******This story is rated PG-13 for mild violence and the occasional 
naughty word. ******

This is the third book in the trilogy started with “Fatal Exposure”
and continued in “Full Circle”.  While it would be nice if you’ve 
read those stories, it’s not absolutely necessary.  You can start
with this story and not be totally lost. 

One of my personality flaws is the driving need to figure out “why” 
things happen the way they do.  That, after all, is the fun of fan-
fiction.  I’ve always wondered just where the Black Moon Clan got the
technology to travel to the past, just why Demando is totally 
obsessed with Neo-Queen Serenity and where the heck Uranus and
Neptune got to anyway?  This book should answer all of those 
questions and more.  While it will deal with the events leading to 
the creation of Crystal Tokyo, it will also set the stage for the 
events that will one day culminate in the attack that encases 
Neo-Queen Serenity in crystal and sends Chibi-Usa to the past.  For
all the grim tidings, I intend to have a lot of fun with this story
and hope you do too.  

Standard Disclaimer:  I do not own Sailor Moon (and the attendant 
characters to which valid copyright laws apply), the fourth 
dimension or the Time/Space continuum.  I don’t think that I have to
tell anyone out there that I am the creator of the S’Eyre and their
Imperium, now do I?  


***************************************

“The Quest”

 By Meara

 Chapter One – “Rude Awakenings”

***************************************

Elysion was a sacred, secret place that existed outside the 
boundaries of the normal world.  There were only two ways into this 
mystic realm.  One was through a portal controlled by the Guardian
Priest of Elysion, Helios.  The other was by a device that was a 
curious blending of science and the arcane called, prosaically 
enough, a “Gate”.  This piece of technology was controlled by an 
alien race known as the S’Eyre and they zealously guarded the secret
of making and holding a Gate.  

The power of the S’Eyre Imperium was such that very few people were 
willing to take the risk of ticking them off.  However, in every 
generation there will always be those people who figure that they 
have found a foolproof way to beat the odds.  Happily, most of the
time these people tend to die by their own misadventures before they
can do any lasting damage either to the gene pool or those around 
them.  

Most of the time – but not always.

A weak glow started in one corner of Elysion.  Slowly, the feeble 
flicker of light grew.  A blazing hole in the fabric of reality 
grudgingly formed and the shimmering veil of light pulling back.  A
man stepped through the hole, followed by half dozen others.

“Yes,” Stahn, a small, thin man hissed in triumph.  “I knew this 
would work!  My star is definitely on the rise!”  He slipped the 
proto-gate control onto a hook on his belt.

“You and your damned ‘stars’,” The second man behind him was tall and
round with a face that had a perpetually nervous look about it.  “How
many years have I listened to you whine,” he mimicked the smaller 
man, “’the stars control everything’.  What a pile of crap!”  A 
misstep on the slick crystalline surface under his feet nearly made
him fall.  

Stahn was nearly giddy with a joy that was a complete mystery to
those around him.  “Elysion, at last. I told you I could get us into
here without any trouble, Ollie.”  He walked carefully around, “This 
is just the way the stories tell of it. ‘A paradise sheltered from
the winds of time’.”

“I’ve got news for you.  Your ‘paradise’ is a graveyard,” the other 
man, Ollie, mumbled, looking at how everything was covered by a layer 
of impossibly thin crystal.  “We stole the proto-gate, spent three 
years avoiding the S’Eyre while you learned to use the damnable thing
and spent every last credit we have to come to this tomb?!  How are 
we supposed to mine the crystal?  It’s too damn thin!  I’m ruined – 
ruined and it’s all your fault!   Mother told me that I should have 
stayed an accountant instead of becoming a pirate, but did I listen 
to her?”

Stahn waved away his concerns.  He closed his dark eyes for a moment.
“The size of the crystals isn’t as important as the kind of energy 
they hold and the mystic energy here is incredible!  If we can 
harvest only a small fraction of it we’ll be set for life.”

Ollie reached for the pack on his back and knelt down, rummaging 
through it.  “Here,” he said, tossing a hammer and chisel at a man.
“Start chipping – and remember, only pieces that have no fractures 
running though them will have of any monetary value, so be careful.”

His eyes still closed, Stahn suddenly cocked his head to one side 
as if listening to something only he could hear.  He was a minor mage
but, frustratingly enough, he could sense the major magics that his 
body was incapable of handling.  That skill was what allowed him to 
“see” just where the wards that protected Elysion were the weakest.  
His gift of magic was very limited, but even a diamond could be 
broken if pressure was applied to correct spot.

The sense was fairly screaming at the skinny, little man right now 
and he let the pull of it guide him.   He rounded a corner into a 
sheltered glen and gave a gasp.  Arrayed in a circle were a series of
what looked like crystal statues.  At the center of the circle were 
two figures, holding each other close.  Calling on the part of 
himself that could “see” magic, Stahn perceived the ribbons of 
brightly colored power that flowed into the pair, like the spokes of 
a wheel.  
  
He spared only a furtive glance to the other crystalline figures that
adorned the grove.  There was power in one or two of the “statues”, 
but it didn’t compare to what was before him.  They could wait for 
later, Stahn decided.  An interesting theory was fomenting in his 
mind and all of his limited intellect was focused on it.


There were shouts of outrage and anger behind him, but Stahn ignored
them.  Every fiber of his being was focused on the man and woman who
held each other in a loving embrace.  A tentative hand caressed the 
crystal.  “Master of Life have mercy,” he whispered, “Could this be 
Serenity and Endymion?”

***************************************

The men around Ollie were grumbling unhappily as they chipped away at
the crystal that was everywhere.  He couldn’t blame his hired crew,
the captain knew.  They were thugs, not miners and for men who were
used to dealing out death, they were surprisingly bad with the picks.
One of them smashed his thumb again and let out a curse that echoed
across the unnaturally still valley that was Elysion.

The cry had not even finished dying away when there was another flash
of light, this time almost on top of the small band of pirates.  Ollie 
automatically brought one hand up to cover his eyes, whacking himself 
on the head with his tiny hammer.  The light died away as quickly as 
it had appeared.  The stars in Ollie’s head took a moment longer, but 
when they, too, finally faded what he saw made him gasp.

Three women in odd uniforms stood in front of him.  They seemed as 
surprised to see him as he was to see them.  The one with the aqua
hair shook her head almost regretfully.

“You people are trespassing but I’m willing to give you the benefit
of the doubt and assume that you didn’t know that,” Michiru said in a 
civilized fashion.  “So if you boys take your toys and leave now then
things won’t have to get rough.”

“Who, by the freezing pits of hell, are you?” Ollie shouted on his
knees, trying his best to sound tough.  His day just kept getting 
worse.  Going back to a career in accounting was sounding better by 
the moment.

Princess Small Lady Serenity looked very much like her mother, both 
of the Outer Senshi thought as they watched her.  “I am Sailor Neo-
Moon, champion of justice and in the name of the moon I shall punish
you!”

Neptune glanced briefly at her lifemate and partner.  “Invited by the
new age, I am Sailor Neptune, acting gracefully!”

“Also invited by the new age I am Sailor Uranus, entering elegantly!”

“I am the captain of this expedition, totally pissed off,” Ollie 
shouted, grasping his pickaxe in one hand, “Don’t just stand there,”
he shouted at his gaping crew, “Get them!”

The half dozen hired hands reached for their energy weapons all at
once.  The high pitched whine of those weapons charging filled the
air. The guns were primed, triggers pulled - and nothing happened.
The pirates looked first at their weapons, then at each other, 
utterly dumbfounded by the turn of events.

“Not that way you won’t,” Neo-Moon said with the kind of total scorn
only a fourteen year old can put in her voice.  “The dampening field
around Elysion automatically incapacitates all conventional energy 
weapons.”

One of the pirates reached behind him and pulled out a knife that had
a long, thin blade.  He gave an evil chuckle and started to advance
towards the women.  The knife was tossed from hand to hand as he 
walked.

“Sometimes the old ways are the best,” he hissed at the Senshi.  “Come
on, girlies show me what you’ve got.”

A wolfish grin split Uranus’s face.  She raised one hand and her 
talisman, the Space Sword came to her at once.  The wickedly curved
blade glowed with eldritch energy.  

“I’ve got this,” she replied amicably.  Her eyes narrowed and she 
brought the sword up in front of her.  “Want to see what I can do with
it?”

The pirate looked at his knife and then back at the blade Uranus had.
Around them others were beginning to back up nervously.  Captain Ollie 
got to his feet, round face flushing a bright crimson with rage.  

“There’s three of them and eight of us, you morons!” he shouted, one 
hand gesticulating wildly.  “Get them!”

Uranus was first out of the block, tackling the nearest miscreant 
and putting him down with a single blow to the stomach.  The pirate
gave a high pitched squeak, then collapsed to the ground. His wheezy,
surprised gasp of “mother!” seemed to be the signal for the general
outbreak of hostilities.  

Captain Ollie watched with growing horror while the men who had 
advertised themselves as hardened, career pirates had the living tar 
beaten out of them a bunch of girls (and one of them little more 
than a child at that).  Two thoughts came to his mind at the same 
time.  The first was that it really was hard to find good help these
days.  The second was that a strategic retreat was in his best 
interests and Stahn had the “key” to the proto-gate.

Ever mindful of his own personal security, Ollie bolted in the general 
direction in which he’d seen Stahn head off.  With the rate at which 
his crew was falling, he had less than a minute to get out of here.
Sliding on the slick crystalline surface, Ollie rounded the corner to
see Stahn running his hands over some kind of statue.

“Open the Gate,” Ollie shrieked, stumbling towards his small slender
companion.  “Open the Gate!  We’ve got to go!”

“Go?” Stahn repeated duly, never even turning to look at his partner.
“We can’t go now.  Do you know who this is?”

“I don’t care if it’s the High King of the S’Eyre Imperium,” Ollie 
retorted heading for Stahn.  “This place isn’t deserted.  If we don’t
leave right now, we’ll be spending the next twenty years in a penal 
colony so remote that they have to pipe in sunlight.”

“This could be Serenity and Endymion!”  Stahn knew what this 
discovery meant.  Before him might be the holder of the legendary 
Silver and Golden Crystals.  The fable of those stone of power had
been told and retold by every mage and mystic for a thousand years.
The version of the tale of Elysion that he knew said that the 
Princess would bestow one wish to the person who could awaken her.
Whether or not that was true, Stahn could sense the incredible 
energies that flowed from and through the man and woman in the 
shining chrysalis.  If he could access that power and control it…

Stahn channeled every ounce of power he had into his hands, pushing 
them against the crystalline barrier that encased the lovers.  “This
is my chance to shine, Ollie.  Once I have the power here I’ll be the
biggest star this galaxy has ever seen.  I can’t let this chance pass
me by!”

“What are you doing, you idiot,” Ollie made a grab for proto-gate’s
key where it lay hooked on the smaller man’s belt.  “Open the damned 
Gate!”

He didn’t have enough power to break the spell, Stahn knew in a 
moment of maddening frustration.   There was only a millimeter thin 
layer of crystal separating him from gaining the means to the power 
and respect he had craved all his life.  Avarice and desperation made
him throw caution to the wind and Stahn grabbed greedily at the 
forces he could sense, but had never been able to control.  

He could “see” that the flow of power into the center of the wheel
was fluctuating because of his interference, but Stahn misinterpreted
that as a good sign.  If he could affect the power, he reasoned, he 
could channel it into himself.  That mistake was a small one, but 
like a single snowflake, it started to roll together a series of 
events that would start an avalanche.

The pain began a slight twinge, then quickly started to mount.  Stahn
knew that pain was the body’s way of saying, “don’t do that!”, but 
like most warnings that had come his way, Stahn found an excuse to
ignore it.  The healing properties of both crystals were well known.
If he could manage to survive long enough to take one, he’d be able 
to reverse whatever damage was done.

Ollie had the key and with the flick of a switch, opened the portal 
of the proto-gate.  The doorway seemed unstable, snapping open and 
closed in pulsing beat that the tall, portly man could feel echo 
through his portly body.  He took the key and began to bang it 
against one hand.  

“Come on, come on – work!”  The small war was now spilling ever 
closer.  Desperation crept into Ollie’s voice. “What’s wrong with 
this thing, Stahn?”

Stahn was beyond hearing his partner’s frantic cries.  A mystic 
wildfire filled Stahn and any attempt at control was lost in a 
fraction of a second.  His body was unable to handle the forces he 
had tapped into and they began to take control of him, instead.  The 
Proto-gate’s portal shuddered and convulsed.  Tendrils of wild energy 
snaked out to strike at the spot where Mamoru and Usagi were cocooned
together.  The added power made the air around them shriek in a tone
that caused the faceted chrysalis to vibrate. 

The small, thin man started to glow.  His hands merged with the 
crystal encasing Mamoru and Usagi.  Acting a conduit for the power
raging through him, Stahn was able to touch them.  A third party 
abruptly intruding on the endless circle of power between the two
soul-mates ruptured the delicate balance maintained for a thousand 
years.  For a brief nano-second Stahn’s dream was realized.

He became a star that outshone all other - just before he and those 
around him vanished in a blazing pillar of light.  


***************************************


It was the sound of a heart rending wailing that made Uranus crack 
open her eyes.  Confused, Haruka slowly brought a hand to her forehead
and took a slow, deep breath.  She remembered fighting, then a bright 
flash that hit her like a cement truck.  Uranus shook her head, 
trying to clear the fog out her mind.  She got to her hands and knees
looking around her.  Neptune was down but moving, Haruka saw to her 
great relief.  Neo-Moon was also moving, attempting to roll over onto
her back.  

The wordless wailing behind her changed in tone, anger flaring hotly.
Haruka knew that voice and her head snapped around to see Mamoru in
the black armor of the last Prince of Earth.  He had his sword out 
and was advancing on one of the pirates.  

The pirate, the one with the long knife Haruka noted, made a wide 
swipe at Mamoru.  For all his manic state, the armor clad man was 
still remarkably agile.  He danced out of the way of the blade 
attempting to gut him.  Mamoru used the momentum he had built.  In a
graceful arc he spun and ran his broadsword through the pirate.  The
blade was pulled back out in a single move.

“Mamoru,” Haruka began getting to her feet.  She used the Space Sword
as crutch to help her up and grimaced at the undignified use of the 
sacred talisman.  

He swung his whole body towards her and Haruka got her first good 
look at him.  Mamoru’s eyes were wild and the light of insanity in 
them gave even the Solider of the Sky pause.  He brought his broad
sword up, taking on a classic posture of aggression.

“Mamoru, it’s okay.  It’s us,” Uranus said, beginning to wonder if he
could even hear her.  “Where’s Usagi?”

The sound of his beloved’s name had an effect on the Prince of Earth
all right, but not the one Haruka had been going for.  His breath 
came in loud, ragged gasps and a look of intense pain flickered 
across his face.  Mamoru staggered for an instant as if he’d been 
struck.  An animal moan of despair ripped out of him.  Gripping the 
deadly blade tighter, he launched himself at Uranus.  

“Uranus, drop the sword!” Neo-Moon shouted.

“Drop the sword?” Uranus called out as she barely managed to deflect
another blow intended to cut her in half.  “Are you crazy?!  He’ll 
kill me!”

“Can’t you see that Mamo-chan is confused?  He’s acting on instinct
right now,” Neo-Moon began.

“And his instincts, which are pretty damn good I might add, seems to
be to hack me into Senshi-kabobs!” She cursed loudly, bringing up her
talisman in an attempt to ward off the death that was coming at her. 
The savage fury of Mamoru’s attack knocked her both of them to the 
ground.  Pushing with all the strength she had, Uranus managed to 
shove Mamoru away, rolling to her feet.

Neptune was back on her feet.  She understood at once.  “Neo-Moon is 
right.  Mamoru’s first instinct is to protect.  If you get rid of the
sword you won’t be a threat anymore and he’ll stop attacking you.”

A slip on the crystalline grass took Haruka’s feet out from under her
and she went down hard.  Neo-Moon darted for the fallen Senshi, 
ignoring Neptune’s call for her to stop.  Mamoru brought his long 
sword over his head, the arc of descent plain to see.  He paused when
the young women with the long, pink hair imposed herself between the 
Prince and his target.

“Mamo-chan,” she called out softly, “Mamo-chan, you don’t need to do
that.”

He paused, arms still shaking with pent up rage and terror.  The wild
eyes blinked, as if trying to wake from a nightmare.  He took a deep,
shuddering breath.

Princess Small Lady Serenity gave her father a gentle smile.  She 
extended her hand.  “Mamo-chan, it’s me.”

Her body was silhouetted against the light and there was a flicker of
recognition in Mamoru’s eyes.  The blade was slowly lowered, then 
finally dropped altogether.  Black armor melted away, a tuxedo 
replacing it.  

The insane light in his eyes faded, thought and will returning to 
them.  “Usako?” he moaned, the desperation in his voice breaking the
girl’s heart.  Mamoru’s knees buckled and he started to fall.   Neo-
Moon lurched forward to try and catch him.  Neptune was suddenly 
there, helping the girl lower him to the ground. 

The Prince was shaking violently, shocking taking over.  “Usako,” he 
rasped, eyes rolling up into the back of his head, “Usako…”

“Please, help me,” came a voice, hoarse from disuse, “I have to get 
to the Prince.”

Both Uranus and Neptune whirled, attacks powering up as they did so.
A young man with silver gilt hair and appearing to be in the first 
blush of adulthood stood before them.  His face was bleak and haggard,
and he swayed on his feet as though totally exhausted.  

“Please,” Helios, High Priest and Guardian of Elysion repeated, “If 
I don’t help him, he could die.”  

Uranus quickly slipped a supportive arm around Helios and nearly 
dragged him to where Mamoru lay shuddering on the ground.  The young
guardian fell to his knees and, his own hands shaking badly, reached 
out for his prince.  Eyes closed in concentration and a warm, golden
glow filled him.  Placing a gentle hand on Mamoru, he let the aura 
flow into the prince.  

The convulsive shaking slowed, then finally stopped.  Midnight blue 
eyes cracked open for an instant, terrible loss in them.  “Usako,” 
Mamoru called softly.  His eyes slid shut once more and he lost 
consciousness.

“He’s in a healing trance right now,” Helios said.  He still seemed
somewhat dazed himself and slowly shook his head back and forth in an
effort to clear it.  “The Prince and Princess were in deep rapport. 
The shock of the sudden separation…”

“Separation?” Neptune said, trepidation creeping into her voice.

Uranus caught her eye as they both had the same thought at the same
instant.  “Where’s Usagi?”  She started to turn, preparing to make
a mad dash for the grove where they had last seen Usagi and Mamoru
cocooned together.  

Helios reached out and grabbed her by the arm, stopping her.  “She’s
gone,” he said sadly.  “Usagi is gone and so are most of the Senshi.”

***************************************

Stahn wasn’t exactly sure just where it had all gone wrong.  Ollie, 
he was quite certain, would be more than happy to explore that 
particular topic with him at length.  That would have to wait, 
however, as they were both rather busy at the moment.  The two dozen
well armed men around them seemed to be equally as unhappy as the two
would-be pirates on the floor.

“Have we come at a bad time?” Stahn said in his most polite voice.  
It was never a good idea to be rude to burly men who looked as if 
they wanted to use you for target practice.

Ollie slapped his hand to his forehead at Stahn’s remark.  “This is
another fine mess you’ve gotten us into!” he hissed at his partner.  

“Well, what do we have here?” came a voice from in back of the large, 
well armed guards.  The soldiers parted ranks and a young man walked 
towards them, arrogance written in every line of his body.  From his 
blazing red hair to his cold eyes, he gave the overall impression of 
a man who enjoyed pulling the wings off of flies.  

“We get so few visitors here on our little world,” he said, staring 
down at the hapless pair.  I am Crimson Rubeus.  Welcome to Nemesis.”

***************************************

“Usagi and the others are alive.  They’ve been scattered across time
and space by the Proto-Gate,” Setsuna said looking at Mamoru.  Pluto’s
body kept fading in and out like a candle in a breeze.  She held her 
staff in both hands, a soft ruby glow encasing her.  

“What do you mean, ‘scattered across time and space’?” Mamoru asked, 
trying not to let the desperation creep into his voice.  He looked 
only marginally better, pale and haggard.  

“When the proto-gate those fools were trying to use overloaded, it 
grabbed at a superior power source – Usagi and the Ginzuishou.  The
other Inner Senshi were sharing their power with her as they’ve done
in the past and they ended up being sucked in as well.” Pluto replied,
strain evident on her face.  “The temporal matrix of the proto-gate
was shattered.  By all rights they should be dead, but the Ginzuishou
kept the Gate operating long enough to deposit the Inner Senshi in 
their own pasts.”

Uranus had her chin on her folded hands, trying to make sense of the
situation.  “Mamoru and Usagi are linked.  Why wasn’t he taken with 
her as well?”

Helios spoke up from where he sat on one side of his Prince.  He kept 
sneaking glances at Neo-Moon when he thought no one was looking.  
“The Prince is bound to the Earth as the Princess is the Moon.  Here
in Elysion that bond is at its strongest.”

“And it’s because his power is strongest here that you may be able to 
break the spell of crystal sleep for those within Elysion.  Please,” 
Pluto said, her eyes closing in concentration.  “I can’t stay here
long, even in this astral form.  There’s a time-storm raging in the
fourth dimension and we suspect that it’s been set off by what 
happened in your time.  Neptune, Uranus, you were brought forward to
help awaken Sailor Pluto of this time.  My talisman will act in 
concert with yours.  By accessing that power, it’ll awaken me.  Once
awake, I should be able to use the Timegate to track down the others.  
Luna and Artemis will know what to do once you’ve found them.”

Mamoru narrowed his eyes at the tone of Setsuna’s voice.  “Wait a 
minute, ‘should’?  Don’t you know?”

Her body was becoming less tangible with each passing second.  “No, I
don’t – none of us do.  We’ve all suffered various amounts of damage 
to our memories, but none have any recollection of waking in Elysion 
as you just have.  We’re not sure if this means a change in the time
stream or not.”

Neo-Moon leapt to her feet.  “Is the future in danger?”  She grabbed
at the small key on a chain around her neck.  “I can be home in…”

“No!” Pluto shouted, fading ever more quickly.  “Please Small Lady,
don’t even attempt to travel home.  When it’s safe I’ll come for you.”

“But Pu…”

“No buts – you have a vital duty here once Usagi and the Inner Senshi
are awakened.  Until then all I can tell you is that Sailor Moon is 
needed.  Have faith in yourself, Small Lady,” Setsuna’s body wavered 
one last time before disappearing completely.  Her last message
lingered on the breeze.  

“Have faith…”

***************************************


He was called the “White Prince” for many reasons.  His fine hair 
was more silver than white, positively glowing where it fell against
the shoulders of the white outfits he favored.  He was also the 
direct opposite of father, who had come to be known as the “Black 
Prince”.  His father had been a good leader but the years took their 
toll on the man.  In the end he’d became as dark and cold as the planet
he ruled.  After a decade long descent into madness, his father had 
finally died three years ago.  The White Prince ascended the throne 
and became Demando, Prince of Nemesis and absolute ruler of the Black
Moon Clan.

The council had long ago decided that Demando would rule.  His 
younger brother, Saffir, was a capable man, but he had no interest in 
political power.  Sensitive, with a keen and inquisitive mind, Saffir 
was much better suited to his role as chief advisor.   He was the 
conscience that Demando was no longer allowed the luxury of having, 
the voice of reason in an unreasoning universe.  

“No, no, no,” Saffir said to Rubeus as if talking to mentally 
deficient child, “We shouldn’t just kill them.”

Demando sat quietly on his carved throne, watching Rubeus.  He knew
that the man was ambitious, but had always had lingering doubts about 
the extent of his talents.  Casual ruthlessness was an admirable 
quality in a warrior.  It was less so in a man who wished to command
others.

Rubeus glanced at Saffir, but could sense that he was being sized up
by his Prince.  This was his chance to impress Demando and, perhaps, 
acquire more power for himself.  “These two are most likely spies; 
perhaps even from Earth.  Dead men tell no tales,” Rubeus quoted with
a bit too much glee.

A long suffering sigh came from Saffir.  “And dead men will give you
no information either.”

Folding his arms across his chest, Rubeus struggled to keep his 
temper under control.  He couldn’t quite understand all the fuss.  
“If it’ll make you happy I’ll be glad to torture them first.  That
should get you all the information you could possibly want.  Then 
I’ll kill them.”

Bringing his hand to his mouth the White Prince managed to keep from
laughing out loud at the expression on his brother’s face.  “Rubeus, 
I commend your quick action in capturing the two intruders.  Keep 
them under close guard for now.  I’ll decide their fate later.”

Knowing a dismissal when he heard it, Rubeus gave his Prince a bow of
proper respect.  Saffir was graced with a look that plainly indicated
that Rubeus had thought himself the victor in the small conflict.  
The large double doors to the great hall had barely closed, the sharp
sound of the jackboots the redhead liked to wear receding quickly 
when Saffir moaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“Moron,” Saffir sighed, rolling his eyes again.  “That man’s 
solution to every problem is force.”

“That’s not a bad thing in a soldier, Saffir,” Demando responded, but
not harshly.  “If I want someone dead, then Crimson Rubeus is the 
right man for the job.”  

The White Prince stood and turned to watch the dark inferno that 
raged behind his throne.  He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling 
the power of the Jakozusho echo inside him.  He wondered, and not for
the first time, if it was the power of this Black Crystal that had 
first drawn his ancestors to Nemesis. There was something else that 
tugged ever so gently at the part of him attuned to the giant 
crystal.  Something was stirring, struggling to awaken and it called
to him…

Saffir watched his brother place a tentative hand on the column of dark
energy.  There were times when Demando seemed to be lost in the spell
of the Jakozusho and that was more than a little troubling to the 
younger prince of Nemesis.  Demando was supposed to control the power, 
not the other way around.  

“Demando…” Saffir started, worried.

Pulling himself away from the alluring song of the Black Crystal, 
the White Prince smiled at Saffir.  “I know that look, little 
brother.  What is it?” he asked in a surprisingly gentle voice.

“As you know, the power of the Jakozusho tends to distort the space
around us,” Saffir began.  He started to pace restlessly back and 
forth as he spoke.  “That distortion is the reason we’ve been 
effectively trapped here on Nemesis since out ancestor’s exile all 
those years ago.  The power of the Jakozusho allows us to survive
on this inhospitable world, but it’s also out jailor.”

“True enough,” Demando allowed.  A grim smile came to his lips.  “But
each new generation has adapted, learned to use the power of the 
Black Crystal better than the last.”  He opened himself to dark 
mystic energies, enjoying the sensual thrill that always came with 
the power. “I’m more attuned to the Jakozusho than any other Prince
of Nemesis.  I will be the one to find a way to free our people.  And
when I do we will have vengeance for all our ancestors suffered.”

For a moment Saffir looked like a child, his hands rubbing together
in an unsettled yet excited manner.  “Do you realize what the 
appearance of those two strangers means?”  He nervously brushed a 
lock of his raven hair from his eyes.  “That device the two intruders
used to get here may that way to that freedom.  I think I may be able
to adapt it for our use.”

That got the attention of the White Prince.  “How so?”

Looking around to make sure they were quite alone, Saffir moved close
enough so that his words were soft, almost whispered.  “I suspect it 
uses a path of travel through the fourth dimension – outside the 
boundaries of space and time as we know it.  Think about it!  We 
could go anywhere we chose to, get through any defenses without 
detection.”

“We would be unstoppable,” The implications were not lost on Demando.
“Have you told anyone else about this?”

“Of course not,” Saffir snorted.  “Do I look like an idiot?  Do you
know what this power could do in the hands of our enemies?”

That made Demando smile.  “Or in the hands of people like Rubeus?”
he teased.   “Do what you have to but very quietly.  When you are 
ready, come to me and we’ll test this interesting theory of yours, 
brother.”


***************************************

He wasn’t Mamo-chan anymore Princess Small Lady Serenity, also now
known as Sailor Neo-Moon, thought.  The last time she’s seen him he
was still, somehow, boyishly dashing.  But the man who closed his
eyes and called on the Golden Crystal was different in a way she
recognized at once.  He was most assuredly still Chiba Mamoru but 
from the way he stood to the quiet strength he unconsciously radiated
he was more than that – he was Endymion, Master of the Golden Crystal
and the True King of Earth.  That revelation made her a bit sad, as 
if the last door of her childhood has just closed behind her.  

A gentle hand touched her on the arm, breaking into her reverie.  She
turned and found herself face to face with Helios.  “It’s good to 
see you again, my pretty Maiden,” Helios raised her hand to his lips
and placed a delicate kiss on it.  “You’re even more beautiful than 
my dreams could have ever imagined.”

“T…thank you, Helios,” she replied, blushing and unusually shy for a
reason she couldn’t quite understand.  

Her memories of him had never included the delicious shiver that ran 
down her spine at his touch or the way her heart leapt in her chest 
at the sight of him.  Her mother had told her that it was hard to 
grow up, but there were unanticipated rewards only an adult could 
truly appreciated.  Then again, she hadn’t quite understood the 
twinkle in Neo-Queen Serenity’s eyes when she’d given her that sage
advice.  Princess Small Lady Serenity was beginning to suspect that 
her mother knew a lot more about those rewards than she was willing 
to share with her adolescent daughter.  

It was just as well that Mamoru’s back was to the young couple.  The
last thing he needed at this point was a distraction.  What they were
going to attempt was hard enough as it was without the sight of his
guardian priest looking in a love struck fashion at his future baby
girl.  While it was true that he’d used the Golden Crystal to shape 
the spell that Helios had started, it was the power of the Ginzuishou
that had carried it across the world.  An attempt to break that 
enchantment, even here is Elysion, wasn’t going to be easy.

The future Pluto was very right when she’d commented that their 
memories were “damaged”.  Mamoru knew what the power of the Golden
Crystal was, but couldn’t remember just how he’d discovered that 
little secret.  Things were jumbled in his mind and he wasn’t at all
sure of just how they’d come to be here in Elysion.  The one thing
he was very sure of was that they’d had no choice.  If Earth hadn’t
gone into suspension, mankind would have become extinct.  

Those questions would have to wait and Mamoru pushed them aside with
iron discipline.  Neptune and Uranus had their talismans out.  They
stood at attention, eyes closed.  The Deep Aqua Mirror and the Space
Sword glowed, a thin line of fire dancing between the two.  Opening 
themselves, Uranus and Neptune gathered their power and called for 
the third mystic tool.  That line headed unerringly for the last sacred 
object in the triumvirate that was the base of their power as Outer 
Senshi

From within the faceted crystal that held Setsuna, Sailor Pluto and 
her twin, Lorilei cocooned a ruby light sparked.  It was small, at 
first, a dim glow from the garnet orb on the Timestaff.  That flicker
grew quickly, a burst of crimson fire exploding brightly enough to 
make Mamoru want to shield his eyes.  He called on the power of Earth
and the Golden Crystal came to his cupped hands.  It floated between 
them like a small sun, and a ray of that power shot towards the now
shining chrysalis.  It shattered in a heartbeat sending rainbow
shards in all directions.

The stone between Mamoru’s hands still glowed as he tried to mold the
power generated by the talismans.  He only caught hold of a fragment 
of it, but it would be enough for the purpose he intended.  A wave of 
golden light filled the dark haired prince of Earth, then moved 
outwards.  In its wake the crystal cocoons that covered those still 
sleeping began to fracture.  

Sweat ran down Mamoru’s face, but he pushed on.  Behind him Helios 
bent his head and added his fervent prayers.  Prince, priest and 
planet acted as one, and in a burst of power that drove Mamoru to his
knees, he broke the spell that held Elysion in suspension.  

A breeze sprang up, the sweet smell of sun warmed grass and flowers
carried on it.  Life was returning to Earth’s hidden shrine.  With an
eerie harmony the twins fell to their knees in perfect synch, hands 
still touching and fingers entwined.  All around them people tumbled 
to the lush earth.  Luna and Artemis, Rei’s grandfather, Yuuichirou,
Dr. Mizuno and even Goruden Kobushi stirred and slowly began to rise.  

Setsuna was blinking owlishly, trying to clear her mind of the 
chaotic jumble of thoughts and images that made no sense to her.  She
gently disengaged her hand from Lorilei’s, letting the fingertips
brush against her twin’s in a gesture of silent comfort.

“Pu, are you all right?”  Neo-Moon asked, concern etched on her face.

The voice caused Setsuna’s head to snap up and her eyes widened in 
shocked recognition.  “Small Lady?”   

Pluto glanced quickly around and took in the fact that the grove was
not the pastoral and eminently tidy place she remembered.  The ground
was torn up in places and bits of crystal lay all around her.  All in
all, it looked like someone had fought a war in here – and lost.  Pluto
quickly spotted Luna and Artemis shaking bits of crystal from their
coats.  She just as quickly noticed that still others seemed to be 
missing.

“What happened here?  Where is everyone?” Setsuna asked cautiously.  

“We don’t know,” Mamoru said.  Setsuna almost flinched at the look of
pain that haunted his eyes.  “But we’re hoping that you can help us 
change that.”

***************************************

Elysion, its guardian priest and prince were all connected.  That’s
why Helios had been freed from suspension at the same instant as 
Mamoru.  Those in the world above still slept on, oblivious to the 
fact that their only hope of ever awakening had vanished.  Without 
Usagi and the power of the Ginzuishou, the spell of crystal sleep 
could not be broken on a planetary scale.

Although Elysion was a place between places, some of the patterns of 
life that ruled Earth also held sway here.  There was day and night, 
sun and moon, but no change of seasons. It was always summer in 
Elysion and the most perfect of summer days at that.  As night drew 
near, the sound of birdsong slowed and gave way to the nocturnal 
chorus of insects.  

Utterly exhausted by the day’s events, Mamoru had still wanted to 
press on and attempt to find Usagi.  It was Setsuna who at last 
convinced him that they couldn’t just open her Gate and pop off after
the missing Senshi.  It was true that the Timegate should be able to 
follow the trail left by the proto-gate, Setsuna had said, but that 
didn’t mean it was an easy task.  The Keeper of the Timegate needed 
time to sort it all out.

The bedroom Mamoru was in seemed vaguely familiar to him.  Helios had
explained that it was his back when his family had lived in Elysion.
He stretched out on the large bed, staring at the ceiling.  His last,
clear, linear memory was being at the hospital.  It was the end of
his shift and he was looking forward to the evening he had planned.
Tonight he was taking Usagi to one of Tokyo’s finest restaurants and
there he was going to suggest that they finally set a date for their
wedding.  After that everything was a jumble of maddeningly sharp
images mixed in with feelings and words that made no sense to him.

He could see Usagi, radiant with the light of the Ginzuishou that
transfigured her into an angel.  Mamoru knew she was fighting and 
that the battle was going to probably cost both of them their lives.
But who they were fighting and, most importantly, why was a complete
mystery.  He could hear his own voice saying a phrase that made a
multitude of conflicting emotions surge through him.

“Together,” he mumbled aloud, the sound of the words giving him a
strange comfort, “together whatever happens.”

There was a gentle bump on his leg and he almost jumped in surprise.
Lifting his head from the pillow Mamoru saw two round blue eyes 
staring at him.  It was a small gray and white rabbit, looking at 
Mamoru as if he owned the place and the Prince was the intruder.

“What the hell…? Wait a minute, I know you,” Mamoru started slowly.  

The gray and white creature with the long, floppy ears sat up on his
hind legs, looking around the room.  He tilted his head up, the large
ears threatening to pull him over backwards for a instant.  The mini-
lop settled back down on all four feet, then moved up the bed until 
he was face to face with Mamoru.  

Mamoru looked at the rabbit and the rabbit, unimpressed with the 
Prince of Earth, looked back at Mamoru.

Disjointed images flooded Mamoru’s mind.  He saw Usagi giving a 
squeal of delight as she picked a tiny, baby rabbit.  He saw himself
scolding both Usagi and her pet as the smug, little beast cuddled in 
bed with his beloved.  He could hear her voice telling him not to 
tease…not to tease…

“Moochi,” Mamoru whispered.  “I gave you to Usako.  Your name is
Moochi.”

The ears rotated slightly forward as the little lop heard his name 
called.  

“And I don’t think I like you very much,” Mamoru added.  He had the 
distinct impression that he regarded Moochi as six and a half pounds
of furry annoyance.  

The look Moochi gave him said that the feeling was mutual.  He pushed
at Mamoru with his head, then under a pillow, trying to see if 
perhaps his rival was hiding Usagi there.  Not finding her, he turned
his attentions once more to Mamoru, moving closer until he was only 
inches from the Prince’s face.  

I want Usagi, the blue eyes glared reproachfully at him, where is 
she?

Without quite knowing why, Mamoru reached out and stroked Moochi’s
head, letting his hand run down the rabbit’s back.  “I want her too,”
he said.  “Setsuna said she’s alive wherever she is.  I have to
believe that.”  

It was oddly comforting for Mamoru to talk to the creature.  Moochi 
settled down next to him.  The tiny nose twitched as he picked up 
lingering traces of Usagi’s scent on the Prince.  It would have to do
for now.

“I’ll find her, I promise,” Mamoru said more to himself than the 
rabbit.  “Wherever she is, I’ll find her.”

***************************************

While Demando was the absolute ruler of Nemesis, there was one place
where even his authority had no influence whatsoever.  Saffir’s 
private sanctuary was a combination of things; library, workshop and 
ad hoc laboratory.  The White Prince stood quietly in one corner of 
the room, a small smile on his face as he watched his brother tinker
carefully with the alien device the two strangers had brought.  

“You shouldn’t be here, onii-san,” Saffir glanced at Demando once 
while he scrutinized the control box.  “I think I’ve found the power
source for the device.  If something goes wrong when I activate it…”

“If something goes wrong then I definitely should be here.  I’m the
only one with enough power to contain an ‘accident’.” Demando 
replied amused by his brother’s concern for him.  

“You are much too confident for your own good,” Saffir sighed.  This
was a never ending topic between the two.  “That’s going to get you 
in serious trouble someday.”

“But I have you to keep me humble, Saffir,” Demando laughed softly.

“As if anything could,” grumbled the younger Prince.  He picked up
a small scanner and ran it over the device.  It began to vibrate in
his hand.  The vibration became a humming that rapidly grew louder.
“Got it.  I’m locked onto it and I’m going to try to trigger the
device.”

The control panel nearly leapt out of Saffir’s hands.  A brilliant,
silver light filled the room accompanied by a burst of melodic sound.
There was a figure in the light, Saffir saw, and it moved closer.

“Demando, something’s coming through,” Saffir called out.  “It could
be an attack – teleport out of here!”

Demando could sense enormous power coming from the figure and was
drawn to it.  He watched in awe as the light resolved into the shape
of an angelic woman.  Her slender wings were outstretched as were her
arms.  She was clothed only in stardust, the silver luminescence 
dancing around her petite body.  Floating on an mystic wind, she
glided through the glowing doorway.  The portal closed as soon as she
made it through, shutting off with an almost audible snap. 

The wings moved to cup her body, as if trying to shield her before
fading away.   Quicksilver fire infused her, then retreated slowly 
into a locket that was pinned to the tattered gown now reappearing. 
The woman started to collapse and Demando rushed to catch her.  The
White Prince was struck by the delicate beauty of the angel in his 
arms.  Her golden hair flowed around her like silk and the faint 
scent of roses lingered around her shuddering form.  

“Saffir, look…” Demando said softly, wonder in his voice.  “She’s 
marked with the sign of our Clan.” 

The younger prince saw it.  “But so strangely.  I’ve never seen any 
of us marked like that.”

There was a crescent moon sigil on her brow, but instead of ebony and
inverted, this one was as golden as her hair and pointed upright.  The
sound of voices caused the angel to stir.  

Usagi looked up at Demando with devastated eyes.  “Alone,” she 
whimpered, not truly seeing him.  “All alone…”  Her shaking increased
and tears started to fall down her cheeks.   She gave a single, low 
moan of despair.  

There was such loss in her eyes, such agony that it was palpable to 
Demando.  An emotion stirred in the White Prince and it took him a 
moment to recognize it – compassion.   He reached out and gently 
touched her cheek.

“It’s all right,” he said softly.  “You’re not alone.  I’m here.”

Usagi couldn’t hear him, although she sensed the warm arms holding 
her. It was not the one embrace she needed above all else and that
fact was too much for Usagi to bear.  Her body sliding deeper into 
shock with each passing second, she stopped trying to fight the 
darkness that wanted to claim her.  Anything was better than feeling 
the endless, shattering pain of loss.

“Alone,” she murmured once more, then went limp in the arms of the
White Prince of Nemesis.