Chapter 15: Glimpses of the Past

They had been walking through the fortress for so long. Yet, despite the hours they had been there, they had not encountered one guard or any other form of security. ‘It’s like they’re expecting us or something,’ she thought.

Immediately, she froze, shocked by the thought. Turning to Charon, she saw that he was thinking the same thing. Yet, they had very few choices. Trying to be more alert, she continued down the corridor, Charon immediately behind her.

‘How could they know we were coming?’ she fumed, hugging the cold stone walls. ‘Maybe they are just that sure of their power.’

Grimly, she dismissed the idea. ‘Any invading power, no matter how strong, would have some semblance of security,’ she thought.

* * * * *

Celeste moaned in her sleep, tossing under the covers. “It’s not right,” she mumbled, rolling unto her back. “Something’s wrong, Charon.”

* * * * *

She glanced back, watching Charon's face. He still held her arm in a tight grip, making her bite back a gasp. He absently motioned for her to listen.

Brushing aside her frustration, Sol strained her ears. She blinked several times, unsure that she had heard something. But, by Charon’s expression, he was sure he had.

Pulling her arm free, she continued their journey through the winding corridors of the fortress. Sol had lost track of how long they had been there, but it was too long. Too much was riding on this mission for them to make no progress.

Again, Charon grabbed her arm. “I don’t like this,” he whispered.

“Neither do I,” she replied, shaking her head. “But we have to continue.”

Nodding, he released her arm. They soon came to an intersection. Sol could not hear movement from any direction. She glanced over her shoulder at Charon, who shrugged. Deliberating for a moment, she lead them to the right.

They had only traveled a few yards down the new passage when Charon tackled her to the ground. A muffled gasp escaped her lips as his weight pressed her against the uneven stone floor. Something exploded and bits of masonry rained down on them.

Still trying to force air back into her body, Sol let Charon drag her with him, not certain if they were advancing or retreating. The explosions continued, inching ever closer to them. Cursing under his breath, Charon picked up his speed.

They came to another intersection and Charon turned left. Still running, he found an alcove and pulled them into it, She hoped the shadows would hide them for a moment as she tried to catch her breath.

“Are you okay?” Charon whispered. Barely any sound accompanied his words.

She nodded weakly.

“They will be looking for us now. Are you ready?”

She nodded and flashed a cocky grin. Despite of himself, he smiled back. She lead them out of the alcove and back into the passage.

However, they immediately noticed the footsteps behind them. Turning, they saw a young woman approached. She smiled as the energy ball grew between her hands.

“Run!” Charon cried, pushing Sol away.

She turned and began running. Suddenly, something hit her from behind and she fell. The world faded black before she hit the floor.

* * * * *

The room was so dark as she struggled to stand. Immediately, someone was helping her up. Still disoriented, she realized that she was leaning against someone’s chest.

Trying to clear her cloudy mind, she looked up and realized that it was Charon. He looked at her with great concern, tracing one of her cheekbones with his fingers.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded. “What happened? How long have I been out?”

“Well, they found out we’re here and attacked. We both got hit and blacked out. How long we’ve been out, I don’t know.”

Sol glanced around the chamber. “Great. Well, let’s find a way out of here.”

“I’ve tried. I couldn’t even find how we got put in here.”

Sol clenched her fists. “We have to done something,” she spat. “Too much is riding on this mission for us to fail, Charon.”

“I’ve tried everything. I didn’t even make a dent on these walls.”

Sol turned and studied the nearest wall. The material was completely alien to her. She didn't know if she would be able to make a dent either.

“Stand back,” she said. She formed the Sun Staff. “I’m going to give it a try.”

* * * * *

Laughter filled the chamber as the blast slammed Sol against the wall. She collapsed into a heap against the floor, fighting to maintain consciousness. The laughter intensified.

“Sol!” Charon cried.

She struggled to her feet, leaning heavily against the wall. She watched as he drew his sword and place himsefl in front of her. 'So it's come to this,' she thought.

Gypsum laughed as dark energy began to crackle around her. “Do you really think that you are a match for me, Prince Charon? I am too powerful to be stopped by you. Stop this foolishness and you might live.”

“I’d rather die than see you win,” Charon spat, raising the sword to strike.

Gypsum smiled. “As you wish.”

The black energy completely surrounded Charon without warning. His cries of pain echoed off the stone walls. Sol pushed herself off the wall and use the Sun Staff to support her as she stumbled toward them.

“Let him go,” she ordered. The staff caught in a small hole in the floor, tripping Sol. Gypsum laughed again.

“You're not in a place to demand anything,” Gypsum sneered. The ball of black energy found its target and knocked Sol back a couple of feet. “Soon, you and Prince Charon will be on our side.”

Sol forced her head up and her eyes meet with Charon’s. He was in so much pain that she wanted to look away. However, she struggled once more to her feet.

“Hang on, Charon,” she called.

“I can’t, Sol,” he croaked. “I’m weakening."

She knew it. She could see the dark energy taking over him, altering him before her eyes. Soon she would suffer the same fate. "I love you."

"I love you." He tightened his grip on his sword. "Forgive me.”

Sol watched in horror as Charon plunged his sword into his chest. Gypsum's laughter drowned out Sol's anguished screams. With a final gasp, Charon collapsed against the floor and the wall of energy disappearing.

Gypsum stepped over Charon's body as she walked toward Sol. “You've lost. Give up.”

“Never.” She raised the Sun Staff over head, ignoring the shaking in legs. “Never!”

“Very well,” Gypsum said as she generated another energy ball. “Have it your way.”

“Sol Nemesis Nova!”

* * * * *

Celeste woke up, shaking. She was dimly aware that she was crying. She hastily wiped her cheeks and then wrapped her arms around her knees.

So she had learned Charon's fate. She had been so sure that it was tied to the current attacks. But other than Gypsum still being around, she could see no connection.

'I'll figure it out in the morning.' She settled back in the bed and tried to go back to sleep.


Glimpses of the Past They had been walking through the fortress for so long. Yet, despite the hours they had been there, they had not encountered one guard or any other form of security. ‘It’s like they’re expecting us or something,’ she thought. Immediately, she froze, shocked by the thought. Turning to Charon, she saw that he was thinking the same thing. Yet, they had very few choices. Trying to be more alert, she continued down the corridor, Charon immediately behind her. ‘How could they know we were coming?’ she fumed, hugging the cold stone walls. ‘Maybe they are just that sure of their power.’ Grimly, she dismissed the idea. ‘Any invading power, no matter how strong, would have some semblance of security,’ she thought. * * * * * Celeste moaned in her sleep, tossing under the covers. “It’s not right,” she mumbled, rolling unto her back. “Something’s wrong, Charon.” * * * * * She glanced back, watching Charon's face. He still held her arm in a tight grip, making her bite back a gasp. He absently motioned for her to listen. Brushing aside her frustration, Sol strained her ears. She blinked several times, unsure that she had heard something. But, by Charon’s expression, he was sure he had. Pulling her arm free, she continued their journey through the winding corridors of the fortress. Sol had lost track of how long they had been there, but it was too long. Too much was riding on this mission for them to make no progress. Again, Charon grabbed her arm. “I don’t like this,” he whispered. “Neither do I,” she replied, shaking her head. “But we have to continue.” Nodding, he released her arm. They soon came to an intersection. Sol could not hear movement from any direction. She glanced over her shoulder at Charon, who shrugged. Deliberating for a moment, she lead them to the right. They had only traveled a few yards down the new passage when Charon tackled her to the ground. A muffled gasp escaped her lips as his weight pressed her against the uneven stone floor. Something exploded and bits of masonry rained down on them. Still trying to force air back into her body, Sol let Charon drag her with him, not certain if they were advancing or retreating. The explosions continued, inching ever closer to them. Cursing under his breath, Charon picked up his speed. They came to another intersection and Charon turned left. Still running, he found an alcove and pulled them into it, She hoped the shadows would hide them for a moment as she tried to catch her breath. “Are you okay?” Charon whispered. Barely any sound accompanied his words. She nodded weakly. “They will be looking for us now. Are you ready?” She nodded and flashed a cocky grin. Despite of himself, he smiled back. She lead them out of the alcove and back into the passage. However, they immediately noticed the footsteps behind them. Turning, they saw a young woman approached. She smiled as the energy ball grew between her hands. “Run!” Charon cried, pushing Sol away. She turned and began running. Suddenly, something hit her from behind and she fell. The world faded black before she hit the floor. * * * * * The room was so dark as she struggled to stand. Immediately, someone was helping her up. Still disoriented, she realized that she was leaning against someone’s chest. Trying to clear her cloudy mind, she looked up and realized that it was Charon. He looked at her with great concern, tracing one of her cheekbones with his fingers. “Are you okay?” She nodded. “What happened? How long have I been out?” “Well, they found out we’re here and attacked. We both got hit and blacked out. How long we’ve been out, I don’t know.” Sol glanced around the chamber. “Great. Well, let’s find a way out of here.” “I’ve tried. I couldn’t even find how we got put in here.” Sol clenched her fists. “We have to done something,” she spat. “Too much is riding on this mission for us to fail, Charon.” “I’ve tried everything. I didn’t even make a dent on these walls.” Sol turned and studied the nearest wall. The material was completely alien to her. She didn't know if she would be able to make a dent either. “Stand back,” she said. She formed the Sun Staff. “I’m going to give it a try.” * * * * * Laughter filled the chamber as the blast slammed Sol against the wall. She collapsed into a heap against the floor, fighting to maintain consciousness. The laughter intensified. “Sol!” Charon cried. She struggled to her feet, leaning heavily against the wall. She watched as he drew his sword and place himsefl in front of her. 'So it's come to this,' she thought. Gypsum laughed as dark energy began to crackle around her. “Do you really think that you are a match for me, Prince Charon? I am too powerful to be stopped by you. Stop this foolishness and you might live.” “I’d rather die than see you win,” Charon spat, raising the sword to strike. Gypsum smiled. “As you wish.” The black energy completely surrounded Charon without warning. His cries of pain echoed off the stone walls. Sol pushed herself off the wall and use the Sun Staff to support her as she stumbled toward them. “Let him go,” she ordered. The staff caught in a small hole in the floor, tripping Sol. Gypsum laughed again. “You're not in a place to demand anything,” Gypsum sneered. The ball of black energy found its target and knocked Sol back a couple of feet. “Soon, you and Prince Charon will be on our side.” Sol forced her head up and her eyes meet with Charon’s. He was in so much pain that she wanted to look away. However, she struggled once more to her feet. “Hang on, Charon,” she called. “I can’t, Sol,” he croaked. “I’m weakening." She knew it. She could see the dark energy taking over him, altering him before her eyes. Soon she would suffer the same fate. "I love you." "I love you." He tightened his grip on his sword. "Forgive me.” Sol watched in horror as Charon plunged his sword into his chest. Gypsum's laughter drowned out Sol's anguished screams. With a final gasp, Charon collapsed against the floor and the wall of energy disappearing. Gypsum stepped over Charon's body as she walked toward Sol. “You've lost. Give up.” “Never.” She raised the Sun Staff over head, ignoring the shaking in legs. “Never!” “Very well,” Gypsum said as she generated another energy ball. “Have it your way.” “Sol Nemesis Nova!” * * * * * Celeste woke up, shaking. She was dimly aware that she was crying. She hastily wiped her cheeks and then wrapped her arms around her knees. So she had learned Charon's fate. She had been so sure that it was tied to the current attacks. But other than Gypsum still being around, she could see no connection. 'I'll figure it out in the morning.' She settled back in the bed and tried to go back to sleep.


Chapter 16: Encounter with the Enemy Resurrection: Sailor Sol Sarah's Sanctuary