Chapter 8: Clues from the Past
"So what did you find?" Ami asked the two cats.
"Well we had to scan it and make sure we could keep the digital analysis with your computer Ami, but it seems like this isn't the kind of energy that the Dark Moon used. It is dark energy, but it registers as something much more familiar." Artemis said showing the geometric plan of the seed on the screen.
"So what is it?" Mina asked.
"It's energy that is more like your own. It acts like power similar to your own; that of a Senshi…of course there is no saying, that like Galaxia was, it may have been affected by a negative influence." Luna speculated.
"You can't tell what planet though?" Amara asked.
"No. It's –" Artemis sighed. "Many of the outer planets, including Saturn and Pluto have powers that are driven from a darker source. This doesn't mean evil; but like everything in the world there is a balance."
"Like Yin and Yang?" Rei asked.
"Kind of. There is no creation without destruction. No silence without a scream. Dark and Light somehow also tend to equalize as well. These planets, or at least Sedna and Varune, also are two of the outer planets. There are many of them, and not all of them attended council in the past. Frankly I can't remember all myself, but their powers of water, are the powers that are…not evil, but a different spectrum."
"Powers of Sailor Scouts run in all different shapes. Saturn's powers are dangerous but they also create the ability for new life." Luna expanded.
"Sedna said she was "of the deep", does that mean that her powers are of the deeper descents of water?" Ami speculated.
"Varune's powers might be similar then…maybe that's why they call on us..." Michelle noted.
"It's a possibility." Artemis said. "These Seeds are also …specific in a way."
"What does that mean?" Lita asked.
"What Artemis means is that they resemble the Seed of an Apple, in shape. Or at least the closest match we could find." Luna explained.
"So it's native of the Earth?" Darien spoke up.
"The apple once was native of the Earth. It was actually when Earth finally united with the scoutdom; specifically your generation in the past when the apple found its way to the Moon." Luna sighed.
"You mean, it was me who brought it to the moon?" Darien asked.
"I remember that day vividly. Queen Serenity brought back many memories, sometimes in my dreams. Serena, not long after you met Prince Darien, you had a bit of folly in his gardens. The apple is one of the Earth's sweetest fruits, the Fruit of Eve it was once called."
"That's right. It was called that because the first Queen of the Earth was Eve, and she was the first to discover it. Anyone who once was either on Earth or at the Moon at that time may be linked to this fruit." Artemis added.
"But you said Earth wasn't part of the scoutdom?" Amara added.
"No, the Earth for a long while never was part of it. It was of their own choice too. Earth was a very neutral place to live. For that reason the Earth wasn't one to take Scout-oath to the Silver Crystal as a Guardian. Until Darien met you in the past Serena." Luna looked to Serena.
"Really?" Serena blushed. "But how come you don't tell us these things…"
"All of this stuff never came up before. Honestly we don't remember everything, and we are leaving many parts as blanks we cannot fill in. Either way, Apple's actually seeded on the Moon, surprisingly, for Earth plants don't often flourish other places. So we can't be for sure what that means, nor how it links to the two Soldiers of Sedna and Varuna." Artemis added.
"I'm sorry, but can Sailor Soldiers be male? No offence Darien." Mina asked.
They all looked to her a little stunned.
"Yes. A Sailor Soldier doesn't always mean a uniform, or a feminate thing. Most of the planets have a tendency to follow the originating goddesses' gender; the protectors of the planet's crystals were said to be mainly female who sacrificed their lives to protect the powers each planet for example. Eventually Sailor Soldiers weren't just planetary, but became part of a domain; if there is something to protect, there is likely a soldier for it." Luna explained.
"Darien, and like Varune, I assume, is taken on his own identity. Remember, Darien never truly became a Sailor Soldier in his past, he only gave oath himself to protect Serena and the silver crystal long after the original choosing and oaths were taken at a young age." Artemis reminded.
They nodded.
"So what can we do to stop them?" Lita asked.
"Unfortunately, like a Sailor Scout striking another Scout's power, most of the time all they do is clash. War between Scouts is often redundant because the playing field is equivalent; but also you are meant to protect the given power and it's source. Your planet is protected by your ability to use its power. If this is planetary, the only thing we can do is purify it."
"If Serena's scepter doesn't' work, then frankly, it might have to be the silver crystal as it is. Until we find by who, or how these are being controlled, changing that wont be easy…Any Power turned to Darkness has an instigating reason behind it. You can't put a band aid over it until you fix the problem." Artemis expanded.
"So it got us nowhere…" Rei leaned back.
"No, at least we know what we're dealing with. Or at least closer to an answer." Amara shook her head.
"I think I'm going to see if Pluto, or Trista can join us. Saturn hasn't awakened yet, so I'm leaving her out of it for now." Michelle said.
"Hasn't awakened yet?" Mina looked apprehensive.
"I'm hoping this isn't heading that way." Michelle gave a small reassuring smile.
"We can only hope so. Hopefully the next time we'll get closer to some answers." Darien concluded their conversation. He knew he wasn't about to let Serena, or anyone other scout swayed by these Seeds. The Earth was his to protect, and more so, using the Fruit of the Earth to promote sin…he didn't like that either.
"So, the question is, what do I do with you?" Ixion looked down on the city, his first Seed in his palm. Neikia. "What quarrels are the easiest to begin?"
"I hear Sedna and Varune ran into them twice. You should be ready to counter them; it seem's their Plans for direct attacks didn't work so well."
Ixion turned to see Charon. His silver long bangs hung down his left eye, his hair in his ponytail, silvery over his darker tanned skin. His dark green hood was down, over his light silver green vest like Charon and Varune's. His staff, long with a diamond-shaped green illuminate crystal hanging off like the end of a hanging lantern, with three gold coins hanging off of it.
"I'll think of a way. I always do." Ixion scanned the city. Somewhere in the city was his real coveted goal; to find her and this time make her realize he was more than just a small-time soldier.
"And I hate to suggest that your mind might be somewhere else at times." Charon said calmly. He wasn't accusatory like Sedna and Varune; Charon was sometimes overly calm, at least in Ixion's opinion. Ixion didn't get that. How could that man hold no grudge? They're must be one under his calm dark green eyes? Ixion knew his own grudge was best matched in his own satisfaction of winning what he once lost. But, Charon had his own skeletons, and certainly he wasn't the only one with a woman on his mind.
"And yet you are here scanning the city to, and you don't have a Seed to spread. I will tell you if I see her. I know what it is like." Ixion closed his hand on the seed as it disappeared. He'd call it out the moment he found his method. Ixion gave a small look of brief comfort, as if he'd hoped Charon might actually admit their similarity.
"If you don't I don't care. She made her decision then." Charon looked away. "Unlike you, I don't care to win her over. I couldn't once…"
"But you can't tell me you wouldn't like to prove her wrong? Show here what she's missed? Charon you really are stone cold to your own wants." Ixion flashed his devious charming smile.
"I'd like to tell her, straight for once, but I don't chase wheels that are turning in another direction. Even if they do see their own mistakes, they've already head down one path. You can't go back, or in reverse in life can you?" Charon's metaphor was a little one sided too Ixion's own powers, his wheel of hellish fires. Charon's voice was still too calm.
"As you wish. If you were smart you'd try to get her to come to our side. I'm sure she's not to far from it Mr. Moon-mover." Ixion teased his ally.
"I don't do that transportation stuff anymore for anyone. No simple coin, nor trade. Nor goodness of the heart. The moon I rule is my own, I deviated from that life, and the moon's planet that I wasn't enough for. It's your time now anyway Ixion, goodluck."
Ixion swore he heard less calm and a bit of bitter in his voice. But Charon had left and he didn't care to pull teeth to get more out of him.
It was funny how easy lover's love can turn to Quarrels…
Actually Charon had helped given him the answer to his little problems. Ixion pulled out the Seed again and smiled. Now…for the right opportunity.