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**A Soul Reclaimed**
By Brickgirl
Brickgirl@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/palace/7112
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and friends do not belong to me.
                  Adonis, Thalia, and this story do.
**Part 8: The Plotting of Darkness**
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        Mizuno Ami had always loved science.  Putting together tiny bits
of information to form a complete and clear picture.  The challenge of
selecting the pertinent data, and disregarding the rest.  To her, it had
always been like a game.
        Adding magic into the picture made it even more fun.
        The arm of the crystal monster lay on a steel platform.  Lights
danced over it, taking various measurements which were all fed into
Ami?s computer.  She ran the data through a new program she had written
that cross-referenced the information with the properties of all known
crystals and minerals.  A single item came up as the result.  Ami?s eyes
widened as she read the text, then they narrowed.  After giving the arm
a quick glance to make sure it was secured to the platform, she ran off
to find the Queen.
__________

        "Ceruleacite?  Ami, are you sure?"  Ami nodded at the shocked
Queen.
        "I can run some more tests if you wish, but the results are clear
enough.  These creatures we are facing are humans who have been
enveloped within a ceruleacite exostructure."
        "My god," Serenity murmured in horror.
        "That?s not all, Serenity.  This is not normal ceruleacite that we
are dealing with.  This material has been corrupted by a massive amount
of dark power, changing its basic characteristics.
        "What do you mean?"
        "Just as the Ginzuishou changed the powers of Sailor Earth?s
crystal, so did the dark energy alter the crystal that forms the
creatures.  It amplified their powers from absorbing only magic to
absorbing all forms of energy, such as life energy, as we saw yesterday.
I suspect that if these monsters don?t absorb enough energy
periodically, the exoskeleton would absorb their own life energy."
        Serenity frowned.  "If we could force them to use up enough of
their energy without absorbing any . . ."
        Ami?s eyes lit up.  "That could be the key to defeating them.
Non-energy attacks mixed with drawing their fire might be a plausible
strategy."
        "Ami, find the other Senshi.  They must be told of this at once."
As Ami turned to leave, a sudden thought struck Serenity.  "Ami, get
Thalia too."
        Ami turned.  "Are you sure?"
        "Luna said that she has been using the practice grounds
extensively the past few days.  Her powers have increased."  Serenity
remembered Setsuna?s words.  "I have a feeling that she could be quite
important in the next battle.
__________

        "That was incredible Thalia!  You certainly haven?t lost any of
your skill for having been out of practice for so long."
        Thalia smiled as she replaced her crystal to the center of her
breastplate.  "Thanks Luna.  Coming from you, that means a lot."
        Luna eyed the fallen posts that surrounded the senshi.  "I mean
it.  I think that it?s time that you officially rejoined with the other
Senshi."
        "Serenity apparently thinks so too.  Ami told me I am expected at
a meeting in the war room tonight."
        Luna cocked her head to the side.  "Have you thought any more
about telling her the truth?"
        Thalia detransformed, not answering Luna.
        "Thalia?"
        "I?m still thinking about it."
        "Confession is good for the soul."
        "Sure," said Thalia walking away.  She lowered her head, feeling
the cat?s eyes on her back.  "If I still have one."
__________

        " . . . so if we can wear them down enough, they should
self-destruct.  This will require a lot of maneuvering.  We hope to lead
the creatures away from the city, to decrease casualties.  No repeats of
what happened last time.  Any questions?"
        "What would happen if I used my attack on them?" Thalia asked Ami,
who typed some figures into her computer.
        "I can?t say.  The resulting collision of two oppositely charged
amounts of ceruleacite could have unpredictable results.  I?d say that
it?s not something you want to try.  Stick to physical attacks if you
can, such as your sword.  It shouldn?t contain enough power to cause a
feedback."  Thalia nodded.
        Artimis pushed his way through the door.  "Your Majesty, there are
reports of another crystal monster attack.  Apparently, there are five
this time."
        Minako nodded to the other Senshi.  "Come on."  The girls raced
out of the room.  Serenity caught Rei?s arm as she stood.
        "Rei, I just wanted to ask you . . . about Thalia . . . have you
been able to pick up anything from her."  Over the years, Rei?s powers
had increased, not just in terms of sensing evil, but her empathic
powers as well.
        "Now that you mention it, she has seemed somewhat disturbed.  Not
evil at all, but . . . I don?t know, pained.  As if she has an excess
amount of mental baggage.  Do you know what?s wrong with her?"
        Serenity shook her head.  "We?ll talk later.  Hurry and catch up
with the others.  And be careful."  She sighed as she watch Rei run down
the hall.  There were still so many times that she wished she could join
her friends.  But she had other duties now.  She left the room quietly,
absently stroking her swollen belly.
__________

        "Um, Venus, this isn?t working," Mars told her fellow Senshi.  The
stood in the middle of the road, the buildings around them smashed by
the creatures, who seemed much more interested in causing mass
destruction then following the Senshi to a more remote location.
        "Well, we?re going to have to try something else then," Venus
replied.  Forming a Love-Me chain, she lashed it around the arm of the
nearest creature, then quickly withdrew it.  The small infusion of
energy was enough to catch the monster?s attention.
        "Hey, over here, Ugly!" Venus called mockingly, creating small
bursts of light.  The creature growled and lumbered forward, followed by
his companions.  The Senshi turned and ran, leading the creatures away
from the city.
        "You were saying, Mars?"
        Mars chose not to respond.
        The chase finally ended when they reached the outskirts of town.
The girls whirled around, catching the monsters off guard.  Thalia
transformed her crystal to a sword, a reckless gleam in her eyes.  With
a vicious cry, she leapt at the closest monster.
        It was exhilarating.  This was nothing compared to fighting wooden
posts.  She ducked and slashed, her crystal sword leaving deep scratches
on the monster.  "My sword must be stronger," she muttered to herself.
She transformed the sword to a mace and smashed it into the creature?s
head with all her strength.  With a scream, the monsters head shattered,
spraying crystal shards everywhere.  Thalia noted more then a few bone
fragments as well.  "Disgusting," she said to herself, wiping the mess
from her hair.
        "Thalia, look out!"
        Thalia whirled around to see a huge crystal fist flying towards
her.  With no time to dodge, Thalia crossed her arms, hoping her crystal
gauntlets were enough to block the blow.  The impact sent her flying.
She landed hard, and sat up, dazed.
        "You break it, you buy it," yelled Mars, flinging wards at two of
the monsters.  The scrolls drained a tiny amount of energy before
disintegrating.
        "Ha ha."  Thalia shook her head to make sure it was still firmly
attached.
        "Mercury, would they be able to drain any energy from your ice?"
Venus yelled, leaping to dodge a blow.
        Mercury did some quick mental calculations.  "Not really.  Ice and
water are good conductors for electricity, but not magical energy."
        "Freeze them, and we will try to shatter them!"
        "SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"
        The monsters were encased within a block of ice.  Fire,
electricity, and gold light struck the frozen creatures from three
directions.  Ice and crystal exploded in every direction, forcing the
Senshi to the ground.
        The dust cleared.  The Senshi looked at the small crater filled
with scorched crystal.  Jupiter sighed.  "At least that?s over."
        With a scream, a crystal figure erupted from the battle debris.
It sent a blast of energy at the five Senshi, scattering them.  "Since
when could they do that?"  yelled Thalia as she took cover.
        "It must have absorbed the energy of the attacks!" Mercury yelled
back.  "It?s too powerful now!!"
        "We?ll see!"  Ignoring the startled cries from the other Senshi,
Thalia jumped up and ran at the monster, vaulting herself onto its back.
Bending her fist back, she drove the point of her gauntlet into the base
of the creatures neck.
        The blow would have been enough to kill a person, and probably
would have taken out most of the youma, daemons, and other such
creatures that the Senshi had fought over the years.  But faster then
Thalia could react, the monster shook her off, and grabbed her in one
massive fist.
        The pain was immense, but Thalia simply gritted her teeth and
struggled.  She would have been crushed, if not for her crystal
breastplate.  She closed her eyes and concentrated.
        The monster screamed as a crystal spike shot through its hand,
cutting its fingers off.  Thalia dropped to the ground and rolled, the
crystal once again a sword in her hand.  She leapt at the monster, sword
raised to cleave it in two.  The monster raised its uninjured fist as
well, readying a blast of energy.  Thalia started to swing her sword . .
.
        And the entire battlefield was enveloped in white light.
        Thalia landed and fell to her knees, dropping her sword.  She
rubbed her eyes, trying to clear them.  When she could see again, she
looked to find her opponent a small pile of ashes that were drifting
away in the wind.
        Turning, she saw Serenity standing at the top of the hill in
another of her flowing white gowns.  The Ginzuishou hovered in the air
before her.  A shadow stood behind her with long hair, holding a staff.
Sailor Pluto.
        The inner Senshi ran up the hill to the Queen.  "What are you
doing here?  You should be resting!  Are you all right?" Mars asked.
        "Stop mothering me Rei.  I?m perfectly fine.  Pluto said that you
needed my help.  Are you all right?"  The Senshi nodded.  Serenity
turned to Thalia.  "That was quite a foolish thing you did."  Thalia
opened her mouth to argue, but Serenity interrupted her with a smile.
"Glad to see you are back to your old self."  She looked at the others.
"Let?s go home."  Waving her hand, she created a portal.  She stepped
through.  The Senshi turned to follow.  Thalia was about to enter when a
hand on her shoulder stopped her.  She turned and found herself facing
two deep red eyes.
        "We need to talk," said Sailor Pluto.
__________

        "It seems that your scouts have failed, my Lord,"  Damos bowed
deeply before the shadowy throne, trembling at having to face the master
so soon with more . . . bad news.
        "Why, not at all, Damos," the deep voice intoned from the
darkness.  The other creature looked up in surprise.
        "First of all, my agents were able to cause much damage to the
city before the Senshi engaged them.  Secondly, this encounter will have
shaken up the Senshi more then a little.  And third, we were able to get
a greater idea of the power that Neo Serenity possesses."
        "Which will make her even easier to kill, right?"
        A fist flew out of the darkness, smashing into the floor next to
Damos.  The startled creature tumbled end over end across the room.  He
came to rest in the corner, and huddled there in the darkness.
        "You fool."  The voice trembled with anger.  "You would dare to
presume . . ."  There was a pause, and then the voice began again, much
calmer.  "The daughter of Serenity is much more important then she
realizes.  She has forgotten her place."  Another pause.  "It is our
duty to remind her."
__________

        Thalia detransformed and sat on a chunk of scorched crystal.  She
looked at Sailor Pluto with a bit of awe and a lot of apprehension.
        "Serenity doesn?t know that I am talking to you, and I want to
keep it that way," Pluto began.  "I am going to be brief.  I don?t care
weather you tell Serenity of your existence as Beryl or not."  Thalia
flinched.  Pluto saw this and softened her voice.  "I swore to Serenity
that I would do all within my power to protect her daughter.  I made the
oath to Neo Serenity.  But there is very little I can do.  My duty is to
Time, not those who roam it.  The duty of protecting the royal family
falls to the inner Senshi."  Her eyes narrowed slightly.  "You."
        "And I?ve certainly done a wonderful job so far," Thalia muttered.
        Pluto slammed down her staff, making the younger girl jump.  "I
understand that the past is difficult for you to face, but you must face
it!  If you don?t, there will be grave consequences in the future.  We
all have pasts to atone for.  Nothing we do can change that.  All we can
do is work towards a better future.  Please trust me.  Trust your
friends.  But most of all, you must trust yourself."  Her voice was as
close to pleading as she ever let it get.
        Thalia nodded, but Pluto could still see the doubt in her eyes.
She hoped that her words would be enough to push the girl the right way.
        "You better get back to the palace, before Serenity knows you are
missing."  She opened a portal with her staff.  Thalia hesitated before
stepping through, as if she was going to ask Pluto something, but then
thought better of it.  The portal closed behind her with a flash of
light.
        Pluto stared at the remains of the battle for a few moments.  Then
she looked back at where to where Thalia had vanished.  "Yes," she
replied to the other Senshi?s unasked question, "I have things I must
atone for too."
__________

        "I don?t understand, my Lord.  If you do not wish to destroy
Serenity, then why do we keep attacking her city?"
        The voice sighed.  "The city has corrupted her, Damos.  It must be
destroyed, for her sake.  I plan to bring her here to us, when the time
is right."
        "Then why do you keep sending the Lost ones if you do not wish to
fight Serenity?"
        "Serenity does not realize yet that she is needed here.  She will
fight us, with her Senshi, and with her crystal.  I have no qualms about
killing the Senshi, and the Lost ones are the perfect fodder for the
job.  They are of no other use to the cause."  A cracking sounded from
the shadows.  Damos realized that it was the master, smiling.  "Besides,
it is good to have our enemies underestimate us.  They will think we
lack the intelligence to provide a feasible strategy."  He gave a
wolfish laugh.  "Give your opponents an imagined weakness to focus on,
and while they are busy with that . . . tear them to shreds."
__________

        Thalia reappeared behind the other Senshi inside the palace.
Spotting Luna off to the side, she scooped up the cat and hurried back
to her room before anyone said anything to her.
        "I just had a very interesting conversation with Sailor Pluto,"
she said, after closing the door.  Luna hopped up to a chair and made
herself comfortable.
        "Did she say anything important?"
        Thalia frowned.  "Nothing that you haven?t told me already.  But
she said she didn?t want the Queen to know she had spoken to me."
        "Setsuna is quite the mysterious one, but she usually has good
reason for everything she does."
        "It wasn?t just that.  It was like . . . she was worried about
something.  She spoke of protecting Serenity.  As if something was going
to happen soon.  And she mentioned protecting a ?Small Lady? as well."
        Luna began to pace on the chair.  "Small Lady is Serenity?s
daughter.  She and Pluto are very close.  Or rather, will be," she
amended, seeing Thalia?s confused look.
        "Serenity isn?t due for over three months.  Why tell us now?"
        "Remember, time is different to her.  And having plenty of warning
is nothing to complain about."
        "True."  Thalia chewed her lip thoughtfully.  "I just wish we knew
where these monsters were coming from.  Or what they are trying to
accomplish."
        "I?m sure they will let us know soon enough," Luna said,
delicately licking a paw.  "They always do."
__________

        "So when do we attack next, my Lord?"
        "In about three months."
        Damos looked at the throne in disbelief.  "What?  Why so long?"
        The reply was as smooth as silk.  "Do you wish to face the power
of Serenity, as did your compatriots."
        "No, no my Lord!"
        "Neither do I.  As you may know, Serenity is with child.  She will
give birth in three and a half months.  She will be somewhat . . .
incapacitated, I would say.  During this time is when we will attack."
        Damos dropped to his knees.  "It is a perfect plan, my Lord.  It
shall not fail."
        "I am putting you in charge of the attack, Damos.  You have shown
yourself to be both loyal and an excellent warrior."  The dark voice
took on a tone that was meant to be kind, but that on any other would be
pure evil.  "We are all counting on you."
        A look of gratitude filled what passed as Damos? eyes.  He lowered
his misshapen crystal head.  "Thank you for this honor," he breathed.
"I won?t fail you, my Lord.  I shall not let you or the Cult of Apollo
down.

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After a much extended hiatus, I have returned!!  I?m sorry for those who
were left waiting, and I hope you weren?t too upset.  I am very ashamed
of myself.

Only three more parts of the story left!  After this story is done, I
will be writing a prequel (yay Star Wars!) that tells the story of the
great sorceress Andora, and her battle against the evil Empress Octavia.
The story, tentatively titled "Priestess of Light" will take place 500
years before the birth of the current Senshi, and will tell of the
beginning of the Silver Millennium and the great Kingdom of the Moon.
There will be some familiar faces present, you can guess who if you?d
like, but I?m not telling.  For references to the events that will take
place in "Priestess of Light", see Part One of this story.

Next Week (I promise!):  The birth of Small Lady approaches and the
enemy plans their attack.  What do they want with Serenity?  And how is
it that the Cult of Apollo has lived on until the Crystal Millennium?
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