Climbing up the steps, Saori was losing her breath and her legs hurt. The steps were small but old with cracks. Several times, she nearly tripped. Finally, she arrived the House of Gemini.

"Seiya?"

She looked around but found the house empty.

She remembered the Gemini Gold Saint from her dream. A man with long blue hair. He had a gold dagger with him; it was the one he used to kill Sagittarius Aiolos. Could he have used that same dagger on Seiya? Like what Aldebaran had said, Seiya's cosmo was no match against Gold Saints. Unlike Mu and Aldebaran, Gemini Saint was not on their side.

But Seiya would've cared less. He'd continue to fight till the end - like how he fought Shiryu during the Galaxy Tournament.

For a moment, she thought Seiya was already killed by the Gemini Saint. But then, she realized that there's no blood stain, which meant that there wasn't any bloodshed at all.

Plus, it wasn't just Seiya - Hyoga, Shiryu, and Shun was with him too. Where were they?

More she looked around the odder she found this palace.

Gemini Gold Saint was not a small man. Where could he be hiding? According to Mu and Aldebaran, every palace was guarded by a Gold Saint, unless that Gold Saint was elsewhere or dead. Thus the only palace that is empty should be House of Libra and House of Sagittarius. Libra Gold Saint Dohko, 200 year-old, was at Five Peaks and Sagittarius Gold Saint was dead. But what's Gemini's story?

The image of that gold dagger kept on flashing in her mind.

The gold dagger...

Wait...

Saori then recalled what she saw after she was shot by Silver Saint Ptolemy.

Aiolos was protecting her from a dark figure who tried to kill her with a gold dagger. The Pope was already dead on the ground.

"Saga! No!"

That gold dagger was very similar to the one Gemini Saint had.

"Aiolos' blood is on it still. It was the sacrifice he was willing to make. I stabbed him with this dagger. I stabbed him ten times."

"Saga...Gemini Saga is the Pope," Saori realized. "He betrayed me and my mother. He murdered the Pope and took his place. He wounded Aiolos."

This palace was empty because Gemini Saga is at the Pope's chamber.

So the Bronze Saints must have moved on to the next palace then since there was no enemy here.

Or did they?

Saori began to hear cries and sensed cosmo as well.

Shun?

If he's here, where is he?

She closed her eyes and tried to connect with Shun with her cosmo.

Shun, can you hear me?

Shun was trapped in another dimension. Surrounded by illusion, he didn't know what is real and what isn't. All he knew was that he's separated from his friends and at the mercy of his enemy.

Shun, can you hear me?

"Ojou-sama?"

Shun, burn your cosmo. You have defeated Mariner Sorrento and you can win this battle too. Don't be a reluctant warrior. Your Nebula Chain can attack and defend. Don't forget offense is the best defense. Attack! With your Nebula Chain!

Shun found his Nebula Chain coming back to him.

Shun, now!

"Thunder Wave!"

Shun found himself surrounded by his chains and facing Saori.

"Saori-san," Shun muttered. Before he could express his gratitude, Saori asked, "Where's Seiya? And the others?"

"We got split up," Shun replied. "I don't know where everyone else is."

"What happened?"

"We got here together but then-"

"No, I'm asking why was I left at the House of Aries? I knew I was out on the plane. By the time I woke up, I was alone at the House of Aries. How long have I slept?"

"I don't know but we did take you along when we got to the House of Aries. You were still out after Mu repaired our Cloths. Mu told us that the curse from Silver Saint's arrow is killing you and that you only have twelve hours left. The only way to remove the curse is to defeat the Pope. Seiya ran to the next house and we went after him. Mu says you'd be safe with him." Then he added, "You shouldn't have taken 2 tablets, Ojou-sama. I read the instructions on the bottle. It says that don't take more than 1 tablet within 24 hours."

"And what else?"

"Consult your doctor if you have any question."

"Okay Shun, we need to move," Saori said. "They are ahead of us. Shiryu is at the House of Cancer and you need to go to him now. He needs your help against the Cancer Gold Saint."

Connecting the dots from her dreams, Saori had a good grasp on who's on their side. From her dream, she knew that Cancer Gold Saint would be fighting Shiryu and Aquarius Gold Saint would be facing Hyoga. As for Seiya, knowing him, he probably rushed ahead and facing Leo Aiolia. Though a righteous person, Aiolia was a tormented soul.

"What about you, Saori-san?"

"I..." Before she could finish, she collapsed again.

"Saori-san!"

"Who has intervened?" The Pope asked himself. He was enjoying playing the Andromeda Saint with his illusion. However, someone intervened. "No, it wasn't a Gold Saint. It was...Goddess Athena. She's still at the House of Gemini with Andromeda..."

"Saori-san!"

"I'm fine Shun," Saori said. "I'm tired, that's all."

"You'll be okay," Shun said. "If you are not-"

"Tatsumi will go crazy again, right?"

"No, Seiya will."

Saori smiled. "Go now, don't worry about me. I can take care myself."

Just as she finished saying that, she found the House surrounded by soldiers.

"This is not good," she said.

Shun bravely stood between the soldiers and Saori. Using his Nebula Chain he fought well. Saori no longer saw him as a reluctant warrior. Good, she thought. He was Phoenix Ikki's brother after all. Watching Shun fighting, she wanted to join the battle herself, if only she can stand. Although Shun was a stronger warrior, he was outnumbered by enemies. Seeing that he was losing, Saori tried to stand.

A soldier came to her with a spear in his hand.

"Die!"

Before he could hurt her, he was hit from behind.

"Don't even think about it!"

"Jabu?" Saori's eyes lightened upon seeing him. Along with him were Nachi, Ban, Geki, Ichi, and Tatsumi. Together, they beat down the soldiers one by one. Even Tatsumi joined the fight - with his bamboo sword.

"Saori-san, I told you that I will join you at the Sanctuary," Jabu said after the soldiers were defeated.

"When did you get here?" Saori asked.

"We returned to Japan after our training," Jabu said. "Tatsumi told us that you went to the Sanctuary. We don't have Seiya have all the fun himself so we made Tatsumi take us here."

"Basically we held him hostage," Geki said.

"And Nachi flew the plane," Ichi added.

"I'm happy to see you as well," Shun said to them.

"Shun, go now," Saori said, remembered that Shiryu is facing Cancer Gold Saint. "Shiryu needs you."

Nodding, Shun was on his way.