protected from such a spell. After all, who would dare encroach on the Shrine of Althena, nestled underneath the Goddess Tower and protected by the Magic Guild of Vane?

One lone woman, apparently, and she did so quite successfully.

The spell soon dissipated, and everything was at it was before. Phacia took a breath, waiting to see if it would hold.

One of the nearby priests approached her, smiling. "High Priestess," he said in greeting. "How was your pilgrimage through the Marius Zone?"

"Surprisingly uneventful," Phacia replied, relaxing substantially. It had worked. Everyone here believed that she was the leader of their Order, which would make many things much easier. "How have things gone here during my absence?"

"Very well… although you may want to talk to Jessica when she comes back from wherever she has gotten off to this time. She's been gone for a few days, and missed one of her exams. At this rate, she'll still be learning by the time she's forty."

Phacia gave a sigh of exasperation, even as a kernel of panic began worming its way into her heart. She had a very good idea which Jessica he was talking about… and what she would do if she came back before the plan was complete…

Present Day

The first days were the most difficult, by far. Whenever she was leading a prayer session, she had found herself fighting to keep the sneer off of her face, or to spit out her own viewpoints concerning the Goddess. It took everything she had not to let her rage spill out all over the Shrine, not to mention the blood of their Holy Order.

Whenever she was alone, she wondered if tomorrow would be the day that deAlkirk returned to the Shrine, and expose her as a fraud, She was worried that she would bring her father with her, and try to end her. In short, it was a hellish period that she was concerned that she would soon tip someone off.

However, as the weeks passed and she settled into the role she had cast herself in, her hatred began to disappear as she observed the day-to-day movements of the Shrine's population. Sitting in on some of the lessons, under the pretense of simply observing, she learned that one priest expounded Althena's sheer divinity, beauty, and ever gentle soul to the students. She thought that her own viewpoint had been confirmed.

Then she sat in on the class of another priest, who didn't do that. Instead, he spoke of Althena's pain, her guilt over the Vile Tribe, and reminded his students that though she was a goddess, she also made mistakes. Sometimes, those mistakes cost lives. It made her think a little about her own thoughts concerning the subject. Soon, she realized that it was the bare essentials of teaching concerning Althena. Both priests, in their own way, were telling the students to research Althena on their own, and come to their own conclusions.

And it wasn't just that. It was also the little things that she observed. For starters, the massive Statue in the Prayer Room was there, not so they could bask in a pale reflection of their Goddess. It was so they could safely pray to her, without becoming drooling slaves... which ran counter to what she wanted.

There was also the Shrine itself. There was a level of serenity here that she had never felt anywhere else before. The simple tranquility here was for one reason and one reason only. There was simply no hatred to be had.

And that was the most important thing she learned about the Holy Order… everyone was just so damn nice.

She watched as an Initiate helped heal a baby bird's wing when it was hurt by a thrown rock. Two Initiates helped an elderly man through the Shrine when he was having trouble walking. She had observed the blonde girl with the weird hairstyle, who she now knew as Serena, asked for help looking for a specific book in the library, and the librarian helped her find it without a sneer.

It made her question everything she had ever learned concerning her enemies. Ever since her Mother's death and sister's betrayal, she had always believed that humans were all monsters that were greedy and selfish, wanting to keep the green land for themselves. From what she had seen, perhaps she had been generalizing the human race.

'Not that it matters in the long run,' she thought to herself, a dual feeling of sadness and guilt worming its way thought her soul. 'I cannot betray my tribe, and will have to stand by their side when the time comes. For now though… I will help these innocent souls with their quest. Who knows? Perhaps I shall find a way to halt this conflict before it truly begins.'

'I hope…'

-
Alex checked his saddle, making sure that all of the buckles were tight, before pulling himself up. It was a habit that he picked up since he was a child, when he fell off his horse during riding lessons. It was due to the fact that the saddle hadn't been properly buckled. Thankfully, all he suffered that day was some bruising, and his pride, as Ramus and Nall teased him about it for quite a few weeks.

Nall landed on his shoulder, smirking as she watched Alexmade sure everything was perfect. "I don't think you're going to get hurt again, Alex," he mused mock thoughtfully. "You don't have to double and triple check."

Alex glared at him. "I'm still not convinced that Ramus didn't deliberately loosen the buckles, or that I just didn't pay enough attention when I put the freaking thing on," he replied, which was basically the same argument that he had been having with him for the last five years. "I will not be embarrassed that way again. Besides, what if we're at a full gallop?"

"… Then embarrassment will be the least of your concerns."

"Your concern is touching. Everybody else ready?"

Nall nodded. "Pretty much. Nash is just getting the rest of his stuff together." He sighed. "Couldn't we just leave him here?"

Alex shook his head, grinning. "While tempting, we can't," he replied. "Besides, I don't think Lann can handle him any longer, and I think Ghaleon may want his apprentice back."

"Yeah. Speaking of which..."

"What are we going to do when we get back to Vane?"

"Pretty much."

"Well..." To be perfectly honest, Alex hadn't really given it any thought at all. He had just been going with the flow, enjoying the adventure as it came at him. Having a long term plan hadn't even been a consideration. "Honestly, I don't know, Nall. I figured that we'd continue going, until we went home to Burg." He sighed. "Racc and this false Dragomaster have kind of put a damper on that, however. I already know that we need to find the other Dragons before it's too late… but I don't know where to start looking for them."

"Meaning we're going to be looking for clues?"

"...Pretty much."

Nall could understand Alex's look of discontent rather well. Despite the sheer necessity of what they needed to do, it was still grating. They had gone to find the Four Dragons because they had wanted to. Now… it had pretty much become mandatory. It had gone from being an adventure to becoming a mission, and it didn't sit well with Alex at all. What was more, it was a mission that had a good chance of not being completed.

He decided that he wasn't going to say that out loud, showing that he could control his mouth… just that he chose not to.

-
Midday saw the group making their way across the plains, their overall mood pretty cheerful. There was plenty of chatter, as the majority of them told Phacia of their various adventures. She certainly seemed to enjoy them, and even asked for specifications of a few.

But some of them were conspicuously quiet.

Luna Two was one of the quiet ones. She was thinking, wondering about what she would discover when they finally reached the shrine, and whether or not it would be worth the side trip. She was alternating between hope and doubt, and she didn't really understand why. She was used to understanding what she was going to do, based on her feelings, concerning the information she received. But now… now she was afraid of what she could learn, and how she was going to react to it.

But at the same time, she was eager to possibly learn something about Dyne. Very little was known about him, especially concerning the events surrounding his disappearance. If they could learn anything about that, then this journey would definitely be worth it.

"Hey, Luna. Thinking hard?"

Startled, Luna Two's head snapped to the right, catching Serena's smiling face looking back at her. 'I must really be distracted today,' she thought irritably. 'This is the second time someone has been able to sneak up on me.' Outloud, she said, "Yes, Serena. How did you…?"

"You have the same look on your face at that Amy does whenever she's thinking about a particularly emotional problem. Lemme guess; you want to know what you've been seeing in your dreams, but you're also afraid about what you'll find. Am I right?"

Luna Two nodded, a little shocked by how quickly the other girl had been able to deduce that. Then, her gaze shifted over to where Rini was, who was currently riding with Darien. "I'm guessing you felt the same way when going to your future?" she asked.

Serena nodded. "Rini wasn't the only concerned about what she was going to find when returning to Crystal Tokyo," she replied. "I was also worried. I mean, I was going to see my own future, which I think only a select few have ever had the privilege to do, and I was flipping scared. Did I turn out okay? Did Darien and I get married? Was I still as close to Amy in the future as I am now?"

"Were you?"

"A whole lot closer, though I couldn't really tell how that's possible. We're practically glued at the hip whenever we're together. And future Mercury just had this enigmatic smirk on her face. And Rini just refused to tell us anything." She sniffed. "Totally rude."

Luna Two nodded in understanding, smiling."Then again, if you knew you own future, then there's a good chance that you could inadvertently change. Also, it wouldn't be as fun if you knew it. So, maybe that's a good thing."

"… Too true."

"Indeed. So… how did you and Amy meet during the Silver Millennium?"

"We didn't."

"...Say that again?"

Serena smiled. "We didn't meet when the other Senshi arrived," she elaborated. "We were raised together under Queen Serenity's eyes. Until the final day, we were inseparable. Bullies, assassins, politicians, nothing could tear us apart. Not even death could keep us apart for long." She sighed. "Which is a very good thing. Otherwise, Amy would have been all alone in either life."

Luna Two frowned at that. There was definitely a story there. "Why?" she asked.

Serena sighed, looking over at Amy for a second. "...Because in the past, she was the last of her people. The last Princess of Mercury."

-
Amy, as she was close enough to the two of them, could hear everything that Serena and Luna Two were talking about, and she sighed. She wasn't angry with Serena, far from it; but she also kind of wanted to actually be part of the conversation as well. After all, it was her past life that was being revealed at the moment.

On the other hand, she wasn't exactly keen on discussing it with anyone except Serena. Not even her fellow Senshi, though Pluto being the guardian of time probably already knew most of it. It was a little detail because… there really wasn't anything they could do about it. She had no real emotional connection with the kingdom of her birth aside from her Senshi name.

But it did still hurt when she had learned about it, and it had stuck with her all the way to the final days of the Moon Kingdom.

Silver Millennium, Four Years before the End

Serena and Amy walked along the corridors in comfortable silence, holding hands. Under normal circumstances, this simple act would have raised questions as to the nature of their relationship, but as they had been together the near entirety of their lives, the staff didn't even bat an eye when they passed.

Now, at age fifteen, the two girls were on the cusp of their coming of age ceremony, and everything that came with it. Serena would meet the members of her Royal Court, and begin to take on more duties or preparation to becoming Queen. Amy, on the other hand, was finishing up her doctorate's courses, and would soon become the apprentice to the chief healer. It was kind of expected, not to mention painfully obvious, considering how neither one of the girls could stand to be too far from one another.

But today, Amy couldn't help but feel a little... tense. There had been a sense of foreboding had enveloped her since the morning, almost as if her private little world was about to be invaded.

Serena, naturally, noticed this shift in her mood, and squeezed her hand in a comforting manner. "Are you alright, my Goddess?" she asked softly, mindful of the servants passing them.

Amy smiled a little at the nickname, something that had started as a joke when they were both five. "About as well as can be expected, my Heart," she replied, absentmindedly rubbing her thumb across the back of Serena's hand. "I'm just wondering what Mother wants to talk to us about. Her summons sounded quite urgent." She frowned. "Do you think it might be connected to what she wanted to talk to me about?"

"Maybe she wants to tell you about the identity of your parents, and knew that I would be with you regardless."

There were very few things that the Moon Queen kept from her daughter and ward, but the few that she kept were usually for good reason. One such secret was the identity of Amy's birth parents, but it was because Serenity didn't want to burden Amy with the truth until she was old enough to handle it. It was just a question of when.

The when, it seems, could be right now, as they were responding to a summons from her. While she hadn't met with them personally, she had asked them herself instead of sending a messenger. And, how she sounded over the viewer was hesitant, sad, but also resolute.

And so here they were, approaching a room that they had both been in a few times over the years; the Royal Conference Room. It was a strange meeting place for something that was supposed to be a rather private affair, but then again, theirs and their Mother's schedules were pretty full as of late. There were days where they probably only had a few minutes in the evening to see one another.

The Guards waiting outside the room opened the doors for them, nodding to them in greeting. The two girls favored them with gentle smiles in return before stepping in…

...and promptly stopping, surprised at the assemblage before them.

It looked as though every single ruling family of the alliance was there, including the Princesses. All conversation, if there were any to begin with, stopped as they entered, having clearly been waiting for them to arrive. Most of them were clearly confused as to why they were there.

Serena and Amy promptly curtsied, sharing in that confusion. While they were friends with the likes of Princess Rei, Princess Makoto, and Princess Minako, there was little to no reason for them to be there at this time. What was going on?

Serenity strolled forward, having correctly judged what their confusion was about. "I will try to explain, my children," she assured them quietly. "And… I apologize in advance, Amy. Some of the information I am about reveal, I wanted to do in private. Unfortunately, events have been set in motion that force me to do otherwise." Giving them both a warm hug, she ushered them into their seats.

Amy and Serena traded looks of confusion, her words not helping at all with clarity. Hopefully though, information would be forthcoming.

Serenity also sat down in her seat, gaze somber. "Ladies, as you all know, fifteen hundred years ago, the majority of the solar system was locked in a series of dynastic wars, perpetuated by oaths and dreams of conquest. Many lives were lost, cities were destroyed, and families were torn apart. Back then, there was loyalty only to one's people, and the idea of peace was not even a viability. It was a dark time that could have destroyed us all." She took a deep breath. "But then, the Mercury Kingdom, the first of the nations founded and the only one that had stayed out of the battles, requested that the Rulers of each kingdom travel to their world for peace talks. We were all suspicious of their motives, as at the time, we were all on the brink of collapse. All they would need to do was kill them, and the solar system would be theirs."

Amy watched the others as they all tried to pay attention to the Queen, but she could already see Rei's brow furrow in irritation, Makoto begin to fidget in her seat, and Minako trying to keep her eyes open. When she looked at Serena though, she saw a level of attentiveness that was almost equal to her own. 'She feels it too,' she realized. 'Mother is building us up to something. But what?'

"Instead of that, the Mercury Queen proposed something very radical; that the Kingdoms come together, with the rulers uniting as a singular force. Our ancestors decided to give it a chance, believing that it would only last a decade before hostilities flared up again. They believed that the Mercury Queen was a bit of a fool for thinking that up."

"Turns out, our ancestors were the fools," Queen Jupiter added. "As the years passed and information was passed along the kingdoms, we discovered that we were fighting because of lack of information and fear. And so, we rebuilt our worlds, learning about our neighbors for the first time. What was once thought of as a last ditch attempt at peace became a tradition that has endured the centuries."

Serenity nodded, picking up the thread again. "About five hundred years ago, that tradition was updated. As the Moon Kingdom was deemed to be the strongest of the kingdoms and the dawn of the Silver Millennium was upon us, it was decided that the Princesses of the Kingdoms would come here to the capital, and serve as bodyguards for the Moon Royalty until their own ascension to their respective thrones. As the years passed, they would begin to take on more and more responsibilities, until they take their Mother's places."

Amy and Serena traded one more look as comprehension set in for them. No words were exchanged, but the conversation was clear.

Rei finally leaned forward, having obviously reached the end of her patience. "Your Majesty, I don't wish to be rude, but is there a point to this? It is obvious that you have summoned us here for a reason, and I would like to know why." It was blunt, but done in a respectful tone. Not that Amy would have blamed her for being rude. Serenity was taking her sweet time getting to the point.

"Rei!" the Queen of Mars hissed in exasperation. "Show a little more respect!"

"Actually, she raised a very good point, Arias," Serenity replied, her sombre expression fading somewhat as a smirk appeared. "You, if I recall correctly, were nowhere near as respectful with my mother." The others chuckled for a bit as a blush appeared on the Mars Queen's face. "And fear not, Princess, for we have reached the point of revelation. In fact, I'm pretty certain my daughter and my ward have already figured it out."

Serena nodded. "You three are to be my Royal Court," she explained. "My bodyguards and advisers." She frowned. "But Mother, this is a bit early, don't you agree? I was under the impression that we would be brought together when I turned sixteen."

"And what of my presence here?" Amy inquired. "Technically, there is no reason for me to be here, either."

"Both very good points, but there is a very good reason for them. I will get to that in a second, though." She allowed for the others to turn their attention back to her, before she began again. "The Royal Court is just a front, serving another function. In actuality, you are more of a team, aiding each other in times of need. Tell me, are all of you familiar with the Sailor Senshi?"

Amy nodded, having done her research on them. "The Sailor Senshi are a group of warriors who appear at times to fight the enemies that our armies are unable to," she quoted from memory. "It is because of them that our Kingdoms continue to thrive, but they are also the greatest mystery, as no one has ever been able to identify them…"

Her eyes widened as her mind started putting the pieces together. A small gasp from next to her let her know that Serena had also figured it out. "That's you," she whispered, looking at her guardian.

Serenity nodded. "We are the Senshi, yes," she replied. "As were our parents before us, and so on and so forth. Our bloodlines are the first line of defense against those that would seek to do harm to the innocent."

"Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus serve as the Inner Circle," Venus stated, entering the conversation for the first time "while Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Pluto are the first line of defense. Outside of our respective Crystals, we also each have a unique set of skills that help us in our fight. Ours is our natural leadership skills, which is why we have usually been known as the captain of the guard. We can also utilize refracted light energy."

"Jupiter is our physical strength and combat prowess," Jupiter explained. "We wield electrical energy to form attacks so powerful that we can vaporize an army of enemies in seconds."

"Our people are capable of telepathic and spiritual gifts." Mars sighed. "We are also pyrokinetics, able to manipulate fire to form singular, concentrated strikes."

"And our family utilizes the power of the Silver Imperium Crystal," Serenity finished. "Our power is what would be classified as holy, short of the divine power of the Gods themselves. As such, we can destroy soulless creatures, heal those who have been tainted by outside darkness, and purify those that ask for it. The others here have told me that I have always been the heart of the team."

"What of Mercury?" Amy asked.

"Mercury… was the tactical strategist of the group. She also possessed the ability to control water and ice. If I was the heart, then she was the backbone. The support structure for a nigh unbeatable force."

Makoto leaned back in her seat, observing something that only she could see. "Then I do not see how our team will be able to function," she stated. "There is no one who can take the mantle of Sailor Mercury this time, as there is no one from the kingdom alive to take it up."

"…You're wrong."

Serenity's quiet declaration caught everyone by surprise. Their attention focused back on her almost immediately. Out of everything they had been expecting to hear, that was not it.

The Moon Queen sighed, her royal stature a mere memory. Here, in this room, it certainly looked as though she didn't need or want it… and for good reason. "What I am about to tell you cannot leave these four walls," she told them all. "And it ties into the reason why I have called you, Amy." With that, she straightened up, focusing on the task in hand. "As you all know, the Mercury Kingdom was completely destroyed under mysterious circumstances about fifteen years ago, and that the Moon Kingdom was the first to respond. Unfortunately, we arrived too late. We refused to give up, though, so we sent teams down to see if we could find survivors. Short and to the point… we found just one. A baby, hidden rather deep in the Mercury palace. Her parents had managed to hide her from their enemy, hoping against hope that someone would be able to rescue her before the sun burned everything to ash. And we were… just barely." She sighed. "In that moment, I knew that her existence would have to kept a secret, in order to protect her. So, for fifteen years, the Mercury Princess was just that… a secret."

Serena frowned at that, as part of it didn't make any sense. "Mother… if this is true, then why is she not here?" she asked. "Is Amy to go and speak to her? Is she even aware of her lineage?"

"… She is now… as she is already in this room, sitting right next to you, Serena. In fact, you have known her your entire life."

The room promptly went silent as shock and disbelief set in, unable to believe this revelation. Every single person there turned to gaze at the blunette sitting the room. None of them, not even the other rulers, had seen that coming. And they had seen much in their lives.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the one who was the most difficulty taking this information was Amy herself, her gaze locked on her guardian. She honestly didn't know what to think or feel. Should she feel betrayed? Angry? Was she truly surprised by this revelation? Or, on a purely subconscious level, had she always known?

Serena, predictably, scooted closer to Amy, wrapping an arm around her in a protective gesture as her gaze returned to her mother. "Can I assume that this was what you wanted to talk to Amy about… in private?" she asked quietly, though there was an unmistakable hint of anger in her tone.

"It was," Serenity confirmed sadly. "And, before you voice your dissatisfaction, justified as it is, there is a reason why I had to do it like this."

"And what reason would that be?" Venus asked testily. "What possible excuse is there for this… unusual lack of tact from you?"

"The very same reason why we're beginning their training now, instead of on their sixteenth year. The Negaverse is on the move."

Suddenly, the revelation of the Mercury Princess was no longer the main concern, as everyone focused back on her. It was as if the air had become chilled by this new bit of information.

The Moon Queen's posture grew stiffer as she saw that their attention was fully on her. "The Earth King contacted me just an hour ago. Apparently, they had detected a surge of dark energy near Stonehenge two weeks ago. While not an unusual occurrence in of itself, due to the very nature of the area, it didn't dissipate like most. Yesterday, their scouting party reported in. They reported that something was trying to breach the barriers there, and there have been reports of youma appearing at the border villages."

"And that is why we're being brought together now," Rei stated. "You're worried that the Negaverse will launch an all out invasion of us, using Earth as their staging ground. You want us ready for battle, in case you fall."

"It was only a matter of time," Mars replied. "The destruction of the Mercury Kingdom removed the backbone of the alliance. Whoever destroyed them knew that we are all part of a greater whole. Take one part away, and the team suffers for it."

"And that is why you were kept a secret, even from yourself, Amy," Serenity stated. "For the good of the remaining kingdoms, we need Sailor Mercury."

"And personally?" Amy asked quietly, though her anger was very apparent.

"… I was going to tell you today, regardless," Serenity replied, her demeanor collapsing on itself. "I wanted to do it in private, give you time to accept it… but I waited too long, and we may not have a whole lot of time… if any."

The young woman nodded, before she and Serena rose. "If you will excuse us, your Majesty," the later stated formally, "I do believe that we need to be alone for now." And, without waiting to be excused, the two girls walked out.

Present Day, Lunar

Of course, she didn't stay angry at Serenity for very long, simply due to the fact that she knew the woman had had very few options open to her, but it was still rather galling to have it revealed to her in that manner. But ultimately, her trust in the woman had remained steadfast, and she did nothing to tear the two girls apart. If anything, all of the training they did brought them even closer together; something they still didn't fully understand. If Darien hadn't been in the picture, who knows how far that would have progressed. And what Serenity had told her later that very day had shown her just how much the Moon Kingdom truly cared for and trusted her.

Of course, that ultimately would make the pain of losing the Moon Kingdom all the more potent. A pain that was shared by the blonde girl riding just in front of her, talking to Luna Two about it.

She just hoped that the other blunette would keep this to herself. She really didn't want anyone else knowing about it.

As she thought of this, Serena detached from Luna Two, and came to Amy's side. "Hey, Ames," she said. "Everything alright?"

"Yes… Serena, did you… tell her everything?"

"Pretty much."

Amy nodded, looking forward. "I wish you didn't, though I understand why you did."

"It's a thousand years in the past," Serena reminded her gently, her customary small smile in place, "and quite literally a lifetime for us. Not only that, those that were responsible for it have been dealt with. So cheer up, my Goddess."

Amy did, knowing that she was right. Beryl and the Negaverse were finally gone. She had seen to Beryl's demise personally, while Sailor Moon had dealt with Metalia. And with the sheer amount of power that had been used, there was no doubt that they were dead, or too weak to attack again. "I always cheer up when you're around, my Heart," she replied. "You simply don't allow any other emotion to exist."

"Because there's no point of being sad about anything you can't do anything about. Mother would never allow it, either." The blonde grinned. "Besides, as you stated this morning, we have two very great guys that we're seeing. We should probably go talk with them for a while."

"Before they start thinking that we're making up even more stories about them?"

"Exactly."

Amy chuckled at that. They didn't really do that, but their boys didn't need to know that.

This is mostly an entirely new chapter, as I wanted to actually try and add a bit more beef to some of the others. I also have a story arc for Serena that I'm hoping I do in this story. Please read and let me know what you think of this.