The Light of the Crystal.

Dive to the Heart (Usagi)

xXxX

She could feel his embrace. He was so warm, so gentle and so loving. She wanted to be in that embrace forever.

However, it was gone, soon replaced by the feeling of falling.

Uprighting herself, she landed on the ground, and proceeded to observe her surroundings. Everything was black, as far as the eye could see.

However, once she took a step forward the ground lit up in a brilliant flash of light, momentarily blinding her. When the light cleared, she took a glance at the floor to see that it had changed.

Gone was the void that had been there previously. In its place there stood a beautiful stained glass platform, showing the planet of Mercury in the vastness of space. It also showed a beautiful young girl, with short blue hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue dress. Circling the image were the astrological symbols of the planet Mercury.

Usagi Tsukino honestly was wondering what was going on.

"It would appear that you do not know what you once were."

Usagi's eyes widened as she heard the voice. Somehow, it felt...familiar.

"Who are you?" She called out.

"You have forgotten your companions, as well as your legacy. The power you once wielded has not yet awoken."

"OK, I am clearly still dreaming.", Usagi sighed. "Sorry mysterious voice, but I want to go back to my previous dream now!"

"The power still resides within though. It is only a matter of time before it returns."

At this, a platform started to rise in the middle of the stained glass. On it was a beautiful silver sword, with a crescent moon shaped hilt. The light coming off of the blade gave it a pale glow, like moonlight in the dark night sky. Usagi couldn't put her finger on the reason why, but she was drawn to this blade.

"But first, it must be given form and reforged."

Usagi drew closer to the blade, and put her hand on its pommel. Somehow holding it felt oddly familiar, like she had wielded it before. However, before she could ponder on how such a thing was possible, the Sword disappeared into a flash of light, her eyes widening in awe. Suddenly, she could see off in the distance another platform.

"Now, go forward."

"Um, mysterious voice? How can I when there's not a bridge?"

As if responding to her question, a bridge made out of stained glass appeared.

"Thank you!" Usagi shouted, then proceeded to cross the bridge to the other platform. As soon as she stepped off, the bridge disappeared behind her, as well as the previous platform, causing Usagi to let out a nervous chuckle.

"Guess there's no going back now." She whimpered as she looked down at the image on this platform. This time, it showed the planet Mars and a girl with long black hair wearing a red dress. Surrounding her was the red symbol of Mars. Usagi then felt a weight in her hands and looked to see that she was holding the sword from before.

"You now have reawakened some of your lost power."

Before Usagi could inquire what the voice meant, she saw something rise out of the ground. It was a small impish creature, with a black body and yellow eyes. Usagi would have normally found such a creature cute, but she felt something come off of it...something dark.

"You must now use this power to defend yourself."

Usagi froze, her breaths coming hard and fast as the creature lunged at her. Instinct took over however, as she jumped to the side to safety, but the feeling of fear wouldn't go away. So, she did the only thing she could do: She swung wildly, hoping to get a hit. Although her swordsmanship needed some work, she managed to get some hits as she thrust and stabbed at the creature. The creature however, was wily and managed to flatten itself and skitter on the floor. Though Usagi tried to hit it, the sword did not have an effect on the creature in this state. It was almost like it was a shadow. Once it reemerged from the floor, it jumped up at her and slashed at her with its claws, causing her eyes to widen as she felt the sting of its attack.

"OK, I am not supposed to get hurt in a dream! Just what is going on?!" Her inner voice shrieked. The creature, as if sensing her fear, took advantage of her momentary weakness and lunged towards her once again. Screaming, Usagi thrust the sword directly at the monster, causing the weapon to cleanly pierce through its body. The creature did not give off a cry of pain, it only proceeded to disappear in a puff of dark energy.

Seeing this, Usagi was prepared to sigh in relief, but then her eyes widened in horror as she saw more shadow-like imps. As she continued to swing her blade, she began to get the hang of it, beginning to form more precise combos and hits. Within the combat, the sense of familiarity returned, as if she had previously fought monsters such as these.

However, the monsters, although lacking in strength, made up for it in persistence and number, and they had managed to land a few scratches on her. The scratches stung, but Usagi felt herself being pushed on. Unbeknownst to her, one of the monsters had turned itself flat, and began to silently creep up towards her.

"Behind you!"

Turning around, Usagi managed to slash at the beast, bisecting it and causing it to vanish like all the others. She continued to fight until the monsters were no more. As she panted heavily from the strain of wielding the sword, she noticed another platform and bridge appearing.

"Mysterious voice, can we stop please? I wanna wake up now!" Usagi whined.

There was only silence.

"Hello? Mysterious voice?"

No reply came forth.

Usagi began to groan. "OK fine, guess I have no choice but to follow along anyway. On the plus side, I do get to see those pretty murals."

When she arrived at the newest platform, she took a moment to once again gaze at the mural on one was displaying the planet Jupiter and a girl with brown hair tied back into a ponytail, as well as wearing a green dress. Like the others before it, the astronomical sign of its planet was circling the maiden.

As Usagi observed her surroundings, her eyes were drawn to an ornate door. It was rather big, and it had two handles that could be used to pull it, and on it was a crescent moon symbol. Feeling herself being drawn towards the door, she approached it. But as she reached for the handle, it began to open by itself, and a bright light began to envelop her.

When her vision returned, Usagi could feel her eyes widen in awe as she beheld what was in front of her. It was a majestic castle, all white and glowing in the light. As she observed her surroundings, she took notice that in the sky wasn't a moon or the sun, but the planet Earth itself. Just where was she?

"This realm is connected to your lineage. Deep within lies your power."

Suddenly, a bright silver light began to shine from within the palace. Usagi could feel the power the light held. It was pure, and warm...but it also felt incomplete.

"The light you wield is but one aspect of it however."

The light began to grow brighter and brighter, causing Usagi to close her eyes lest she be blinded by it.

"Your journey will see you complete this light, and reawaken your full splendor."

As the light died down, Usagi opened her eyes to see that she was on another platform. This one showing the planet Venus, and a beautiful maiden with flowing blonde hair wearing an orange dress. Completing the picture, like so many others, was the familiar circle of the astrological sign of the planet.

"You currently teeter on the edge of dream and after."

"What does that even mean?" Usagi scratched her head in confusion, before she began to feel a wetness around her feet. Looking down, she saw that the floor was now covered in water. Usagi's eyes widened as the water began to recede like the tide, before suddenly coming forth in a massive wave. Usagi's felt panic enter her, as she looked around for any way off of the platform.

Seeing no way out, Usagi closed her eyes and braced for impact. As the wave impacted against her body and submerged her in water, she was surprised to find that she could breathe just fine. Looking up, she saw a bright light coming from the surface. Drawn to the light, she proceeded to swim up towards it.

As she broke through the surface, she noticed that there was nothing. In that all around her was a vast blue sky filled with clouds. Looking down, she could see that she was now standing on the water, the surface reflecting her body. She then proceeded to take a step, and the surface rippled, but otherwise, she did not go through it. She really was walking on water.

However, as she looked around she noticed a figure off in the distance. Usagi then began to sprint as she approached the figure, getting a better look at it. As she approached though, her heart began to race, and her cheeks began to turn a fierce shade of red.

The figure was a young man with short black hair, blue eyes, and an attractive face. He was dressed in a tuxedo with a white bowtie, and he was also wearing white gloves and black shoes. All in all, Usagi found herself entranced by this man, but he also seemed familiar somehow. The young man, likewise, widened his eyes as he beheld Usagi.

"Who are you?"

Before she could reply, she felt the ground shake. Looking around, she noticed that a colossus began to rise out of the water. It's body was all black, like the shadow creatures she had fought, but it was clearly more humanoid, as its body was muscular, and it had black 'hair' surrounding its face. Small wings protruded out of its back, and in the middle of its torso was a heart shaped hole.

Usagi gulped as she beheld the creature. It would be really nice to wake up now.