Chapter 7 here now! 

Disclaimer: Just the usual - I don't own Sailor Moon. Naoko
Takeuchi does. So don't sue me! 

***************************
CHILD OF THE GLAIVE
By Jellicatso 

Rated PG 
***************************


"Have you got her yet?" The yellow-skinned Tsuki said, looking anxiously at her
sister as she paced forth and back impatiently in the semi-dark chamber, "Our
Mistress will not tolerate any more delay, you know!"

"Hold on, I have her now!" The purple-skinned Miserka shouted excitedly, her arm
sticking straight up into the air through the portal right above her, which
simmered with soft glow. "I'm pulling her in right now!"

Relieved, Tsuki hurried toward her. "Hurry up then! We're losing too much time
already!" She demanded. 

Miserka gave a hard yank and crowed triumphantly, "Here she comes!" 

A very frightened Chibi-Hotaru popped through the portal along with the startled
white cat and accompanied by Chibi Moon who was holding on tenaciously to her.
They tumbled into the youma sisters, causing them all to fall to the ground with
a crash. 

"Whoa! What just happened?" Chibi-Moon cried. Hearing a pained groan from
beneath her, the young Senshi looked down. She was right on top of the scowling
Tsuki. "Oh no! It's the youmas!" The pink-haired girl yelped.

"Run for your lives!" Artemis bellowed. 

Without another word Chibi Moon jumped up and in doing so her boot squashed into
Tsuki's face. In the next moment she ran off, pulling Chibi-Hotaru along with
her. The dark-haired girl had already grabbed a firm hold of Artemis, leaving
his lower body to swing back and forth crazily as the girls scrambled through
the first open door they saw and then they were gone.

"Shimatta!" Tsuki with now-flattened nose swore. She sat up and let loose a long
string of ear-scorching profanities directed at her cowering sister. "Miserka!
You imbecile!" The yellow youma screeched, "Look at what you have done! You
brought down not one but TWO brats and a cat, and then let them got away! Our
Mistress will *NOT* be very happy about it!"

"Don't bite my head off! It's not my fault!" Miserka whined as she slowly pulled
herself up, wincing as she did so. Seeing her sister's furious expression, she
added quickly, "But listen, Tsuki, they are here now so there's no way they can
get back to the past! They can't go too far - it won't take long to find them!" 

Tsuki looked at her sister, and slowly her evil grin spread slowly over her sour
face. "Hai...That's right," she said, "No annoying Senshi sailors around here to
stop us from taking that particular brat to our Mistress. Hurry up, Miserka!"
She quickly stood up and yanked Miserka to her feet; "We have to go find the
brat - as soon as possible! The Mistress is waiting!"

"Hai, hai," Niserka said. "But what about the other kid, the one with pink hair?
And the cat?"

"Destroy them," was the curt reply.

**************************

As they went scurrying down the semi-dark corridor Chibi Moon stumbled and fell
down with a cry upon the hard floor, knocking the wind out of her. Chibi-Hotaru,
who was following her, stopped just in time and looked worriedly at her.

"Are you all right, Chibi Moon?" Artemis asked.

"Yeah, I think so," The young Senshi gasped, laying there for a while to catch
her breath, then with a groan she raised on her hands and knees to look around.
For some strange reason the surroundings seemed familiar, but Chibi Moon could
not guess why. "Where are we?"

"Beats me," Artemis said. He was still being held firmly in Chibi-Hotaru's arms.
The dark-haired girl was also catching her breath as well, her cheeks flushed. 

Just then they heard footsteps from down the hall approaching rapidly toward
them. It was the youmas, no doubt pursuing their fleeing prey. Artemis looked
quickly at Chibi Moon. "We can't just stand there, let's get out of here!"

"Hai!" Chibi Moon grabbed Chibi-Hotaru's hand and after giving a quick look
around the hall she spotted the double doors on the other side of the room.
"Come on, this way!" She said, moving toward them.

"I want my mommy..." Chibi-Hotaru said plaintively.

Chibi Moon thought, but she did not say anything as she reached the doors and
was about to pull them open. But then she saw something, gasped, and leaned
forward to study the highly polished surface carefully. There in the dim light
she could make out a moon crescent motif. A chilling sensation ran up her spire.

"I recognize this!" Chibi Moon exclaimed, tapping on the motif. "I'd know it
anywhere." 

"What are you talking about? Hurry up, they're getting closer!" Artemis griped
anxiously.

"I think I know where we are," Chibi Moon said, realization dawning on her why
the surroundings had felt so familiar to her. "We're still in the Crystal
Palace!"

Artemis looked around. "Huh, now that you mentioned it, it does look like the
Crystal Palace. But there's no time to discuss things like that! Move! The
youmas will be on us any time now!" 

Chibi Moon jumped up, hastily pushed the door open and together the girls and
the cat stepped through them and slammed them shut. And just in time, too. The
small party could hear the youmas running at top speed through the hall, past
the very doors the girls had just stepped through and then in another minute or
two the sounds of furious footsteps faded away.

"That was close call," Artemis said.

"Yeah, I'll say," Chibi Moon agreed. 

Suddenly Chibi-Hotaru gasped, dropped the cat and ran off. 

"Hey! Come back!" The white cat cried. Then he heard Chibi Moon gasped as well,
and he craned his head to take a good look around.

It appeared that they were in yet another corridor, with moonlight streaming
through the large open windows. What made the cat do a double take was the fact
there were about a hundred large, shapeless and black but shiny objects placed
here and there, gleaming darkly in dim light. 

"Wait, wait, wait...what the hell is that?" Artemis sputtered.

"I have no idea," Chibi Moon replied, looking uneasy.

Chibi-Hotaru made a beeline toward the nearest one and threw her arms around it.
"Mommy!"

Artemis and Chibi Moon exchanged mystified glances and went over to where Chibi
Hotaru stood crying there.

"Here, here, don't cry," Artemis said kindly, his back arching reassuringly
against the distressed girl's legs, in an attempt to calm her. Chibi Moon,
meanwhile, peered curiously at the large object. It seemed to be some kind of
dark-colored glasslike substance. She touched it. Sure enough, it felt cold and
smooth, just like crystal. Suddenly, through the dusky surface, the young Senshi
spotted something and let out a startled yelp.

That startled the cat as well, and he twirled around. "Chibi Moon! What is it?"
Artemis asked.

Chibi Moon had gone pale. "Artemis, there's a body in...Uh, this!" She pointed,
and the cat looked. Although it was difficult to see through the murky surface
he was able to make out a human female body encased within the dark crystal. She
appeared to be wearing a Senshi uniform that seemed somehow familiar. Even the
deadly weapon she was clutching in her hand looked familiar. His jaws dropped,
and he swung his head to stare at Chibi Moon.

"Is it someone we know?" Artemis asked. He thought he probably knew the answer,
but he was afraid to find out.

Chibi Moon turned her head hesitantly to have another look at the body within
the crystal. It did indeed look familiar. Though the dark hair was much longer,
the eyes - wide open and staring vacantly - appeared to be the color of violet.
Nobody else has that eye color like this. Wide-eyed with disbelief, the young
Senshi glanced at the cat again. 

"Do you suppose who she is...?" Artemis asked slowly.

"I think I do..." Chibi Moon trailed off, not daring to continue.

Chibi-Hotaru simply snuggled against the smooth surface and reiterated,
"Mommy...Mommy!"


************************


Serenity peered sadly into her daughter's empty bedroom for a long while before
she very softly closed the door and headed briskly down the long corridor, her
hands clenched to her heart.

"Oh Small Lady, my poor daughter!" She whispered, "If only you are still here
with us..." Her eyes burned, filled again with unshed tears. 

She reached the darkened living room and found King Endymion already there,
standing silhouetted before the window. He had not bothered to turn on light.
"Serenity? Is it you?" He queried, turning toward her.

"Yes, dear," Serenity said, moving to stand next to him and look out the window.
It was a clear, beautiful night with a full moon already high over the
glittering Crystal Tokyo.

"Small Lady...where can she be?" She whispered. Her tears began to slide down
her cheeks. Serenity covered her face and began to weep quietly. Before she knew
it she was gathered in her beloved husband's arms and pressed tenderly against
his chest.

"Don't worry, I swear we will do anything to find and bring our daughter back
home safely," Endymion said, kissing her tears away. "No matter what!"

"And Chibi-Hotaru...we've got to find her as well," Serenity said softly. "The
poor little child, with all youmas hunting for her..."

There was a loud knocking, and Serenity and Endymion quickly looked up. It was
Sailor Mars, stepping in through the badly damaged doorway. Somehow someone had
managed to free the Senshi of Fire from the metallic cocoon she was trapped
inside. The queen hastily wiped the tears away turned toward her old friend.
"Mars!"

"Serenity, Endymion - there you are!" The raven-haired Senshi came striding
toward the royal couple. "I have something to report to you two..."

"Have you found out where they took our daughter to?" Serenity interrupted
anxiously.

Mars grimaced and shook her head regretfully. "No, not yet." She reached out to
take the queen's hands in hers. "I'm sorry."

"I..." A low, ragged sob escaped Serenity's mouth. "Oh...I was hoping we'd see
Small Lady again soon..."

"Don't fret, we're doing as best as we can to locate the little princess," Mars
said, compassion shining in her eyes despite her stern visage. She squeezed the
queen's hands reassuringly. "So don't cry now!"

Serenity took a deep breath, wiped the tears away again and sighed heavily. "It
feels so strange without her...I'm not sure we can handle it. At least I don't
think I will. Oh, Mars, how we miss her so!"

Mars shrugged helplessly. "Gomen, Serenity, I don't know what else to say. I can
only offer my condolences."

Serenity nodded woodenly. "Arigato." she said softly.

"Ahem," Endymion cleared his throat, "Mars, what is this that you have to report
us?" 

"Hai King Endymion!" Mars released Serenity's hands and drew herself up
dramatically. "I've came here to report that the youmas - damn them - had given
us quite a battle, but we were able to overcome them and sent them packing with
their tails tucked between their legs!"

"That's great!" Endymion nodded approvingly.

"Was anyone hurt?" Serenity asked quickly, anxiously.

"Not seriously, that I can assure you," Mars answered just as quickly, "Don't
you worry, none of the Senshi Sailors died! And the people are fine, too. The
only dead ones are the youmas, and unfortunately not very many. All we came away
are minor injuries. Nothing to that."

"Perhaps I should go and check on them, to see if there is anything I can do for
them..." Serenity began.

Mars shook her head slowly, flashing a small, rare smile. "You don't have to. I
said minor injuries, silly. We'll be O.K."

"Still..." Serenity couldn't help fussing, "If anything happen to my people and
to Senshi Sailors, I will need to know so I can personally visit them and tend
to them...."

"Serenity, Serenity," Mars chided gently. "I think you have one weakness, old
friend, and it is that you tend to worry too much over us. After all, you are
our Queen, not the Mother to the entire kingdom!"

Serenity frowned and struck her tongue childishly out at Mars.

"I can't really blame her," Endymion said, laughing. "But the so-called
'weakness" is one trait that endeared her to the people in the Crystal Tokyo.
And that is why I love her for that!" 

"We don't expect you to do everything for us," Mars gave Serenity's shoulder a
warm squeeze. "So don't you worry! But, that is not all I've came to report. It
seems there is one who have been asking for you for quite a while. In fact, she
insisted that you come to see her at once!"

Serenity and Endymion looked sharply at the Senshi of Fire. "Who?" They asked at
same time.

"Sailor Pluto."

"She's HERE????" Serenity shouted. "Where is she now? And why didn't she come to
see me earlier?"

"Um..." Mars took deep sigh. "She's in the infirmary, and..."

"In the infirmary? You mean she's..." Serenity gasped, and glared at Mars.
"Minor injuries, my eye! I'm going straight down to see her right away!" With
that she gathered up her skirt and ran off from the living room at blistering
speed. 

"Serenity!" Endymion called, and hurried off after her.

"Here we go again," Mars sighed, pressing her fingers to her forehead. Then she
turned and ran as fast as she could after the fast receding figures of the royal
couple down the corridor.

Several minutes after they left a small black sphere came floating through the
hallway and alight upon the carpet in the middle of the living room. It beeped
once, sounding somehow annoyed. It seemed everyone had forgotten all about Luna-
P, even Small Lady who had put it inside the closet so it won't snitch on her
when she went sneaking into the kitchen for a midnight snack! Now that Small
Lady had disappeared, and Luna-P could not locate her no matter where. 

Luna-P beeped again, this time in a sad, lonesome tone. Whatever happened to the
little princess? 

****************************

Sailor Mercury had just finished bandaging up a red-haired teenaged Senshi
sailor's wounded arm when she heard the door opened, and looked up in time to
see the royal couple came hurrying in with Sailor Mars right behind them.

"Serenity, Endymion!" The Senshi of Water turned around and gave them a slight
bow, "You came here to see Sailor Pluto, I assume?"

"Hai, and where is she?" Serenity said anxiously, "And how badly injured is
she?"

"Pretty badly, I'm afraid. But it's not life threatening, I can assure you! Give
me one moment, and I'll take you to Pluto," Mercury then spoke briefly with her
teenaged patient until she was satisfied the young Senshi would be fine and sent
her on her way, then turned back to the royal couple. "Come follow me, please!"

"Mercury, we called down about every Senshi sailors to the battle with the
youmas," Endymion said as he, his wife and Mars walked briskly down the hall
after Mercury, "And we were concerned when you and Pluto did not respond to our
alert call. Can you tell us what happened?" 

Mercury blushed slightly, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry I was not able to
respond to the alert call. I just can't leave Pluto at that time," The Senshi of
Water frowned slightly, "It happened so fast. All I know was I was alone in my
office when Pluto suddenly appeared looking quite beat up, and collapsed. She
said something about wanting to talk to you and Saturn about this little
girl...Saturn's future daughter, that is."

"How was she injured?" Mars asked curiously.

"I did not yet know the whole story," Mercury admitted, "Pluto drifted in and
out of a light coma most of time, and so whenever she was conscious she insisted
on asking for you to come here as soon as possible. But that much I can tell
you, the youmas had somehow followed Pluto right into my office."

At this Serenity and Mars gasped. Endymion's eyebrows rose. "So that is how the
youmas invaded the Crystal Palace - by through Pluto's time tunnel, huh?" He
said.

Mercury nodded. "Hai, Looks that way, I guess." She continued, "I had to put up
a wall of ice around Pluto and myself to protect ourselves from them, but the
youmas was more interested in finding the little girl and they left my office
soon afterwards. I'm sorry I was not able to go out to battle with the youmas 
Pluto needs medical attention, and it is my duty to tend to her!" 

"That's all right, Mercury. We understand," Serenity assured her blue-haired
friend, "You did what you have to do. After all, you *ARE* the doctor, and
nobody can ask more of you than you can handle it!"

"Arigato, Serenity," Mercury said with a smile. She stopped at a door halfway
down the hall and said, "Here we are. This is the intensive care unit, and that
is where Pluto is! Come in." 

Once they stepped inside the small, one-window room Serenity inhaled sharply. In
the only bed lay the Senshi of Time with her heavily bandaged arms resting
serenely over the blanket. She was also bandaged around the top part of her head
as well. Sailor Pluto appeared to be asleep peacefully but, hearing the queen
gasp, she opened her ruby eyes and looked keenly at her visitors.

"Serenity. There you are," Pluto said quietly.

"Oh, so you're awake now," Mercury said in mild surprise.

"Hai...and Saturn?" Pluto asked.

"I've already contacted her, and she's on her way now," Mercury answered. "How
are you feeling, Pluto?"

Pluto shook her head gently, grimacing a little. "I...I'll be okay, I think."
Then she gazed intently at the queen. "The little child...how is she? I hope
Saturn is keeping her safe from the youmas."

"Pluto..." Serenity's face began to crumble with sudden grief, "Pluto! They took
her! They even took my Small Lady too! And we have no idea where they are!"

"Oh, no!" Pluto's normally impassive and serene face unexpectedly turned to a
look of deep concern and alarm. "That is not good! The youmas must have taken
the poor child back to the future and - " She shuddered and began to struggle to
get out of her bed. "I must go back. Chibi-Hotaru have had enough pain and grief
inflicted on her. No, I simply would not let her be hurt anymore again! And it
is dangerous for Small Lady as well. I can't let anything happen to either of
them!"

Mercury and Mars rushed to the bed and tried to push the agitated Senshi of Time
back down. "Pluto! Pluto, please calm down! You're in no condition to go around
on your own. Please do lie down!" Mercury said firmly.

"Yeah, you better listen to the doctor, Pluto!" Mars said.

Pluto continued to struggle, but weakly, and soon fell back on the bed with a
deep sigh. "I'm sorry, but both the children are in grave danger and I truly
fear for their safety!"

Serenity turned pale and began to totter as though she was about to faint.
Endymion quickly put his arm around her to steady her, then looked at Pluto with
concern. "What I would like to know, why are they after Chibi-Hotaru? She's
Saturn's daughter, isn't she? Is that why they are after her?"

"She *IS* Saturn's daughter, from the future," Pluto said seriously, "But it is
not exactly why they're after the child. In fact, it really has nothing to do
with Sailor Saturn herself. It's because the little girl possesses powers that
are greater than Saturn's. But she is yet young and vulnerable, therefore she
must be protected from HER who seeks to take the powers for herself!"

"Who are you talking about?" Endymion demanded. "And why do she want the powers
from the child for herself...?" He did not finish, for the door swung open.

"Pluto! What happened to you?" A new voice gasped and through the door stepped
Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. Sailor Saturn with the Glaive in her gloved
hand followed behind them a second later. She saw Pluto and gasped as well.

"Kami-sama, what happened to you?" Neptune exclaimed, distressed at the sight of
her oldest friend in a bad condition.

"Who beat you up?" Uranus demanded, furious that anyone would dare to hurt the
gentle Senshi of Time.

"Hold on! I'm sorry, but I need Saturn's help here," Mercury called out,
motioning for the Senshi of Silence to approach Pluto's bed. "Would you please
heal Pluto? Some of her injuries are pretty serious!"

Saturn nodded. "Gladly," she said, and after putting the Glaive away, she placed
her gloved hands on Pluto. The hands glowed with soft white-purple light, and
after a while Pluto gave a small sigh.

"It felt so nice," the eldest Senshi commented. Already she was looking much
better, with the worst of her wounds having slowly faded away. "Thank you,
Saturn." 

"You're welcome," Then Saturn looked at Pluto. Even though she has known Chibi
Hotaru only for a few hours, Saturn felt great anxiety for her future daughter's
safety. "Pluto, they took Chibi-Hotaru and ChibiUsa! Do you know where they
went?"

Pluto nodded grimly. "Hai, I know exactly where they went," she said. Slowly,
painfully, she pulled herself up to a sitting position, causing the blue-haired
doctor to squawk in protest, "And sooner we go to rescue the girls from HER, the
better!" 

Saturn frowned. "Who's HER? And why did she sent the youmas all over the Palace
looking for my daughter?"

"I'll tell you why," Pluto stood on the floor, despite Mercury's scolding that
she should rest and all, "She covets Chibi-Hotaru's powers so much, she will
stop at nothing to have the child brought back to her presence." The tall Senshi
of Time turned and gazed gravely at Serenity, "And her name is...Vadiane."

The King and rest of the Senshi looked puzzled. Serenity looked confused.
"Vadiane? I don't recognize that name..." she began, then suddenly tottered
again and let out a panicked shout. "She's still ALIVE?! But I thought we - my
daughter and I - destroyed her! But how is it possible she's alive?!"

"Vadiane?" Uranus and Neptune said in unison. Then they exchanged looks,
recognization dawning in their eyes. "Oh, HER!"

Mars and Mercury were stunned. "We saw her vanished a long time ago. How could
she have survived the battle with Sailor Moon and Chibi Moon?" The Senshi of
Fire cried. "And what is she doing during all those years?"

Endymion said nothing. Even though he had never met Vadiane face to face, he had
heard quite a lot about her. He could only give his upset wife a consoling hug.

Saturn blinked. She had no idea who Vadiane was, but from the way her friends
reacted it sounded like this person who wanted her future daughter so much was
even more unpleasant than any foes Saturn had encountered.

Noticing the puzzled expression on her adopted daughter, Neptune explained. "You
were reborn as a baby and remained with your father at that time," she told
Saturn, "And last time we met Vadiane she was trying to draw the sugar energy
from the dreaming children into the Black Dream Hole, whatever it is called, in
order to absorb them and become a powerful entity and cover the Earth in
darkness."

"But Sailor Moon and Chibi Moon eventually defeated her in the end," Uranus
added. "And we thought that was the end of her!" 

"Apparently it isn't," Pluto said, "Vadiane somehow managed to survive the
battle by hiding in the limbo - I'm sorry to say I do not know how she did it -
and now she is trying once again to take over the earth in 40th Century,
starting with the Crystal Tokyo!"

There were gasps from all around. "I don't get it. How can Vadiane be in 40th
Century?" Uranus asked. 



"Well, I believe Vadiane had an ability to travel through time, anywhere from
the past to the future, although how far she travel in either direction I do not
know." Pluto said patiently, "She's always seeking someone with huge amount of
energy to steal for herself. She once was drawn at first to Small Lady in 20th
century because of the exceptionally high energy level the little princess has
at the time. Having failed to take her, Vadiane must have concluded that Small
Lady is not the one so she fled through the time to escape the death from Sailor
Moon and Chibi Moon, and went searching for someone else even more powerful."

"Indeed," Sailor Neptune said. 

"And so she went all the way to 40th Century and found Chibi-Hotaru...?" Saturn
said, frowning slightly. 

Pluto nodded. "Hai. And when Vadiane sensed that Chibi-Hotaru has an even higher
energy level than Small Lady, it caught her attention at once, and so that is
how she ended up in 40th Century, exerting her powers over the Crystal Tokyo!"
Pluto's face became even more serious and concerned. "If Vadiane were to lay her
hands on both girls and absorb the energy from them it could cause serious
percussions, not just in the 40th Century, but across all the timelines,
including ours!" She snatched her Key staff out of the air and continued, "And
we are running out of time. I'm going back to 40th Century and deliver the girls
safely out of Vadiane's grasp!"

With that Pluto waved her staff, and the glowing time portal opened mid-air in
the center of the room. 

"Wait! I'm coming too!" Saturn cried before the tall Senshi could step toward
the portal, "No way she's messing around with my daughter!"

"Neptune and I will go with you!" Uranus said, "After all, Chibi-Hotaru is our
granddaughter!"

"She is my granddaughter, too," Pluto said with a small smile. She looked
thoughtfully at Saturn. "And I believe she needs her mother even more than
anything. Therefore Saturn alone should come with me."

"Pluto," Serenity said suddenly. There was a look of determination on her face,
"I'm coming too."

"Serenity! It's too dangerous!" Mars cried in disbelief, "Your kingdom needs you
here! You can't just skip away and think things will take care of themselves
while you're gone! I won't let you go!"

"But my daughter needs me even more, so don't try to dissuade me!" Serenity said
firmly, "Endymion will take care of things, so don't fret! If Small Lady is in
great danger, then I must by all means go and save her!"

"I know! But you've got to stay here with us, and let Saturn go rescue both
girls!" Mars shouted.

Endymion did not say anything, for he knew Serenity only too well to try and
change her mind. However, Mercury wrung her hands, looking quite concerned for
her dear old friend. "I'm afraid but I have to agree with Mars. We don't want to
lose you should anything happen to you, Serenity!" she said.

Serenity glared at Mars and Mercury, then whispered something and suddenly
vanished behind a dazzling burst of bright magical light. After the light faded
away, in the place of the beloved Queen stood Eternal Sailor Moon. She declared
stubbornly, "I'm going, whatever you like it or not!"

"She can certainly come with us," Pluto said, nodding in approval. Mars and
Mercury whipped around and gaped at her. Pluto continued, "Small Lady does need
her mother, more than you will know. And also, together both Saturn and Eternal 
Sailor Moon - they are known to be most powerful of all Senshi - could disrupt
Vadiane's control and free her prisoners!" She turned around and stepped through
the time portal. "Come and follow me!"

Both Saturn and Eternal Sailor Moon hurried after her and immediately afterwards
the portal closed up and vanished in mid-air, leaving the rest of Senshi and the
King standing there with no choice but to wait for their return.

************************************

"Mommy," Chibi-Hotaru said again, hugging the large dusky crystal that held her
mother's body within. 

Artemis blinked, then glanced around the semi-dark room and looked thoughtfully
at the pink-haired young Senshi. "It just occurred to me...there must be other
people encased in each crystal as well." He padded to the ever larger crystal
and peered through the glasslike surface. "Yep, there's someone inside there all
right. Come and have a look, Chibi Moon."

"Uh, no thanks," Chibi Moon said, shuddering. Just thinking about lifeless
bodies froze within the crystals, possibly forever, was creeping her out.

"Well, it's a man, as far as I can see," The white cat said. He frowned. "But it
appeared he has wings...?"

At this Chibi-Hotaru twirled abruptly and came running toward the startled
Artemis. "That's my Daddy!" She shouted, and threw her arms around the larger
crystal.

Now that piqued Chibi Moon's curiosity, and despite her uneasiness she went over
to have a look. Sure enough she could make out a tall, handsome and dark-skinned
man that appeared to be badly hurt, with nasty lacerations around his head and
arms. And indeed he did have a pair of huge black feathery wings folded behind
his back. She stared at Chibi-Hotaru in surprise. "That's your father?"

"Hai!" Chibi-Hotaru replied. Then she said sadly, "Poor Daddy! They hurt him
badly!"

"We noticed that," Artemis said, "If we ever free your mother and father, we can
get Mercury to treat him and then he'll be alright."

The dark-skinned girl turned around and gave him a hopeful look. "Can you free
my Mommy and Daddy...Please?"

Artemis scratched his chin worriedly. "Well, I don't know..."

Chibi Moon smiled suddenly and produced her wand. "Maybe I can. It won't hurt to
try!"

"But, Chibi Moon...!" Artemis protested, but the young Senshi had already turned
toward the crystal that held the body of Chibi-Hotaru's mother prisoner and
aimed her wand.

"Sugar Heart Attack!"

The magical force washed over the surface with no effect whatsoever. The young
Senshi frowned. "Uh...Let me try another way!" She took her tiara and flung it
straight at the crystal. "MOON TIARA ACTION!" No such luck - not even so much as
a small crack. However, the spinning tiara went out of control, making loud
clanging noises as it bounced from wall to wall in every direction at top speed.

"Watch out!" Chibi Moon cried and flung herself to the ground, pulling Chibi
Hotaru down with her. 

Artemis sweatdropped. "I was going to warn you that you wouldn't want to make
too much noises," he scolded, looking nervously over his shoulder, "Or the
youmas are bound to hear us and swoop on us!"

Abashed, Chibi Moon could only shrug sheepishly. Her waylaid tiara soon vanished
into the darkness, and the noises eventually stopped...but for only a minute.

"WHO'S THERE!" A disembodied voice boomed out suddenly out of nowhere, causing
the girls and the cat to jump. "WHO IS THIS THAT DARE DISTURB MY MEDIATIATION,
HE SHALL DIE FOR I CANNOT TOLERATE TRESSPASSERS!"

Chibi Moon gasped loudly. Artemis arched his back until his fur stood up. Chibi
Hotaru began to tremble. "Nooo...." The dark-haired girl whimpered, cowering.
"Don't let her get me. Make her go away!"

Both the young Senshi and the white cat glanced sharply at Chibi-Hotaru then
looked at each other. "Um...what should we do, Artemis?"

"We get the hell out of here!" Artemis bellowed. 

The pink-haired Senshi jumped up, pulled Chibi-Hotaru to her feet and made a mad
dash for the doors with the little girl by her side and the cat right behind
them. And skidded abruptly to stop, for standing before them were the youmas,
blocking the doors!

"Ah! So we met again!" Tsuki sneered.

"We thought we heard noises, and there you are!" Her purple-skinned sister,
Miserka declared with an unpleasant smile.

Both the girls let out a cry of fright and stepped back. The cat took one look
and grimaced.

"Damn!" Artemis swore.


To be continued! @_@

Only two more chapters to go, I think...