Disclaimer: All Sailor Moon references and characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, TOEI, Kodansha & Pioneer. Everything else is mine.
"Well come to Temple Victory, my friends." Nike's form shifted in a glittering smoke. When the smoke cleared, she was dressed in her formal garb. The robe she wore was a cross between a toga and a heavily embroidered tapestry depicting the history of Victory's Guardian. The material, however was light enough to float in the slight breeze.
She preceded them up the amethyst steps leading to a massive pair of iron doors. Draco Soul followed, shifting Deli's weight closer to his body, before he hauled himself up the steps. Athena reached the top just as Draco did landing on Alleluia's outstretched arm.
"Entrance has been requested. Follow me when the doors open. Temple Victory is very easy to get lost in." The doors opened, not by swinging open, but by vanishing all together. Nike set off a sharp pace, leaving Draco to scramble after without a second thought of the vanishing doors.
Follow he did, but just barely. Alleluia had no concern for the comatose sixteen-year-old or for said sixteen-year-old's bearer. And she made enough turns to get Draco lost within a minute of entering the temple. It was all he could do to keep Alleluia in view. Forget where, exactly, she was leading them.
Finally, they came upon a door inlaid with the crest of Victory. The door vanished as Alleluia stepped up to it. She continued her harsh strides through the door and through the crowd of like dressed people inside the room. Her destination appeared to be the dais at the far end of the room.
As they got closer, Draco saw that a woman in navy robes occupied the dais. She had a worry lines in her face and gasped as she noticed Alleluia's arrival.
"Guardian Alleluia." The woman nodded respectfully. "We are pleased you have returned so quickly."
Alleluia nodded back. "Priestess Allelight. Unfortunately, I had cause to return. As you know, Advisor Athena has located Sailor Temple. This is Sendle Mac Gregor." Draco Soul stepped up next to Alleluia, lifting Deli's limp form a bit higher.
Priestess Allelight flinched then regained firm control. "What has happened to the young Senshi?"
"She was gifted with Lady Rose's Kiss."
Allelight's eyes fell to the floor. "And you hoped my theory would save her?" Alleluia nodded. "I am sorry, Guardian. My theory was incorrect. It had faults I refused to let myself see. I can not help you."
"Then why did we come here?" Draco's voice held tears. "You said she could help, Alleluia!"
"No, Draco. I said she was our only hope."
Allelight held up a hand. "That is not true. There is hope yet. You may wish to visit your own temple, young Josh. The answer may be there."
"Again with the 'maybe's.'"
"Draco!" Athena scolded. "That is not-"
"-the proper attitude for a Knight of Temple Draco! I know! I've heard it all before, Athena. Why don't you find something constructive to say instead of parroting the same trash over and over again?" He shifted his anger to Alleluia. "And you, if you don't mind, I'd like to get Deli into a bed. This can only be making her worse."
Alleluia nodded. The room fluttered away to be replaced by a bedroom with a huge canopied bed and a simple wooden stool.
"Miss Sendle can rest here. Athena, would you mind leaving us for a moment?" Shock painted the owl's eyes glassy for a moment before Athena consented to flying out the open doorway. A door appeared behind her. "Please sit." She waved to the stool. "You need not maintain the energy that form requires. Josh is as welcome as Draco Soul here." He just stared. "Put her in the bed. Carrying her can only be making her worse."
Having his words thrown back at him wasn't what Josh expected to from Alleluia. He placed Deli under the blankets and released his power. The none-to-comfortable looking stool winked at him. He sat.
Alleluia didn't quite smile now that she had Josh's attention. "Do you realize that Miss Sendle was chosen as Sailor Temple for a reason?" He nodded. "She is the personification of Temple's fight against injustice and were she to die tonight, she will have already completed her mission. We cannot fail. My prophet and your Great Dragon have both predicted victory for us. Do you believe your Great Dragon can be wrong?" No reply. "We have already been assured of our victory. If she dies it is her destiny. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Does he understand? Yes. Is it relevant to his situation? No, because it would still be his fault if Deli died. Not Athena's. Not Alleluia's. She just had no idea. "Did you know," he heard himself say, "that it's my fault?"
She cocked her head. "Why do you say that?"
He had to stare at his shoes so Alleluia wouldn't see the tears burning his eyes. "I told Athena not to let Deli practice with her powers."
"A sage suggestion," was her calm reply. "She may have been seen. Questions are not easily answered or avoided."
"What is my job as Draco Soul?"
"To protect Temple Draco, the Templeflights and the system of Temple."
"Do you call that," his hand waved over Deli, "protecting the Templeflights? I should have been in the line of that thorn, not her!"
"What were you doing when she caught it?" There was no accusation in the question, only curiosity.
"Writhing in pain because she used the wrong attack because I forbid her proper training! It was only fire! I shouldn't have been caught off guard by my own attack!"
"That only makes you-"
"Forget it," he threw in, standing up. "Open the door. I've got to get out of here."
"The doors will open for you." She fixed her attention on Deli, as if it were her idea Josh leave.
She knew nothing. In fact, Josh wasn't entirely sure she had a heart. He strode through the door making his way down the corridor, turning only when a block corner forced him to. Alleluia all but said that it didn't matter if Deli lived or not.
"I'd rather die!" he remembered Deli saying. "I'll never forgive you!" Just a dream. Just a stupid dream!
He came upon about the seventieth block corner. "Is there no end to this place?" Turning he took the first door on the right.
Priestess Allelight blinked at the intruder.
"Sorry, I thought this was another hallway."
She stopped him from backing out. "Sailor Temple has given you a message. Just follow it and everything will be fine."
"Will it?"
"It is called hope and faith."
"A great man once told me it is unwise to place your trust solely in hope." Actually, what was said was, 'Hope is not something I'm willing to trust so strongly," but a little rewriting of the quote seemed appropriate.
She closed her eyes for a second. "I see... You should speak with the Great Dragon."
And we're back to Temple Draco. Josh's stomach decided to have an earthquake. "I just might do that."
"Good," was her only reply. She dismissed him with a nod.
The door reappeared as soon as he was clear. Good? Figures. He was better off with The-One-That-Wasn't-Her. At least then it was only his life in danger of ending.
Go to Temple Draco. That would be like giving up Earth. He always knew it would come to this, but why already?
Deli.
His fault.
God, it really was his fault!
Somehow, he found himself back in Deli's room. Thank God Alleluia was gone. He plopped onto the too-hard-for-comfort stool and brushed some hair out of Deli's face. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "If I'd have known-"
"Hindsight is ever 20/20." Athena landed on the end of the bed, strategically avoiding the bed curtains.
"Stop. I don't need another lecture. We're going to Temple Draco in the morning. Get some rest."
"But-"
His hand went up. "No 'buts.' Please just rest."
"All right, but you sleep too."
"I will. I promise," he lied. Sleep was not his friend right then. Athena seemed satisfied and flew away.
He really was tired though. Sliding to the floor, he set his head on the edge of the bed.
"You're acting like a child!"
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are. Just think about it, Josh." Deli tapped the side of her head with her index finger.
A child? Pouting? Check. Whining? Check. Throwing temper tantrums? Check. He really was. And a spoiled one too. What was he thinking?
"I am," he agreed.
"I know, silly. So..." Her eyes deepened to emerald.
"So... what?"
"So, get over it. Or," she crumpled up her face, "you'll look like this permanently. Ah, woe betides!"
He actually laughed. "I think I'm on my way."
"Draco Soul."
Josh froze. He knew that voice.
"A pleasure again."
Josh turned in time to catch the end of Belladonna's nod, but when he turned back Deli was gone. "Where is she?" He transformed into Draco Soul.
"Fascinating. We don't think We'll ever get used to seeing that."
"I said where is she?"
The king waved his hand. "Different dream space, We imagine. Don't worry. We already told you she would not be harmed. She's fine."
"With a thorn poisoning her blood? Not likely."
"You animals read too much into things. She's simply sleeping. You wouldn't call sleeping harmful," he swept in close enough to Draco that their noses nearly touched, "would you?"
"Right now, I would." Draco stepped back.
Belladonna looked hurt. "You're not attracted to what We wish to show you? Oh, that is tragic. Then, simply wake up." He waited. "Still here? We see. Perhaps you are attracted after all."
"Perhaps."
"Come with Us."
"JOSH!"
"What!?!" He came awake all at once.
"You wouldn't wake up." Athena nibbled his shoelace. It was a habit she picked up and meant she was more concerned about the situation than her own image.
"I'm sorry. Bad dream... I think." Dream? No way did he believe that anymore. It was way to real.
"Oh."
Bright sunlight filtered in through the window. "What time is it?"
"Afternoon, at least. I'm still stuck on Earth time. Are you ready to face Temple Draco, today?"
"Face it? I'm looking forward to it." And maybe there he could find out what's up with his dreams.
"Whenever you're ready then."
Josh peeled himself off of the floor, lifted Deli up and said, "Let's go then."