Title: Crystal Power
Author: AriallaZarinth
Chapter Six: Gender Matters (the Ruby of Fire)
Email: crystalstarr89yahoo.com

Setsuna idly spun the glass case holding the remaining six Crystals, wondering which one to bestow next. Suddenly, her wards rippled, indicating an intruder. Hurriedly, she hid the Crystals, touching her Garnet and transforming silently.

"Time Senshi?" The voice called. "Time Senshi!" As the figure came closer, Sailor Pluto's eyes narrowed.
"State your name and purpose." She responded, training her Orb on the shadowed figure.
"Ares, God of War, to speak to you about a candidate for the Ruby of Fire."
"Approach and be recognized." Her staff never moved. The man that walked out of the mists was indeed Ares. His hands were in front of him; his mouth twisted in a mocking smirk. "Ares, God of War, you come to speak to me about the Ruby of Fire?" With his nod, she raised the staff. "Well?" Reflexively, she made sure the mists blocked everything from view, especially the Time Gate.

"Do you not have somewhere we can sit and talk like civilized people? Do you not offer your guests food and drink?" He stalled rather politely. Pluto solidified some of the mist into two chairs, sitting smoothly in one without looking back.
"Sit, sir. I do not offer my guests food and drink. State your business; I have duties to attend to." She replied brusquely. Most gods preferred to entertain their guests before getting to the purpose of the visit; even Chronos wasn't this straightforward.

"Fine. You have yet to choose someone to bond to my Ruby, yes? I suggest Noret, a distinguished warrior on the planet Azopt; you know where this is, yes?" Ares looked behind him, feeling the chair to make sure it could hold him before sitting.
"I am aware of the planet Azopt and the warrior you speak of." And if she wasn't, she would be as soon as Ares left.
"Ah, then you see my point! Don't you agree?"
"I choose my candidates, sir, and then judge them as I will."
"Yes...well...will you consider Noret?" This girl, this mystery place, none of it should set the God of War so off balance! After all, he was on the council who gave her this power, this privilege.
"I will look into him, since you so highly recommended this warrior boy." Pluto conceded coldly. "Is that all?"

"I would vary my Crystalbearers, if I were you." He was a God! How dare this half-divine be so rude!
"I was selected for this post, not you, sir. Is that all?"
"I would listen, if I were you!" Ares growled, leaning forward threateningly.
"You are not me, sir. Is that all?" Pluto's face never altered. Ares leapt from his seat, looming over her. The mists wrapped around him and dragged him backwards. Pluto was again pointing the Time Staff at him. "You will leave now, sir, before I escort you out! You will not come back without invitation; you have been warned." His bonds released. He growled deep in his throat, but Pluto was still the picture of cold logic. "I will consider Noret, warrior of Azopt. Goodbye."

Ares stormed away, calling over his shoulder, "If you don't choose Noret, girl, there will be consequences!"
"Interfere with my duty and there will be consequences." She responded, just as she felt him leave the dimension.

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

"Are we ready for the next attack on the Time Gate?" The man next to the dark throne asked.
"Not quite, mi'lord. We need a little more time to ready our Level 2 Scout."
"We don't have /time/ for your incompetence." The speaker's face showed no emotion, only his voice changed, grew thick with anger. If the shadows had not been so thick around the occupant of the throne, his face would be visible, twisted with irritation.
"Forgive me, mi'lord. Just a little bit longer, please, just a little while."
"My patience is growing thin,"
"But the longer we wait, the more complacent the Time Gate Guardian gets!"
"Spend your time and thoughts readying the Scout, not inventing excuses for your slowness. Go. The next time you are called, your Scout best be ready."

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

Setsuna snarled to herself in frustration, growing bored watching Noret best another comrade in another tournament. If her armspan could reach between the two open doors, she would have grabbed them and physically slammed them shut. As it was, however, she contented herself with letting her mind complete the task.

"Ares' words hitting home, Little Time-Lady?" Chronos asked easily, disregarding the threat of the weapon aimed in his direction. "Oh, right, I'm Chronos, your father, still the God of Time and such."
"Don't mock me, Chronos." Her voice crackled petulantly.
"So stop being a child and waiting for the surprise of what attack will come next. You can see all that goes on in Time, so use that power! Know everything, girl, everything you can."
"Why? So I can uphold your aura? The only God never to be replaced, except by choice?"
"So you can stop wasting your time offending important persons--"
"You?"
"Ares! I knew something was wrong when Ares stopped loudly boasting about this Noret human, and then Aphrodite comes whining to me..."
"Why would she be involved?" Setsuna questioned sharply.
"/Because/, you silly...silly...ach, I don't even know what you are! Because Ares is her favorite lover, and she does not want him to be moping about when they could be together!"
"Your reprimand is over...Aphrodite's whim? Are we talking about the wards I have placed or are we talking about my choosing or not choosing Noret of Azopt?"
"Both! Bond Noret, take care of your enemies, and learn some tact." Chronos' words were clipped, anger reigned in slightly, eyes narrowed.

"Chronos, I have realized what has been going on this whole time. There need not be a Crystal Keeper, simply a Crystal Bestower. Ares cannot be angry when I do not choose Noret. Ah, ah," When he opened his mouth to speak, she raised one eyebrow, silencing him, "because it is too obvious someone from the planet Azopt cannot fully accept the Ruby."
"Is it, now? You'd think that the creator of the Ruby would know who could and who couldn't Receive it, but perhaps a half-divine woman has more knowledge than he?"
"Each of the special planets -- you know the ones I speak of? -- have a certain Essence in their Lifecore. Each of the Crystals has a matching Essence. Thus, the soul most suited to each Crystal is the one most attuned to the corresponding Lifecore." When Chronos didn't reply, Setsuna allowed herself a smile and proceeded to make the Mists write the names of the eleven gods and goddesses who made Crystals, adding beneath each name the precise planet and Crystal attributed to them. Chronos irritably waved his hand through the words, disrupting them. "I thought you eleven would have realized this? Why else would I have been appointed as the Keeper?"

"If there's no other way..." Chronos floundered, confused. He had appointed her to keep the others from ruining his own Crystal and to keep his power clean. There was no mixing there, all of his power of Time flowed through his blood.
"If you couldn't see something that obvious, Chronos, then perhaps it is a good thing you are giving up your vigilance here." The glare he shot her could've made Ares' heart quiver.

Setsuna smiled, the corners of her lips turning upwards, revealing sharp gleaming teeth.