Windwalker Chronicles

Part 1 - "Lost Hopes, Lost Dreams"

Journal Entry # 6

The sun was beginning to rise over the city of Crystal Tokyo, a bright shining globe that held the promise of a bright shiny day.

On the rooftop of the Crystal Palace, a figure sat on the cool concrete surface. He was of medium height, with dark hair and plain features, dressed in a loose set of blue robes. His eyes were closed, and his breath was deep and regular. While it didn't look like it, Alan Thomas was in training.

*Let us try this again,* said the voice in Alan's head. It was a firm voice, older and wiser then Alan. *Remember the pronunciation had to be just right for the spell to work.*

{I'll try, Grandfather,} replied Alan, the urge to scream at him foremost in his mind.

*Don't try,* snapped Alisin. *There is success, or not. There is no middle ground.*

{Great, I'm stuck in here with Yoda.}

*Who is Yoda?*

Alan sighed. {A teacher from a story created long ago. You're beginning to sound just like him.}

*Enough prattling and get back to training. Can you feel the

Mana?*

Alan slowed his breathing and felt the swirling magical force all around him. {Yes, I can.}

*Then start casting the spell.*

Alan started speaking slowly in a musical-sounding language. He held his hands in front of him, palms facing inwards. Slowly, the air between his hands began to swirl, forming a globe.

Just then, Alan's voice began changing tone. The words, which had been flowing and musical, suddenly became ragged and disjointed. With a puff of explosive air, the air globe vanished.

Alan opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. {I almost had it!}

*Almost is not good enough!* replied Alisin, his angrily. *If you were to falter while casting the spell in a battle, you would die!*

{In battle? Against who?}

*Against those who have block the reestablishment of the

Elemental Orders!*

{Will you stop harping on that? No one's blocking the reestablishment of the school because NO ONE today knows enough about Elemental magic to even try to teach it. That's why you're here. There's no one living now who knows more about Elemental magic then you do.} Alan let some of his irritation creep into his mental voice. {What am I doing wrong with the spell?}

*Your pronunciation is not right. When you mispronounce words in the spell, it disrupts the spell matrix you are trying to create.*

{This language is not an easy one to pronounce.}

*You can learn, you MUST learn Avalonian in order to construct the spell matrixes correctly.*

{But Avalonian is a dead language!}

*Then we will revive it. The Moon Cats speak Avalonian, we can secure their help.*

{And how many Moon Cats are there? Face it, Grandfather, it'll take years to revive the language.}

*Do you have anything else to do?* asked Alisin harshly.

{NO!} snapped back Alan. {But something is wrong with what I'm doing.}

*What is wrong?*

{Uses words to create the spell matrix . . . feels wrong somehow.}

*In what way?*

{When I have to concentrate on the words, the Mana flows differently. Instead of a constant stream forming the matrix, the Mana flows and ebbs erratically, forcing me to try and adjust the flow. That's when I start mispronouncing words.}

*We will discuss this later,* said Alisin bruskly. *It is time for breakfast.*

{Can I look around the city today? I've been here nearly three weeks, and I haven't seen anything of this place yet.}

*Not until you learn air magic. There's no telling what or who lurks out there, waiting for a chance to kill you.*

{Me? What do I do?}

*We will speak about this later.* With that, Alan felt his grandfather's presence withdraw from his conscious mind. "Wonderful," Alan muttered, as he got to his feet. He took a moment to stare out across the awakening city, shook his head, then walked over to the stairs and headed down.

Raiden was waiting for him in his room.

The compact gray striped Moon Cat was lying in a ball on Alan's bed. "How did it go today?" he asked as Alan entered the room.

"Just like yesterday, the day before, and last week," replied Alan. "I manage to screw up, and Alisin got angry."

"How is Alisin doing otherwise?"

"Not good." Alan pulled off his shirt, the sat down on the bed to pull off his shoes. "He's been pensive and ill-tempered since the audience with Serenity, but he's gotten worse since I found that note that someone slipped under my door."

"The one that says Calcite, Pyrite, Titanite, and Azurite were once servants of Beryl's, that they're from the Dark Kingdom she ruled, and they're not even human?"

"Yep." Alan glanced at the cat. "Unless there was another note shoved under my door you didn't bother to tell me about . . . . "

"Nope, just the one. I wouldn't worry about the charges." Raiden lifted his head and watched Alan grab a towel. "They've proven their loyalty to the Court time and time again."

"I know." Alan walked into the bathroom, leaving the door open so they continue their conversation. "I've been here for less than then three weeks, while they have a thousand years on me. I'm not worried about them, I worried about Alisin worrying about it. In his current mood, He's libel to do anything."

"Oh?"

There was the sound of running water, then Alan leaned out the bathroom door. "I need to talk to someone about him."

"Why not Setsuna?"

"She's off doing whatever . . . Sailor Plutos do. She didn't exactly leave a forwarding address."

"I see. What about Rei?"

Alan glared at him. "She already has me penciled in as her major headache for the next couple of years. I don't want to give her a reason to charbroil me anytime soon."

Raiden sighed. "She is not going to kill you."

"Has anyone told her that?"

The cat closed his eyes in resignation. "Finish washing.

After Breakfast, you have a medical appointment with Ami."

"Another one? I had one last week!"

"You're a unique case." Raiden stood and walked slowly to the edge of the bed. "There are not too many people walking around with two separate spirits bonded to a single body. She wants to make sure that you and Alisin aren't stressing your body unduly."

Alan frowned. "If it isn't Rei's keeping an eye on me, Ami is scanning me like I'm a lab rat."

"I should point out that there is a good reason everyone is keeping an eye on you, or more exactly, everyone is keeping an eye on Alisin."

Alan shook his head slowly and disappeared into the bathroom.

"Why can anyone treat me as a normal human being?"

"Because you're NOT a normal human being, Alan Thomas," said the cat carefully. "You're an Elemental Wizard-in-training. The first one in well over ten thousand years, and heir to -"

The slamming of the bathroom door ended the conversation.

Two hours later, Alan was lying on a familiar-looking bed (familiar to anyone who watched any of the Star Trek series), watching as Ami examined the readings the monitor over the bed was telling her. Raiden was curled up on a chair, watching everything through half-opened eyes.

"Will I live out the next hour Doc?" he asked, giving her a weak smile.

Ami glanced down at him, frowned, then looked up at the monitor again.

Alan tried again. "How about the next ten minutes?" No response. "The next thirty seconds?"

"If you stop asking silly questions," The blue haired doctor replied in a distracted tone, "I'll be finished faster."

"Yes Doctor."

After several more minutes, Ami stepped away from the bed "You can get up now."

"Thanks." Alan jumped off the bed. He walked over to Raiden and started to scratch the cat behind the ears. "Your expert opinion, Doc?"

Ami didn't look up from the small 'medical scanner' in her hand. "You're in good health."

"Any change from last week?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because I would like to go a week or two without having you looking me over like a rare specimen."

She looked up at him, her expression a mix of hurt and surprise. "I didn't know you felt that way."

Alan flinched at her gaze and managed to look guilty. "I-I'm sorry, that was rude of me."

"Don't apologize." Ami closed the medical scanner and placed it in the pocket of her lab coat. "If I am doing something that's making you uncomfortable, tell me about it."

"Don't get me wrong," Alan said, "I know you have a job to do, but I'm feeling like I'm under a microscope."

"Like I said, you are an unusual case."

Alan turned and looked out the window. "But that's the problem," he said, the frustration clear in his voice. "You're treating me like a case, not a human being. Outside of Raiden here, you're the person I've talk to most since I dropped in, and almost everything you and I talk about involves my condition in some way. Rei sees me as a major security risk, while Setsuna sees me as her Uncle's spiritual taxi. I have no idea what the other members of the court thinks of me because I don't see any of them!"

"I see."

"Do you?" Alan turned to look at her. "I feel isolated and alone. The only friend I have in this city is a cat!"

Raiden looked up at him. "Are you finished with the angst?" he asked mildly.

"No. I'm just getting started. On second thoughts . . . " He strode over to the door, then turned to look at Ami, his face hard. "I'll be outside getting some air. Us specimens have to stay healthy somehow." He opened the door and went out.

Ami watched the door for several seconds, her expression between shock and concern. "What's wrong?"

"He's right, you know," replied the Cat. "You are treating him like a specimen."

"He's a patient," Ami replied defensively.

"Did you tell him that?"

"But I've talk to him -"

"Do you recall how you have greeted him the last four times he's had an appointment with you?" asked the Cat quietly.

Ami looked at Raiden. "Er . . . No."

"And I quote, 'Good morning Alan. Please get up on the scanner bed.' You never asked him about his interests, his life before he landed here, his political views, or anything else about him. He's got a hard enough time dealing with Alisin and Crystal Tokyo. He's already feeling alone in a world he knows very little about. Between you and Rei, I'm surprised he's still here in the city."

"What?" Ami turned to look at Raiden. "What's Rei doing?"

"While you're treating him like an interesting condition, Rei's treating him like a would-be spy. She has at least two of her people following Alan around at all times. Alan's seen a couple of them, but he's missed several of the others."

"But he's supposed to have free run of the city!"

"Which he's not taking advantage of. He's staying close to his rooms. Outside of the Palace, this is the only other place in the city he's been. He's becoming a recluse."

"I hadn't realized-"

"Alan is under a lot of pressure from his grandfather," said Raiden. He uncurled himself and stood up. "As Setsuna feared, Alisin is having problems adjusting to the new world. And Alan is paying the price for it."

Ami closed her eyes. "And Alan can't just walk away - Alisin is always there in his mind."

"Exactly. I'm not sure exactly why Alisin is being hard on Alan. I do know Alan is not responding well to Alisin's instructions in Elemental magic."

"I see. What else?"

"Were you planning to tell Alan about your trip to Mercury?"

"I was . . . er . . . "

Raiden sighed. "I'll take that as a no. When do you leave?"

"In five days."

"Fine. Do you have any pressing problems for the next hour?"

"No. With the exception of Alan, all my patients have been transferred to other Doctors."

"Good. Why don't you go look for Alan and invite him to dinner?"

Ami looked shocked. "What?"

"-With you and Tom," finished the cat. "Maybe between the two of you can convince Alan to come out of his shell."

"That's a good idea."

"There's no time like the present."

"You're right." She picked up Raiden, and strode out of the room after her patient.

They caught up with Alan in the Hospital gardens.

He was sitting on a bench near the top of a small hill, staring up at the large glass-and-steel edifice of the Hospital. He didn't look at either one of them until Ami sat next to him. Slowly, he looked at her and gave her a brief smile. "Forget a test?"

Raiden slipped out of Ami's grasp and went over to Alan. Without a word, the grey cat curled up in Alan's lap and seemingly went to sleep. Alan gently stroked the cat. "I'm sorry for my outburst in the hospital just now," he said.

"You were right."

"Was I?"

Ami glanced at Raiden, who was watching her with half closed eyes. "It's I who should be apologizing, not you. I'm afraid my mind's been occupied with something else the last couple of weeks."

"Oh?"

"I'm leaving Crystal Tokyo in five days, and I don't know when I'm coming back."

Alan frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Mercury."

There was silence for several seconds. "As in the Planet?"

"Yes."

More silence followed. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Is Tom going with you?"

Ami smiled. "Tom practically threatened Ferrite with bodily harm if he wasn't allowed to come along."

It was Alan's turn to smile. "Sounds like a man who's seriously in love with you. What do you hope to find there?"

"With luck, the Great Library, intact and ready to be used.

As for anything else . . . "

"I understand. Who's looking after me medically once you've blasted off into the wild blue yonder?"

"Doctor Wolfe. She's a bit abrasive, but you'll like her. She's been fully briefed on your situation. Speaking of which, Raiden's told me that you and Alisin are not getting along."

Alan looked down at the cat, who tried to look innocent.

"I suppose that's part of his job."

"What's wrong?"

Alan took a deep breath, held it, then exhaled slowly. "I can't seem to grasp the Air Magic, at least not in the way Alisin wants me to."

"I don't understand."

"What do you know about magic?"

"Quite a lot. I helped set up the department at CTU."

"So you already know about matrices and Mana?"

Ami nodded. Alan continued. "As I understand it, someone using Elemental magic takes the Mana from his or her element and forms a spell matrix. Once the matrix is formed, the Wizard channels more elemental mana through the matrix, and the spell is cast."

"That makes sense."

"But, for some reason, when I try to create a spell matrix, I can't do it."

"What happens?"

Alan took a deep breath. "The matrix starts off fine, but after several seconds, it starts to become unstable. I have to break off any attempt to channel mana through the matrix and try and restabilized it."

Ami nodded. "And the matrix continues to destabilize?"

"Yes, until it falls apart. I don't know why, it just does."

"Does Alisin have any ideas about what's happening?"

Alan leaned back and watched the sky above him. "Yep, and they all involve me."

"Maybe you should go talk to Pyrite," suggested Ami. "He has more hard knowledge about Magic then I do."

Raiden looked up at her. "That may not be a good idea."

"Why not?"

The Moon Cat looked up at Alan. "Should I tell her, or will you?"

"I'll tell her." Alan looked at Ami. "A couple of days back, I found a note slipped under my door. The note said that Calcite, Pyrite, Azurite, and Titanite are from Queen Beryl's Dark Kingdom."

Ami looked startled "Oh."

"It's true, isn't it? They are from the Dark Kingdom, once ruled by the late, unlamented, Queen Beryl?"

"Yes." Ami thought for a second. "Does Alisin know?"

Alan scratched his head. "He's the one that filled in the >details." He looked down at his shoes. "He was in my awareness when the note was slipped under my door. After he and I read it, Grandfather nearly hit the ceiling. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was not to talk to any of the Renegades. I tried to argue with him, but he insisted." He shook his head. "A few words of advice-Never, NEVER argue with Alisin. You'll lose."

"I take it he's stubborn?"

"Like a Missouri mule. I haven't asked, but there's something he's not telling me regarding this Queen Beryl. I know she's was supposed to be evil incarnate, a combination of Darth Vader, The Terminator, and your average IRS auditor, but there's more then simple hate there."

"Beryl destroyed the Moon Kingdom. Alisin was an advisor to the King and Queen. That's enough of a motive."

"Maybe that's it, but it's still not quite right in my book." He grimaced. "We better stop talking now. I can feel Grandfather coming back."

Raiden lifted his head to look off to the right, down the path. "Here come Lady Polaris and her daughter."

"Uh-oh," said Alan as he picked up Raiden and stood up. "I'd better be going. Titanite is on the 'do not talk to' list, and I hate trying to explain to Grandfather why I'm even in the same neighborhood as her." He looked around. "What's the quickest way out of here?"

Ami pointed up the hill. "Down the other side of the hill, bear right at the fork, and you'll at the main entrance in less then five minutes."

"Thanks." He looked down the hill at the approaching pair. "That's Lady Polaris' daughter? I would have though-" He stopped and began to twitch. Raiden dropped from his trembling arms and landed on his feet.

"Alan?" asked Ami, standing quickly and stepping in front of him. The twitching became trembling, then shaking. His eyes were closed and his jaw was clenched.

"What's wrong?" asked Raiden.

"A seizure of some sort," replied Ami. She grabbed Alan by the arms. "Alan!" she said sharply. "Can you hear me? What's wrong?"

"Gr-gran-grandfather," hissed Alan. "Tr-trying . . . to take . . . o-o-over. St-stop . . . him!"

Ami grabbed Alan's head. "Why is Alisin trying to take your body by force?"

"Be-Beryl . . . Beryl . . . BERYL!"

As the sound of the last 'Beryl' died away, Alan's eyes opened. Ami knew at once that Alisin had taken over. There was a fury in his eyes, an insane type of anger. She released him and stepped back, uncertain what to do next.

"Out of my way Princess Cognizance," he hissed. There was no warmth in his voice, only coldness. "I have a blood debt to collect."

Ami glanced over her shoulder at Titanite and Hematite, who had stopped a short distance away. As soon as she Ami saw Hematite, she knew. She turned back to Alisin. "Alisin," she said quickly, "that's not Beryl. That's -"

"BERYL!" screamed Alisin in a voice full of hate and sorrow.

Before Ami could react, the enraged wizard shoved her aside. Surprised at the sudden action, Ami was caught off guard and landed near the bench in a sprawl. As she fell, she felt the wind begin to pick up.

Ami watched as Alisin strode toward the two women. Titanite stopped, then grabbed her daughter by the arm and pulled her back. Even at a distance, Ami could see the look of surprise on her friend's face. The two women took several steps back, then Ami heard Ti shout, "Polaris Power - make up!" A bright swirl of light lit up around her and she transformed into her Senshi role.

Raiden dashed over to her, the situation shaking the normally laid-back Moon Cat into action. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine."

Alisin said something in a musical language, raised his hands and made a swift gesture at Titanite. Raiden's eyes widen. "He's going to use something called a pressure ball to try and take out Titanite!"

A discolored ball the size of a softball shot from Alisin's hand, and flashed across the distance between the Wizard and the two women. Polaris stepped in front of her daughter, a look of fierce concentration on her face. The sphere crashed onto her personal forcefield with the crack of a cannon shot. She staggered back several steps, more from the force of the blow then anything else. Hematite tried to get around her, but the Senshi said something to her that Ami couldn't hear over the rising wind.

Before Polaris could react, The enraged Wizard had sent two more pressure balls at her. They both struck her personal forcefield with two more loud cracks that echoed across the garden. This time, the blows were enough to knock the Senshi down and stun her.

Another pressure ball formed in Alisin's hand, but before he could throw it at the dazed Polaris, Hematite ran to her left and yelled, "Over here, Stupid!" Alisin's head snapped in her direction, and Hematite dove to avoid the missile he threw at her. The ball crashed into a tree, shattering the main trunk with explosive force.

The wind was continuing to pick up, making conversation difficult. "Now what?" Raiden shouted.

"I've got to stop him," Ami shouted back.

"And how are you going to do that?"

She activated her wrist communicator. "This is Senshi Mercury. We have a Class Two Emergency in the Hospital gardens - I need Security and Medical response teams here, STAT!" She scrambled to her feet, staggering against the gale strength wind now sweeping through the Gardens. Her friends needed her help. "Stand back!" she shouted at Raiden.

"Mercury Power, MAKE UP!"

By the time her transformation was completed, the fight was underway. Alisin, his face hard, was directing almost all the howling winds surrounding him at Hematite. But he didn't ignore Titanite. The Renegade Senshi was struggling to stay on her feet, unable to fire off a Polaris Missile as she was forced to dodge several attacks Alisin fired off at her.

Alisin turned to look at the bench Alan and Ami had been sitting on scant seconds before. With a gesture and words that were lost in the screech of the magic-induced windstorm, Alisin shattered the wooden seat into a thousand splinters. Ami threw herself to the ground, then glanced up. Instead of scattering, the splinters hung in the air like a swarm of angry hornets. Another gesture from Alisin sent the tightly bunched missiles directly at Hematite. Ami's scream of "look out!" was lost in the disharmony of the wailing gales.

If Hematite had been a normal human, the splinters would have shredded her into a bloody pulp. If she had been an inexperienced warrior, or untrained, the result would have been the same. But she wasn't human, untrained, or inexperienced.

Instead, the redhead called on her own powers over wind. She twisted the wind around herself, forming a barrier that the splinter swarm crashed into like a hailstorm. Most of the splinters shattered when they struck the air shield. A few wooden slivers managed to punch through the shield, though only a couple hit her hard enough to draw lines of blood across her cheek and arm.

But Alisin, in order to launch this attack, had allowed Polaris enough time to ready her own attack. "POLARIS MISSILE!" she bellowed, releasing the glowing energy ball directly at Alisin.

"SHABON SPRAY!"

Suddenly, the area was blanketed in a thick fog that defied the harsh winds. Somewhere in the fog, something exploded. As quickly as they had roared into being, the winds faded to the level of a strong breeze. Ami whispered into her communicator. "Ti, get Hematite out of here. I'll try and keep Alisin busy."

"What's going on?" hissed Titanite. Ami could hear the anger in her voice. "I had -"

"Alisin thinks that Hematite is Beryl."

From the fog, Ami heard Alisin bellow, "COGNIZANCE!"

"Better keep moving," Raiden hissed to Ami. "There's no telling how Alisin's going to react to this development."

"But -" Ti started to say over the communicator. The signal began breaking up.

"There's static electricity in the air," said Raiden. "It must be a byproduct of Alisin's use of air mana."

The communicator crackled again. "What is going? . . . "

Ami cut her off. "I don't have time for a long explanation. Now stop arguing. I might be able to reason with Alisin if Hematite is not standing right in front of him."

The static drowned out any chance of Titanite replying. Over the winds, Mercury heard Alisin shout, "Why do you oppose me in this, Cognizance? Can you not see the threat she poses?"

Moving to her right, with Raiden trailing behind her, Ami shouted back. "That's not Beryl! She just looks like Beryl!"

"Are you so sure?" Alisin replied harshly. "Or has she clouded your mind all these years?"

"Do you think Neo-Queen Serenity would allow Beryl to be reborn?"

"She's allowed Beryl's spies to live in the city for years!"

"Spies?"

"The Youmas!"

"This is worse then I thought," Ami said to Raiden. "He's delusional."

"He's misinformed," replied the cat. "You're forgetting that Alisin's world view is over ten thousand years out of date. He's one of the few people alive who'd actually met Beryl and knows first hand what she did to the Silver Millieum. His anger must have been building slowly over the last couple of weeks- seeing Hematite was the last straw."

Ami glanced at the fog, and noticed it was beginning to thin slightly. "I have to keep his attention on me for as long as possible." She looked down at Raiden. "Can you intercept the response teams and tell them to back off until I give them the signal? I don't want to expose anyone else to Alisin if I can avoid it."

"Right." With that, Raiden loped off into the fog.

Ami peered out into the mist. "Those Youmas aren't spies!" she shouted after several seconds of silence. " They've loyal citizens of Crystal Tokyo and have been for centuries!"

There was silence for several more seconds. Then, Alisin yelled, "They are vipers that need to be killed before they strike!"

"I can't let you do this!" Ami yelled back, keeping her movement to her right slow and sure.

"Stay out of this, Cognizance! This is MY fight!" Through the thinning mist, Ami saw Alisin raised his arms and heard him began to chant in a musical language. As she continued to move, she caught bits and pieces of the language over the winds, but none of it made sense to her ears.

The wind began to swirl around the wizard becoming a funnel. As the funnel became more defined, Alisin slowly rose into the air within the funnel. Ami continued to move through the trees, her mind analyzing the Windwalker's magic. He's using that spell from the hospital - A Gale Vortex as I remember him calling it. This is getting out of hand. I hope Raiden manages to reach the response teams quickly.

After about thirty seconds, there was a tornado ten meters high spinning in place, the figure of Alisin only slightly blurred by the winds circulating around him. As she watched, the winds started to strip the fog away at a slow and steady rate. In two minutes, Ami estimated the fog would be gone. That Gale Vortex spell is dangerous. I hope Ti and Hematite were able to get away.

"POLARIS MISSILE!"

Ami sighed. So much for that idea.

A glowing ball of energy struck the funnel. With a loud 'Crack' it exploded, disrupting the flowing air and rocking Alisin. The Gale Vortex wobbled for an instant, but stayed intact.

Titanite emerged from the mists, looking extremely angry. The wind swirled around her, rippling her hair and fuku. "What is your problem?" she bellowed.

"YOU ARE!" thundered Alisin.

I have to end this, and now! Ami moved free of the trees. As she did so, she saw Hematite appear out of the haze off to her right. The young woman looked battered and bloodied, but she had the same look of anger that her mother did. Uh-oh. . . .

Before Ami could move, Hematite launched her own attack against Alisin, A cone of wind slammed into the Gale Vortex hard enough to send the funnel and the Wizard a dozen meters in the opposite direction. Alisin turned to look at her, and Ami saw a mask of pure rage.

"TIME TO DIE FOUL CREATURE!" he screamed. He pointed a hand at her and hissed a command. The wind began to swirl around Hematite, trapping her inside her own funnel of air. Hematite fought the funnel, but she was beginning to lose ground as the miniature tornado continued to form around her. She began clawing at her throat, a look of panic on her face as she tried to inhale air that wasn't there.

"POLARIS MISSILES CLUSTER!"

A series of explosions ripped across Alisin's funnel. He turned and glared at Titanite, but before he could do more then that, Ami fired off her attack.

"SHINING AQUA ILLUSION!"

A thousand years of being Mercury's Senshi gave Ami something her predecessors didn't have - the ability to control how and where she directed her attacks with pinpoint accuracy. Instead of firing off her attack straight into the wall of wind surrounding Alisin, she dropped the mass of water on the weakest point of the Funnel - the top.

The result was spectacular. The wave of water crashed down onto the Windwalker with the fury of a sudden cloudburst. Stunned by this sudden assault, Alisin's concentration faltered, and he fell like a rock to the grassy ground. Around him, the Gale Vortex shattered like a glass vase. As he fell, the swirling wind around Hematite dissipated with a loud "whoosh." She dropped to one knee, inhaling deeply. The howling wind died away to a gentle breeze.

Alisin bounced, twisted in the air, and managed to roll to his feet, though he staggered like a drunk. "Why did you stop me?" he screamed at Ami, his expression that of shock and anger.

"She's not Beryl!" Ami yelled back. "She just looks like her!"

"I don't believe you!"

"I'm telling you the truth-LOOK OUT!"

"MOTHER!" cried out Hematite.

Being so focused on Ami, Alisin didn't hear Titanite teleported behind him in a swirl of cherry blossoms. A large, ugly-looking Hammer was in her hands, and from the expression of fury on her face, she was going to use it on the still stunned Wizard. With a cry of rage, she swung the hammer overhand, intending to drive her opponent into the ground.

Alisin reacted quicker then anyone thought he could have. He spun around, his hands already making gestures, words spilling from his mouth in a rapid torrent. A shimmering blue light appeared between Alisin's head and the descending hammer. The hammer struck the shield with explosive intensity, startling everyone with a flash of light and loud 'CRACK'.

Ami managed to shield her eyes from the flash of light, but even then, she was still slightly dazzled by the sudden explosion. She blinked rapidly, and saw that both of the combatants had been knocked down by the explosion and laid still.

Ami shouted into her communicator, "All response teams, this is Senshi Mercury-move in now!" She then ran toward the fallen pair, her mind screaming, Please let both of them be all right . . .

As she ran, she noted in passing that the rest of the fog had evaporated, leaving the surrounding area clear. A small army of security and medical personnel were closing in on the scene from several different directions. As she got closer, she could smell ozone in the air.

She reached them just as Ti sat up slowly. She looked glassy eyed, but didn't seem to be physically wounded. Alisin, on the other hand, got to his hands and knees slowly, and Ami could hear that his breathing was ragged. She knelt beside him. "Are you all right?"

He looked at her, and she saw a look of despair on his face.

"Why?" he whispered. "Why did you help her?"

"I couldn't let you kill either of them," Ami replied in a low voice. "It wouldn't be right."

"You keep that. . . ." His arms gave way and he collapsed onto his face. Ami gently rolled him over, the waved a pair of medics over. Alisin coughed, then continued. "You keep that creature here, this close to the Queen?"

Ami reached into an offered case and pulled out a medical scanner. "She's not a creature, but the daughter of an old friend. Both of whom you just tried to kill."

Alisin looked up at her. "You . . . believe she's not Beryl?"

"I know she's not Beryl. So does Ferrite. If she was Beryl, do you think she'd leave him alive? Or, better yet, do you think he'd leave her alive? He had a golden opportunity to kill her recently, but he's convinced she isn't Beryl."

Ami saw some doubt flicker into Alisin's eyes. "I want to speak . . . to him."

"You can't. He's not in the city."

"Maybe I can convince you," said another voice.

Both Ami and Alisin looked up. Hematite stood there, still looking pale. "Is your mother all right?" asked Ami.

"She's a bit shaken up, but she'll be OK in a couple of hours."

Alisin glared up at her. "Come . . . to finish the . . . job?" he asked, his tone bitter.

Hematite knelt across from Ami and stared at Alisin. "Is that why you attacked Mother and me? Because I look exactly like Beryl?"

"That creature is your mother?"

Hematite's face tightened in anger, then relaxed. "You want to kill me, don't you?"

"Yes." The word came out between clenched teeth, and the look on Alisin's face hardened.

Hematite nodded. "I don't blame you," she said softly.

Suspicion flickered across Alisin's face. "You . . . don't?"

"Mother told me what Queen Beryl was like when she ruled the Dark Kingdom - a vain and cruel woman who used her power to cause misery and pain."

"You were . . . more then . . . that," whispered Alisin. "What you could . . . not have, you destroyed. It . . . was you who caused the destruction of the . . . Silver Millieum, you . . . who killed my son, and it was . . . you who took my . . . Ganieda from me. And . . . now I look at you, and . . . all I see is you standing there, mocking the sacrifice my Queen made."

"You really hate Beryl, don't you?"

"With all my . . . heart and soul."

Hematite took a deep breath. "You're not alone. I may look like Beryl, but I hate her just as much as you do. Maybe even more."

Alisin's eyelids fluttered. "You . . . expect me to believe . . . that?"

"Yes!" she said harshly. "How would you feel if you found out you were a dead ringer for the woman who singlehandedly destroyed an entire civilization?"

Alisin was silent, so Hematite continued, her voice lower in tone. "When I found out who I looked like, I asked a lot of questions. It took me weeks to get the entire story out of mother, Uncle Cal, and the others - weeks because no one wanted to tell me anything! They wanted to 'protect' me from the specter of Beryl. When they finally did tell be about Beryl, told me what she had done before and after her exile for the Earth, I got angry. Angry because I was always going to be linked in some people's minds to that she-demon for no other reason that I look exactly like her!"

Ami had started running a scan of Alisin's vital signs, one ear on the conversation between the Wizard and Hematite. She frowned at what the sensors were reporting. She looked up at Hematite. "You're going to have to cut this short," she said. "He's going into shock. And you need to be checked out."

Hematite waved her off. "I'll be fine."

"Look, Hematite," said Ami, putting some steel into her voice. "I delivered you at birth and have taken care of you medically since then. As your doctor, I am telling you that you have ten seconds to go to a medic and start getting checked out."

"Or what?"

"Or," said a voice from behind her, "I'll carry you into the emergency room slung over my shoulder like a sack of fungus."

Hematite turned to look at Titanite. "Mother! You wouldn't!"

Titanite looked down at her daughter. She looked battered, but strong enough to carry out her threat. "Oh yes I would."

"Ti, How are you feeling?" asked Ami, her fingers rapidly tracing their way across the buttons on the medical scanner.

"I'll live. My forcefield saved me from a lot worse." She looked down at Alisin, who had just closed his eyes "How is he?" she growled.

Suddenly, Alisin started shaking violently. His eyes closed and his jaw was clenched. A stiffed scream escaped between clenched teeth. "Tranq patch!" Ami shouted at the nearest medic.

"What's wrong?" asked Hematite.

"He's having another seizure." The female medic thrust a open tranq patch at Ami, who grabbed it, tore the sterile backing off, then firmly placed it against the trembling man's neck.

Raiden made his way quickly through the mass of legs and stood near Ami. "Will he be all right?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know. I think Alan's trying to take his body back from his Grandfather."

"Is that what happened before Alisin attacked us?" asked Titanite.

Ami nodded. "Alisin saw Hematite and mistook her for Beryl. He fought Alan for control of Alan's body, won, then attack you two. I think the fight used up most of Alisin's strength, and now Alan is trying to get his body back."

Titanite didn't look convinced. "Mistaken identity or not, if he makes one wrong move I'm malleting him straight to the Earth's core."

The shaking lessened, then stopped. Alisin's eyes opened and he looked up at the faces above him. "A-Ami?" he whispered.

Ami looked down at Alisin. No, not Alisin. Alan was now looking up at her. "What . . ." he said slowly, "did . . . I miss?"

"Never mind," she said briskly. "How do you feel?"

He blinked several times and made a feeble attempt to sit up. He didn't come close to making it. "Like . . . Hell," he whispered again

"Lie still, We're taking you to the hospital. You're in shock."

"Did Grandfather? . . . ." He closed his eyes and his breathing fell into a regular rhythm.

"He's out," announced Ami. She waved over a stretcher team. Under the Doctor's supervision, Alan was gentle lifted onto the stretcher and whisked away to the emergency room.

Ami started after them, but Titanite reached out and grabbed her by the arm. "What are we going to do with him?" she asked. "He's dangerous."

"Only Alisin is."

"But he's in the same body as Alan, and you saw what happened when Alisin got loose!"

Ami sighed. "I know. Setsuna the only one who knows Alisin.

I need to talk to her first before deciding what to do next."

-----------------------------

Part 2 - "Once more into the breach, dear friends . . . "

The Crystal Tokyo Hospital was the most advanced place of healing on the planet. All sorts of patients and medical personnel could be found here, as well as the occasional security man or Senshi. All moved through the halls with purpose, giving the complex a vibrant life of its own.

However, there was one floor that was less busy. It was the hospital security wing, where any prisoner in need of serious medical care was sent. Most of the time, it was nearly deserted.

This wasn't most of the time.

A tall woman with green highlights in her dark hair and carrying a staff stalked down the hallway. She wore a Senshi fuku, the skirt and bow purple in color, and her usually impassive expression replaced by one mixing concern and anger.

She came to an intersection, turned to her right, and advanced toward a door flanked by two alert looking security men. They stiffened at the sight of her, but held their ground.

One of the security men stepped forward, blocking the woman's path. The look she gave him was chilling. Summing up the last of his courage, the guard said, "I'm sorry, Senshi Pluto, but no one is allowed into the room."

"No one?" asked the Senshi, her voice cold and unforgiving.

"No one," said a familiar voice from behind her.

Pluto turned slowly. Mars stood behind her, arms folded over her chest. The Senshi of Fire looked irritated.

"What happened?" Pluto asked, her voice like a Winter storm.

"I don't have all the details. Ami was there. Talk to her."

"I see." Pluto stepped past the shorter woman and walked away.

Mars watched Pluto until the Outer Senshi disappeared around the corner. She turned to look at the two security men. "If she tries to gain entry again, call me." With that, she turned and walked off, leaving two relieved-looking security men behind her.

Ami looked up from her computer as a somberly dressed Setsuna entered the Doctor's office. "I've been expecting you," she said.

"I need to know what happened."

"Please sit. I was just finishing some work."

Setsuna sat in a chair in front of Ami's desk and asked, "How is he?"

Ami saved the file she was working on before she turned off the computer, and spun in her chair to face the Outer Senshi. "Alan or Alisin?"

She saw a grimace flicker across Setsuna's face, but chose to ignore it. "I meant both," the older Senshi said.

"Alan is under sedation right now. He's battered physically, but I'm more concerned for his mental health."

"Are Hematite and Titanite all right?"

Ami nodded. "They're recovering quicker then Alan will."

"What happened?"

Ami told Setsuna what happened in a span of five minutes, describing the attack in detail. Setsuna listened in silence, her face without expression. The only sign that the Senshi from Pluto was tense was the whitening knuckles from her hands gripping the arms of the chair tightly. After Ami finished, Setsuna closed her eyes. "I should have known," she whispered sadly. "I should have warned Alan about Hematite's resemblance to Beryl."

"Don't blame yourself," replied Ami quickly. "We all made the same mistake-We forgot that while Alan is from the twentieth century, Alisin was a citizen of the Silver Millieum and knew Beryl. When Alan first appeared, Hematite was out of the city. When she returned, we never bothered telling Alan or Alisin about her."

"It's more then that," said Setsuna in the same quiet voice.

"Alisin wanted Beryl dead."

"Did Alisin hate Beryl that much?" asked Ami.

Setsuna nodded. "There were few people Alisin felt strongly about-Beryl was one of them. Before she was exposed as a servant of Metellia, Alisin blamed her for the death of his wife, Ganieda."

Ami's eyes widen in understanding. "You did mentioned Alisin had been sent to Pluto after his wife's death," she said. "It was more then to give him time to grieve, wasn't it?"

"You are right. I did not mention the reason at the meeting because I did not think it was important at the time. It seems that I was wrong."

Ami's eyes widen even further. "What happened?"

"I learned the facts surrounding her death after I became Sailor Pluto. Fourteen years before the Fall of the Silver Millieum, Ganieda went down in a skyboat over Arcadia, Beryl's own kingdom. There were some suspicions that someone with power was behind the downing, but no proof was found. When Ganieda's body was recovered, there were signs that she had been sacrificed."

"I see." Ami hesitated, searching for the right words. "And Alisin blamed Beryl herself?"

Setsuna nodded. "The one time he spoke to me about her, it was with disgust and loathing. I know Beryl felt the same way about him. To have both in the same room was to invite trouble."

"I see."

Setsuna leaned forward in her chair "When can I talk to them?"

Ami's face became bleak. "I don't know. The Queen has ordered that everyone except Raiden and myself be barred from the room." She hesitated before she continued. "Also, Alan is under heavy sedation - We can't take the chance of Alisin breaking free."

Setsuna stood slowly, her face an unreadable mask. "I will speak to the Queen and ask permission." She turned and went to the door. She stopped and said, "Please take care of them both."

"You know I will."

Without another word, Setsuna left the office.

Alan groaned and rolled onto his side. His head throbbed and his mouth felt like someone had stuffed several dirty socks into it.

"Alan!" hissed a male voice. "You must arise!"

"Go away," Alan mumbled. "I've a class in three hours, and I was up all night on that STUPID Pascal compiler . . . "

"This isn't collage! I need your help!"

Alan opened one eye and blinked. Instead of a white ceiling, he saw blue sky. "What the heck . . . "

A young man in regal-looking, white robes knelt next to him, looking concerned. "Are you all right?"

"Helcion?"

"Yes. Can you stand?"

"I'm not certain. What hap . . . Alisin! I've got to stop him!" He sat up quickly, only to groan and hold his head. "Augggg!"

"Are you all right?"

"No!" snapped Alan. "Grandfather's trying to kill someone he thinks is Beryl! I have to stop him!"

Helcion shook his head. "Alisin did not succeed in killing Hematite."

Alan stood slowly, his legs trembling. "That's a relief."

He looked at the King of Halcyon. "So, what's wrong?"

"I should show you first, then explain."

"What's wrong with explaining first THEN showing me?"

"It would be easier to show you first."

Alan sighed. "Lead the way, Macduff."

The King led him up a path to the crown of a small rise and pointed at a large black sphere dominating the top of a small hill not far away. "That is the problem, and your grandfather is at the center of it."

Alan looked at the sphere for several minutes while he regained strength. "He's inside THAT?" he asked finally

Helcion replied. "He is. The darkness that surrounds him is negative energy generated from dark emotions - Hate, anger, and fear among them - and he will not talk to me."

"I'll talk to him."

"I do not think that is a good idea."

"Well, tough."

"I think you should come back with me."

"Not yet."

"But - "

"I've had it up to here," snapped Alan, holding a hand over his head, "with 'grandfather', his training methods, and his arrogance!" He then pointed at the dark sphere. "This is the time for me to have it out with the old goat!"

"I would not advise it."

But Alan had already stalked off down the slope toward the sphere. Helcion shouted after him, "Don't be foolish, Alan!"

"I've already been a fool!" Alan shouted back. "I've been a jackass since I dropped into this time and place!"

"You don't understand!"

Alan spun to glare at the King of Dreams, but continued walking backwards toward his objective. "NO! You're the one who doesn't understand! You haven't had your body taken from you by a vengeance-minded madman!"

"You can't do this by yourself!"

"Just watch me!"

Alan strode up the hill toward the Dark sphere sat. There was a hum like an electric generator that got louder as he got closer and he noticed the sphere seemed to be made up of shifting and swirling clouds. It was also larger then it had looked from the ridge line, large enough to hold a fair-sized house within and occupied the entire summit of the hill. A part of his mind whispered this was stupid, but his anger ruthlessly overrode his caution.

He stopped just short of the sphere and shouted, "Grandfather!

Get your ugly carcass out here NOW!"

There was no response. Alan let the silence stretch for a minute, then he bellowed "All right, you won't come out, I'm coming in!" He made a fist and swung it at the sphere.The result was spectacular, to say the least.

As soon as Alan touched the sphere, a blast of dark energy slashed out from the orb and struck Alan in the chest. The discharge knocked him backwards hard enough to send him tumbling down the hill.

"Ah . . . oomph . . . eeef . . . .ugh . . . ack . . . oomph!" With a final, "ack," Alan reached the bottom of the slope, face-down, in a heap. He was still for several seconds then lifted his head and glared up at the sphere. "You're not going to get rid of me THAT easily!" he hollered.

He scrambled to his feet and charged up the hill again, screaming incoherently. He thought he heard Helcion yell "Alan! No!", but he ignored it and continued the charge up the hill.

Arms pumping, he slammed into the sphere as hard as he could.

The trip back down the slope was much like the first, only the blast this time was strong enough to send Alan flying for the first half of the trip. He bounced several times on the slope, then rolled to a stop on his back.

He struggled to sit up, but a pair of hands firmly pressed him down again. "I can't let you continue this!" he heard Helcion shout. "You'll be killed!"

"Er . . . right. . . ." Alan blinked several times before his vision cleared enough to see the King of Dreams kneeling next to him. "That hurt."

"The sphere is fueled by Alisin's dark emotions," explained Helcion, glancing up at the sphere above them. "You cannot get through that shield unless Alisin allows you to."

"NOW you tell me," muttered Alan as he sat up slowly. He waved off Helcion. "I'm all right now I'm not about to charge up San Juan Hill again."

"That is good." He looked down at Alan. "Do you need a hand standing up?"

"I'm fine." Alan got to his feet and swayed for several seconds. "I think," he amended.

"Take my hand," said the King reaching out with a hand to Alan.

"I tell you I'm all -"

"Take my hand."

Alan took a deep breath and took the offered hand. Suddenly, he found himself and Helcion in a large stone chamber. He blinked twice, then looked at the king. Helcion shrugged and waved him toward a large table in the middle of the chamber.

Alan glanced around the room. "Where am I?"

"My home." Helcion waved a hand around. "Even I need a place to call my own."

"Why did you bring me here?"

"First, to allow you to rest and regain your strength."

He pointed at the table. "Please sit and eat."

Alan glanced at the table again. This time, there was a large amount of food sitting there, food that hadn't been sitting there a few seconds ago. He sat in one of the high-backed chairs and slowly looked over the subsistence before him. He noted they were all fruit and vegetables, some familiar, others not. He reached for an apple from a bowl. "What were the other reasons you brought me here?"

Helcion sat in a chair across the table from Alan. "I thought it prudent to get you away from the sphere before you tried to assault it again."

"Oh." Alan took a bite out of the apple, "I suppose I got a bit carried away, didn't I?"

"You did, and it could have killed you. The shield took your anger and use it to strengthen itself against your attack. It also used your anger to generate the force beams that knocked you down the hill. Do you feel angry right now?"

"No."

"The sphere absorbed it when you attacked it. All the efforts and anger on your part just made the shield stronger."

"So I can't through then?"

"Not unless Alisin allows them to pass through."

Alan dropped the apple core onto the plate sitting in front of him. "If he's not going to allow me inside, then we're really in deep trouble."

A tankard appeared by the King's right elbow. He picked it up, sipped from it, then looked at Alan again. "There are only two other people living today he might listen to. Senshi Pluto is one - the bond between them is stronger then your own - and Queen Serenity herself. There is no one else."

Alan frowned. "I don't suppose we can leave him alone and wait for him to cool down, huh?"

Helcion shook his head. "He is started on the path of madness. The longer we delay in speaking to him, the harder it will be to turn him back to the light."

"And he could come charging out at any time, take over my body, and level a city, right?" asked Alan angrily. He slumped in his chair. "That's not much help. I guess Setsuna would be the best choice -- she knows him the best."

"I'm afraid there is another problem."

Alan looked at the King with half-closed eyes."What?"

"At the current time, your body is under heavy sedation - you will not wake up until they decide you should."

"You mean I'm stuck here until they decide to wake me up?"

Helcion frowned. "Yes."

"Oh, great." Alan began rubbing his temples with his fingertips. "I just had to get out of bed today, didn't I?" He straightened abruptly. "Is there anyone I know in the Land of Dreams right now? Like Ami, or Raiden, or heck even Rei?"

"Rei?"

"I'm desperate, OK?"

"I do not know, but I will check." The King stood. "I will be back shortly. Please eat and rest some more until I return."

With that, he vanished. Ignoring the sudden disappearance of his host, Alan picked up an orange and began peeling it. "With my luck," he mumbled sourly, "the only person in the Land of Dreams right now will be Rei. Heck, she's probably got people stationed here. . . ."

Halfway through Alan's second orange, Helcion reappeared. Raiden was cradled in his arms, looking slightly miffed at the interruption of his dream. The King placed the moon cat on the table. "He was the only one that was here at the present time."

"He'll do." Alan looked at the cat. "Sorry to disturb your dream, but I need help."

Raiden walked across the table to Alan and looked at him closely. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"No," replied Alan. "I'm not. Grandfather has gone off the deep end and I'm going to need help to pull him back. Unless we get to him, and soon, he and I are going to be in a world of hurt."

"Helcion told me the basics. What do you want me to do?"

"I first thing I need is to wake up. Tell Ami to stop pumping me full of the sleepy stuff. After I wake up, I need to talk to Setsuna - I'm going to need her help in talking to Alisin."

"I understand. What else?"

"I don't know yet, except to hurry I don't know how long Grandfather is going to stay cooped up behind that dark sphere, but if he comes out and takes over again. . . . "

"I will do as you ask." With that, Raiden disappeared in a flash of light.

Alan flinched, then looked at Helcion. "What happened?"

"He woke up." The King sat across from Alan. "All you can do now is wait for yourself to awaken." A chessboard, ready to play, appeared in place of the fruit bowl. "In the meantime, care for a game?"

The first evidence that Alan was going to wake up was when Helcion's chamber suddenly disappeared in a flash of light, then darkness. Part of him noted that he was lying on his back, on a mattress and covered by a blanket up to his chin. He was aware that there were several people near the bed, but no one spoke. In a moment of clear thought, he realized he was coming out of his encouraged unconsciousness.

It took several attempts for his eyes to open just enough to let light in. Like water through a broken dam, illumination flooded his awareness with color and texture. He blinked several more times, slowly at first then quicker as his vision became clearer. His mouth was dry and hot and he swallowed several times in order to generate spit, with little success.

"He's beginning to awake," said a familiar voice off to his right. "Go get Ami."

Alan heard someone leave the room. The shapes sharpened into an off-white ceiling with light from a window reflecting off of it. He moved his head slightly to the left, the effort to do so taking more energy then he thought it would.

A woman with green tinted dark hair was standing by the bed. Dressed in a conservative business suit, she looked at him grimly. Something about her was familiar, but Alan couldn't place it. "Alan?" she asked carefully.

"Yes," he croaked. "Do I know . . . you?"

"I'm Setsuna," she replied. "What happened to Alisin?"

"Long st-story," he managed to say in a whisper. "What happened? Is everyone else all right?"

Setsuna exhaled and nodded. "You're the only one who was seriously hurt."

"Lucky me."

Just then, Alan heard the door open, followed by two sets of footsteps. Ami and Rei joined Setsuna. Ami's smile seemed a bit forced, but Rei's suspicious glare was genuine. Without taking her eyes off of Alan, Ami reached down to the side of the bed and pushed a button, The top half of the bed began to rise, giving Alan a better view of the hospital room. Slightly short of a full sitting position, the bed stopped moving.

Ami picked up a cup from the table next to the bed, placed the end of the straw into his mouth, and said firmly, "Sip."

Alan did so, and a trickle of water filled his mouth. He swallowed slowly, allowing the water to moisten his dry mouth. After several seconds, Ami removed the cup from under his chin and removed the straw from his mouth. "How are you feeling?"

Alan gave her a smile. "I could get use to waking up like this."

"Are you sure this is Alan and not Alisin?" asked Rei, her eyes narrowing.

Alan looked at her. "It's me, charcoal breath." he said in a stronger voice. "What's the matter, you run out of lemons to suck on?"

"That's Alan," said Setsuna, the hint of a smile on her lips.

Rei's eyes narrowed dangerously, but before she could fire off a comeback, Ami stepped in front of her. "We don't have time for arguments," she said briskly. She turned to look at Alan. "All right. Tell us what's so important that you had to send a message via Raiden."

"Where is Raiden?" asked Alan.

"Over here," replied the Moon cat from the other side of the room. He uncurled himself from the chair he had been on and stretched slowly. "Are you ready to answer Ami?"

Alan nodded. "It started with my conversation with Ami in the Hospital grounds. . . ." He told the story in detail, including his helplessness when Alisin seized control. "It was like being yanked out of the driver's seat of a car by a 400-pound gorilla, who then drives on the sidewalks of New York City during midday."

No one interrupted him until he described the globe Alisin had built around himself in the Land of Dreams. Setsuna looked troubled. "It is worse then I thought. Alisin is starting to go mad."

"That's what Helcion said."

"Why didn't you contact me about this? We might have headed this off."

Alan looked at her in amazement. "How can I contact you? You're bouncing up and down the time line, making it kind of hard to get a hold of you . . . at times."

Pluto said nothing, but went over to the window and stared out.

"How can we stop Alisin's madness from happening?" asked Rei.

Alan looked at Setsuna. "Helcion said he'll only listen to two people -- you and Neo-Queen Serenity. He also said we have to hurry. That's why I had Raiden relay the message - I am going to need your help."

Setsuna nodded. "I will go with you into the Land of Dreams, but I want to bring someone along with us, someone that Alisin will need to see."

"Who?"

She turned away from the window. "Not until I talk to her.

She may not agree to come."

"I don't care if you bring along K-9 and Adric," said Alan quickly. "But we don't have time for sightseers."

"I will hurry." replied Setsuna cooly. With that, she turned and left the room.

Ami looked thoughtful. "I'll need to check some medical supplies and make up some injections. This is going to a delicate situation. If you will excuse me."

Rei didn't say anything until Ami left the room. "I don't like it," she said.

"I'm not exactly thrilled about it myself," replied Alan. "But he and I are linked. If we don't cut him off at the pass before he loses all sanity, I can't stop him from roaring out of his shell and possessing my body like a cheap monster movie. And he'll make the hospital garden look like minor road work."

"We could try and sever the link."

"I have no idea how we're even linked. And taking time to study it is not an option."

"I see." She turned to leave. "I'll leave you to rest until Setsuna gets back."

Just as her hand reached for the door handle, Alan said, "Could you please stay a minute? I want to talk to you."

She stopped, but didn't turn around. "About what?"

He looked at her. He felt the words choke up in his throat.

"I want to apologize," he said softly.

Now, she turned to look at him. "For what?" she asked suspiciously.

He took a deep breath, then continued in a serious tone. "For the trouble I've caused you and the others since I landed here. For what I did to you and the guards when I first arrived - I still have no idea how I did that. For the attack on Lady Polaris and her daughter, even though it wasn't my fault. And finally, for being a square peg in a round hole."

She looked at him, perplexed at his words. She clearly hadn't expected this from him. "Why are you bothering telling me all this now?" she managed to ask after several seconds of thought. "You have plenty of chances before this."

"Because I've been avoiding you," he replied, looking down at the sheets. "Avoiding you because you scare the hell out of me. Avoiding most of the others because they just scare me." He closed his eyes. "I kept telling myself that was Alisin's fault for keeping me away from the others."

"And was it his fault?"

Alan shook his head. "He made it clear that I wasn't to talk to the Renegades, and he only did that a couple of days ago. It wasn't until later I realized he never forbade me from talking to the rest of the royal court."

"So why didn't you?"

"Because I'm an outsider here."

"I see."

"Do you?" asked Alan. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Rei saw bitterness in his eyes. "I didn't want to be here, but my choices were limited. I'm not a reborn soul from the Silver Millieum, like you and the others. I'm just a guy who's in way over his head in a time and place not of his choosing."

Rei started to reply, but Alan held up a hand to stop her. "A month ago," he continued, "my biggest ambition was to develop a security system for the Internet that couldn't be cracked by a thirteen-year-old Cracker with bad skin. I wanted a normal life. And now, that's not possible." He looked out the window. "Have you ever wanted a normal life?"

Rei shrugged. "What I do today IS my normal life, and has been for a thousand years."

"I meant before you became Senshi Mars."

She shook her head. "That was a long time ago. I gave up some dreams when I became Senshi Mars because I had to."

"And now you're trapped in a role of your own choosing. I feel sorry for you."

"Don't be. It was my destiny."

Alan snorted. "And what's mine destiny? I'm supposed to be the first of a new class of wizards, only my teacher's sanity has just gone and jumped the tracks. So, now I'm a time bomb with an unpredictable timer."

"I don't know." Rei said at last

"Do you know what I want to do now?"

Rei's eyes narrowed, surprised at the sudden shift in the conversation. "No."

Alan gave her a sad smile. "I'm not asking for much. I want to leave the palace and look around Crystal Tokyo by myself. I want to lie under a tree in a park and watch the clouds roll by. I just want to be a normal human being. Is that so much to ask for?"

"If you were a normal human being, then no. But you are not normal."

"As Raiden reminded me." He glared at the cat, who ignored him. He looked at Rei again, his expression neutral. "I wish people would remember that I'm more then a warm body for Alisin to use. Before I ended up here, I spent most of my life without having a sprit share my body, and I functioned fine."

Rei let some irritation creep into her voice. "Why this sudden urge to unload all your apologies and complaints onto me? Surely Ami is the better choice. She is your Doctor."

"Who is going into space in a couple of days. She is going to have her hands full with the mission, and I don't want her worrying about me."

Rei though over his answer and nodded. "But why talk to me?"

"Because I'm scared that Setsuna and I are not going to succeed in talking Alisin out of his madness. I wanted to make sure I got some subjects cleared up - just in case."

Rei frowned "I think you're worry needlessly over this."

"I'm not so sure."

Before Rei could reply, Ami opened the door and walked in "Everything's ready. We can start when Setsuna gets back."

"In that case," said Rei quickly. "I'd better let you rest. If you'll excuse me." With that, she turned and walked out of the room. Ami watched her leave before she looked at Alan, her eyebrow arched in an unasked question. Alan shrugged in reply but said nothing.

It was an hour later that Setsuna returned.

The first half-hour had been very busy. Under Ami's direction, two cots were set up in Alan's hospital room, one on each side of the bed. A tray was sitting on the bedside table, with several Star Trek-type syringes laid out for use on the tray. Several monitoring devices of some sort were sitting near the two cots and the bed, and a larger machine sat off in a corner under a sheet.

Alan had just watched as all this stuff was carried into his hospital room by a couple of large orderlies. Ami had been in and out of the room several times, checking on different things. During one of these visits, she told Alan that he should stay in bed and rest, despite his protests he was well enough to get up. Only when she threatened to strap him into bed did he give up and just sit there, glowering at both Ami and the orderlies, who ignored him. Raiden had taken one look of the activity, sighed, and left the room to search for a quiet place to nap.

After that, Alan found himself left alone. He sat in the bed, eyes closed, his mind a whirl wind of thoughts and fears. His mouth became dry, which several glasses of water didn't relieve. Sleeping was out of the question: he couldn't go back to the Land of Dreams until Setsuna and her mystery guest went with him.

Desperate for something to lock his mind on, his mind went back over Setsuna's words "Not until I talk to her. She may not agree to come." Who could she be talking about?

He was dimly aware that someone had come into his room, and his eyes opened. Setsuna stood next to his bed, looking relaxed except for tightness around her eyes. "You're back," he said. "Find who you were looking for?"

"Yes. She is talking to Ami now."

"Who is she?"

Just then, Ami came into the room, followed by a grim-looking Titanite. Alan inhaled sharply at the sight of the green-haired woman, then looked at Setsuna. "You're not serious," he said in a wooden tone. "She's coming along?"

"She is."

"Setsuna said I must go with you," said Titanite, her tone clearly indicating that she wasn't happy about this either. She was dressed in a jogging suit with her hair loose around her shoulders. She stood there with her arms folded, her expression unreadable as she stared at Alan.

"Why?" asked Alan, not having the courage to look at Sailor Polaris directly. "Look, I'm sorry about what Grandfather did to you and your daughter, but I don't think that bringing you along is going to solve anything."

"She is going with us," said Setsuna, her voice cold and flat.

"And do what?" asked Alan angrily, looking Sailor Pluto in the eye. "After what happened in the garden, I'm skeptical that Grandfather is going to allow her anywhere near him."

"She is necessary if we are to succeed."

"For what? To send Grandfather into Godzilla mode again?"

Setsuna's face clouded, and for a second, Alan saw the full force of Time's Guardian in her eyes. Then, like a curtain being drawn, most of the power in her eyes vanished, but the look she continued to give him chilled him.

"Will you two stop arguing?" snapped Ami, her anger surprising the others. She stepped forward, a look of fierce determination on her face. She looked at Pluto. "Is Ti really necessary to save Alisin's sanity?"

Setsuna dipped her head slightly. "Under the circumstances, she is the best choice to help us. Hematite's resemblance to Beryl eliminates her, and the other Renegades are not suited for this task."

Ami turned to Titanite. "Do you want to do this?"

Ti exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Pluto explained what happened between Alisin and Beryl, but I want to hear it from him. I also want to tell him our story, to show him that Beryl didn't rule everyone in her kingdom."

Ami looked thoughtful, then looked at Alan. "I agree with them."

"But -" began Alan.

"We don't have time for this bickering," said Ami, cutting off Alan's objection with a wave of her hand. "You're going there to talk to him, not fight him."

"But -"

"Trust me, Alan," said Ami firmly. "I've known Ti for almost a millieum. I trust her and I'm asking you to trust her. Please?"

Alan looked into her eyes and felt his resolve begin to slip. He saw sadness, concern and pleading in her eyes, backed by a wall of cool perseverance. A perverse part of his mind told him he still wasn't over his original crush of the pretty blue-haired Doctor, but he slapped that thought aside. He was determined not to give in to her on this point.

But after several more seconds of silence, his own determination to exclude Titanite broke under the doctor's gaze. "All right," he said finally, "She can come along."

"Gee, thanks," said Titanite sarcastically. "I'm so glad you approve."

"His approval was not needed," said Setsuna. She sat on one of the cots. "It is time."

Titanite walked over to the other cot and laid down. Ami picked up one of the hypos and double-checked the contents. Alan eyed the instrument. "What's that for?"

"We can't wait for all three of you to reach the state of deep sleep," explained Ami. "So I'm going to give each of you a strong sedative to put you under quickly."

"That will not be necessary in my case," said Setsuna. She stretched out on the cot and folded her hands over her stomach. "I will meet you there." With that, she closed her eyes and after a minute, her breathing became deep and regular.

Alan looked at the now sleeping Senshi for several seconds in disbelief, then looked at Ami. "Has she ever used the name 'Romana' in the past?"

Ami tried to smile, but it didn't quite make it. "She has responsibilities far beyond the rest of us, and abilities we know nothing about."

"I figure she wasn't one of the more sociable Senshi."

Ami held up the hypo. "What about you? Are you going to be able to follow Setsuna by yourself, or do you need one on these?"

Alan rolled up a sleeve. "I'm ready to start bouncing off the walls, so I think giving me a shot is best."

Ami nodded and stepped forward. Alan barely felt the hypo press against his skin and release the drug into his blood stream. "How long?" he asked Ami.

"Not long," she assured him. "Count back from one hundred."

"Okay. One hundred . . . .Ninety-nine. . . .Ninety-eight . . . .Ninety-seven. . . .Ninety-six. . . .Ninety-five . . . Ninety-four . . . . . ."

Darkness closed over his vision.

When he opened his eyes again, Alan saw blue skies with wisps of white clouds above him. He rolled over and climbed to his feet. Once he was standing, he looked around for the others. He spotted Setsuna standing several meters away, and Titanite several meters beyond her.

They were standing in the middle of a meadow, near a small grove of trees. Around them, there were rolling hills and several clumps of trees. Alan glanced around for any familiar landmarks, but saw none. "I have no idea where we are," he said, still looking around.

Setsuna turned and looked at him. Instead of her business suit, she wore her Sailor Pluto Fuku, and her staff was gripped tightly in her left fist. "We wait for a little while," she announced. "Are you ready?"

Alan shrugged. "As ready as I'm ever going to be. You two all right?"

"We're fine," replied Setsuna. "We are waiting just for our guide."

"Who's that?" asked Titanite. Like Pluto, she wore her Sailor Fuku and looked ready for any challenge.

Helcion appeared out of thin air. "The Guardian of Dreams greets the Guardian of Time," he said formally. Alan noticed he didn't look directly at Pluto.

Pluto glared at Helcion. "The Guardian of Time greets the Guardian of Dreams, " she said coolly. "I will talk to you later about the Princess. Needless to say, the Queen is rather agitated at your actions."

The King looked more nervous. "But what I did I -"

"Later," said Pluto, her voice chilling. "This is not the time or place for that discussion."

Helcion looked as if he had been slapped. He turned away, but Pluto's sharp voice stopped him. "We need you to guide us to where Alisin is, and quickly."

"Very well. This way." He led them toward a set of rolling hills off to their right. "It is not far," he said, his cheerfulness sounding hollow.

The group walked toward the hills at a brisk pace. Pluto was several paces behind Helcion, her long strides forcing the King to keep moving. Several paces behind her, Titanite and Alan trudged along.

Alan increased his gait so he could catch up with Pluto.

"What was that with Helcion back there?"

Pluto turned to look at him, her stare hard and frosty. "It does not concern you or Alisin," she said firmly. "It is a private matter. Do not speak about it again."

Alan stopped suddenly, as if it had been his turn to get slapped. "Gee, thanks," he said bitterly to the back of the outer Senshi, who had continued to walk along. "Do you want me to fall on my sword too while I'm at it?" Pluto ignored the jab and continued walking along

Alan felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced over at Titanite.

"Is she always this outspoken?" he asked.

"I don't know," the green-haired Senshi replied. "Pluto is so rarely seen outside the palace, most people think she's a myth of some sort."

"Oh great," muttered Alan. "That's a lot of help."

Titanite motioned with her head toward the pair who was increasing the distance. "We'd better catch up with them and quickly. Come on."

By Alan's best guess, it took them ten minutes to reach the sphere of blackness Alisin had created Helcion pointed at the ball. "There it is," he said in a hollow voice. "Good-bye and good luck." With that, he stepped back and faded from sight.

Alan stepped up to stand next to Pluto. "How are we going to get in? That thing," he motioned toward the sphere, "nearly killed me when I tried to force my way past it."

"Then, I will not use force," Pluto replied, her expression bleak. She stepped forward until she was less then two meters from the sphere. "UNCLE!" she shouted, her words ringing in the air. "I WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU."

"That is," mumbled Alan, "if you not out of your mind."

There was silence. After half a minute, Pluto continued. "I AM HERE WITH ALAN AND SOMEONE YOU MUST SPEAK TO. PLEASE LET US IN!"

More silence followed. "Nothing's happening," muttered Alan. Titanite glared at him.

"THIS IS IMPORTANT, UNCLE!" Pluto continued. "THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU, FOR ALAN, AND FOR ALL FUTURE ELEMENTALISTS!"

"I think Helcion had the right idea," breathed Alan.

Titanite tapped him on the shoulder. "Will you shut up?" she hissed. "You're getting on my nerves."

"Good," Alan whispered back. "Now you know how I feel about this."

If Pluto heard the conversation between the others, she ignored it. "I WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, UNCLE!

YOU KNOW I CAN BE JUST AS STUBBORN AS YOU! SO, LET US IN!"

After several seconds, a potion of the sphere shimmered, then flowed away from the center of the shimmering area, forming a hole in the skin of the sphere. The hole became larger as more of the dark substance flowed away into other parts of the sphere. Soon, the hole formed itself into an archway tall enough to walk through.

Pluto nodded to herself, then turned toward the others. "Follow me, and stay close. I don't think he'll attack us, but be careful and stay alert. Let me do most of the talking. Is that clear?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked through the archway.

Alan blinked. "Who died and made her leader?"

"She did," replied Titanite, grabbing one of Alan's arms and guiding him toward the archway. "So we better follow her."

Alan was expecting almost anything, but he didn't expect to find himself standing in a wide hallway straight out of a 18th century chateau. The corridor was three meters wide and very long in both directions. The walls, as well as the floor and ceiling, were made of what looked like white marble with flecks of blue highlights. All the blocks were fitted tightly together, leaving almost no trace of a seam between each block. A thick carpet, a deep blue in color ran down the middle third of the corridor. Along the walls, lanterns of an unusual design were spaced out, supplying illumination to the entire corridor.

Alan glanced up and down the hall, trying to make sense of what his eyes were telling him. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" he asked Titanite.

"Yes," replied Titanite, releasing Alan's arm. "We can sightsee later. Where's Setsuna?"

"You are in the Moon Palace," said Pluto, stepping out of a small alcove.

Alan took a step back at Pluto's sudden appearance. "Will you stop doing that?" he asked sharply. "You almost gave me a heart attack!" Pluto ignored him.

"We're in the Moon Palace?" asked Titanite, admiring the marble walls.

"Or, rather the Moon Palace that Alisin remembers." Pluto pointed down the hall with her staff. "His own quarters are down there."

"This is all from Grandfather's memory?" asked Alan.

"He has created this illusion from his memory and has retreated into it. This was one of the few places he truly was happy." Alan thought he heard a slight trace of sadness in her voice, but if it was there, it disappeared quickly. "Let us go."

They walked down the corridor until they came to a tall set of panels recessed into a small alcove. The panels were made of the same material as the walls, though there was more blue in the marble then white. Someone had carefully carved a series of clouds and birds into the marble, covering the walls.

"Very nice," said Alan. "But -"

Pluto stepped forward and placed her hand on one of the panels. There was a soft click, and the panels swung in, showing themselves to be doors, not panels. Pluto strode between the still-opening panels and disappeared inside. Titanite and Alan followed in silence.

They found themselves in a circular room about ten meters in diameter, made from the same marble as the hall. Four thick pillars surrounded a small pool in the center of the room. At right angles to each other, three short flights of stairs led up into hallways running deeper into the building.

Alan let out with a low whistle. "Impressive," he said in approval as his gaze traveled around the room. He saw a couple of paintings hanging on the walls between the stairwells, and walked around the pool to see them better.

"Which way?" asked Titanite.

Pluto pointed to the stairway directly across from them.

"Alisin will be in his study, waiting for us."

"That doesn't sound pleasant."

"As long as he is willing to talk, we have a chance."

The pair of Senshi walked around the pool. Alan looked at them as they came near him. He pointed to one of the paintings hanging on the wall. "This is the current Queen Serenity's mother? The one Grandfather served?"

The painting showed a tall, thin woman with long blond hair and an air of noble bearing that came through even now. She was sitting peacefully in a high-backed chair, wearing a long white flowing gown that seemed to combine simplicity and elegance at the same time. Like her daughter, the unusual hairstyle seemed to add something to the painting's quality.

"It is," replied Pluto.

Titanite peered at the painting. "I never realized how much Serenity took after her mother," she said slowly.

"In more then just physical appearance," agreed Pluto.

Alan looked at the second painting, which was hanging across the corridor for Serenity's. "Who is that?"

"That is Ganieda, Alisin's wife and your grandmother."

Alan walked slowly over to the portrait. It was clear at first glance that the two paintings were done by the same artist in the same room. Both also had the same air of tranquility that carried through the brush strokes. Ganieda was shorter and not as slim as Queen Serenity, though she was far from being overweight, with striking features that only women of great beauty have. Her hair was long and black, done up in a complex braid that hung down one shoulder. Her blue eyes radiated strength and warmness and for a second, Alan felt a deep sadness for not having met her. "What was she like?"

"I don't know. She died when I was a little girl. I do know Alisin loved her deeply, and her death greatly affected him."

"How did she die?"

"Her skyboat went down over Arcadia. We never found out what actually happened."

"Arcadia?" Alan turned slowly. "Arcadia is where a certain Queen came from, a queen who made a deal with a demon to gain a certain prince's love." He looked at Pluto, his expression hovering around anger. "A woman called Beryl?"

Pluto returned his gaze without faltering. "We suspected, but could never prove anything."

"And you just forgot to mention to me and Grandfather that you had a dead ringer for Beryl walking around here."

"Hematite was out on a mission for the Queen when you arrived. In the backwash of excitement we . . . " She stopped and shook her head. "No, not 'we' -- 'I' -- forgot to mention it to you. The fault is mine."

"Someone else could have mentioned it to me." He glanced over at Titanite. "Someone with a personal stake in the matter."

The Outer Senshi shook her head. "Don't blame Titanite or the others. The Queen Beryl they remember was a twisted puppet of

Metellia. With that much dark power running through her, Beryl changed. Only three people living today would remember how Beryl looked before she was physically corrupted. Guardian Ferrite is one, I am the second, and -"

"Grandfather's the third?"

"Yes." She turned away from Alan and started up the stairs.

"We have wasted enough time. Come, Alisin awaits us."

"But for good or ill, I wonder," muttered Alan as he followed her.

Pluto led the way down the hall. Several side corridors branched off, but the outer Senshi ignored them and continued down the hall. At the end of the hall, a plain wooden door. Pluto stopped and turned to face the others. "Let me do most of the talking," she said in a low, hard voice. "I'm the one who knows him the best." She looked at Alan. "No smart remarks - the wrong word at the wrong time could be disastrous."

Alan nodded, the seriousness of Pluto's words sinking in. The Outer Senshi looked at Titanite. "Don't let him provoke you, Ti," she said softly. "He's out of his time and place and he's just as scared as angry." Her expression softened a bit. "Despite his faults, he's been a good uncle to me. It's time I repaid his kindness."

Pluto turned and opened the door. She stood in the doorway for several seconds, then moved into the room slowly. Titanite and Alan came in after her, neither one knowing what to expect.

The study was a big room with no windows. There was only a small light burning on a large desk in the center of the room, throwing most of the room into shadow. With the exception of the door that had come through and a cold fireplace in the far wall, every meter of the walls was covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Several chairs were scattered around the room. An air of gloom hung in the room like a cloud.

"Are you here to kill me, or to gloat?" asked a voice out of the darkness. A shadow moved from behind the desk, and they saw Alisin lean forward in a high-backed chair. The Windwalker looked worn and tired, but there was still fire in his eyes.

"We are here to do nothing but talk," replied Pluto, her voice gentle.

"Talk?" snarled Alisin. "There is nothing to talk about."

"There's more to talk about then you think."

"Then why bring her?" Alisin pointed at Titanite, his voice bitter and intense. "A follower of Beryl and mother to that . . . creature reborn."

Titanite's face darkened, But Alan grabbed her by the arm. Pluto calmly shifter her staff to her other hand and said, "That's not true, Uncle. Beryl has been dust for a millieum, with no chance of rebirth."

"I don't believe you. I saw her with my own eyes."

"You are wrong, Uncle."

Alisin slammed a hand down on the desktop as he stood. "Don't tell me I'm wrong!" he roared. "This city is infested with followers of that monster! They have stopped the recreation of the Orders! It is they. . . ." He stopped suddenly and sank back into his chair. "Leave me," he said, dropping his head. "Let me in peace."

"I can't do that, Uncle."

"There's nothing here for me. Let me go. There are no Elemental schools around, and no one remembers us."

"You can change that."

"How?" He looked up at his niece. "Alan is not responding to my instructions in Elemental magic, and if I cannot teach him, my own decedent, then there is no one to continue to teach others."

"You're forgetting that Alan comes from a time where magic did not exist. It will take time for him to unlearn everything he has been taught regarding magic."

"And what about Beryl and her minions?"

Pluto leaned her staff against a chair and walked slowly around the desk until she was standing next to Alisin. She held out a hand. "Do you still trust me?"

Alisin looked at her, then at her hand. Slowly, he reached out, took her hand in his and nodded.

Pluto glanced up at the others. "What I am about to say is not to leave the room. You are to tell no one, not the Queen, Calcite, Topass, or even Raiden. Understood?" After both Alan and Titanite nodded their agreement, Pluto looked down at her Uncle. "Have you even known me to lie, Uncle?"

"No. Not even as a child."

"Then believe me when I tell you that if I had any doubts about Titanite and the others of her kind, I would have eliminated them from the timeline long ago."

The room was silent as the word sunk in. Titanite looked shocked, while Alan looked puzzled. Alisin looked at Pluto, frowning. "You would have done that?"

"My concerns stretch far beyond the present, Uncle. If their presence had disrupted the timeline, it would have been my duty to remove them."

Alisin said in a whisper, "And they have . . . .not disrupted the timeline?"

"They have been loyal servants for centuries. Every time the Queen has called on them, they have responded with their best efforts. Neo-Queen Serenity trusts them, as would have her mother, and never have the Renegades broken that trust."

Alisin's face clouded. "Renegades?"

"Yes, Uncle. Renegades. A term used by Beryl and her minions and adapted by these people as a matter of pride. Anyone branded a Renegade would be hunted down and killed, just because they were different." Pluto looked at Titanite. "Tell us your story, and let my Uncle hear how you survive." She released her Uncle's hand and walked over to the chair that her staff was leaning against and sat. Titanite moved to another chair, while Alan flopped into the chair farthest from the desk.

Once Titanite was comfortable, she looked at Pluto.

"Where should I start?"

"At the beginning. Where were you born?"

Under Pluto's gentle but through questioning, Titanite told about growing up in the Dark Kingdom of Arcadia. She described the fighting for power, position, and even simple survival that were common in the kingdom. In a voice without emotion, she described how her brother and the others had to hide the fact they were Renegades by being even more ruthless then the other Youmas. Neither Alan nor Alisin said anything during Titanite's story, but sat and listened in silence. As the story unfolded, the anger slowly dissolved from the wizard's face, replaced with intense concentration. Ti narrated how the Renegades manage to escape just before the destruction of the Dark Kingdom, how they were accepted by Neo-Queen Serenity, and their integration into Crystal Tokyo. Finally, She then gave them a brief outline of the service the Renegades had performed over the centuries.

After Titanite finished her story, there was silence in the study for several minutes. Then Alisin asked quietly, "How many of you survived the destruction of Beryl's kingdom?"

"Seven of us. My brother Calcite, Pyrite, Azurite, Myself, Chrysolite, Margrave, and Magnesite."

"How many of you are . . . Renegades?"

"Five of us. Margrave is the only non Renegade Youma who survived."

Alisin looked at Pluto. "All five Renegades hold the Queen's trust," said the outer Senshi smoothly. "While Margrave has use her abilities to create a . . . unique place in Crystal Tokyo's society. She will not risk it for any reason."

"What about the other one?"asked Alan from his corner of the room. "Mags . . . er, Magnesite."

"He suffered a slight 'accident' in his escape, and he's not a Youma anymore." Titanite looked at Alan."Before you ask, remember Odo from that Star Trek series?"

"DS9?" Alan looked puzzled. "Yes."

"Magnesite has more in common with Odo these days then just having a funny name."

"Oh."

"Magnesite is not a threat to the city," said Pluto to her uncle.

Ti shivered slightly. "I rather not talk about that creep anymore, if you don't mind." She looked back at Alisin. "What else would you like to know, Master Windwalker?"

Alisin took a deep breath. "The woman I attacked in the hospital grounds, the one who looks like Beryl. That was your daughter?"

Titanite nodded. "Hematite is well aware of who she looks like, and she will not follow Beryl's path to destruction. Before you ask, Neo-Queen Serenity trusts her implicitly."

Pluto nodded gravely. "A couple of years ago, the queen sent Princess Usagi on a trip to observe the world clandestinely. As a sign of her faith in her daughter, the Queen entrusted the Ginshousu to the Princess' care. The queen chose Hematite to act as the Princess' bodyguard."

Alisin's eyes widen slightly at this revelation. "I did not realize. . . . "

Pluto continued before Alisin could finish his thought. "The trip was completed successfully, and Hematite has never shown any signs of becoming the corrupted monster that consumed Beryl."

Alisin sank back in his chair, losing himself in the shadows.

"She is not that monster?"

Pluto's voice had a hard edge on it as she said, "If I had to remove the Renegades because they interfered in the timeline, do you think I would have allowed Beryl the chance to wreak her vengeance?"

Alisin chuckled half-heartily. "You always had a practical streak, Moment, even when you were young."

"Do you believe me when I say that Titanite and the others are not the ogres you thought they were?"

"I believe you."

With those three words, the mood in the room grew less oppressive. Both Alan and Titanite relaxed. Pluto smiled slightly. "I'm glad, Uncle. I was afraid you wouldn't believe us."

Alisin took a deep breath. "But if I believe you, than I have been a fool in so many ways."

Pluto shook her head. "Not a fool, Uncle," she said gently.

"That is one thing you have never been."

Alisin's voice became serious. "But my rash actions have endangered innocent people, damage property, and destroy any chance of Alan and myself being accepted by the Queen and the royal court."

"You underestimate Neo-Queen Serenity's forgiveness," Pluto replied, her voice gentle again. "She is very much like her mother in that respect. Your actions did not seriously injure anyone and the damage you caused has already been repaired. Once you have spoken to her, I think the Queen will overlook your conduct."

Alisin didn't look convinced. " Maybe I made a mistake in waiting for this new era."

"No, you didn't. There is a need for Elemental magic in this world, and a need for someone steeped in magical knowledge to teach it to a new generation of Elemental wizards" She stood up and walked around the desk to stand next to Alisin. "You are needed here."

A flicker of understanding crossed Alisin's face. "Did you plan this?" he asked. "Did you plan to . . . ." He stopped, looking for the right word.

"Try 'stash'," offered Alan, a cold look of suspicion directed at Pluto.

Alisin nodded. "Was that your idea, to 'stash' an Silver Millieum-era Elemental wizard in the Land of Dreams until they were needed in Crystal Tokyo?"

For a moment, Pluto looked uncomfortable. "I knew there would a need for a wizard to spearhead the revival of the elemental schools," she said carefully, aware that everyone else in the room was looking at her. "I had a vague plan at the time, but I didn't come to see you for that reason." She looked into her uncle's eyes. "My appearance on the cliffs after the Fall was only to make sure you were all right, not to hijack you into this future."

She reached out and took Alisin's hands in hers. The Windwalker did not resist as Pluto placed his hands inside her own hands and held them together. "When you told me what had happened to the elemental orders, I knew my task would be more difficult. But your willingness to wait for the reappearance of the Senshi and the others gave me the idea of 'stashing' you in a place where you could wait until the time had come. I called in a favor that the Guardian of Dreams owed me, and got you safely into his world of dreams. The rest, as they say, is history."

Alan stood. "Did you ever think of asking Grandfather's opinion on this plan?" he asked coldly.

Pluto looked at him. "If I had thought Uncle Alisin couldn't adapt to this world, I would have never offered him the chance. I love him too much to hurt him on purpose."

Alan sighed theatrically. "Well, wee- whoopee-flapndoodle," he said sarcastically. "Do you want me to pull out my violin and start playing?"

"Alan," said Alisin, a look of anger forming on his features.

"Don't be disrespectful."

"He has a right to be angry, Uncle," said Pluto. "When you went into the Land of Dreams, I honestly had no idea how I was going to bring you back. Your merging was not something I expected or planned for."

Alan's eyes widen. "You mean Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time, the woman who taught Machiavelli how to be Machiavellian, didn't have a plan or two readied when we showed up?"

"Alan!" said Ti angrily, turning in her chair to look at him.

That was uncalled for!"

"So, sue me."

Pluto arched an eyebrow. "I see you have been listening to idle gossip about me," she replied coolly.

Alan shrugged. "That all there is about you."

"Moment," said Alisin, the expression of anger replaced by one of concern. "Why did you want me to watch over my descendants if you had no idea how to bring me back?"

Pluto exhaled slowly. "I knew that in order to revive the magic, there would be a need for people with the right abilities who could be taught Elemental magic. Who better then your descendants?"

Alisin nodded. "And if I had refused to watch over my descendants?"

"Then I would have watched over them as if they had been my own, out of respect and love for you."

"Thank you, Moment. For your faith in me and everything you have done for Alan and myself."

"There's another reason why I am glad to see you again." Pluto stepped back from her uncle and released his hands. Her fuku began to shimmer, growing and twisting into another set of clothing that flowed across her body. When the shimmering faded, the Fuku had changed into formal-looking dress similar to the one in Ganieda's portrait, only Pluto's was the same color as her fuku's skirt.

Both Alan and Titanite, surprised at this sudden shift was silent as Pluto - no, as Moment knelt beside Alisin and placed her hands into his. "I have been Sailor Pluto for a long time, Uncle," she said very softly. "I have guarded the timeline far longer then any of my predecessors, out of necessity." Sadness lingered in her face. "Somewhere during that time, the part of me that is Princess Moment was lost. I need someone to help me remember what it is like to be that Princess again." She smiled cautiously. "Someone like you, Uncle."

Alisin looked uncertain. "I don't know how I can help." He glanced over at Alan. "I am somewhat limited in my actions."

"You've got that right," muttered Alan.

Both Uncle and niece looked at Alan. "You have something to say," said Pluto. It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Alan stood up. "You've got that right." He glowered at his grandfather. "When you and I first met, you promised me you would NEVER usurp my body. But what happens less then a month after we arrived here? You see someone who you THINK is an enemy, and you evict me from my own BODY!" Alan was shouting now, jabbing a finger at Alisin with every word. "The result is you nearly kill four people, INCLUDING ME!"

He took several steps toward Alisin, but Titanite stood up and intercepted him before he could reach the desk. Alan glared up into Polaris' face. "Out of the way," he said harshly.

Titanite shook her head, her face impassive. "Go sit down."

Alan held his ground. "Do you know what's it like to have someone sharing your mind?"

Titanite's face became hard. "Go sit down, or I will sit you down."

"No," said Alisin. He gently released Moment's hands and walked slowly around the desk. "This is between myself and Alan."

Titanite stepped to the side, but stayed close. The Windwalker looked at his grandson. "I am sorry, Alan," he said slowly. "I allowed my blind rage at whom I thought was Beryl drive all rational thought from my head."

"And take over my body? " Alan leaned forward. "I am my own man, not a convenient body that you can occupy anything you feel like it!"

"I'm sorry, Alan."

"It's bad enough that I'm treated like a talking dog, because you and I are timesharing MY body! I have been examined so many times since I've arrived here, I know my insides better then I know the city I'm stuck in!"

"That's unfair to Ami," said Titanite sharply. "She's concerned about you."

Alan looked like he'd been slapped. But before he could reply, Moment said, "I agree with Alan."

All three looked at the woman who still stood behind the desk. She tilted her head slightly, her expression serious. "I had thought my words to the Queen would have made things easier for you." She frowned. "But it seems that Ami's curiosity and Rei's suspicions were too strong to them to ignore." She looked at her uncle. "Your actions have not helped the situation. Both of you are sharing his body, but he is the one who decides when and if you assume control of his body."

Alisin nodded. "I do understand."

"Remember that next time!" growled Alan.

"What Uncle Alisin did was wrong, Alan," she said softly. "But there is little you can do about it except to vent your frustrations at him."

Alan sighed and turned away, running a hand through his hair. Titanite relaxed and resumed her seat. "So how do we do this?" Alan asked in a tight voice. "How can he and I work out a schedule when we're not in the mood to speak to each other?"

"May I make a suggestion?"

Alan threw his hands into the air. "Why not? It's not like I'm doing something important right now."

"To begin with, Uncle Alisin will only remain in your awareness for one hour a day, or if you're in a life-threatening situation. Once you are comfortable at that level, the length of Alisin's visits can be increased to a level you feel is fair."

Alan turned to look at her. "I think I could live with that. Grandfather?"

"I, too can agree to those terms."

"There's only one amendment to these terms." Moment smiled. "One evening a week, Alisin is to have complete control of your body."

"What?" asked Alan, his face taking on a strange expression.

"What the heck for?"

"Because He and I will be having Dinner that night."

Alan's eyes widen and he looked somewhat comical "Dinner? My BODY?. . er . . . ah . . . What the heck for?" he managed to babble.

"Uncle Alisin is the closest thing to family I have left. My responsibilities had not allowed me the option of forming close relationships. It has been a long time since I was able to relax and be anything else but the Guardian of Time. With Uncle Alisin, I can be nothing more then a dutiful niece for a couple of hours." She took on a look of hopefulness. "Will you allow that?"

Alan blinked several time. "On two conditions," he said finally in a resigned tone of voice. "I'm the one that goes to the dinner site and I'm the one who leaves afterwards. Grandfather can have the time in between."

"Fair enough. And the other condition?"

Alan scratched his head. "I...er...ah...Idon'twantanyhanky-pankybetweenyouandGrandfather," he said in a rush.

Moment raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Would you repeat that a bit slower?"

"Do I have to?"

Moment giggled, while Titanite just smiled. Alisin looked astonished. "I'm old enough to HER grandfather," he said in an injured tone of voice.

"But I'm not," countered Alan. "And that's the body you're going to be in."

"Do not worry, Alan," said Moment, still looking amused. "I promise that I have no romantic intentions toward my uncle, no matter who's body he's in."

Alan looked skeptical. "Fine. Chose a night and we'll set it up."

Moment's dress shimmered again, and Pluto stood there, looking amused. "What else is bothering you, Alan Thomas? If this is to be a new beginning, it is best we clear the air now."

"You don't make it easy, do you?"

"It is best to talk out problems before they become a major headache."

"Fine." Alan looked at Alisin. "Grandfather, don't take this the wrong way, but your teaching manner sucks."

Alisin raised an eyebrow. "My teaching methods are at fault?"

"You're short tempered and stubborn. You don't listen to me.

Everything has to be your way."

"You do not understand Magic."

"And you haven't bother telling me anything about Magic." Alan's voice became strident. "It always 'do this!' and 'do that!' You haven't explained anything to me!"

"I wasn't sure how much you could understand."

Alan began rubbing his temples with his fingertips. "Look," he said in a softer voice, "I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a GPA of 3.56. I know COBOL, Pascal, C, C plusplus, and a couple of other computer languages. I can design and build firewalls and other computer security programs like nobody else can. If I can survive college, I can survive your explanations."

Alisin looked at Pluto, his look questioning. The Senshi replied dryly, "He will be able to understand your explanations."

"I see." The Windwalker looked back at his grandson. "I did not explain, because I am not sure of your abilities."

"What do you mean, 'not sure of your abilities'?"

"You have a talent in you for the magic, but something is blocking your access to the power, limiting your use to high stress situations."

"So, what do you suggest?"

"Why not go over to Crystal Tokyo University?" suggested Titanite. "Pyrite is an expert on most forms of magic."

"A sound recommendation," said Pluto, walking around the desk to stand by her staff. "I think spending some time at CTU might give both of you insights into Alan's problems with Magic, and how to work with High Magic."

"Do we really have a choice?" asked Alan. "Besides, I want my Star Trek Novel back."

Alisin frowned. "If we must." He looked at Pluto. "Why has no one tried to revive Elemental magic before now?"

"Because Elemental Magic is High Magic, and Serenity has forbidden the teaching of High magic in Crystal Tokyo."

Alisin sat down slowly. "I take it she had a good reason to do so?"

"Someone who had been a student here used their knowledge of High Magic to become a Necromancer."

The anger that exploded on Alisin's face was extreme and powerful. "Those malefactors still exist?" he hissed.

"A few do," replied Titanite. "Whenever they do show up, the Starhunters are not far behind."

"Excuse me." said Alan. "But what is a Necromancer?"

"A user of magic that draws on the mana of the dying," replied Alisin harshly. "They are nothing more then carrion birds and despoilers of the worse kind."

"I take it they aren't good guys, then."

"Beryl used Necromancy, and you know what she was."

"I get the message."

"I will speak to the Queen and ask for an exception to the rule," said Pluto."Until she approves, I suggest that you not teach Alan any more."

"Fair enough," replied the Windwalker. "I must have some time to myself."

"Are you all right now, Uncle?"

Alisin exhaled unhurriedly. "You have given me much to sort through. I must think about everything we have spoken about." He smiled at her. "I'm glad we have had this time together, Moment, though the circumstances are far from the best."

"True. But I am glad you're safe." She went over and hugged Alisin. He returned the hung and they stood silent for a short period of time. Finally, Alan coughed and the two parted awkwardly. </