Rei sags against the wall. She will only admit it in her own head, but the others had probably been right when they'd said she wasn't to be out of bed yet.

But her own stubborn pride would be damned if she actually let that stop her.

They are standing by the Temple of Cronus. There is quite the entourage hovering behind them while Aetas speaks quietly with the priest scowling before the giant gilded doors leading inside. They'd been here for several minutes already, waiting for the priest to give the go ahead to allow them inside. The fact he'd stood there arguing against their entry is slowly wearing on whatever patience any of them are carrying.

If Rei had the energy, she would be first to push past the frigid old man. Instead, Ventus struts forward with a frown and thrusts a hand forward…a hand currently wielding a freshly sharpened and polished sword she'd bloodied for the first time two days ago. The sword nicks the old man's beard as she lets the tip gently ping off the polished metal of the looming doors.

"I have no doubt tradition is very important. Knowing and upholding such things is a task to be proud of." Her eyes narrow. "However, we are in a state of crisis. War has been declared, and the best way to counter our enemies is to know them. Meaning, we need in there." She gestures with her chin. "Today."

Aetas' eye is twitching, but Rei isn't sure if it's because of Ventus or the old man. "Our enemy has already nearly breached our borders," she begins icily. "We hardly managed to keep them back, especially after they let out their little 'surprise'." Her gaze flicks to Rei. "We were not prepared. The enemy knows us. We must know them."

The priest scoffs. "And I refuse to allow anyone but the Pluto Senshi pass! It is the Pluto Senshi's right of passage that-"

"I've heard of your testing, old man," hisses Ventus. "After what you've already done, none of us will let her walk this alone."

Rei's amethyst gaze flicks to Amora, waiting for the usual commanding force to come forth and help push things along. She is left a bit disjointed to find Amora hovering unsurely behind Elysia's shoulder. Amora has never seemed more like Minako until this moment, and Rei's heart clenches as it is the least way she'd hoped that Amora would reflect her.

A hand gently comes to rest on the small of Rei's back. Rei hardly flinches, already barely holding herself together as it is; she has no energy to properly tense as her battle weary body is conditioned to. She dips her head just enough she can see Serenity's face out of the corner of her eye.

"You worry for her," the blond murmurs. Blue eyes dart to Amora's hunched shoulders.

A long breath escapes the Raven haired woman's lips as she leans even further into the wall. "I miss her usual flair."

"You enjoy her flirting with you?" Queries the blond, quirking an eyebrow.

The Earth Priestess splutters, head jerking to the side and nearly making her lose what little balance she has.

It's the telltale quirk of her lips that gives the blond's humor away. Rei groans softly, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she turns her face away in embarrassment. Serenity hums, silently observing everyone for a few moments before she leans a little closer. "I've gotten better at noticing when you're not saying something."

Rei winces slightly before a self depreciating smirk crosses her face. It is startling but also promising that Serenity is so observant. She really needs to stop underestimating the Moon child; Serenity has already proven she has more layers than it seems.

"In the… Visions of the future, there were...signs." Rei begins haltingly, not exactly sure how to explain.

Serenity pulls Rei's listless arm across her shoulders, helping support the woman without pointing out verbally how foolish Rei's pride is at the moment. Instead, she simply provides more assistance so it looks less like Rei is clearly losing her strength by sliding further down the wall and creates the illusion the two are simply sharing a half embrace. "Signs?" Encourages the blond, shifting slightly to make them both more comfortable.

"The future Amora was adept at hiding her self-doubt. It wasn't until there were some close calls and uncomfortable revealing issues that any of us realized how deeply her self-confidence had plunged. Most of it occurred before her time with us as a group, as originally she was awakened as a Senshi first."

Serenity's gaze snaps to her, clearly intrigued.

Rei subtly shakes her head, keeping on topic. "There were things we didn't know about, things she'd experienced alone and had scarred her deeply. I think that once we were together it helped, but it wasn't actually dealt with until it all came to a head. We…almost lost her." The pain is heavy in her voice, eyes misting over. "I…don't want Amora to fall to the same fate. She is…so much more than she realizes. I want her to never lose that confidence, that spark." A half smile crosses her lips. "It's what makes her who she is, what gives others confidence too."

Serenity squeezes her gently, gaze soft as it lands on the blond still lingering at Elysia's elbow. Elysia has shifted slightly so that her pinky loops through Amora's index finger, giving the blond silent comfort as she keeps her attention on the three figures arguing in front of the Temple. Amora has a small smile on her lips, eyes a little glassy as she allows Elysia's actions to soothe her distress.

"I think she'll be okay," murmurs the Princess, pulling Rei a little closer.

BOOM!

Everyone begins choking on dust and smoke, as apparently someone had lost their patience and thrust a wash of magic at the door.

When the dust settles, the priest is gaping up from the ground while shaking. Above his head the gilded doors are dented deeply inward, blackened by the burst of raw magic. Ventus' lips are curled in a snarl, hand still outstretched.

"You will-not ever speak about her that way again!" Her aura flares wildly around her, eyes fierce.

"What in blazes did we miss?!" Hisses Rei, clutching to Serenity in shock.

Aetas looks just as startled as everyone else, and Endymion has moved forward from the back of the group to stand protectively at her side with compressed lips and his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword.

Aequus steps forward and rests a restraining hand on Ventus' shoulder. However, her aqua colored eyes are ice cold as she stares down at the cowering priest. "I suggest sir, that you bow out of this confrontation immediately." A eerie smirk crosses her lips. "As even though I would like to settle this peacefully, you have stepped over the line. I only need one more reason to allow Ventus to finish what she started." Her eyes flick to the damaged doors.

The man visibly pales to an ashy gray when he follows her gaze and observes the damage done. "Y-you can't-"

Aequus sneers, making Rei gape at her in shock. Michiru had never made such an expression before; it is unnerving to see the usually composed woman look so openly disgusted.

"I am a High Priestess. I have devoted years of training and meditation to attain this blessed title." Her eyes narrow. "I know what is expected of you, sir. Unless there is someone desecrating the holy Temple, you have no right to bar anyone access! Even less do you have the right to deny her fellow Senshi! If anyone has that right, it is Aetas herself as you are in the presence of Cronus' chosen Avatar!"

Everyone blinks. Those observing turn a pasty white before many start sinking to their knees and murmuring prayers and bowing towards Aetas. The Senshi shift uncomfortably, as no-one had ever revered them to such a degree. Aequus remains unmoved, scowling at the priest.

"It is forgotten lore, but it is no less true. The Senshi were created by those Gods and Goddesses many have forgotten. We are all Avatars, and it is our mission to guard and protect! Do you think we bear these Marks for nothing?!" Her brow flashes, revealing the symbol of Neptune. "Pluto, born of Cronus as Hades, God of the Underworld! The Avatar intertwined with both their gifts, as both the Underworld and Time bleed together as future past and present twist and flex to reflect mortality and its flaws, showing where it ultimately ends!"

Those that hadn't already hit their knees drop immediately, heads pressed firmly to the ground as more murmurs of prayer fill the air. The priest looks ready to wet himself.

"You-have-no-right," Aequus snarls. Her eyes snap to Aetas. "AVATAR! Do you give us entry to this sacred site, this Temple of Cronus, father of Pluto, God of Time?"

Aetas looks a little queasy, even as her spine straightens and her shoulders square themselves. "I give my fellow Avatars entry." Her eyes dip to the priest. "Open the doors." Her voice seems to echo with a strange stirring of power beginning to simmer in the air, creating a sense of anticipation and agelessness.

The priest scrambles to his feet, yanking on the doors sharply and making them crash open with a resounding THUD that echoes into the shadows inside the long hallway yawning before them. He drops to his knees and scuttles backwards until he bumps into the other observers hovering behind the Senshi. He remains there, figure shaking uncontrollably.

Aequus dips her head to Aetas. "Lead the way, Avatar."

Aetas locks eyes with Endymion, clearly expressing that this is one event he will not be present for, before striding confidently into the dimly lit interior. The rest of the Senshi fall in step behind her. The mix of power fluctuating in the air gives Rei enough energy to carry herself forward without completely using Serenity as a crutch.

Once the Senshi cross the threshold, the doors slam closed by an unseen hand, dousing all the light inside and leaving them standing in pitch black silence.

"Frozen sack of-" begins Pru.

"PRUDENTIA!" Scolds Aetas, voice sharp. "We are on sacred ground!"

A slow wind begins to build, growing and swirling until it feels like they're in a mini cyclone.

Whispers start, hissing through the wind in a fashion that the words cannot be made out. The Senshi stiffen, on high alert and hovering in defensive poses as they shuffle so their backs face each other in a circle. The whispers escalate, growing louder and becoming clearer each passing moment.

"Gate… Fate-...silent screams… Voices of the Past...Souls from the Future…"

"What's going on?!" Demands Pru.

Aetas grits her teeth before answering. "I don't know! This is not the trial the Elders spoke of!"

"Demolisher of the Gate! Defiler of Fate! The Past was Not to Change! Destiny has been Denied!"

Rei feels her blood run cold, heart stuttering heavily in her chest. "I'm to be judged…"

"What?!" Cries Serenity, leaning closer. "What was that? Speak up!"

"You are not the Avatar of Cronus!" The voices rise shrilly, making the Senshi cover their ears. "De-filer! Defiler! DEFILER!"

A pulsating light gives them enough of a glow to finally see the vague wispy shapes swirling in the air around them. Faces come and fade, eyes and mouths black pits as the voices chant from each and every mouth circling them, fading and coming in a raspy cycle.

The sheer weight of power flooding over them makes them shiver.

Rei releases Serenity and takes a shaky step forward.

"EXURA!" Serenity lurches forward to grab her, but Rei brushes her attempt aside.

Rei glances back, the fear evident in her eyes even as she smiles confidently. "I am to be judged."

No one can hear her over the screaming, but all of them see her lips move and the self reproach in her eyes.

Hotaru's eyes widen. She attempts to press forward, struggling hard against some unseen force that presses against her to keep her in place. Her mouth is open in a soundless scream.

The voices blend into a wordless mess, rising in a roaring crescendo as the wispy shapes around them vault into the air with a keening wail. At the peak of their move, everything falls mute and still, leaving a disturbing hush.

Rei stands several feet away from her fellow Senshi. Her profile clear as she looks up at the towering wisps with resolute acknowledgement. The Senshi feel a thundering shock of absolute terror lash through them as the wisps focus solely on Rei's rigid form.

"Arbitrator!"

And the wispy figures descended in a spiraling cone and dive straight into Rei's breast.

A/N: So, just an FYI, I am going to take liberties with old Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses. I will pull from them, but I'm going to twist things so they hopefully make sense even if they are not (actually) historically accurate. I will try to mimic their true history, but the way the Senshi were created makes things...complicated. Pluto (AKA Hades) is technically the Roman God of the Underworld, not Time, so I had to...tweak things so we can explain Pluto's powers over time and yet why she is called Pluto. So, if things get wonky it's because I have to make it that way to get the story to (hopefully) make a shred of sense. If you have the whole dirty messy understanding of Roman and Greek Gods down to prefect recall, awesome! Go you! (I suck at remembering specifics). I appreciate that knowledge, but I won't go further than basic (probably very basic) research to get enough info to make things plausible, nothing more (and at least I did some research! Yay me! I didn't pull it all outta my ass!)

So, please bear with me. If things get too confusing, do let me know and I will try to clarify in a PM or in the following chapter.

Thanks for Reading!

~Salute!~