Guardians of the Star: Chapter Four: Haeth, Healter of Souls
She flew, flew faster than she had ever flown before. Her great wings were stretched to their widest extent in order to get every particle of speed out of the strong tail winds blowing her south.
Early yesterday, she felt the call, an urgent call, a call her kind hoped never to receive. She answered immediately, her wings pounding the air as she strained for the heights where the winds were. Almost at once, the winds betrayed her. Fighting a strong head wind, she had to work for every mile. For a day and a night, she had to fight the winds. Not even sensing the Guardians' summoning could make her fly any faster. Then, at dawn, the winds changed again, blowing strongly from behind, this time.
Too late to do any good! she thought bitterly, No way I'll get there by sunheight now! From the call, she had been able to sense two things: that the person was dying and that something was sustaining him or her for the moment. Her, she decided, The call had a distinctly feminine element to it. She flew on.
It was about four hours past sunheight when the city of Caladon came into view on the horizon, far below. I hope I'm in time! she thought worriedly, This calls for the quick descent my cousin taught me. When the city was closer, she aimed herself at the palace courtyard and folded her wings. Without their power holding her aloft, she plummeted at great speed toward the courtyard. Have to time this right! About 200 feet up, she stretched her wings out. They caught the air and she bit back a groan as they were almost wrenched from their sockets. A couple of painful flaps, and she was down, forelegs and hindlegs cushioning the impact. Ooooh, My cousin warned me! she groaned to herself, stretching her stiffened wings, Are those wings EVER going to HURT in the morning! Folding her wings neatly to her back, she shimmered as she assumed her human form. Giving the surprised guards holding the doors a quick nod, she entered the Keep and headed for the Star Chamber.
The guards at the doors to the Star Chamber looked up at the sound of someone approaching them. They saw a young woman with waist length hair even more silver than Lynn's. The most striking feature, though, was her eyes. They were as silver as her hair and the final clue as to who she was, was the silver colored dragon symbol on her forehead. The guards recognized her instantly and bowed low. She was the most unusual of the Guardians.
"Lady Haeth!" the guards exclaimed, "We were told to expect you at around midday! Bad winds?" "Very bad," she returned sourly, ""For a while, I wondered if I'd make it at all! Still, one must answer the call of a soul in need." The elder of the two guards nodded. "Indeed. Princess Serenity is within." "Princess Serenity?!" she gasped in surprise. "Aye," the elder guard replied, "They all sleep because the spell that freed the Senshi took much power." "Spell? Senshi?" she repeated dazedly. He opened the door and waved her in. "Princess Aisllynnia or Greywolf will explain when they wake up." Haeth shook off her daze and walked into the chamber and the guards closed the doors behind her.
She studied the sleeping figures scattered throughout the room. Must have been some spell, she thought curiously, I doubt even a dragon's roar would wake anyone. She grinned impishly as she considered doing just that. She dismissed the impulse immediately. That would not only wake them, it would probably scare everyone half to death! She opened her senses and gasped. At this range, the sense of disharmony and sickness almost knocked her to her knees. Askalon preserve me! she thought in dismay, She is much worse than I thought!
With the description Lynn had given her long ago, Haeth had no trouble locating Usagi. She knelt down beside her and carefully placed a hand on her forehead. With a gasp, she pulled it back instantly, as if burnt. Tears filled her eyes, but despite the curious relief that humans often received from a good cry, she stubbornly would not shed them. Oh child! she thought sorrowfully, If I could just take that suffering away from you! As it is, Morgoth has made sure that I have much work to do!
Hearing something to her left, she turned her head and met a narrowed green gaze. Jupiter was sitting up and studying her carefully. "Haeth?" Jupiter questioned hopefully. She nodded back. "From the descriptions Lynn gave me, you could only be Sailor Jupiter," she said softly. She was shy, very shy around strangers. Though she knew the Senshi through Lynn, she had never met them before. Jupiter seemed to sense her shyness. "Please call me Mako," she replied reassuringly, "My friends call me 'Mako-chan'. You can call me that if you like." Haeth gave Jupiter a radiant smile that lit up her whole face. "I'd like that...Mako-chan!"
A shadow fell across her face, like a cloud across the sun, as she turned to look at Usagi. "How is she, Haeth-chan?" Jupiter asked, filled with dread at the look on her face. "She is dying," Haeth replied with profound sadness, "Not just her body, but her soul too. Morgoth's canker leeches her life force from her. Her gem will not keep her alive much longer. Without help, she is beyond my ability to heal."
Jupiter looked back at her in desperation. "What can we do?" she whispered. "WE help her, of course!" came a voice from the other side of Usagi, "Remember Lynn saying Haeth-chan would need us!" They turned as Ami sat up and looked at them. Haeth cursed her shyness as she looked down, unable to meet Ami's eyes. She wished she had more years. By her own people's standards, she WAS still a child, after all, even though she had lived over a century. Her folk were VERY long lived, even longer than the Elves.
Ami came over to place an arm around Haeth's shoulders. "I'm your friend, Haeth," she said with a smile, "ALL the Senshi will your friends too. Don't be shy. Think of them as good friends you haven't met yet!" Haeth looked up to meet Ami's friendly look and nodded.
Haeth drew a deep breath and said, "You said you would help. There is a way you can." Jupiter leaned forward. "Well? What is it? How can WE help?" she asked anxiously. Haeth began to explain. "A Soul Healer, in order to heal a soul, must somehow get the patient to fight their injury," she said urgently, "Once the patient begins to fight the injury, the drain of lifeforce slows down and a Soul Healer can then use their power to assist, slowing the drain more and more, until the injury is healed." "So what's the problem then?" Jupiter asked, looking puzzled. "Usagi is not fighting. Not even a little!" Haeth replied with a sigh, "I'm going to need ALL the Senshi to help me, but it will require courage on your parts." Ami and Mako exchanged glances and turned to Haeth. "What must we do?" they asked. "You must bare your hearts to her," She answered somberly, "You must hold nothing back. She must know how much she means to each of you and most important, how her death would effect you. The injury depleats will and strength with lifeforce. She must get some back in order to fight. You will provide it for her by saying what she needs to hear."
Haeth placed her hand on Usagi's forehead again. Usagi's eyes opened, but they saw nothing. Next, she sat her up against the wall and turned to the others. "She is in a trance," Haeth told them, "She will wake as each Senshi talks to her so that she may hear and respond, and return to the trance when they are finished. I have done all I can do, for the moment. The rest is up to you!"
Jupiter knelt next to Usagi and began to speak. For the first time Usagi can remember, tears poured down Mako-chan's cheeks. She held nothing back in letting Usagi know how important she is to her. Usagi tried to comfort her, but Jupiter was inconsolable. What's wrong with her? Usagi thought muzzily, You'd think I was dying! After Jupiter was finished, Usagi snapped back into her trance. As Jupiter returned to Haeth, Mercury moved to speak to Usagi.
Jupiter turned to Haeth and the anguish in her eyes almost made Haeth look away. "Will this really work?" Jupiter asked hoarsely. Haeth took a moment to look at Usagi with her special sight. "The healing has begun," she said quietly, "She is starting to fight now and I can see her strength and will increasing as Ami is talking to her. It needs more though. We may need all the Senshi for this.
Mako cast a quick worried glance at Rei; Haeth noticed. "Is there a problem?" she asked curiously. "I don't think so," Mako replied without conviction, "Rei is a proud soul and she and Usagi are always fighting. I think she just tries to prod Usagi into being the best she can be. I believe she loves Usagi as much as the rest of us but telling her will be an act of courage for Rei. She'll have to swallow her pride!"
Haeth shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand. How do you humans keep your emotions straight with all this complexity?" Mako grinned mirthlessly. "Who says we do? Most of the time, we're just as confused as you!" Ami came up to them, wiping tears from her eyes. "Who should we wake next?" she asked. "You make the choices," Haeth replied firmly, "You know your friends best. All I say, is save Mars for last."
Ami and Mako exchanged a look and Mako got up to wake Pluto. Pluto knew Usagi AND Neo Queen Serenity well, therefore she was the next best choice. The sound of muted conversation reached Haeth and Ami as Mako woke her and explained the problem. Pluto looked quickly at Haeth, her eyes wide with shock, and more than mere grief. Pluto knew that more than Usagi's life hung in the balance. Many future lives as well as Chibi-Usa and Crystal Tokyo were endangered. Without Usagi, the battle against the future darkness that resulted in the creation of Crystal Tokyo, would be lost. There would be NO future if that happened. Haeth nodded in Usagi's direction and Pluto nodded in return as she got up and went to her Princess.
After Pluto had finished, it continued, Senshi after Senshi, all very emotional meetings, until only Mars was left. The gathered Senshi, none of whom could sleep after learning of Usagi's terrible injury, watched closely as Haeth extended her hands over Usagi. She shook her head, after a moment. "We'll need Mars after all," she said as she examined Usagi with her Sight, "She is fighting almost well enough for me to jump in, BUT, it's not good enough yet. The truth from Mars, someone Usagi isn't even sure likes her, will certainly put the finishing touch on it!" "Unless Usagi is correct," Haruka muttered under her breath as she went to wake Mars.
"You want me to WHAT?!" Mars exclaimed incredulously, after they had explained to her what they had to do. "Rei, I know you're an intensely private person," Ami said softly, "I know you've never discussed your feelings much, even with us. This time, however, you must! Usagi's life depends on it!" Rei glanced at Usagi and tried not to notice how pale she was. "She looks a little pale, but otherwise, she looks OK to me!" she stated emphatically. "Remember the vision, Rei!" Minako said sharply. Rei shook her head vehemently. "The visions don't always come true!" she retorted, a touch of panic in her eyes. She loved Usagi and she knew it, but actually opening one's heart and saying it, that was something else. She had never done that with anyone, except possibly her Grandfather.
Haeth watched them as they tried to convince Rei, and despite her gentle nature, her fierce draconian temper ignited. Her pride and fear are strong! she thought fiercely, Let's see if I can weaken them! "HOLD!" she cried. All the Senshi turned to see her standing before them, her hot glare turned on Rei. "If you love your pride more than Usagi's life, then nothing you could say to her would do any good!" she snarled, wincing inside at the harsh words she was forced to use, "You may return to your slumber comforted in the knowledge that your pride is intact, even though Usagi will die!" Rei flinched at the relentless words, but refused to bend. "How can you be sure?" she retorted, "You're not one of us! You're not even human!" Haeth flinched inwardly at Rei's words, but didn't let the pain show. She was fighting for two, now, because Rei would never forgive herself if Usagi died because of her inaction through fear and pride.
In answer, Haeth whipped her hand at the gathered Senshi and each was instantly surrounded by a bright blue glow. "You are seeing your auras glowing a healthy blue," she explained to the startled Senshi. When she flicked her hand at Usagi, however, there were horrified looks and gasps from the Senshi. Usagi's aura was a sickeningly unhealthy green.
Rei had tears in her eyes and they streaked her cheeks as she bowed her head before Haeth's angry glare. She suddenly remembered clearly, the terrible vision they saw in the sacred fire, of Usagi being injured in a way that they didn't understand, but that they knew was mortal. The vision frightened them all so much, that all the Senshi attempted to protect Usagi to extremes. To no avail. Now, she had just seen a graphic display, of just how sick Usagi was. Worse, a sickness that could be seen only by someone who could see auras. Rei hadn't WANTED to believe Haeth. She had no choice, now, not after Haeth's display. They had failed to protect her. The vision had come true and if she didn't overcome both her fear and her pride, to reveal what was in her heart, Usagi would die.
With a choked sob, she rushed to Usagi's side and threw her arms around her friend, great shuddering sobs racking her frame as she rocked back and forth. Usagi snapped awake with a gasp, and seeing Rei's anguish, began to cry too. Rei said nothing, she didn't need to. Her terrible anguish and love for Usagi were made plain in the most truthful way possible, without words.
When Usagi lapsed back into her tranced state, Rei turned away, covering her mouth with her hands, trying to hold in the anguished sobs. Haeth took Rei into her arms and let her weep herself out on a comforting shoulder. After awhile, Haeth extended a hand to Usagi and her aura appeared again. At Mako's gasp, the others looked up. "Rei, look!" Haeth ordered softly, "She fights fiercely and now my job can truly begin!" Rei looked up to see Usagi's aura flickering rapidly as healthy blue battled sickly green.
"Rei, I must go," Haeth said, releasing her, "Usagi can't win her fight without my help. She needs me now." Haeth moved quickly to Usagi and knelt at her side. Placing a hand on each side of Usagi's head, Haeth bowed her head as her aura began to glow brightly. The Senshi held their breaths, sensing a silent battle being waged.
Haeth darted through the vivid landscape within Usagi's mind, searching for her patient and the dark enemy she fought. Lords of Light, Usagi! she thought in exasperation, Couldn't you have imagined a flat field instead of hilly forest?! She came to a clearing and looked around. This is idiotic! she fumed, Time to take to the air! She shimmered as she assumed her natural form, her iridescent silver scales glittered as she spread her wings and went aloft.
Usagi dodged again and the black bolt blew a large hole where she had been standing, moments before. "Give up Sailor Moon!" the large skeletal creature hissed, "Your puny skills are no match for my power!" "Forget it, Bones!" she retorted, aiming her scepter, "My friends are counting on me! MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" Morgoth extended a bony claw and the bolt bounced off, crashing into the trees. He waved his claw and her scepter flew from her hands as she fell hard. "Bye bye Moon Child!" he hissed as he prepared the final blow. A thunderous roar came from above, followed by a coughing bark. Before the two could react, a brilliant white lightning bolt slammed into the Death Dragon, smashing him into the trees. Haeth landed quickly and looked urgently at Usagi, her wings still half spread. "Come, mount, Usagi!" she hissed hurriedly, "That bolt won't stun him for long!" Usagi cast a quick glance at Morgoth and snatching up her scepter, leaped for Haeth's back. "Between the dorsal spines, Usagi," Haeth urged, "They'll help hold you in place."
When Usagi was in place, Haeth took to the air. Usagi gasped as the ground receded rapidly and she grasped the spine in front of her with a white knuckled grip. "Where are we?" Usagi yelled over the rushing sound of the wind. "We are in your mind," Haeth answered, "Doing battle against the terrible injury Morgoth inflicted on your soul!"
While speaking, Haeth was searching for a place to land and hide. She needed time to prepare Usagi for battle. Spotting a place, she dove for it, Usagi gripping the forward spine even harder. On landing, Haeth dove into the trees, a desperate Usagi clinging to her back.
When they were deep in the shadows, Haeth looked back in time to see Morgoth erupt into the air. "Just in time!" she panted to Usagi, "Now he won't find us until we're ready!" Usagi dismounted, with Haeth's help. "What can we do?" she asked hopelessly, "He's too strong for us!" "For starters, you can trust me and give me your broach!" Haeth replied, extending a foreclaw, "Your current powers aren't enough! They must be boosted." After a moments hesitation, Usagi placed her broach in Haeth's foreclaw. Haeth's claw glowed briefly and she handed the broach back. Usagi looked at it and saw an eight pointed star now nestled between the points of the crescent moon.
The Guardians had all awakened by this time and had moved to join the Senshi as they watched and waited. Mamoru, not knowing what was going on, rushed forward to pull Haeth away from Usagi. "No!" Lynn cried urgently, as she grabbed his arm, "Do not wake her from her healing trance! That's Haeth!"
Mamoru calmed immediately as he recognized the Soul Healer's name. "Can Haeth heal her?" he asked quietly. Lynn nodded in reassurance and they joined the others, watching the silent battle being waged by the brave girl sitting against the wall, and the stubborn Soul Healer who aided her in her fight. "Look!" Rei cried, "Usagi's broach!" Everyone watched as it shimmered and the eight pointed star appeared between the points of the moon crescent. Lynn gasped. "What's wrong?" Mamoru demanded. "We were going to power up all your gems," she replied, "The new powers you would gain would be more effective against Morgoth's creatures. That Haeth has done it for Usagi now, means they have a serious fight on their hands!"
Usagi looked back at the silvery dragon regarding her. "What's this?" she asked curiously as she returned her broach to its proper place. "You are now a Guardian," Haeth explained, "Which is proper, since you are Guardians of your own Star. This will give new powers that will appear when needed. Now, we must face Morgoth's shadow!"
They stepped from the trees just as Morgoth landed in the clearing. The two dragons immediately engaged in a duel to the death. Morgoth obviously considered Usagi no threat ignoring her to concentrate on Haeth. For the moment, Haeth was holding her own, but, she was a very young dragon, only fifteen feet long. Morgoth, on the other hand, was thirty-five feet long. Much bigger and his alliance with death made him much more powerful.
Usagi knew how it would end. Her fury at her helplessness knew no bounds. At this, knowledge poured into her and she knew how to save her new friend. "MOON" She crossed her wrists in front of her. "CRESCENT" Her open hands began to glow. "SCYTHES" Three foot long glowing crescent blades formed in her hands. "SLASH!" She whipped her arms out, releasing the glowing blades to streak at Morgoth from opposite directions. He had a split-second to stop them. His momentary hesitation to stop them was fatal as they both slammed into him. He shrieked and with a blinding flash, exploded into dust, which blew away on the winds. Haeth changed into her human form and smiled at Usagi. She winked at her, shimmered and vanished. With Usagi's healing, the trance had broken.
The sun had finally set when the battle ended with Usagi and Haeth victorious. Haeth sighed heavily and covered her face with her hands, her head bowed with weariness. Usagi's aura glowed a healthy blue, the sickly green, that so alarmed everyone, was utterly gone. Mamoru fell to his knees beside Usagi and seized her hand, kissing it fervently. "She is healed," Haeth said from behind her hands. She also sounded as if she was weeping. Rei moved to Haeth as the other Senshi converged on Usagi. She gently took Haeth's wrists and moved her hands so she could see Haeth's face. "Are you all right?" Rei asked gently, seeing her tear stained cheeks. Haeth nodded wearily. "Yes. This weeping DOES make one feel better, doesn't it?" she returned, "I can see why you humans do it, now." "It works for me!" Rei said with a grin, "Though, it's Usagi you should talk to. She's the real expert."
"OK people," Greywolf called, "We're all still tired. Time for bed. Tomorrow, we make our plans and journey with the Senshi to Tokyo." Mamoru picked up the sleeping Usagi and everyone filed out the door to find their beds. Guards were assigned to show the Senshi where they would sleep. Tomorrow would be a BUSY day.