Episode 12 - Battle of the Kuroihono'o Senshi!

All was still within the depths of the Black Hole, but there was one place hidden within the dark nothingness where things were not so quiet. A black fortress that stood tall and ominous within held against the Black Hole's crushing power, the place called Obsidian. It still remained unharmed in the void and from within the Empress Opalite and her followers dwelled.

Two men walked down the halls of Obsidian, their feet clanging against the hard floor the only sounds they made. As quietly as possible, they made their way past their master's throne room, in hopes of not disturbing her, and headed toward their individual bed chambers. Rhodonite's room came first and the man stopped and stood in front of it. Tektites continued to walk and he came closer to where Calcite's room was though it was no longer there. Opalite had made it as though it had never been there, undoubtedly a power of the Black Hole that she possessed. The young man's fingers brushed across the wall and he turned his head away. With each step he was slowing down until he could go no further. His hand rested on the smooth black surface and to himself he whispered "It's just not true!"

"You have seen it to be true with your own eyes, Tektites-kun," a whispered voice echoed softly in his ear. Suddenly, Tektites realized that Rhodonite had followed and had come up behind him.

He was startled and swung around quickly. "Rhodonite-senpai!" he whispered in shock.

Rhodonite took a few steps back. His face hinted at a smile, but where it began or ended could not be said. He spoke in his cold and matter-of-fact voice. "Tektites-kun, have you not yet learned of the way things are? Hmmm, you are still a child, I suppose."

"Forgive me Rhodonite-senpai, but you and I are not that much different in age," the younger man countered.

"Age has nothing to do with maturity. You have not yet reached your highest level," he said as he placed a hand on the other's shoulder.

"You have to understand," Rhodonite continued, looking at Tektites, "everything in nature betrays. It is only natural for humans to do so and the easiest path."

"No! Calcite would not do this! They must have tricked her or forced her to be with them."

"You think she is weak? Tektites-kun, that woman has never done anything that she has not wished to do. Don't you know that?"

The black-haired man shook his head in rejection of the idea. "I won't believe it! She wouldn't really do this!"

"But--" Rhodonite tried to start.

"No! I won't believe it! She wouldn't betray me like this," Tektites burst out. Then he turned and ran from Rhodonite, disappeared in mid-step.

Princess Serenity walked along the grassy hill in search of nothing in particular. It was at the top of the hill that she found Calcite sitting alone, staring up at the morning sky. She seemed distant and lonely, but at the princess approached from behind the woman unleashed her sword and swung around. She was startled when she found it to be Serenity and relaxed, replacing her weapon in it's sheath. "Princess Serenity-sama," Calcite said softly, "do the others wish to go over more--"

"No," Serenity cut in, "everyone is still soaking in all the information from the last meeting. Actually I think they're in another meeting just to discuss the last one. May I sit with you?"

"As you wish," Calcite said.

For a long while the two sat without saying a word. Calcite did not know what to say or what it was that the princess wished to say. Together they stared at the clouds. All of a sudden, Serenity called out excitedly, "Ah! That one looks like a turtle!"

"What??" Calcite questioned, taken aback by the strange remark.

"That cloud over there... see? It kinda looks like a turtle."

The dark clad woman stared at the pink princess for what seemed like forever, trying to understand her. Calcite could not contain herself. She felt it first in her gut but it soon tickled her body all the way up into her throat until she felt a burst of laughter escape her mouth. Serenity looked on in confusion but had a crooked little smile on her face. "I'm... ha ha.. I'm sorry Princess. I don't meant to offend you at all. You just surprised me. It's been a long time since I've even pondered such innocent things. You remind me of my Queen a little."

She calmed her laughing down to a slight giggle. Finally, when she stopped, she became quite serious again. "Princess, aren't you afraid I will betray you, too? You have put so much faith in me, but the way things are, what I have done..."

"I trust you Calcite-san," the other said confidently. "No matter what you have done before, you have helped us a great deal. If you were to betray us even now I would still believe in you."

The princess suddenly became anxious and stood up. "Ah! I have to get back to the palace. I'm supposed to go over some things with the others. Come back soon, okay?"

"Princess!" Calcite called out.

"Yes?" Serenity answered, looking back.

"What was it that you came out here to talk to me about?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to spend some time with my friend. See you later!" she shouted over shoulder as she ran off.

"Friend, huh? Calcite, this sure isn't like you," she thought to herself, "making friends so easily." Calcite sat alone once again, pondering the words of the princess. An hour ticked by as she sat alone wondering about the people of the Earth.

Tektites' body materialized and he stared off toward the Crystal Tokyo palace. The shining crystal sparkled in the sun's still early light. His eyes were pained the world around him. It was beautiful and bright and frightening to look at. The dark void of space was much more comforting to him. He was making ready to fly toward the palace, but something caught his eye, a figure sitting alone in the distance. Her orange hair blew in the breeze and her red earring chimed as it moved about. "It's her!" he thought.

He disappeared from the air and reappeared on the ground in front of her. Calcite jumped back in surprise at his presence. She flew to her feet and withdrew her sword from it's slumber. He moved closer to her with hurt, questioning eyes. "Calcite, what are you doing?!"

"Don't come any closer!" she yelled taking a step back.

His face was full of confusion. "Why have you done this? Why have you abandon us?!"

"Tektites, I won't hold back! We are enemies and it must be this way," she answered, her voice serious and full of warning.

A chilled wind blew between the two sending shivers down their backs. Calcite seemed distracted by the feelings and it was in this moment that Tektites could no longer contain his anger. He lunged toward the woman and toppled her to the ground. The sword flew from her and out of reach of her hand. She struggled underneath him and managed to kick him off. As she tried to crawl away from him, toward her weapon, she felt a warm hand grab her ankle. She felt herself fall once again on the grass. "Let go!" she screamed and kicked her foot.

Her shoed foot hit him and he fell back for a moment only. He hindered her once more and this time managed to hold tight until he could come close to her. He turned her and pinned her to the ground. When she looked at him, she saw the large mark on his cheek from where she had hit him. His hair was falling from it's neatly tied bun and about his face. His eyes were full of anger when she looked up at him. He was not far away from her face and he yelled at her. "I won't let you go! Not until you tell me why you've done this!"

Calcite stopped struggling and became somewhat limp underneath him. She turned her eyes from his stare as she could not find the strength to look at him anymore.

The throne room was lit only with thoughts. Opalite did not look the man bowing before her, her mind and eyes were turned elsewhere. Rhodonite had informed her of Tektites departure to seek out Calcite and now the empress was quiet. She thought long about the play set out before her. The endless moments passed by almost unnoticed to the man, but the woman was tired and annoyed. Finally, she spoke to him. "Commander Rhodonite, our allies are dropping out of our hands. Those who think of betrayal should be killed rather than live to fight against us."

She was silent again for some time. She then moved closer to the man and spoke. "Still, Tektites is young and stupid. His will can easily be shifted with the right guidance. Watch over him and help him remember his path. No man's judgment is sound when he is blinded by love."

"As you desire, my master," the man cooed as he kissed the palm of her hand.

Tektites could no longer support himself and leaned down onto Calcite. She felt his breath on her neck and his hair tickled her. He still held firm to her wrists, but she did not move nor did she try to. "There's no way you could understand this," she said finally.

"I am not some child who needs to be protected from the truth," he said roughly.

"I know that. I have always known that, but no one can understand."

She breathed in deep and exhaled loudly. He realized he had been putting his full weight on her and moved off to one side, still clenching onto her wrists in hopes to hold her from escaping him. "This is why..." Calcite said, her voice revealing hurt emotions. "This is why I tried to push you away before. I betray everyone that I love. I am an evil woman. I tried to protect you from being hurt, but I guess I was too late."

He moved his face next to hers, briefly touching his cheek on hers. His lips came closer until he was almost upon her. She wanted to be taken in by him again but something rang in the back of her mind. A small voice calling to her to stop. A terrified cry escaped her and she somehow found the strength to escape him.

Confused and hurt more than ever Tektites tried to advance toward her again, hoping to calm her down. It only heightened her fear. It was then that Rhodonite decided to make his appearance. He wore a face of expressionless evil. "Tektites-kun, stand back. This traitor need not be trifled with. Opalite-sama will deal with her in her own way."

"Rhodonite-san!" she breathlessly called out as she groped for her sword.

In the palace's command center three lights blipped on the screen and an alarm sounded. Luna and Artemis called for the soldiers. Princess Serenity and her group were the first to arrive to the call and saw the trouble. "Calcite's in trouble! Luna, Artemis, we'll take care of it," Serenity confirmed before running back out the door, her soldiers following close behind her.

The three Kuroihono'o Senshi stood in a triangle shaped face off. Calcite held tight to her weapon and Tektites called out to her many times to stop. It was then that Rhodonite moved closer to his comrade. "I told you this is how things were. You cannot change her mind, she who betrays all, even her queen," Rhodonite said.

Calcite's eyes furrowed as she tried to suppress her feelings of anger toward the man before her. Rhodonite was, as she knew, correct in what he said and it felt like a knife in her chest with the amount of pain it caused her. "I cannot allow this any longer!" she shouted to them. "I must protect this planet and the people within it."

"Calcite-kun, why do you suddenly care about the people being swallowed up in the void? Was it not you who wished for this? To join us and be consumed by the darkness?" Rhodonite questioned the faltering woman.

"I cannot be selfish any longer. These people did not choose darkness, they chose the light. It is not fair for me to wish what I will upon them! As you stand there, beside that dark queen, your sin grows," she continued, "my sin has already come and passed."

Calcite spoke no more. She held out her sword and though she released the handle it did not fall to the ground, but instead hovered between her hands. Rhodonite's eyes narrowed as he watched his opponent gather her energy. "Tektites-kun, do not hesitate against the enemy! She will strike if you do not fight back."

Tektites watched in horror as his lover, or as it seemed ex-lover, prepared to fire against him. Two phantom swords materialized on either side of the real one and they began to glow with a orange-yellow light. The energy began to gather at the tips of each blade. Rhodonite called out to his comrade again, but to no avail. Tektites did not respond, his eyes were vacant. Calcite's attack cry was loud and strong. "Orion Triple!!" The moment the words left her mouth the three swords shot out a brilliant wave of light and flew toward the other Kuroihono'o Senshi.

Tektites did not move as the fast beam flew toward him. Rhodonite having had enough of the stupid situation moved in front of the other man and raised his hand creating a dark energy in the front of his palm. He called out calmly, "Void Pierce!"

The three beams impacted with the darkness and canceled each other out. Rhodonite stood for a moment with his hand in the air, almost as if he had doubted his ability to block the attack. "I see you still can harness that shining power within yourself, Calcite-kun. Does the one named Balder stir within you?"

With that he took the other man in his arms and they disappeared together. Calcite was left alone, staring where they had once been. She had surprised herself with that power she had called upon. "It's been so long since I've called those words," she thought.

Coming up the hill she heard five voices calling out. She turned to see Sailor Moon, Vesta, Juno, Pallas, and Ceres coming up ready to fight. She smiled softly and shook her head. "If you're always going to be late," she said, "then you're never going to win this war."

The others looked around to see that the enemy was no where in sight. Embarrassed, they giggled and the six of them began their walk back to the palace together.

End Episode 12.