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No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form by all means.

Sailor Moon is a product of Bandai, Toei, and Naoko Takeuchi

All the other characters and this story is property of me Ladydragonguardian.

You can take this fic and put it on your page, but just shoot me a message and tell me you did!

Just as long as I get the credit for my story! :)

...

I felt like this chapter took me forever! Lots of research! This one has a rather big surprise. As for the kami mentioned in the last chapter; Izanami, Raijin and Oyamatsumi.

Izanami is the Japanese goddess of both creation and death.

Raijin is the god of lightning, thunder and storms.

Oyamatsumi is the god who rules the mountain and sea.

I am sure you can guess who they represent!

As always thank you so much for reading!

…

Usagi slowly opened her eyes, expecting to be sitting in Mamoru's living room once more. Her mouth fell open as she lifted her head, her eyes meeting someone she hadn't expected to see so soon.

"Ah, Moon Pet. You are awake. Time Travel can be quite daunting for the weak." Chronos chuckled.

"We still have time Chronos! You- you said a week!" Satsuki blasted, standing beside Usagi.

"TIME?! What say you mortal about time! I decide! I and I alone!" The god of Time sneered. "That is not why you are revisiting me. I have decided to add to our little game. It has amused me so." Usagi began to protest, but knew it would fall upon deaf ears.

"I have decided that my daughter makes this game too easy. So now you must find her." He paused as the group looked around bewildered. "I have already sent her back in time. Now, to make this even more enjoyable for me, you have but five strokes of my clock to decide where she is. Five chimes and one guess. One guess alone. Fail and your quest will begin anew." He sat back on his throne. "Your clue?"

"She is a mighty Queen. As a child she was meant to be sacrificed to a primordial serpent, but was saved by her father. While beautiful, she was marred by a jackal, but the scars do not take away from her beauty. The intelligent Queen was visited once by a hoopoe bird, who delivered a demand to her. She is understanding, resourceful and gracious. She has two given names."

Suddenly the enormous clock behind him sounded.

"One stroke." He mused.

They immediately huddled together.

"Think. Think. Think." Ami closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of nose with her fingers in concentration.

"Alright, so two names. Maybe a Pharaoh? They were sometimes given different names once they came to power. And jackals were a mainstay in Egyptian mythology; Anubis their god of the underworld had a jackals head." Satsuki chattered quickly.

"Two strokes." Chronos bellowed followed by a hearty laugh.

"I can't think of a single Egyptian ruler that was ever attacked by a jackal though." Mamoru frowned. "Although, ancient Egypt isn't exactly my strong suite."

"Or a serpent that people were sacrificed to. Perhaps Norse mythology? Jormungandr? The World Serpent?" Ami asked looking unusually panicked.

"I wish I knew whatever they were talking about…" Minako sighed. Usagi quietly nodding beside her.

"I don't think anyone was given to Jormungandr as a sacrifice though. Ugh…" Satsuki paused.

"Three strokes!"

"Wait, two names. Hoopoe bird." Ami looked to Satsuki. "Makeda? Remember the tale of her being offered as a sacrifice to the serpent king, Awre? She was known for intelligence and beauty, thus why she was offered up."

"Four Strokes! Almost out of time young ones!"

Satsuki eyes widened. "Yes! She later became "Queen Sheba". It was also said that she was attacked by a viscous jackal and was left with a cloven foot, similar to a goats. King Solomon sent the Hoopoe bird to ask for her to visit his Kingdom, after she took the throne."

"That has to be it then. Are we in agreement? Final?" Mamoru asked them. Ami and Satsuki nodded.

"Five Strokes!" Chronos called. "So what is your answer, son of Gaia?"

Mamoru glanced around confirming their guess. "The Queen of Sheba ruler of the Kingdom of Axum in Ethiopia."

Chronos ran a wrinkled hand through his wiry beard.

"Hm, seems have misjudged you, slightly. You have assembled quite the entourage Moon Pet." Chronos grinned. "Well, be off then. My daughter awaits." He tapped his large staff to the ground.

…

"So what's our cover story this time?" Haruka tried to laugh.

"Well, with there being so many of us, I think we need to split up into two groups. Usually people in this age, don't move in such large congregations unless they are herders. And since we do not have any livestock.." Satsuki shrugged.

"Wait what about the Garamantes?" Ami quipped. "Keisuke looks the part. We are merely his followers."

Keisuke's eyebrow lifted in puzzlement.

"The Garamantes were an advanced civilization in what is now Libya; they were called the Fezzan or the Herdsmen of the Fezzan. They controlled the Trans-Saharan Trade routes which ran right through northern Ethiopia. They patrol the roads and also trade and collect spices. Keisuke could be our leader, we are his workers; royal, slave or otherwise." Satsuki finished.

"Hopefully the Luna Pen can conjure up a few camels and horses, to try and make this look legitimate." Mamoru laughed nervously.

"Sorry Minako, I think Rei would be better suited as his Lady." Ami grimaced.

"Minako can't pretend to be a lady any way." Rei mused sticking out her tongue.

"I preferred you as a homebody Queen!" Minako barked back. "Which by the way, I heard you used one of my subjects as an oracle. That was a nice touch."

"Powerful ladies can do such things." Rei winked back, causing Minako to fume more.

…

They began their trek to the city of Aksum. It was only a few weeks until the rainy season, the landscape looked parched. Although the ground was wickedly dry, the trees around them were still lush and full. Keisuke and Rei sat in a small horse drawn chariot, Noburo was on horseback beside them; while Mamoru and Jun led the camels, packed down with Luna Pen inspired supplies. They quickly came upon the low lying outer walls of the city.

"What is your purpose here?" A guard asked, he wore lightweight golden armor. His wonderfully crafted necklace was strung with various gems, beads and feathers.

"I am a royal consort for the Garamantes. We are only here for the night as we finish our journey along the trade route. I am Khaula. This is my Mycenaean sentinel, Nikostratos." Keisuke bowed his head.

"I am, Alemu." The man bowed his head in return.

"Alemu, we seek shelter for the night. And perhaps an audience with the mighty Heiress of this Kingdom."

Minako beamed proudly. "He sure sounds like he knows what he's talking about huh?" She whispered to Ami, who in return elbowed her in the side; a silent gesture for her to be quiet.

"What business do you have with our Queen?" The guardsman asked, his face deathly serious.

Keisuke cleared his throat, sitting up as straight as he possibly could.

"My wife is a spirit conjurer, a mage if you will. She has seen a vision of your illustrious Queen and wishes to share it with her." Rei turned towards him with her mouth agape.

"And what proof do you have that she is such a thing?" Alemu questioned.

"Why don't you show him your magical bird, my love." Keisuke smiled, even though his teeth were clenched rather tightly.

"I must don my ceremonial robes first." Rei squeaked running behind the cart and out of view.

"The hell is your crazy ass man doing?" The fiery woman screeched at Minako.

"How should I know? You're his wife!" The Senshi of Venus hissed.

"Sh. Quiet down before our cover is blown. I think he means for you to use your Firebird, Mars. It would be pretty magical, especially in this time." Haruka whispered.

Rei couldn't help but nod in agreement; she pointed her henshin wand in the air, calling out her transformation. She reappeared in front of the astonished guardsman. She quickly called out the incantation to bring about her fiery Phoenix. It rose high into the air, leaving a stream of fire behind it.

"What power is this?" Alemu stammered.

"It is only used for good; I only wish to give a message to the great Queen. That is all." Rei simply stated.

"I will allow you entry, and discuss this with my Heiress. This way, my lord." He waved Keisuke through.

Slowly the large wooden gates creaked open. The group was accompanied by several armed guards on their way to the palace. They made their way past immaculately crafted pillars, and hand carved stone archways before arriving in what appeared to be the throne room.

"And what have you brought me here, Alemu?" They heard a voice ask from behind a set of sheer curtains. Usagi quickly looked to Mamoru; that was certainly a familiar tone.

The Queen of Sheba stepped out from behind the veiled room. She was stunning, her flawless dark skin accented beautifully by her golden adornments. She wore an immaculately made crown of gold and jewels; her hair carefully pulled back from her face, its staggering length ornamented with feathers.

As she approached them, Ami gently nudged Satsuki directing his eyes towards the heavily guarded room to their right. He glanced inside noticing a massive golden box; on each of the two sides were two gold rings, with wooden poles. On the two ends of the box stood a Cherubim, their golden outstretched wings pointing towards one another. It suddenly dawned on him what he was laying eyes on. He recoiled as a small dagger was suddenly pointed at his throat.

"Be careful outsider, you know not what you see." Sheba withdrew her blade. "And what of the rest of you? Are you also here to gawk and stare at our riches? To try and defile what is ours? We do not take kindly to thieves." She walked over sitting down gently on her throne.

"No your Highness. We only wish to deliver a message. My wife, she is an oracle." Keisuke came forward in a low bow.

"Who are you, stranger?" The Queen asked.

"I am Khaula, your Excellence. I am a royal consort for the Garamantes. My wife was drawn to this place on our trek across the trade routes." Keisuke replied glancing at Rei who appeared rather pale.

"Forgive my rudeness, you see we do not see foreigners often and when they do show their faces here it is always under false pretenses. They seek to take what is ours. So entertain me, oracle. What is it that you know? I am always keen to hear what the powers in the heavens have to say." Setsuna smiled softly.

Rei cleared her throat, glaring at Keisuke. What was she supposed to say? She transformed again, earning only a raised eyebrow from the stoic Queen of Sheba; however her palace workers stared in awe. Suddenly it appeared as though Rei became possessed, her stance shifted, her eyes appeared dark; she spoke but the voice was not hers.

"You must find me. The Seventeenth Dynasty is where you must search. The Golden Flies of Valor. The Moon is satisfied with me. Thebes cannot fall while I am here, but I cannot remain. Find me. Setsuna. Daughter of Pluto." Rei finished, suddenly shaking her head as if confused.

"What did you call me, oracle?" The Queen stood. Rei looked surprised, glancing to her comrades and but haphazardly noticing the large box in the other room. This did not go unnoticed.

"They are thieves! Here for the Ark!" The Queen of Sheba roared, as guards flocked to them. She fled into the room which held the Ark.

"Now Usagi, it's now or never!" Mamoru shouted as his sword clashed with another member of Sheba's guard.

Usagi weaved her way through the chaos, reaching the small chamber.

"Stay back, thief. You know not what power this holds. It is not meant for mere mortals such as ourselves." Setsuna laid a hand on the golden surface of the box, outstretching a dagger towards Usagi.

"I am not here for that, Setsuna. I am here to take you home, to save you." Usagi stretched out her open hand. "Take my hand, old friend." The Queen looked confused.

"Why do you call me such a name?" She asked.

"Take my hand and I will show you. What do you have to lose?" Usagi had to nearly shout over the raucous in the throne room. "If you still find me a thief, you can kill me yourself."

Setsuna slowly grabbed Usagi's hand, their fingers lacing together. Immediately the symbol of Pluto blazed across Setsuna's adorned forehead. The Senshi of Pluto blinked sluggishly, grasping the sides of Usagi's face.

"Let's get out of here, Sets." The blonde beamed.

"Let's, I know where to find our Hotaru." Setsuna spoke as she raised her Garnet rod.

…

So this took much longer than I ever anticipated! I have received so much feedback, I am so glad everyone is enjoying this little story! :) I hope to have the next few chapters out much sooner than this one. As always thank you for reading.

-Lady D