Cycle of Our Souls: Heart's Love
Part V
Moon Raven
Disclaimers and the like:
The characters mentioned in this story do not belong to me, and I'm not making any money with it.
This story seems shorter than the other one because it's less parts, but it's actually right about the same length. That's just a little disclaimer for all you Mina fans who might be feeling jilted. :)
The little quotey at the beginning is by Shawn Mullins and was used without permission yada yada.
Anyway, please review me, and a HUGE thank you to those who have. You have no idea how much it means to me! Be sure to check out "Cycle of Our Souls: Heart's Thunder" about Lita and Nephrite if you like this story! And don't forget, this is the sequel to "Cycle of Our Souls: Heart's Fire!"
"There are two of us,
There are two of us --
It's the cycle of our souls.
Yet we try and change and rearrange the story goes.
That's the way the story goes."
-from "Cycle of Our Souls" by Shawn Mullins
"It's not possible. She can't be dead. This isn't happening. Oh, Gods, my Serena... my Serena..." Darien whispered again and again.
After Malachite's stunning announcement, they were all gathered once again at Raye's temple, where she was forcing tea down everyone's throat -- including her own. "Are you sure she's dead, Malachy?" she asked for the umpteenth time, leaning closer to Jay's comforting warmth as she said it.
"She wasn't breathing," he whispered, his skin ashen.
A moment later Amy entered the small kitchen, lines of grief etched into her sweet face. "She's alive. Barely."
Darien raised his head, stared at Amy uncomprehendingly. "Alive? But Malachy is right... she wasn't breathing. When I lifted her in my arms, she was cold."
"I said barely, Darien. She's not wounded or marked in any way... I can't figure out what's causing this."
"I should go to her," Raye said after a long silence.
"I'll come with you," Jay said softly. "Maybe there's something I can do to help."
"No," Mina said, "let's all go."
Raye nodded and they went back to the main room of the temple together, supporting one another as they walked. Serena's body was stretched out before the fire, and one had to stare for a long, long time to even tell she was breathing. Sitting down beside her friend's head, Raye concentrated, using her psychic senses to see inside Serena's soul.
She cried out and pulled away as though she had been burned. "Nai! Oh, Gods! What is that?"
"Raye!" Jay cried, taking her hands in his. "Raye, what is it, what did you see?"
"Darkness," she whispered, "living Darkness! It's inside her, Jay! It's destroying her from within. Why didn't the Silver Crystal protect her from this?"
"Is there anything you can do to stop it?" he asked, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"I don't know," she said, numb.
"Could we use the Crystal?" Lita wanted to know.
"No," Luna told her. "Only a member of the Lunar Royal Family can use the Silver Crystal's powers."
They all looked at one another, helpless. "This can't be happening!" Darien cried, angry and frustrated. "I refuse to believe there is nothing we can do."
Raye buried her face in her hands for a moment, trying to collect herself. "There is something... but..." she trailed off, shaking her head.
"What?" Mina demanded. "What is it, Raye? You know we'll do anything to get her back."
"We can't. Not yet, anyway," she said hastily. "It will require all of us."
"All of us?" Lita asked, puzzled. "But we're all here."
"Nai," Raye said, "we aren't."
"The other Generals...?" Jay offered.
"No... though I doubt that would hurt."
"The Outers," Mina said suddenly.
"Who the hell are the Outers?" Lita demanded after a moment.
"Good question," Mina said with a grin. "All I know is in my visions of the Silver Millennium, I made a reference to 'the Outers coming to our aid'."
"And in mine, you told us that they were needed elsewhere. So who could they be?" Raye said. "All I know is we need them... I have a feeling that they are the completion of our circle."
"Sailors Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto," Luna whispered. "They are the Outer Senshi. I had forgotten... I think Raye is correct, however. We will need their assistance in this matter."
"Where do we find them?" Malachy asked.
"We've already met Pluto," Amy said, "but without Rini's time key, how do we get to the Gate?"
"Don't you think Pluto knows about this already?" Lita replied, eyebrows raised.
"Then where is she?" Darien wanted to know.
Artemis, who had remained silent since they learned of Serena's near-death, finally spoke up. "I think you're wrong," he stated clearly, simply.
Luna looked at him, amazed. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't think finding the Outers is the answer. If it were, then they would be here by now... especially Pluto. They would've heard Serena's scream, ne? I mean, if Malachy did..."
"Maybe they just couldn't get here in time, Artemis," Mina said rather impatiently.
"Oh, come on!" he cried. "What would stop you from responding to that call?"
She shivered. "I see your point."
"I just don't think we're strong enough to stop this on our own," Raye said.
"Maybe Jay was right," Amy said quietly, "maybe the other two Generals are the key here."
"But we Senshi are the ones sworn to protect Serena," Lita pointed out.
"True," the blue-haired girl agreed, "but the Generals are sworn to protect Prince Endymion, ne? And Endymion was in love with Princess Serenity... so..." her voice trailed off speculatively and they all shared a glance.
"Who's to say Zoisite and Nephrite are still alive?" Malachy said.
"Who's to say they're not?" Amy countered.
"It's the same problem we have with the Outers, though: where do we find them? How do we find them? We don't have much time," Mina reminded them.
"Well, if Jay and Malachy are any indication, then I think they will find us."
"Will we recognize them?" Lita asked, unusually subdued.
"You didn't recognize us," Jay said. "It's almost like there's something blocking the memories, ne?"
"I didn't make the connection until Jay gave me the same ring Jadeite had."
"And I didn't until Malachy heard Serena scream." Mina sighed and shook her head. "Well, regardless, there's nothing we can do tonight. We should all just go home and try to get some sleep."
"I don't think I could sleep," Darien said in a pale, hopeless voice.
"We'll get her back, Darien," Raye told him. "I promise you that." She held out her hand, and each of them placed his or hers on top of it.
"We all do," Mina said on everyone's behalf.
After a moment, Darien's shaking hand joined the group and they all smiled at one another. "Serena would hate me if I gave up on her. After all I put her through, she never once gave up on me."
"It's almost dawn," Malachy said, wrapping an arm around her.
"It's so quiet and peaceful... At this time of day, it's hard to believe that the world isn't a perfect place," Mina told him with a soft sigh.
There was a long, comfortable silence while they enjoyed the sunrise and each other. Finally, Malachy broke it. "Do you think we'll be able to find the others?"
She frowned. "I don't know. They could be anywhere... and none of us can remember what they look like."
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Raye explained it best, actually: she said it was like someone had gone into our minds with an eraser and rubbed out their faces. I didn't even realize it until she said something about not being able to remember what Jadeite looked like. Amy said that maybe it's some sort of... of self-defense mechanism."
"How so?" he said with a frown.
"Well, if I had known you were Malachite when I first ran into you, or even later when I met you again at the coffee shop, I would've killed you. Any of the others would have, too... and the same goes for Jadeite. But since neither Raye nor I remembered your true identities until we were already in love with you--"
"It was too late," he said, the frown changing to a wide grin.
"Exactly. And then when we confronted you about it--"
"You realized we aren't evil anymore."
"Hai. That Amy sure is smart, huh? If I only had half her brains..." she trailed off wistfully and he laughed.
"Oh, Mina mine, Lady Love, I wouldn't have you any other way than how you are! What would we do if you spent your whole life thinking everything through to the last detail? You probably would've decided against coming to talk to me that night, ne?"
She grinned up at him. "Maybe so. It wasn't quite the logical choice, was it?"
"Hardly."
Mina frowned slightly, worried. "Malachy... you aren't angry with me, are you? I mean... for killing you way back then... and for not telling you about being Sailor Venus..."
He stopped walking. "Mad at you? Mina, why would I be mad at you? I'm the one who... who betrayed you and Serena and," he sighed, "Prince Endymion. I'm surprised you even wanted to look at me after figuring out the truth."
She shook her head vehemently. "Nai, Malachy, it wasn't your fault! Beryl was so evil... she took your worst fears and turned them against you. Did you have any choice?"
"I could have born it, Mina. I shouldn't have given in." His hands were on her shoulders, his silver-violet eyes boring into her own. "My loyalty to you and the Prince should have been strong enough. If it happened once, then what's to stop it from happening again?"
This was a new idea to her and the shock showed on her pretty face. "No! It couldn't happen again. Beryl's dead."
"There are others out there besides Beryl."
"They can't capture you if they can't find you, Mal. If they don't find out your true identity, then they won't know your weaknesses."
He frowned. "There isn't much difference, Mina."
"There isn't much difference with the Scouts, either. It's some sort of magic... I'm sure it works for you, too." Her sapphire eyes softened. "Malachy, listen to me... the Silver Millennium was a long, long time ago. What happened then is over and done with, and I've forgiven you. I love you. Nothing can change that."
He smiled and kissed her softly. Then, as he pulled away, Malachy cocked a quizzical brow at her. "Don't you have school today, Mina?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, Gods, I'm going to be late!" she cried, pulling away from him and tearing off down the street at break-neck speed.
With a laugh and a knowing shake of his head, he cried, "It's only six o'clock!" and set off after her.
End V
Check out "Cycle of Our Souls: Heart's Thunder," the next chapter in the series, if you liked this story!