"The Slumber"
Chapter 7
~Realizations~
By: Willow Mae

The fire was hot, but not uncomfortably so, against the pale skin of the young woman who sat less that two feet in font of it. Rei had tied her long raven hair into a heavy mass atop her head so that no stray lock flew in her face. She was quick to settle into her meditative state, her forefingers pressed tightly against each other and the rest of her fingers tucked in to her palm. The fire hissed in front of her, warming her skin with its special type of magic. The young warrior let the magic seep through her, wrapping itself in the fibers of her being and reaching into her very heart to reside. The peace of the chamber she sat in enhanced the magic that she was preparing to work. Focusing delicately, she looked within herself for the fiery magic that had moments before consumed her. She towed a single flame away from the rest that burned in her heart and with her minds eyes nudged it to bend to her will. It flickered defiantly, but Rei was ready. It was one of the reasons she loved the fire so much; it didn't like to give in to anyone. Still, her skills had improved immensely over 300 years, and without much difficulty she had the single flame under her control.

The scrying began. She started backwards, using the small flame to watch the entire solar system. It was dreary and lifeless, a thought that sent pangs of guilt through Rei. If only she had woken up sooner…if only they had been able to detect the trap, the system wouldn't be so lifeless. She didn't focus on the past for too long. She had a great sense of duty, and her duty was to discover as much about these strange men as possible. She fueled the small flicker of light from the powerful blaze in her heart and it grew accordingly. When the flame she controlled had reached the size of on orange, she saw only the Earth and Moon, slowly rotating around each other. She saw herself, scrying. She saw Mako, happily preparing the meal. She saw Venus, pouring over ancient maps. She saw Ami… drugging her patient? Rei nearly lost her hold on the flame as her emotions came through. As much as she truly loved her friend, she also felt that keeping these strangers here any longer than necessary would be a mistake, and yet here Ami was prolonging their visit by keeping their liege sedated! The flame flickered violently, and Rei forced herself to calm down. Slowly she began to process of refueling the fire until she could see what she wanted.

The Earth was smeared with blood. Violence had never bothered Rei much, but the fire showed her pictures of men, women, children, pets…each one butchered brutally and staining the planet with hatred. The young woman's loathing for the Earthlings grew to a greater extent. Only there could people be so cruel to each other. Yet in her heart, and by the flame's will, she somehow also understood that much of this was the fault of the Witch. Rei waited patiently as the fire showed her everything it wanted to show her. She watched Beryl's troops ravage the land, the Dark Queen taking great pleasure in the sufferings of her people. Then, the flame did something unexpected.

"Don't let your scrying go in any direction but forward, my dear Mars. And even then, don't let it go too far." Pluto had stood above the 10-year –old senshi many years ago. The ancient woman's wisdom had left Rei in awe. She had never seen the outer senshi of time before, but when she had tried to see the future the woman had left her gates to teach the unknowing child of the ways in which the universe worked. It was a lesson that Rei had never forgotten, for it had enlightened her so. Setsuna's words and gentleness had embedded the lessons of time seeing forever in the Martian child's mind. She had, from that point on, only looked to the present for answers.

However, Fate does not always like playing by the rules of the universe. She had many other things to show the young senshi, and being subtle would never catch the attention of the hotheaded scryer. Rei found her control over the flame completely lost, and Fate stepped in and directed her course. Thousands of clipped images flashed in the flames, Rei hardly able to see them all. She picked out each of the five men at various points in their lives. Images of them battling for good, of helping the needy, of loving each other as dearly as she loved her own friends…images of the past. Then she saw clips of their battle against Beryl, the way the Witch tried to seduce their liege, the courage and valor of their personalities. She saw them in the palace, caring for each other and their lord, adapting to their new surroundings, politely accepting the authority of her friends and herself. The images flickered again, this time she saw herself standing with someone at her side, someone who would not leave her for the world. She saw her friends, lost in a similar sort of happiness. She saw…

…And then the magic snuffed out. Her fuel had run dry, and the fire inside her only glowed dully. The basin that had contained the sacred fire was empty save for a few curling wisps of smoke. All else was dark. Rei fell forward onto her hands, sweating and panting. Stray locks of raven hair had fallen from their binder and clung to her damp forehead. As she tried to regain her composure, she could feel the images slowly sliding from her memory. All that was left to her was a profound feeling of sympathy for the guests. As much as she had hated them before, she now felt inclined to trust them. Silently cursing her confusion, she stood to report to Mina. How was she to explain this?

***


Nephrite stood in his room, gazing at his reflection in admiration. As Kunzite had predicted, the wardrobes in each room were charmed. He had looked into it disbelieving, but when he saw rows of suits hanging neatly inside the wardrobe he decided to experiment a little. First, he decided that he was going hunting. When he opened the wardrobe again it was filled with a variety of different hunting suits, as well as gear. He took a crossbow in his arm and tested it gently…amazing. It was perfectly fitted to him. He could get used to it… next he tried swimming, nightdress, battle…the arrangements were endless, and each fitted him perfectly. He was experimenting with a costume-party scenario when Zoisite knocked on the door and entered. The strawberry-haired general was already prepared for dinner. He wore a suit much like his general's wear, save that it was clean and without rips and had a light blue cape fastened to his shoulders with polished stones of light turquoise zoisite. He took one look at Nephrite in his horse costume and burst into laughter.

"You look fabulous!" he held his sides tightly as he laughed. Nephrite narrowed his eyes. "I can't wait to hear what the ladies say about this remarkable outfit you're wearing. No doubt it fits your nature!"

"I was experimenting with the wardrobe. This is for a costume ball." Nephrite argued haughtily.

"Of course…" Zoisite agreed, still desperately trying to stifle his laughter. Nephrite rolled his eyes and began to push his friend out of the room.

"All right, get out, get out. I'm going to get changed now. Unless of course you think this outfit does suit me better…" He grinned, false- modeling the horse costume for she shorter general. This only caused another fit of laughter to break out between the two of them, and Zoisite allowed himself to be shoved back into the sitting room that joined the four bedrooms together. As Nephrite began to shut the door again, Zoisite remembered his purpose in coming over in the first place.

"Kunzite wants to meet with all of us in fifteen minutes…" his only response was a slight wave of the hand before the door shut completely.

***


The Crystal Library was the largest library in the Moon Kingdom. It was the size of a cathedral, with a clear dome at the top and brilliant glass doors. It was Ami's favorite place in the world to be, and whenever she and the other senshi fought it was her place of solace, where she could gather her thoughts and analyze the problems.

It was in her nature to be calm and collected in a given situation. People understood she had a logical mind, but her tendency to be rational instead of falling prey to her emotions caused people to think of her as apathetic. The other senshi knew this to be untrue, but sometimes even Ami had to wonder. She sat by a small fountain positioned near a group of large reading chairs and traced her fingers through the clear water. The trail left by her fingers cracked and popped softly as tendrils of ice froze the water nearest her. Her lips played into an ironic smile. She had been called the Ice Princess for multiple reasons. It was a title that she hated more than anything. Her hardness came from fear of pain and loss. It had been a long time since she had placed her trust in any man. Yet, her loyalty to Serenity and to her friends begged her to trust the strange Terran men.

Her hand splashed the water violently, and the fountain froze over. Damn the man who made her mistrust! She could find no peace of mind while the strangers were here.

"Urawa, why do you haunt me so?" she muttered angrily, cursing the first man to win her affections and hurt her so. She rubbed her arms in a manner of frustration. It was difficult to sort out her thoughts in this environment. She needed to talk to someone. Makoto. While they did not always see eye to eye, there was a deeper sort of understanding between the two senshi that Ami found herself craving at the moment. She hurried from the library and made her way towards the kitchen. She could smell the aroma of baking food as she neared the doors, and she walked in on the homely scene of Mako bending over the stove. She had her long hair tied into a bun and she wore an apron over her dress. She was singing softly. Ami stood in the doorway, watching her as the moments ticked by, a smile on her face. It always cheered her heart to see her friends happy. Makoto looked up.

"Well don't just stand there, grab an apron and help me." She instructed. Ami took the extra apron hanging by the door and slipped it over her head, tying it around her waist. She went to the sink to wash her hands as Makoto took out another bag of vegetables to be cut.

"So you're not angry at me for my comments earlier?" Ami asked quietly as she took out a knife and slowly began slicing carrots.

"It was a trivial argument. Not worth staying upset over. The men are staying, that's that. You know I'm not happy about that, but what can I do? Put those in the pot over there." She motioned to the pot of water on the stove. Ami dumped her batch of carrots where instructed before picking up a new job.

"I'm not sure how I feel about it either, if it makes you feel any better."

"Yet you supported their staying."

"I had to."

"Of course."

"Mako, I don't want them to stay. But Serenity needs them. Who knows, we may need them too, only we just don't realize it." Ami sighed. "We have to stick in this together. Ow! Damn." Makoto put down her knife and looked at her friend, who was absently sucking on her cut finger.

"You're quite distracted, aren't you? I've never heard you swear over something minor like that." Ami ignored her comment as she washed out her cut and bandaged it with supplies from the miniature kit kept in the kitchen. "What's really on your mind Ami? Talk to me."

"I don't know. I'm so confused, I don't want them here but a small part of me wants them to stay. How do you explain that? Men are untrustworthy, especially Terran men, so why does my heart demand that they stay? I want to excuse myself by saying it's all for Serenity, but it's not. It's for me too, and you, and the others."

"Not all men are like Urawa. Perhaps you're softening." Makoto stirred the food on the stove, not looking at the ice senshi.

"Don't give me that Mako. You're just as hard as I am. We've survived over 300 years without men, why should it change now? Tell me honestly, Mako. Tell me honestly that deep down, no part of you wants them to stay." Ami demanded, her eyes scrutinizing the green warrior.

"No part of me wants them to stay." Makoto said forcefully. Ami scoffed.

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not." Makoto growled, but still she refused to meet her friend's stare.

"You are, whether you admit it or not." Ami groaned and turned back to her task. "I thought I could count on you to help me, to help everyone. Why must you be so hotheaded? You're not the only one who's suffered in the past, but you're the only one that insists on clinging on!"

"And yourself? Don't start pointing fingers Ami." Makoto shot back angrily, and immediately regretted her words. Ami put down her work and clasped her hands in front of her, gazing down solemnly.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up Himoshi. I was frustrated." The kitchen was silent for a few endless moments.

"You're right." Makoto finally whispered. "I do want them to stay. Just slightly, I want them to stay."

"I'm glad."

"The Slumber"

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