Title: Crystal Power
Author: AriallaZarinth
Chapter Four: Intruders
Email: crystalstarr89yahoo.com

Setsuna screamed again, struggling in a panic against the intruder. Her frenzied thrashing did nothing to the iron grip of whoever, or whatever, held her.

"Come on, stupid girl," A metallic voice rasped, "can't even throw off a messenger? What will happen when my master comes for you?" Setsuna stilled, drawing in power. "That's a good girl; don't move, and I won't have to hurt you."

Setsuna hurled her energy in a raw burst behind her, sending the creature soaring.

In an instant, the Time Key was in her hands, pointed straight at the figure through the mist.

"Don't move, and I won't have to hurt you," Setsuna pronounced, "yet."
"Please, Time Princess,"
"Stop. Who sent you?"
"Time Princess, that I cannot tell."
"Cannot, or will not?"
"Time Princess, please, I could,"
"You could what, you miserable wretch? Report back to your freakish masters about how you underestimated me and my strength? About how different your perception of this place is from the real thing? Eh?"
"No, Time Princess! Never! I could tell them that you have been taken care of, mi'Lady. They would come here, to take control of the Time Gate, mi'Lady."
"And why would they believe you?"
"I am a trusted servant, Time Princess. I would have fulfilled my purpose."
"Liar! Not even the most arrogant of beings would send someone as weak as you to assassinate me. You were just a scout."
"No, Time Princess! Please, mi'Lady," The creature's eyes doubled in size.

&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!

A body fell in front of the monstrous black throne, twitching slightly.

"What have you discovered?" Someone spoke from beside the throne.

A gagging emitted from the body; it rolled over, opening its mouth again and again. Its tongue was missing.

"Can you write, then?" The voice was very even, though not quite mechanical.

The body waved arms that had been hacked off roughly.

"Did it take much of the enemy's energy to do this?"

The almost corpse meant to shake its head "no" but nodded instead, choking on its own blood, dying before it could correct its mistake.

The figure on the throne smiled; this would be all too easy. Before the full takeover ensued, more energy was needed. Perhaps their enemy would settle back into unguarded security. Perhaps.

&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!

Setsuna checked the Crystals, relocating them to a better niche in the mists. Were the superiors of that creature interested in the cosmic power in the tiny gems? Did they not know she had them?

Then she was in her senshi fuku, her hand firmly on the Time Key. She felt the pulse of the power in the Garnet of Time, felt her heartbeat alter to match it, felt the remote but connected power of the Garnet Orb, with its vaster and less accessible power beating to the same tune. In this place, she could feel that heartbeat, that steady drumming, in the very air as it carried all existence along. She felt time, she held it in her heart. She controlled it. The power was seductive, and Pluto found herself wishing she could delve into the Garnet Orb, that she could string it along side her pendant and drink in its power, even though she already had more strength and control over her element than any other would have for a very long time. Still, she wanted more.

Chronos materialized behind his daughter, noting the wards she had placed. Not wards of pain and aggression, not walls for intruders to scale, but alarms for her. He evaded them all, so he thought. He was still a god, even if his duties were being taken over by another. He started as the mists thickened around him, pinning him in place, with the Orb pointed directly between his eyes.

"What business do you have in the Mists?" Pluto's voice was low and hard. Chronos stared in shock. "State your business here now or pay the price."
"Little Time-Lady, why do you question your father? Crystal Keeper, dare you question the Lord of Time?"
"Chronos?" Pluto's staff did not move nor did the coils of fog loosen.
"Must I use force, Setsuna? I do not want to get angry. I would assume you do not want me to." Chronos reached out to tweak the Time leaking from around the Gate, pause it for half a nanosecond, just to prove his identity. It was like trudging through twenty miles of quicksand and mud up to his waist to simply grasp the flow. "You have grown strong, my daughter."
"I will grow stronger, given the chance."
"The chance for what?"
"Forgive me, my Lord, for holding you this way." She lowered the staff and let the mists go. Chronos still found it hard to touch Time; he had not tried to alter it.
"I still have my powers. How is it you can separate them from me?"
"The Mists are my domain."
"Why the wards? What has made you so suspicious?"
"I had a visitor. Do not worry, Father, I have taken care of it. It is better to be careful than to pay the price of unwariness, ne?"
"Of course. May I inquire how long it's been since your visitor?"
"A few hours now."
"Have you checked on it or its superiors or inferiors or whoever?"
"Father... it is mine to deal with as I will. What do you have to tell me?"

"Some wonder at your choice for Crystal Bearers, and your order in giving them out."
"Why should that matter to me, unless somehow they will revoke my privileges?"
"No, but they can regret their decision. That would not make you very popular amongst the divine host."
"What are you saying? That I should change tactics because I might be looked down on otherwise? No, sire, if I changed for fear of illfavor then I would deserve their disdain."
"You have hardened since the last time I saw you. You are more independent. Very well, I will tell you this. If I were you, I would give the Silver or the Solar Crystal next, and whichever you do not give, present it afterward. Not only would you stop the possible irritation of the gods and goddesses but the Silver and the Solar Crystals are the two most powerful,"
"But what about the Golden Crystal? Surely it is just as powerful."

"Unfortunately humans are not the most receptive of races, and the magic of Earth is hidden deep. While the bearer of the Golden Crystal, the Crown-Prince Endymion, is it? Yes, yes. While Endymion can reach the magic and use it, he will never be able to reach his full potential without help."
"Help? Of what sort?"
"Another time, Little Time-Lady." He rebuked gently. "As I was saying, the Silver and Solar Crystals are the two most powerful,"
"Which,"

"Setsuna! Listen! They are the two most powerful and thus exert some power over the others," He paused to glare as Pluto opened her mouth, but she quickly bit her tongue, "so their bearers should have as much time as the others to learn control. More would've been preferable, but" He added in response to her questioning look, "you gave the Crystals at optimal Receiving age, so you must do the same with the Silver and Solar. The other Crystals have been in the same year, the same solar system. So close? Is it right, to give that much power so concentrated? You considered the Silver Halo, yes?"
"Leave me be, Lord of Time! Leave me be! I have my reasons, and none should question! Go!"

Chronos frowned but obeyed. It was her place, after all. Not his. He could tell that now. She was no longer his pawn, however lovingly he used her.

Chronos bowed slightly, not even bothering to walk to the edge of the Gate's Realm as all others must. He simply disappeared, as if he had melted into another piece of translucent fog.