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Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko Takeuchi.
Do not post this anywhere without permission from the author.
NOTE: Been a while, but I'm going to finish this sucker! There are three more chapters and an epilogue after this part. ^_^ There's probably some writing style differences throughout this section as parts of it were written four years ago...

Earlier parts available:

Part Seven: Into the Black Crystal

-or-

The Sword of Damocles

***

Mizuno Ami's Birthday: September 10

***

"And the rest you know," Saffir said, finally coming to the end of his rather long tale.

Ami said for a second, attempting to digest the information overload she had just received, without much success. "The Uncanny Sisters, Rubeus.... then Esmeraude," she whispered. "All of them came and battled us, and we won." She clenched her hands tightly enough that her knuckles turned white.

He nodded. "And then me, in my own way- you have faced the best the Black Moon Family has to offer, and yet you still stand."

"Perhaps it's merely luck," she said.

"No, it's not that. It's the fact that when I look at you, you shine." He glanced away, before looking back at her. "You reflect a light that warms the soul, and it's a light that can't be quenched by our petty darkness."

A blush traced her delicate features. "I think we all shine in our own ways," she told him gently. An awkward silence hung in the air between them for a minute or two before Ami spoke again. "We'd better be getting to bed- tomorrow promises to be a long day. Good night, Saffir-san." She quietly went to her room.

"Goodnight, Mizuno-san," he said to the door that shut behind her. Mizuno Ami had seemed at a loss for how to comfort him, but she had tried. There was something reassuring about being near her - he hadn't lied when he told her she shined.

Were my people ever like that? He wondered.

Saffir lay down on the sofa bed, slipping into his dreams, dreams which were made all the more vivid by his recent recounting of his past. He hated to dream, hated it almost as much as he detested sleeping. His mild gift of prophecy always made for interesting visions, and half the time it frightened him. Sometimes the images he dreamt were merely the products of his own overactive imagination; other times they were actual glimpses into the future. He wished he had the ability to tell which was which, but he was only a minor seer, not a powerful one. He had received no training, which was a pity. Maybe if he had, he would have been prepared for the Wiseman.

His dream was not a comforting one.

***

"Virgos are better as subordinates than leaders."

***

He stood in his lab, waiting. Before him lay the components of a droido, one he had never completed. He had based her design off of a twentieth century car; Esmeraude had said something about an auto shop possibly being the site of one of the negative points. He had decided that the most logical action would be to disguise the droido who would guard the Wedge as a mechanic, and give it powers accordingly. Droido Tireda would be quick and use many of the tools of her trade.

"Still at your work, brother?"

Saffir turned to see his oniisan, the White Prince, enter. Demando rarely ventured into the depths of Saffir's lab, finding the place unfamiliar and disorientating. He had never come out and stated that, but Saffir knew his brother's penchant for being in charge, and this was Saffir's domain. Demando ruled the courts; Saffir ruled the labs. "I'm always at work, oniisan," he stated. He set down scalpel, turning to give his brother his attention. "Did you want something?

Demando came to look at the droido, raising its hand. "She's beautiful... but like them all, she'll fail," he said. He pressed his lips against its pale kncukles in a courtly kiss.

"One of them will succeed!" Saffir insisted.

Demando sighed, before dropping the droido's hand. It fell, swinging limping in the manner only the lifeless could manage. "Saffir, it's dead already," he said softly, whipping the sheet back to reveal Esmeraude's face. She looked as though she was sleeping, except for the blood which started to pool on the floor beneath their shoes.

Saffir staggered to her in horror, not sure what to do. "Niisan..." he whispered.

"Nothing gold can stay," Demando said. "She was beautiful, though, wasn't she?"

"She loved you more than anything..."

"She loved me best, better than any of you," Demando replied. His fingers tangled in the vibrant green hair, and he studied her sadly. "It would have been so much easier if I could have loved her in return... perhaps then none of this would have happened."

Saffir thought of the golden queen, trapped in her crystalline sleep, and was forced to agree. "Perhaps. But she wasn't what you wanted. If you want Serenity, we'll get her for you." Then what Demando had said a moment before registered. "And... I love you, niisan. You're the most important thing in the world to me."

"For now. That will change, someday." Demando smiled. "What did the philosophers say about love?"

"That brotherly love is the strongest!" Saffir said, leaning forward to catch Demando's free hand. He had to take another step, and Esmeraude's blood made his feet stick to the floor.

"Then why is it passion that drives people to murder? How is Serenity another Helen, whose face launched a thousand ships?" Demando asked softly. He freed his hands from both Esmeraude's hair and Saffir's grip, and stepped away. His long satin cape dragged on the floor, and the blood crept up it.He turned to leave the lab, but Saffir wasn't about to let him go.

He grabbed for Demando's cloak, but it slipped through his fingers, like his brother had so many times in the past. Demando was just too perfect, too beyond Saffir's reach, for Saffir to ever be allowed to hold onto. "Demando!"

Demando glanced back at him, then down at his chest. "Nothing gold can stay," he whispered.

Saffir's eyes widened in horror as he realized that the blood he was standing in wasn't Esmeraude's. It was Demando's.

"Niisan!" he whispered in horror.

Demando turned back to him, his violet eyes gentle. "You're my blood, Saffir. When I bleed, so do you." Then he smiled and sank to the floor, and seemed strangely calm, considering his chest was leaking away his life's blood.

"No!" Saffir said, wondering what was happening, but then there was Serenity, kneeling beside Demando, and brushing back his white hair from his eyes. Her pristine gown remained untainted by the blood, too much blood for one man, that flowed from him. Demando smiled at her, leaning his head back in her lap before shutting his eyes.

She looked at Saffir, and he saw Sailor Moon in the ageless queen's eyes, reflecting compassion and strength. "He bleeds for your people, Saffir-san," she said softly.

"Heal him, then!"

"He chose this," she replied. "And the one who inflicted this wounds is strong. I can't fight this battle... only Demando can, and he's winning."

"He's dying!" Saffir shot back angrily.

"There's worse things than death," Serenity returned. "Oblivion.. Nothingness.... despair..."

Saffir clenched his hands, staring at his brother's pale face. "Who did this?" he demanded.

"You know."

"I know...." Saffir nodded, and his head hurt. He felt his own tears start to flow unchecked down his face. "I..."

"You need to sleep, Saffir-san. This is what might be, but tomorrow is the battle...." Serenity whispered to him. Her slender hand brushed his face, and she spoke in a hypnotic voice. "Sleep deeper, and dream no more tonight...."

As she spoke, a wave of nothingness consumed him.

***

Virgos are forever the butt of jokes for being so picky and critical, but their 'attention to detail' is for a reason: to help others.

***

The dawn had finally come. Ami's eyelashes fluttered a few times before she entirely came to. She loved mornings, but getting out of her bed was never her favorite activity. Usually she would lie for a few minutes to gather her thoughts and plan her day, but today wasn't an ordinary day. The Crystal in the center of the city was growing, and the time for action had come.

On quiet feet she moved to the kitchen and started to brew some tea. Her mother often worked the night shift, so Ami had become accustom to moving silently. Placing the kettle over the flame, she smiled slightly. They had stayed up way too late last night, but now she felt she could fight this battle. The enemy wasn't the Nemisians; it was a demon, a monster that wasn't human.

She waited in the kitchen for a few minutes, smiling as the kettle finally whistled its protest. With deft hands she removed it from the heat, pouring it over some teabags into two mugs. She pulled out a tray and quickly cut up a grapefruit and tossed a few muffins on it. Then she carried it out to the living room where Saffir was still sleeping.

He looked about fifteen years old in his sleep, the deep blue bangs falling charmingly across his eyes. He was curled up around a pillow, and Ami giggled to herself. He looked so sweet and innocent- it was hard to believe that he was the main tactician for an army.

Before her thoughts could darken, she set the tray down beside the game of chess they had never finished playing. "Saffir-san," she said quietly, walking towards him quietly to wake him. She reached out a hand to shake him by the shoulder, but never got the chance to finish the gesture.

Saffir bolted upright, snagging her by the wrist in a bruising grip. His blue aura flared around him, and Ami gasped. He shook his head, releasing her. "Sorry, Ami-chan," he said. "Habit. It's not a good idea to try to wake me up." His head was fuzzy with a half-remembered dream, but as Ami stared at him, it faded away, no more substantial than the morning mist.

She nodded dumbly, then forced a smile onto her face. "We should eat. I hope you like grapefruit and muffins."

He gave her a tired look in return. He really hadn't had enough sleep, but they both realized that they would be on the move soon. "I've never had them," he said.

Ami blushed. She had again forgotten that the man was not a native of earth. "Well, I like them. They're popular breakfast foods." She handed him a spoon and one of the grapefruit halves with amusement. "You have to eat this carefully, or else it'll squirt you in the eye."

He gave it a dubious look. "You make it sound like it's almost alive."

She laughed. "Sometimes I think it is- otherwise how could it always hit you in the eye and no where else?" She picked up her one half, and with a dainty scoop, cut a piece of the pink fruit free.

Saffir watched how she handled it carefully before managing to get a piece free. Taking a bite, his lips puckered and he glared at her.

She couldn't help it; Ami started to laugh, which only earned her an even more evil frown.

"It's sour!" he exclaimed after a second.

"But I bet it woke you up, ne?" she teased, still giggling as she took another bite.

He looked like he wanted to throttle her for her bad idea of a joke. "On Nemesis, most food is very bland. I'm not used to extremes in taste."

She looked apologetic. "Sorry, but I just couldn't resist- it comes from hanging out with Sailor Moon and the others."

He smiled, forgiving her. "It's ok.... it's nice to see someone laugh. People rarely laugh on Nemesis." He picked up his spoon again and dared another bite. "It grows on you," he said.

They finished their breakfast quickly, and Ami took the dishes back to the kitchen while Saffir stretched slowly, relieved to find all the damage the Wiseman had done had apparently healed. There was something to be said for magical healing abilities. Ami came back into the room, and he turned to look at her. "Shouldn't you be in school?" he asked, remembering how young she was.

She shook her head. "No- I checked on the radio and they cancelled all schools on account of that Crystal. People are scared of it, and no one is to be out without a good reason."

"I think we have good enough reason. What time are we suppose to meet the Senshi?" he asked.

"Nine. We're going to attempt to find some way into the Black Crystal."

Saffir glanced at the clock on the wall. "We have half an hour. We probably should leave. Should you change?"

"Hai- I don't want the police grabbing me." With a shy smile she produced her henshin stick, and held it aloft. "Mercury Star Power, Make-Up!" she exclaimed, and then was engulfed in a flood of water.

Saffir watched as her clothes dissolved, and was fascinated. He had heard that his droidos had always let the Senshi transform before attacking, and he finally understood why. There was an aura of power and beauty about the process, something that made one just hold their breath, waiting to see what would happen.

For a moment, he suddenly realized how far out of their depths Nemesis was. The Seishi didn't merely control their element; they became it.... Ami -no, Mercury- WAS water and ice. Blue on blue... he watched at the fuku finished forming over her well-curved body.

Sailor Mercury struck her final pose, then looked at him, blushing. It wasn't often she transformed in front of a male (that was the nice thing about most of their opponents being women), and she was embarrassed.

Saffir had the grace to say nothing, and she was grateful. "I hate to do this to you, but we're going to have to go off of the balcony- I don't want anyone seeing Sailor Mercury wandering around my apartment building. Do you think you're well enough to manage if I help you?"

Saffir nodded. "I finished healing sometime while I slept. I shouldn't need your help- I can teleport down." His blue aura flashed around him, and he vanished.

Mercury raced over to the balcony to see him leaning against the base of the building. Sighing, she jumped, falling rapidly to he ground. Saffir watched as she cursed slightly at the impact- even though she could do feats that were beyond mere mortal, it didn't mean she LIKED it. Her body was strong, but it still felt pain and discomfort.

"Where are we meeting?" Saffir asked.

"In front of the Black Crystal," she said. "Then we're going to have to figure out a way to get into it."

Saffir looked hesitant, than nodded. "Just remember- I get to talk to my brother before you guys do anything rash."

Ami nodded. "Let's get going, then."

***

"Virgo is a modest and charming personality with a quiet, disarming beauty."

***

For once Usagi had little trouble rolling out of bed. From her window she could see the throbbing power of the Black Crystal, and she shuddered as she viewed it. The monstrosity seemed to be growing under her very eyes.

She stumbled downstairs to the kitchen where her mother was cooking pancakes. Tsukino Ikoku raised her slender eyebrows at the sight of her daughter. Usagi was wearing mismatched socks, and one of her odango was VERY crooked. Grabbing her school bag, she placed a kiss on Ikoku's cheek and started to race for the door. "No time for breakfast! Mako-chan said she'd bring me lunch! Ja ne!"

"Usagi!" Ikuko called, but it was too late. Looking at the cooking breakfast, she stifled a sigh. "It's actually sort of funny... I wonder what her reaction will be when she finds out there is no school? I just hope she has enough sense to keep away from that thing in the center of the city," she murmured, then laughed outright at the idea of her daughter having the courage to go near the pulsing growth that had suddenly appeared.

Usagi was a chicken. And in Tokyo, that was a good thing.

Usagi raced through the streets, turning around a corner with her usual haste. She headed straight for the Black Crystal, hating every second of it. Cutting school was fun, but she had other things she would rather be doing with the time she was spending playing hooky. Like get a root canal.

Firmly she shook that cowardly thought from her mind, focusing on Chibi-Usa. She wanted the young girl back.

Ducking into an alley, she transformed, then started to run. She was on time for a change, and was determined to get there early enough so that Rei wouldn't be able to make fun of her.

There were police scouting the street. One of them noticed her. "Oh, my god," he said. "They're real!"

Sailor Moon waved cheerfully before jumping over the fence that had been hastily erected to keep the curious at bay. Having enhanced abilities was a wonderful thing.

She arrived in front of the Crystal just as Jupiter and Venus did. Venus held both of the Mooncats in a basket, which she set down carefully. "Mercury and Mars aren't here yet?" Moon asked, surprised.

"I'm here," a voice said, sounding winded from a long run. The red-skirted Senshi leaned over and braced her hands on her knees as she attempted to get her breath back. "Some idiot tried to tell me I couldn't come here!"

"They're merely doing their job, Mars," Jupiter said, amusement heavy in her voice.

"Aren't they smart enough to recognize a Senshi when they see one?" she snapped back. Then she blinked. "Where's Mercury and Saffir?"

"Not here yet," Jupiter said, and her voice was grim. "Mercury's usually the first one here, and..."

"It's not good," Mars agreed. "But..." her eyes looked at the Crystal, and she shivered. "I don't think he hurt her. He needs us to get to his brother. Once he sees Demando, that's when he'll turn..."

"When?" Venus echoed. "Did the Sacred Fire tell you something?"

"No," Mars admitted. "I just think that's what will happen." She took another deep breath before straightening her back, and the wind took her hair in its grip, fanning it around her slender body. "I don't trust him."

Sailor Moon looked at her other senshi. "We judge people on their own merits, and Saffir hasn't hurt anyone yet," she reminded them. "I think... we'll have to trust him for now. Besides, Mercury likes him. She's spent the most time with him, so maybe she knows something we don't?"

Venus and Jupiter turned bright red. "Um..."

"Sorry we're late," Mercury said, coming up beside them. Saffir walked beside her, dressed in a deep blue jacket that matched his hair and eyes. The two were a striking pair, but there was something in Saffir's eyes that was cold.

"How do we get in?" another voice said, and Moon turned to Tuxedo Mask with relief on her face.

"That's up to Saffir," she said.

Mars muttered something about being too trusting, but the others looked at the Blue Prince.

"There's a fluctuation in the shield every 108 seconds. It lasts for a half second... you should be able to teleport through to the main hall, if you time it right. All levels are shielded individually, so other teleports will have to be made separately," he said with a bit of disinterest.

"We don't have enough power for multiple teleports," Mercury told Saffir. "What happens if we miss the timing?"

"Your magical energy will interact with the shields and it would be... messy."

The senshi exchanged glances. "We've never timed a teleport before," Venus said nervously.

"We should be able to make it," Jupiter said. "But... I don't like the idea much. Is there any other way in?"

"Not unless you're invited in," Saffir said. "I built the defenses myself."

"And you didn't leave yourself a secret way in?" Mars asked incredulously.

"The fluctuation is my secret way. There's no one else who would be able to time all the jumps and know what levels to jump to when - it's a maze inside. It will take over an hour to sort through."

Tuxedo Kamen looked at the senshi. "If you teleport, I can't came with you."

Moon looked about ready to protest, but he put his arm on her shoulder. "It's okay. I'll wait here with Luna and Artemis. The others will protect you."

Their eyes met in silent communication, and she nodded, feeling her resolve well up.

"Let's do it," Moon said. "The sooner we get in, the sooner we get out. No offense, Saffir-san, but the place is really creepy."

Saffir shrugged. "Mercury, you'll want to teleport to the third floor, right into the center room. This fluctuation, scan it and you'll find where I mean. Next one, you can lead the teleport."

"But-" Mercury protested.

"It sounds like the best plan," Venus said. "If you know where we're going, you should focus us. I don't want to end up 'messy.'"

The others agreed, and Mercury sighed, getting out her computer. She set her computer to scan the Crystal, and sure enough, Saffir hadn't lied about the fluctuation.

"Got it," she said.

"Let's do it," Moon said. Stepping back, she held her hands out, and Mercury quickly took it, with Mars on the other side. Venus and Jupiter moved to complete the circle, and they shut their eyes.

Around them, the ground started to glow as they prepared the energy needed to teleport.

"SAILOR TELEPORT!" Mercury called.

Tuxedo Mask watched as the five Senshi disappeared in a spectacular light display. In their wake, Saffir's teleport was practically unnoticeable.

"Come back safe," he whispered, and then settled down for the hardest job of all - waiting.

UP NEXT: The Throne of Despair

-or-

The Tangled Threads of Fate