This is the sequel to my earlier work, "Mars Fire Ignite". If you
haven't read that one, you probably should. Some parts of this come
from my first work.
Also, if you are wondering where this fits in in the Sailor Moon
timeline, don't. It doesn't fit anywhere in that universe. The Inner
Scouts are around 17 years old right now, some two to three years
after "Mars Fire Ignite".
Disclaimer-wise, Sailor Moon and her friends are the property of Naoko
Takeuchi, and they're copyrighted by her, and to a lesser extent, DiC
(those manglers!). Also, there is a good bit of Forgotten Realms
flavor in here, and they belong to TSR (or Wizards of the Coast,
depending on how you look at it). Most of the other things spawned
from my own imagination, so I'd like credit for such. Enjoy!
Note: For those of you familiar with Forgotten Realms, and more
specifically, the drow warrior Drizzt Do' Urden, I would like to make
it clear that Chaszmyr is NOT, I repeat, NOT a copy of that
copyrighted and fabulous hero. Chaszmyr was a character created by my
best friend long before I made him read the Drizzt novels. Both of us
were rather surprised at the likenesses.
Comments, criticisms, compliments to schoudh@eos.ncsu.edu
-------------------------------------
Quest for the Silver Imperium Crystal
by Soumitra Choudhury
Chapter 2: Lull Before the Storm
-------------------------------------
"Dark elves! They're evil!"
A near-crippling wave of self-pity washed over Chaszmyr as he
drew his blades, Lyonesse shining like a star. When will people learn
to not read a book by its cover? Just as he dropped into a fighting
stance, a bolt
of lightning erupted from the shouter's tiara.
Leaping out of the way of a lightning bolt is nigh impossible,
but the drow managed to turn his body just enough to miss most of the
blast. Excruciating pain locked his muscles, dropping him to the
ground. Teeth grinding together, hair standing on end, Chaszmyr
struggled to regain control of his extremities while burst of blinding
light popped in his vision.
Xune gasped, and fury replaced her congenial nature. In one
fluid motion, she drew Orthae Abban, her sacred bastard sword, taking
up a protective stand over Chaszmyr's trembling body. Over the length
of the slim blade, runes of power glowed with the same silver light as
the counterweight diamond. Murmuring a prayer to Eilistraee, she
focused her attention on the brunette. Four burst of silvery-white
magic shot from Xune's circlet, twisting and weaving through the
groves bushes and growth, and hit the target in a shower of
sparks. Grunting in pain, the lightning-wielder slumped to her knees.
Meanwhile, Szaravel dropped her staff and chanted softly,
wiggling her figners in delicate movements. Nothing happened when she
stopped, but she seemed satisfied nonetheless.
At that moment, the blonde human with the orange and white
outfit raised her finger and yelled, "Crescent Beam Smash!" A thin
beam of golden light pierced the air, but before it could reach the
sorceress, it hit an invisible barrier and dissipated upon contact.
"Now," Szaravel said coldly, "can we try this again?" Her
staff levitated off the ground and back into her hands.
The blonde was about to retort, but the girl with blue hair
motioned her to be quiet. "They don't register on the computer as a
threat, Venus," she whispered, thinking the drow couldn't hear.
Xune, her visage a mask of thinly veiled rage, waved her sword
about. "Of course we're a threat! You trespassed upon our home and
shot my consort!" she screamed, stepping forward several steps. The
enraged priestess would have continued onward, ranting and waving, but
for the invisible wall, which kept the drow away from the humans just
as effectively as the humans from the drow.
The blue-haired girl, rising from her crouch, turned to the
brunette and the one known as Venus, and made a stand-down gesture.
Then, she checked on the other two: the girl who had collapsed and the
other blonde, who was taking care of the former. "How are you feeling,
Mars? You look a little tired."
Mars gestured dismissively, trying to gently push the blonde
away. "I'm fine. I'm just drained, that's all. Sailor Moon, do you
mind?" The latter comment was directed to the girl helping her to
stand.
Chaszmyr, after considerable struggle, gained control of his
facilities once again. Xune sheathed her sword, sensing a lull in
their conflict, and kneeled down next to her lover. "Take it easy,"
she murmured soothingly, and laid her hands upon his injured side. As
she called upon her goddess to heal the drow's wounds, he took a
closer look at the intruders.
The gemstone! They were the same girls he had seen in the
visions from touching that glowing gem several months ago.
He caught Xune's eye, and knew she had already figured that
out.
Szaravel, meanwhile, had drifted over to the edge of the
grove, just before her barrier, gazing with interest at the newcomers.
"You're trespassing," she repeated matter-of-factly. "Is there any
reason why we should not kill you where you stand?"
The brunette frowned, taking a step closer, but Venus held her
back. "We apologize. We're new here."
"That's quite obvious. The question is, why?"
The blue-haired girl answered. "We've come a great distance
because we are searching for something that we have, er, lost." Xune
pricked up her ears, finishing up on Chaszmyr.
Szaravel raised an eyebrow, indicating for the speaker to
continue.
"We search for a crystal gem, about fist-sized, seemingly like
a large faceted diamond. It... means a great deal to us."
Xune let Chaszmyr up slowly, curiosity replacing her earlier
anger. Her partner winced at the tenderness in his side, but the wound
itself had disappeared at her ministrations. His own curiosity was
peaked, so he held off on berating the brunette.
The drow sorceress watched indifferently as the blonde with
the odd ponytails and the weakened girl joined the rest of them on the
other side of her force wall. Each of the girls sparkled with bluish
motes to Szaravel's eyes, a gift of birth she had been granted that
allowed her to detect the presence of magic. This interested the drow
more than she let on.
"I have never seen this gem that you search. What is its
significance to you?"
The blue-haired girl was about to respond, but Mars cut her
off with a low growl of "Mercury." Everyone focused on the her.
Graciously, Mars removed her arm from around the blonde's
shoulder, struggling to support herself. "The significance of the gem
is that it is a family heirloom to our Queen. It was stolen by a thief
and we were sent to retrieve it. If you have not seen it, then we beg
your forgiveness for trespassing upon your lands, and we'll continue
our search elsewhere." Though eloquently spoken, the words had all the
warmth of a glacier. Several of the humans tensed up, expecting a
hostile reply.
Szaravel smiled coldly. "As you wish." She turned her back
upon them, and then threw over her shoulder, "Though, if you are
indeed new to this place, you won't last five minutes in those woods."
"That's what you think," the brunette retorted, a slight sneer
in her tone. "We're tougher than you think."
"Wait!" Xune shouted. "We've seen your crystal."
The blonde squealed in delight. "Really?!? Where is it?"
Turning to Mars, she clasped her hands together. "We'll be home in no
time!"
"Actually, we don't know where it is now," Chaszmyr
replied. "We kept it for a while, but... circumstances dictated it
leave out possession." His face darkened in embarrassment.
The girls looked a little downhearted at that, and the blonde
with the pigtails looked about ready to cry. Mars snapped her an
irritated look, and hissed, "Don't you dare cry, Serena. You knew this
wasn't going to be that easy."
"Well, I could hope, couldn't I?" came the sniffled reply.
Xune watched them with a growing motherly sense. They looked
so lost, like a bunch of schoolgirls on their first day of school,
afraid but making a dire effort at not showing it. Perhaps this is
Eilistraee's handiwork? "We could offer our assistance if you wish,"
she suddenly found herself saying.
Chaszmyr, used to Xune's generosity and helping nature, wasn't
too surprise at the offer, but he did hint at a frown. "Don't you
think you're being too hasty? We don't know that much about them,
after all."
Szaravel didn't take it half so well.
"What do you mean, 'offer our assistance'?!? They just nearly
tried to kill Uncle Chaz! We don't know anything about them, and
they're exuding enough foreign magic to interest every faction of
power in the region!" She pounded her staff repeatedly upon the
ground, punctuating her argument.
Xune shrugged. She had cast a spell that would notify her as
to the general moral sway of the humans, whether good or evil, and as
she had suspected, they radiated auras of purity and innocent
goodness, especially the one called Serena. Her aura outshined the
others by several orders of magnitude. "I have a feeling about them."
"Baahh!" the young drow cried in exasperation, and stormed
back to the house, her robes billowing about her. "Your feelings are
going to get you killed one of these days!" she yelled back at them
before slamming the door shut.
Xune smiled patiently. "Faith, my little one," she whipered in
Szaravel's direction, "faith." Chaszmyr added his own smile to
hers. It wasn't the first time their adopted daughter had been
frustrated by Xune's kindness, nor would it be the last. Szaravel
couldn't quite grasp the idea of giving something for nothing. It was
a heritage flaw that kept most of the drow race mired in their
cruelty.
Serena cleared her throat delicately, regaining the couple's
attention. "If you really mean it, we could sure use your help. We
really have no idea where we are."
"Well, where did you come from?" Chaszmyr inquired.
"Earth."
The couple blinked, and stared blankly. "Uh, where is that?"
Serena turned to Mercury, indicating her to take over. "It's a
planet 70,000 light years away," she recited in a scholarly fashion,
unmindful of how unnatural it sounded to the girls around her to speak
of their home world.
"Another planet? How did you get here? A portal?" the
priestess asked, a slight note of incredulity in her tone.
Before Mercury could plow in on a technical explanation of the
workings of the Sailor Teleport, modified as it was by Mars' unique
control of magical eminations, Mars clapped a hand over Mercury's
mouth and replied, "Yes, a portal." The Scout of Ice glowered at the
mundane response.
Shrugging at their odd behavior, Xune raised her arms and
prayed a request to her goddess. In response, her circlet glittered,
and the invisible barrier that separated the two groups twinkled out
of existence. "You are more than welcome to stay in our home as long
as you need. I am Xune Kilsek, caretaker of this grove, and this is my
love, Chaszmyr Arabani." Chaszmyr nodded his head in a minor greeting.
Serena, feeling that it was her responsibility, introduced her
guardians. Pointing to Mercury, she began, "This is Sailor Mercury,
our resident genius." Mercury blushed awkwardly. "The one who threw
her lightning at you is Sailor Jupiter. Next to her is Sailor
Venus. Sailor Mars is the one with the black hair, and I'm... Sailor
Moon, champion of love and justice! I will right wrongs and triumph
over evil! And that means you!" she cried, pointing at the drow before
she realized that they really weren't evil. "Um, er, that is, if you
WERE evil, I'd have to punish you. Hee hee."
The rest of the Sailor Scouts groaned in embarrassment.
Chuckling at their display, Chaszmyr sheathed his blades.
"Well met, Champion of Love and Justice. It is our pleasure and...
honor, to meet such illustrious, if scantily-clad, heroines." This
produced a glare from his paramour. "If you will kindly join us, I
think we should continue this in front of a warming fire, with a bit
of refreshment. Perhaps then," he ended with a charming, but innocent
smile, "we can hear your strange tale in completion, along with
answers to such questions as 'why you are called sailors, but are so
far from water?'" Bowing low before them, the handsome young drow
indicated for the girls to go before him.
The Sailor Scouts, charmed by his eloquent words, sighed
dreamily. It seemed a good start to a journey riddled with the
unknown. And, if this gorgeous, if somewhat exotic looking, man will
help, then who are we to complain?
*****
Rei pulled the quilt up to her neck, reveling in the softness
of her bed. After the meal Xune had whipped up for them, fatigue had
quickly taken over her body, begging her to recuperate from the
overwhelming power she had consumed in their transport.
Before sleep could claim her, though, she considered what it
was they had gotten themselves into.
Xune and Chaszmyr had been kind enough to give them a rundown
on the workings of this world called Toril. It was a world out of a
fantasy book, though Rei had never actually completed one. Perhaps a
world out of one of her mangas? Yes, maybe Record of Lodoss War, or
something like that.
The important thing, however, was that magic flourished here.
Take, for example, Szaravel and Xune. The former was very
knowledgeable in spellcraft, so much so that Rei considered inquiring
the drow's advice on a few arcane topics that had been bothering her.
'That is, whenever Szaravel gets off her high horse and
decides to return to the realm of the humble,' Rei muttered silently
to herself. 'There's a girl that needs a good slap in the face.'
Szaravel had grumbled and groaned about aiding the Scouts, but
had relented in the end. Surprisingly enough, Xune and Chaszmyr had
easily weathered her selfish ranting, something that nearly forced Rei
to punch the insolent brat. Apparently, the couple was used to her
childish temper tantrums and difference of opinions.
Xune's magic was something thoroughly different... and perhaps
more frightening. Her magic came from her worship of a goddess, an
entity known as Eilistraee.
Rei didn't care who or what this Eilistraee was. The fact that
she grants spells and powers to her followers was all that mattered to
the human sorceress. Not only that, but there were other gods and
goddesses out in the Toril pantheon that granted similar favors.
Where are Earth's Gods, and why aren't They granting any
favors?
This troubling thought pursued her as she sank into her
slumber.
*****
Early the next morning, Chaszmyr found Sailor Mercury, now as
Ami, in the den, quietly tapping away at her device she called a
computer. She had wrapped a wool cloak about her to ward off the
morning chill, and he thought she looked rather cute. That hair, a
shade of blue unique among humans, enchanted him deeply.
"A good morn to you, fair Ami," he greeted, pulling a stool
near to the desk she worked upon. "I trust your rest was well and
undisturbed."
She turned to him and smiled her quiet, shy smile. "I slept as
well as I could in this new environment." Chuckling slightly, she
added, "It wasn't too much, though. Serena's snoring was quite loud."
Joining in her mirth, Chaszmyr nodded. "We drow don't sleep as
deeply as humans do. Believe me, I heard it clear across the house."
He pointed to the computer. "If you don't mind my asking, what is it
that you are doing with your device?"
'He IS handsome, isn't he?' Ami thought to herself, a bit
unnerved at his near presence. Though his skin shone a glossy jet
black, though his hair, long and tied to a careful ponytail, fairly
gleamed white, though his ears were delicately pointed, Chaszmyr was
devastatingly dashing, his sapphire blue eyes drowning her with his
innocent gaze.
"Ami?"
She snapped out of her reverie, and blushed fiercely. "Uh, uh,
I'm terribly sorry. What did you say?" she stuttered, more than
embarrassed.
"I was wondering what you are doing."
"Oh, well, I'm trying to locate the Crystal by scanning the
vicinity for the residual energy patterns. You see..." and instantly,
she was off on a wild and complicated explanation on words that
streaked past Chaszmyr faster than he could draw his blades. After a
few moments of her rambling, he burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" she demanded, a tad miffed at his response.
"Ah, dear stranger, the meaning of your words cannot chisel
past this woefully thick skull that I possess. I can only stomach food
for thought that is broken into small pieces and spoonfed to me." All
this he remarked with pleasant acceptance, his tone amused and
hospitable.
Ami opened her mouth to apologize, but he raised his hand
before her. "No, no. There's no need to apologize. It was my mistake
for not knowing where I tread. If you'll excuse me, then, I'm going to
make my daily patrols. If you see Xune, tell her I'll be back in a few
hours."
She watched him leave the room, only then realizing that her
heart was pounding painfully in her chest.
*****
That day, the Scouts spent a great deal of time acclimating
themselves to the surroundings, minus Ami and Szaravel. Once the
severity of the situation (on Earth) had been made clear, Szaravel
decided that she would help Ami with finding the Crystal, using her
magic to aid Ami's computer. The two of them, peas in a pod that
spanned 70,000 light years, quickly immersed themselves in
intellectual gibberish, of which only Rei could possibly understand,
albeit thinly.
"We lost the signal for the Crystal sometime while in
transport, though time really doesn't have much meaning when you're
traveling in the blink of an eye." Ami pulled off her glasses and
cleaned them on the tunic she was wearing. The Scouts, having left
their clothes back on Earth (they never expected to detransform into
their human forms), had been forced to borrow some from their
hosts. Most of them fit well, for Xune was about the same height as
all the girls except for Lita. The brunette had been forced to wear
some of Chaszmyr's clothing, much to everyone's chuckles and her own
chagrin.
"If what Uncle Chaz and Auntie Xune tell me is correct,"
Szaravel contemplated aloud, "then this Crystal of your sent this
signal back during the Time of Troubles."
"Time of Troubles?"
"Oh yes. It was a period of time when the pantheon was thrown
out of the heavens and forced to wander Toril as mortals. I'm not sure
about the details, but magic became unpredictable and chaotic for
wizards, and wouldn't work at all for priests unless they were within
range of their mortal gods."
Ami looked puzzled. "But that couldn't have been more than a
day or so ago. We left only yesterday."
Szaravel shot her human companion a contemptuous glare. "The
Time of Troubles ended nearly two weeks ago. Apparently, this 'Sailor
Transport' of yours doesn't account too terribly for the time it takes
to travel such a great distance."
Stunned, Ami stared Szaravel for a moment. Two weeks! What
were their parents thinking? Is Rei's hypnotic suggestion still
working?
"Well... then maybe... the end of this 'Time of Troubles' is
the reason why the signal collapsed," the human girl whispered, trying
to collect her thoughts. "It's passage, though, should leave us a
trail to follow. My computer can track it, but it will take time."
Szaravel sighed. "I think time is what you have plenty of."
To pass said time, the rest of the Scouts took to helping
their hosts with various tasks of keeping up the grove and patrolling
the woods, though nothing dangerous came within miles of their
dwelling.
Lita, just as she had wished, got Xune to show her a couple a
new tricks to cooking, though the tall girl was slightly disappointed
to find out that food really didn't differ too greatly. Exotic food
was much too rare because one had to kill it yourself or find a larger
market. Xune mentioned that the nearest city was some distance to the
north and east, but darker forces controlled it.
"No, I'm afraid you'll miss some of the more interesting
delicacies, unless you stay longer," Xune told her, amusement
twinkling in her eyes. "It's a pity, really. I make a fabulous dish
of dragon steaks doused in a light shrieker mushroom sauce. A glass
of distilled elvish wine with a few drops of purified chimera blood,
and you'll think it's the food of the gods."
Lita had gaped at the beautiful drow woman.
"By the way, Lita, how had you heard of dark elves before? I
had thought your world was devoid of demihumans?" Xune asked
inquisitively.
The tall girl blushed. "Umm, well, cookbooks aren't the only
things I read. Occasionally I get in the mood to read something
fictional, and, er, fantasy usually is what I end up picking. The
authors of Earth have managed to capture the darker side of drow
rather well. It's a... stereotype, if you will."
Xune smiled sadly. "You can't realize how correct they are."
Serena, in typical Serena form, slept until noon, ate
everything in sight, and relaxed the rest of the time. She spent a lot
of time wandering the grove, feeling the peace of the blessed area.
Mina and Rei had fairly tackled Chaszmyr to get him to teach
them some skills in combat. After a few rounds of sparring, it was
obvious to the girls that the handsome warrior who so took their
breath away could also kill or injure them quicker then they could
blink in response. His skill with the scimitars was phenomonal too say
the least, a blade-whirring dance that mesmerized them more often than
not.
Mina was particular fascinated with his enchanted blade,
Lyonesse. "A whole blade forged out of a single diamond? Aren't you
afraid of it being stole?"
Chaszmyr had smiled enigmatically. "Whoever would be required
to defeat me first."
That seemed answer enough.
In three days, Rei managed to bone up on her archery,
something she usually had only a passing interest in. With her 'Flame
Sniper' attack, however, she had discovered a small need to know how
to really shoot the bow. It helped her considerably that she held
natural skill in firing an arrow.
It was on this third day, while Rei and Chaszmyr were
challenging each other in an archery contest while the others watched,
that Ami and Szaravel's came out to announce their good news.
"We found it!" cried an exuberant Ami, waving her computer
about. Szaravel merely grinned smugly.
A cheer went up. "Where is it? Is it nearby?" Serena asked,
excitement bubbling in her voice.
"Well, it's on an island in some ocean several thousand miles
southwest of here. I can coordinate the location, and it will be a
simple matter to teleport there, pick it, and be on our way!"
Chaszmyr and Xune frowned. "Several thousand miles? How did it
get that far in three weeks?"
"Who cares!" Lita exclaimed. "All that matters is that we'll
be able to retrieve it. When do we leave?"
"Yes, when do we leave?" Xune added, stepping
forward. Everyone turned to her, blinking in confusion. "What?"
Szaravel, predictably, was the first to reply. "I don't think
this is our fight, Xune," she hissed, emphasizing her surrogate
mother's name.
Xune shrugged. "We've been over this before. I'm not forcing
you to go, but I will be helping them any way I can. They are still
new here, and there is no telling what dangers they may stumble upon
that they will not understand." She smiled wanely. "Besides, you know,
that as a follower of Eilistraee, that I could not do otherwise."
The young mage muttered several scathing comments, but
relinquished the argument. "Fine," she spat. "The quicker they leave,
the quicker I can get back to my studies."
Chaszmyr coughed quietly to hide his amusement. "Don't mind
little Szaravel, girls. She's really a caring person under that pretty
face. Xune and I just haven't managed to find her yet."
"I REALLY need to change you into a kobold," she huffed in
indignation.
Serena laughed aloud, and the others smiled, the tension of
the next leg of their quest mildly relieved. "We'd be honored if you
would join us, Xune," Rei said. She had been itching for some action
herself, her own magic having been replenished with the extended
period of rest. Still, she vowed not to use it unless it was
absolutely necessary. After all this time, she still worried about
alienating herself from her dearest friends.
Chaszmyr unstrung his bow and picked up his quiver. "Then, I
surmise we shall be leaving soon. It would be best for me to begin
gathering supplies."
Serena nodded. "Yes, this needs to be done immediately. Would
it be okay to leave tomorrow morning?"
Xune nodded.
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