|
Home | Fan-Fiction | Original Fiction | Poetry | Artwork Echoes of the Future "There was a short time of peace, of preparation, but our dreams were troubled. As we wandered in shadows of reality, after a while no one could tell what messages were real and which illusion. All we could hope was that somehow, someone would make sense of the images and tell us what the dreaming meant." Chapter Five 'Teki stood in a deep forest, much like those on her home world. The trees reached towards the sky, so that she could barely make out the tops of them, and the undergrowth was thick and lush. She was standing by the bank of a river, and the sun shone down on her. In the sky hung three moons, and she realised that she was indeed somewhere on her homeworld."Please, come with me", said a small voice behind her, and she turned, startled. A child stood there, no more than eight years old, with reddish-brown hair cut short, save for a pretty thin braid that was tied on one side. She was dressed in robes that reminded the Senshi of Master Shinwa but on her forehead shone the sigil of her planet, marking her as one Senshi-born. "My name is not important", the girl said in answer to 'Teki's unasked question. "Please, there is much you have to understand." 'Teki took a step towards her, and held out her hand. The child took it, and started moving at a run through the forest, dragging 'Teki behind her. She barely had enough time to notice that the child's feet did not truly seem to touch the ground between strides as they careened around trees and over obstacles. It seemed that only 'Teki's extra strength as a Senshi kept her going when normally she would be tired beyond belief at such a long period of exertion. When finally they reached the other side of the forest, the sun was much higher in a sky that had seemed to be at early morning when she first found herself there. "Rhiannon", the child spoke her real name, one 'Teki had rarely heard since leaving Domus Prime, "look." On the plain before her a vast battle was taking place. Great numbers of people had massed here, and she could not tell who they were, or which side was winning. All she could see was slaughter, as ground troops met on the field, some on foot and others using various vehicles. Overhead fighters screamed and landing shuttles were escorted to clear patches of ground. Laser fire danced in the air and was repelled by shields and lightsabres. And amid it all came an occasional flash of blue light from Senshi magic, but it seemed to make little difference. "Are you showing me the future of my world?" 'Teki shuddered in sudden fear, and the link between her and Domus Prime seemed to tremble in response. "You are seeing what you have to be shown. A battle is being fought before you; you must choose what happens next. Look at both sides of the field, and decide what path we will take." The child suddenly looked over her shoulder, as if expecting someone to be there, or as if she was frightened that someone would be there. "Rhiannon, you have to leave this dream now. Please remember what you have seen." The girl gave a small wave and smiled, and a flash of power stung 'Teki's eyes, so that she squinted them closed tightly before opening them again. "It doesn't matter what we do, Palomene, my power will never return to it's former strength", Marianth sighed, flopping down on one of the mats that lined the floor of the training room. "I will never be able to avenge my people." "We have been through this", Palomene said, remaining on her feet, one hand on her hip. "Your powers have no doubt changed. Tatooine's strength has changed its focus, and so must you. So long as you keep reaching into the past, you will never touch the future." "I can barely manage the most simple of tasks, calling up a transformation, and yet you expect me to be able to fight for revenge against that evil being? Palomene, you have gone insane." Much against her self-control, Marianth found herself sobbing, her chest heaving as she tried to contain her emotions. "Dry your eyes", Palomene commanded sternly, giving the distraught girl no sympathy, "and hand me your power stick." At this, Marianth looked up, shock written plainly on her face. "But no one may touch a Senshi's power wand save that Senshi, or they will die." "A Guardian may", Palomene said simply, "though that is hardly common knowledge." And it was clear that Palomene intended to say nothing more on the subject. Marianth cast a hand to one side, as if she was reaching for something. As she turned her wrist slightly, she closed her fingers around empty air, but the hand she brought back to her herself was clutching a small cylindrical object similar in size and shape to a thick pen. It was forest green in colour, topped by a gold sphere with the sigil of Tatooine, two interlinked hearts, embossed upon it. Almost reverently, she passed the power stick to Palomene. Palomene took a deep breath as though preparing herself for something, then her hair flew out from her body as she was engulfed in a white light. It faded as suddenly as it appeared, but instead of her fuku, Palomene was now wearing the white-robed gown of a Guardian. She knelt by the window whispering softly for a moment as if in prayer, before she got back to her feet. She pointed the power stick at the ground, and traced out a circle around herself. Then, looking up quite suddenly, Palomene cried out in a ringing voice. "Tatooine, the Guardian calls upon you! Lend your power to refresh this object, the physical embodiment of the great link between you and your Chosen. Take the light of my star and renew the strength of your Senshi!" For an instant, the room was silent, then the circle Palomene had drawn invisibly before flashed with light, a circular wall of light around the Guardian, and the room hummed with power. Marianth found herself suddenly blinded by the light that shone around Palomene, a golden aura of power. The air vibrated on a frequency that seemed a hauntingly familiar melody to Marianth, but though she tried to seize it and make the song hers, as she knew it ought to be, she could not. And when Marianth was again able to see Palomene through the wall of power she had created, it looked as of there was someone else standing in her place, a brown-haired woman, with strange spiral-shaped odango on the side of her head. But the most odd thing was her face, a mirror of Marianth's own. She smiled at Marianth. Then the room was returned to normal, and the Guardian was herself again. The aura of power had disappeared completely, and she stood with head bowed and hands clasped together in front of her chest. Palomene opened her eyes and smiled slightly at the startled-looking Marianth, passing back the power stick. "Umm, thank you", Marianth said nervously, cautiously looking down at the wand. The handle was now a soft yellow, the colour of golden sandy beaches and one of the two suns of Tatooine. It was the same size and weight as before. Now however, a silver star topped her power stick, the five fine points sharp and exact. Etched into the smooth surface at the centre of the star was the sigil for Coruscant as before. Blue eyes flashed up curiously, questioning Palomene silently. "Why don't you try your highest-level transformation again", the Guardian suggested gently. Marianth nodded and slowly got to her feet, holding the power stick firmly in her right hand. She took a deep breath to calm the fluttering in her stomach before she called out at the top of her voice, "Tatooine Planet Power, Make-Up!" Yellow flame danced around her, and she spun within it, caught up in a sandstorm of power and light. Burning, cleansing, refreshing, the flames burned away her old self, replacing it with a body made of pure energy. It touched something deep within her and she turned around slowly, feeling as a ribbon of flame wrapped itself around her body. In a flash of cool blue energy, the flames were transformed into a bodysuit of the softest material, yet Marianth knew it would be stronger than any metal alloy. Flames licked at her feet, then were cooled into little blue shoes that sparkled like glass slippers. From the tips of her fingers to her elbows they passed next, and in a wave of ecstasy Marianth pulled her hands in across her body as if seeking to capture the warmth that teased her senses. But another flicker of blue touched her like ice, and the flames were now white gloves, cuffed by golden bands. Her long blonde hair danced around her and was caught up and pulled back, so that a small blue tendril of energy could tie it in a small bow, even as a wave spun around her waist and formed the gold skirt that encircled her. A blue bow was tied on Marianth's back and an orange one on her front. There was one further flash of light, as a gold tiara appeared on her forehead, set with a sapphire of deepest blue and a deep blue choker tied itself around her neck. At some point, Marianth's feet met the floor again, and the flames that had danced around her disappeared as the elation that had swept her up disbursed, leaving her feeling somewhat empty. Marianth met Palomene's gaze with a weak smile. "Wow", was all she could say. The Guardian smiled herself, warmly, and Marianth realised anew that she did not know very much about the Guardian. "Now", Palomene said in a somewhat stern tone, her face resuming its normal neutral look, "you should meditate to determine the nature of your powers, much as you did when you were trained on Mau." Sailor Tatooine rolled her eyes good naturedly, but did as she was told, sitting herself cross-legged on the floor and closing her eyes. "Tatooine touched her full power today", Amatite said softly into the commlink. "I will inform her Majesty", Hematite replied, "Stay safe." "You too." Prince Nazoru dreamed that he stood in space, watching the Galaxy as if from a great distance. It looked so odd seen from this angle, as if he was viewing a map. From outside the Galaxy there came a single spark of light, and it moved to one of the outer of the billions of stars in the Galaxy. That light then flickered and died, leaving a black spot in its absence. "What do you see?" The man standing next to him seemed to remind Prince Nazoru of someone. He was dressed in an absurd costume, all colours and patterns, but his eyes were darkly serious in a way that Nazoru felt he should be apologising for. "One of the stars of the Galaxy just died, collapsing into a brown dwarf." Nazoru realised that his voice sounded oddly apathetic and wondered at that. "Is that it? I thought that someone must have smothered its light." "No person could do that." "Are you so sure? Look again." As Prince Nazoru watched, one by one the stars closest to that first one flickered and died. The darkness spread, in what appeared to be a great spiral, until only the Core Worlds remained bright, though a few others fought to shine. But after a time, they began to dim, and then only one star remained. "What happens now?" he asked his strange companion. "That has not been decided. There are still too many choices to be made before we reach this point. Watch." Prince Nazoru looked out, hoping to see some spark of hope that would re-ignite the lights of the Galaxy, restoring it to its former beauty. Suddenly, a soft blue light began to glow from the one remaining star, and it grew in size and intensity, spreading and touching every dead star and even beyond. The light suddenly flared into brightness and power, and Prince Nazoru felt it burning through his body, blinding him. Suddenly he felt himself being forced from the dream into wakefulness. "I wish to take Marianth with me when I return to Mau tonight, Your Majesty", Palomene said. "If she is to be trained again in the use of her power, the Guardians should supervise her progress, especially when one considers what Prince Nazoru said this morning of his latest vision." "That we are running out of time." Queen Amaterasu finished what Palomene could not say. "Can we trust him?" "He is Chie's son, and was trained by bother her and Kassanda. I fear that what he says is true. I wish it were otherwise, and I wish I knew where they would strike next. That is why I must go to Mau immediately, to see what I can discover about our enemy." "Be careful, Palomene", the Queen said softly, "I fear for your safety." "Have you had a premonition?" Kako Shinwa's words were as soft and shadowed as those of Palomene's, laced with a fear of some unknown destiny. "Not as such", the Queen's voice was almost soulless, and Palomene recognised the tone of her words as prophecy, even if the Queen did not, "I just feel that something terrible is about to happen. And none of us will be able to stop it." "Do not fear for me, Your Majesty." Palomene was surprised to find how much of an effort it was for her to keep her tone light, "I will return in a few days. You stay safe." Her gaze changed direction abruptly as Palomene suddenly found herself acting on an unknown instinct. "Kako Shinwa, I place the Queen's protection in your hands. Guard her as I would, your lifeblood before hers, your soul in my place. She is your task and duty, your mission and destiny, your life and your heart." "I hear and I obey", Master Shinwa spoke the ritual words that he should have had no way of knowing, an oath that was as secret as any that Sailor Mau held hidden in her heart. "My soul is bound to her for eternity, I am her servant and bodyguard. I will be as a shadow to her, a light in the darkness, the blade that serves and protects, a friend and guardian." The Queen's eyes widened as she watched this exchange, realising the depth of what was taking place as Kako swore to take Palomene's place, a position that had only ever been held by a Senshi previously. As he finished the ritual phrase, Palomene seemed to regain herself and as she heard his vow, her face paled. "It seems I have more to talk to Kassanda about than I thought", she said, sounding somewhat terrified. "Strange forces are starting to make their presence felt." "Be calm, Guardian Palomene", Master Shinwa said, "This was meant to happen. Can you not feel it in the Spirit Force?" "I can, and that is what worries me." "Cheer up, Princess, I'll be back soon." Marianth smiled, squeezing the Princess' hand. "Do you promise?" The words made her sound small and vulnerable, as if she did not believe that the promise would be kept. "I promise. I just need to go back to Mau for a little while, to sort out my powers. I can't keep my oath to protect you if I can't be Sailor Tatooine. So smile for me, and I'll be back in a few weeks. I'll even take care of Palomene for you." At this the Princess laughed and Marianth bowed deeply, walking from the room on light feet. Princess Amaterasu sighed, and turned to talk to Prince Nazoru so that she did not hear Marianth's parting words to 'Teki, who stood on guard at the doorway. "Watch over my Princess. Keep her safe from our enemy." Prince Emlyn held Palomene tightly to him, running a hand down her cheek to brush the line of her jaw. "I will miss you, my guardian angel", he said, and he gently kissed the sigil of Coruscant on her forehead. A shiver of premonition ran through Palomene, and she wondered at its meaning. "Are you certain I can't come with you?" "Yes", Palomene nodded, "the less people on Mau the better at this time. You will be able to do more good on Ishta-Three, which is why you must return there and prepare your people for the war that is coming." "I will see you in three weeks then, when you come back to Coruscant." "I love you." "I know." They kissed, and it was all Palomene could do to make herself walk away to her ship and leave Coruscant. Among others, Prince Tirah and Sailor Alderaan came to see off Marianth and Palomene. The two had been seen together often over the previous week, and the Princess was beginning to have her suspicions about the pair. As the Guardian's specially designed ship left the main Palace hangar, Prince Tirah exchanged a meaningful glance with the Senshi, who smiled before walking away to join the other Senshi for training. She stood in an empty place, alone. It was not really dark, for although everything around her was black, she could see herself clearly; it was just empty. Then she turned around, prompted by an unknown instinct, and saw a beautiful woman standing before her. The stranger seemed hauntingly familiar, her long brown hair flowed down to dance around her knees, and she was dressed in a fuku with a combination of colours that were unfamiliar. The stranger smiled at her. "Who are you?" The words slipped from her in a rush, and she was answered by a laugh that sounded almost like her own. "You can not guess?" The woman twirled before her in a youthful movement, and the black skirt of her fuku flared out. "I am Sailor Coruscant." Some of the shock she felt must have registered on her face, for the Senshi quickly added in a somewhat depreciating tone, "You know, the Chosen One of prophecy, the only one who can save the Universe, Senshi of Death and Rebirth?" Still silent, the watcher could say nothing. Shaking her head, the Senshi threw her hands up in the air like she was wishing for something. "Great, the girl has never heard of me", she spoke as if to someone else, "Now what am I supposed to do?" The one who called herself Sailor Coruscant paused, listening to an answer the watcher could not hear. She stared off into middle distance, before turning to the watcher. "Do you really not know who I am?" she said in a gentle voice. Suddenly she could speak again. "I know who Sailor Coruscant is, I am just a little surprised to meet you. I always just thought you were a myth, that is what Palomene told me." "Well, you cannot always trust what Palomene says", Sailor Coruscant smiled and offered her gloved hand in the ritual gesture of greeting. The watcher took it and Sailor Coruscant spoke again, a twinkle in her eyes. "Sometimes she does not know everything, for all that she acts as if she does." They both flinched as if expecting a scathing retort from the absent Guardian, and grinned at one another when it did not come. "Why did you want to speak to me?" She wondered that she could be so bold but Sailor Coruscant merely nodded as if encouraging her. "I have a few messages to pass on. One of those acts of prophecy and all that. We have not got a lot of time though, they could be listening in and that would undo all the good I hope to effect in this time." "I understand", she did not, but knew she could puzzle it out later on. "Very well. First, I have to warn you that the prophecies of Queen Chie are true, and to remember the symbolism. Until Palomene gets back, those are your only clue to where and when the enemy will strike next." "Enemy?" She was confused by these only-half-cryptic phrases. "Wait, what prophecies? I do not understand." "Talk to Queen Amaterasu. It is beyond time they told you what was going on, considering the crucial part you will have to play in all this." "Yes, Sailor Coruscant", she curtseyed gracefully, and the Senshi's eyes widened. "That is quite possibly the most inappropriate thing you could have done. There is no need for you to ever bow to anyone, especially not me." Sailor Coruscant gave an odd smile as if to a joke the watcher could not understand. "If you really need to know where I fit in with all your protocol and the rest of it, you and I hold the same rank." At this she was even more surprised. "Surely you outrank me? You are Sailor Coruscant, the one who will save us." Tears appeared in the Senshi's eyes. "I am afraid that I can not save you. Not in this time. I would if it were not forbidden." "Who can forbid anything to you?" Sailor Coruscant smiled, as if she found the child-like adoration amusing. "Only Destiny, and she is a very cruel mistress." Then suddenly she looked around her, alarm showing on her face. "They begin to suspect", she said in a panicked tone, "You have to leave now, but we will speak again. Just remember what I said, and remember also that the Senshi are mortal and can be corrupted despite their power and strength." She took a step forward, placing a hand on the watcher's arm and giving her a shake. "You must wake up now, before they find me." Her words were becoming frantic, as was her shaking. "Go!" she commanded in a ringing voice, and the dreamer turned and ran from the Senshi in terror. In her bed, Alarion shot awake, frightened by the intensity of what she had seen. A shiver ran through her body and she got up to close the window and fetch another blanket, for she was suddenly very cold. In her heart she knew that she would not sleep again that night. Marianth had spent most of the time in the ship deep in meditation, reaching out to Tatooine and trying to understand the changes that had taken place both within her and around her. However, when she was alone, Marianth allowed herself to grieve. To cry and mourn the loss of all that she had known, for her parents and in particular, for one of the local lords, Michael Dreamreader, whom Marianth had been more than a little fond of. But he would never know now, for when she tried to locate him, Tatooine had showed her that Michael had been in the audience room with her parents when the evil ones had pulled the Palace down around them. Marianth sobbed brokenly like a child, wishing for her innocence and childhood to return. Once she had recovered her powers and the evil ones brought to justice, she would be Queen of Tatooine, many years before she had ever expected such a thing to take place. She wanted her family back, she wanted to play with her little sisters and brothers one last time, to hold them and tell them how much she loved them all. Marianth was suddenly burdened with an adult's responsibilities and duties and somehow she had to rebuild her world and her life. Palomene let the twenty-five-year-old young woman grieve in silence, never intruding on her solitude, yet somehow knowing when company would be appreciated to distract Marianth from what had happened and help her to start developing her future. The ship had been equipped with everything needed for the training of a Senshi, including a reasonably-sized room with a powerful magical shield in which a Senshi could unleash her most powerful attacks without damaging the ship. Marianth had little use for it at first, for she had no idea what form her Senshi magic now took, but on the final day of the three-day voyage to the hidden world of Mau, she understood that Tatooine's new strength would be drawn from the heat and desserts that would soon begin to rule its ecosystem. And Marianth realised that she could control and manipulate this heat, causing it to warm the air around her. She was certain that given a little time she would develop her powers up to a reasonable standard. "Damn", Amatite swore, one hand slapping the computer before her. "Whatever is the matter?" Hematite's voice was soft in the otherwise-empty room. He had appeared behind Amatite quite suddenly, drawn by the conflux of emotions she was emanating. "The damn transmitter we placed on Palomene's ship is malfunctioning. I can't get a blip of out it. There must be something in the shielding that prevents all outgoing signals, but why couldn't we detect it?" Again she hit the computer with a gloved hand and he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "We always knew it would be hard to achieve such a thing, which is why neither of us mentioned our idea to the Queen. Palomene has many powers that none of us understand, it is hardly surprising that her ship also defies prediction." "But if we had found Mau, we could have removed the threat of the Guardians once and for all." "The Guardians pose no real threat to our plans. The Galaxy will belong to our Queen; the time of the Senshi and their Guardians has passed forever. The Dark Queen will rule all, and those Guardians who survive will guard her." "You cannot understand, for you have never been to Mau and seen them. They have powers none of us can comprehend, magic as strong as any Senshi's. Palomene could rule if she so chose." Hematite blinked in surprise at the vehemence in Amatite's voice. "But it is Amaterasu who holds the Crystal of Power", he said softly. "And it was Palomene's mother who taught her how to use it." There was a long silence as he thought about this. "There may yet be another way to track down Palomene", he suggested softly, moving himself to the other side of the room in a needless display of power. "The Queen may ask you to risk yourself unnecessarily, but I will not. There is no reliable way of knowing where Mau is, and if you fail, we will be short one General. I have no desire to take over your duties as well as my own. Sailor Mau will fall, as will the others, all in good time." Amatite got to her feet, stretching somewhat cramped muscles and using her power to shift her clothing back into the uniform of the Dark Forces. "How are your preparations for Toxtenkopp going?" "In two more days we will be there. All is progressing according to plan, the youma are actually training themselves, hoping to avoid deaths and simply harvest the people for the energy they possess. And though I keep trying to explain to them that Toxtenkopp will not surrender without a fight, they do not listen to one not of their own." Hematite shook his head. "Your power is strong enough to control them though, and that is all that matters." "Indeed. I had best go back to the ship now. Have you any messages for the Queen?" "Just tell her that the Senshi here may indeed be subverted. It could yet be possible for us to steal the Crystal of Power from Amaterasu without taking Coruscant." "If they even begin to suspect, get yourself out of there. You will be able to do no good for our cause if you have been roasted by Senshi magic." Amatite smiled wryly. "I could say the same to you, but I trust your discretion." He gave her a brief hug. "Be careful." Then Hematite used his power to transport himself back to his ship to prepare the fleet for the invasion. Amatite sighed. "I still wish I could have tracked down Palomene", she said to herself, "it would have made life a lot easier if we could have killed her on her own world. Now I'll have to go to the effort of organising something else." She went over to the console and dialled herself up a meal, deciding that an early night might do her some good. Mikara stayed to watch for a little bit longer, but after a few minutes of observing, she realised that nothing exciting would happen here this night, so she teleported herself unseen after Hematite, hoping to find out what the Queen wanted to know about him. "Your Majesty, are you alright?" Kako Shinwa's words were soft in the comfortable silence of the Queen's chamber. "Yes, I am fine", she said, while staring off into the distance, "I am just a little worried about Palomene." "Guardian Palomene is strong and is over-trained for this mission of being an errand girl. She will find out what we need to know about our enemies and return before we have a chance to notice that she is gone." "What does the Spirit Force say about our enemies?" "I can barely sense anything about them. Just a great darkness, and waves of hatred. And, an instinct tells me that they will not stop until the entire Galaxy lies in their hands." The Queen stood and walked over to the balcony, and she stood there for a time watching the lights of the city stretching to the horizon. Everything on her world seemed so peaceful, it was hard to believe what she was being told about the rest of the Galaxy starting to be thrown into turmoil. But on the edges of her senses Amaterasu could feel them, watching, waiting for her to make her move, and she knew then in a rare moment of prophecy that her enemies would be able to counter almost every action she took. One hand reached up to touch her locket, seeking reassurance, and Kako stepped from the room to place his arms around her. "Do not fear, my Queen", he said gently, "we will stop them long before they can reach Coruscant." 'Lailen dreamed of fighting, of blood and of heartache. She dreamed of a hatred that consumed her, that forced her to do things that were completely against her pacifist upbringing. She dreamed of power and of magic, she dreamed that she could sense and manipulate the thoughts of those around her, she dreamed of children twisted by the darkness. She dreamed of a love that tore her apart, that betrayed her own heart and left her lost and without hope. And when 'Lailen woke up, she could still feel the ache of having loved the symbol of all that she hated and despised. Hematite no longer seemed to dream. Every night when he fell asleep, his subconscious thoughts remained silent, as if they knew he could no longer be trusted. It was only as he slept that he allowed himself to regret what had happened. By the time he had woken up in the morning, his tears had dried and there was no sign that he was anything other than the General to the Dark Queen. When she ordered him to her at night, he went willingly, knowing that this was as much a part of his service to her as penance for his betrayal to everything he had once believed in. The Queen had given him power, and in return he had sworn his soul to her, although at the time he had not realised this. Hematite could hide his thoughts from everyone, the Queen never knew of his momentary regrets, which always disappeared as they embraced. He knew that none of this mattered to her, that it was just another way for her to prove her power over him, and that every night she took someone to her bed, chosen by whim and strengthened by her power. This night, the last before Toxtenkopp, the Queen had not called Hematite into her presence, much to his relief. He had wanted to go over the plans for the following day, and was glad that there would be no distractions to his checking of their strategy. When the sun dawned on that world in the morning, they would make their demands and then strike. In the morning, another blow against the Sapphire Millennium would be struck. Iaru, she who wandered in dreams and watched what transpired in that world, snarled with disgust. Every time she had tried to infiltrate the dreams of the Senshi, they had awoken suddenly, as if warned of her approach. It was her task to find the weaknesses of the individual Senshi, to haunt their dreams and use the knowledge gained to destroy them, but someone was interfering. Iaru would have to find out who it was and kill them quickly, before her work could be delayed any further. She had achieved very few of the tasks set her so far. The Queen would not be impressed.
Back to the Fan-Fiction Listings |
