Gordon stepped onto the blacktop cautiously. The girl seemed at ease with 
the large tiger, but she was also hurt and might be in shock.
     Her eyes followed him wearily, a glimmer of sadness and carefully guarded 
pain held close to her. Finally after what felt like agonizing hours she spoke, 
her dry, yet sweet.. "Please, I only wish safe passage to Crystal 
Tokyo."
     "Crystal Tokyo..." Gordon mused, not taking his eyes off the tiger. He had 
visited a lot of magical landmarks, but no Crystal Tokyo. "I've never heard of 
it. There's the ruins of the Crystal Tower, but that's all the way in France."
     Ishtar's head shot up and he stared at the man as thoughhe understood what 
he was saying and then looked up at Cora who simply slumped back to the floor. 
"Surely you've heard of Crystal Tokyo! My Great Grandmother.. the 
Queen.. . she died.. I was going home.. Grandmother needs me to come home..."
     Ishtar noded in agreement. Biting his tongue to keep from speaking out.
     Gordon slowly walked forward, still cautious. "I'm a bit behind on the 
news, but I think I would've heard of a queen dying. Miss, are you alright? You 
look hurt."
     Cora's eyes narrowed and Ishtar backed up against her protectively. "Where 
is this place? This is not the Crystal Lands.. this is not Crystal Tokyo.. this 
can't be Japan.."
     She was so tired, her eyes were almost glued open and everything ached. 
Aquarius was still within her, but the powers weren't as strong as when she WAS 
Aquarius.
     Gordon studied the Tiger for a moment. He could sense a magical power from 
within, although not one he was familiar with. A similar power seemed to 
emminate from the girl although dormant. "Ma'am, This is Japan. But I've never 
heard of any Crystal Lands." This was starting to intrigue Gordon. The Crystal 
Lands sounded like a place that may contain white spells never before 
seen by mortals.
     Perhaps, even a cure.
     "This can't be Japan!" She exclaimed. "I grew up in Japan. Where is Mt. St. 
Serenity where the Queen and the Senshi were awakened following the silence? 
This place exibits none of ths scaring that mars our beautiful land.."
     She was on the verge of tears and Ishtar plopped downon his hinde quarters 
in front of her, rubbing his head against her hand. "I have only been away for 
seven months.. things could not have changed this quickly.."
     They started to fall, Ishtar could be silent no longer seeing her almost 
broken. "Princess.. please.. crying will not change things, we must find out 
where we are.."
     "So, you can talk." Gordon said, surprised, but not so much. He had seen 
wierder things.
     Ishtar glared at the man and huffed. "Right now the fact wether or not I 
can talk is moot.. her highnesses stability is more important. And her injuries, 
she guards her arm..." The tiger pointed out, "And the hit she 
took in the stomach. I worry for the internal damage..."
     Cora rolled her eyes. "I am not guarding my arm." She mumbled when she 
realized she was cradleing her left erm in her right and scowled. "And my 
stomach doesn't 
hurt at... Ishtar you are too observent.. you make something of nothing.."
     "Well, if you'd let me examine her, I think I can help."
     She looked at him. Her eyes widened in surprise. He was a handsome man. 
     Ishtar glared at him. "Are you a doctor?"
     "Well, not really. But I do have certain skills. If I may..."
     "You are a Mercononian?" Ishtar asked, sounding quite surprised. "But I 
thought the Elder Mercury had no children, that she passed her powers onto the 
Gemini Senshi.."
     Cora looked at Ishtar. "Hush you say to much.."
     "A Merco-what?" Sheesh. All these wierd terms.  No, I am quite skilled in 
white magic, however. I studied in the ruins of Seyrun, at the grave of the high 
priestess and holy maiden, Queen Amelia Seyrun."
     Cora's eyes lit up. "You know my sister Amelia? You know Pisces? She was to 
marry Argo of Pluto.."
     "I believe they did and that would make her Queen now.." Ishtar nodded in 
agreement. He wondered how the other Zodiac were taking the dissapearence of 
their newest.
     "What?" Gordon asked, scratching his head.  All this new information was 
confusing him. Were they speaking of another realm. "But Queen Amelia died 
thousands of years 
ago. How can this be?"
     Cora looked at him, "You confuse me as well.. you speak as though you know 
nothing of the Royal Court of the Moon Kingdom.. of the Crystal Mellenium..  Its 
as though I've suddenly woken from my life into a fairy tale where I don't 
exist.. Ishtar.. does that mean I lost it already?"
     The tiger seemed confused and looked at her. "No, the powers of Aquarius 
have always been yours, you are the Avaitor from the Sky.. the Zodiac Aquarius.. 
you always have been.. always will be.."
J Arcain: "I do know nothing of the Moon Kingdom or the Crystal Mellenium. I 
have traveled the lands and explored many mysteries of the world. Rest assured, 
if there was such a place in this world, I would've heard of it.
     Cora paled. "This is some fairy tale.. "
     "Um, miss. I really need to get going, but I can't leave you like this. Can 
I at least treat your wounds?"
     Cora's eyes widened and she nodded, instincively pulling her arm her 
middle, reaveling the words, "Brunet Park Zoo, Syracuse, NY"
     Gordon placed his hand on Cora's forehead.  He chanted. "RESTORATION!" The 
magic flowed through Cora healing her.
     Something unknown surged through her and mingled with the power of 
Aquarius. She felt Aquarius surging with it mingling with it, sucking it into 
her.
     She grimaced. and tried to pull away. Forcing herself to keep from shouting 
the words that would bind as the Avaitor of Aquarius.
     Ishtar looked up at them confused. "Healer what do you do!"
     "What do I do? I search for ancient ruins mostly."
     Cora broke into a cold sweat. Her aches and pains went away.. but something 
surged a new!
     "Aquarius.." She whispered.
     "Huh? Did you say something?"
     "Princess!"
     She felt so confused. She squeezed her eyes shut.. and then lashed out.. 
her voice ringing in the air.."POWER!"
     Gordon inadvertantly stepped back as he felt the magical energies flare
     It raced from the air, from all that lived into her, fueling her pounding 
heart.
     As she was spun around in the air, her fuku, silver and violet 
appeared.knee high boots seemed to sprout from the tips of her toes just as the 
glooves raced from her finger tips to her forearms.
     When it released her, she stood staring strait ahead, her eyes cloudy, 
before she feel foward on to an awaiting Ishtar.
     Gordon stared in amazement. He had to learn more about this magic.
     She lay there cold, shivering, and wet. It was as though she'd been dropped 
into the sea.
     "Um, is she okay?"
     Ishtar looked up at him, forgetting momentarily that he was there. 
"Watch.."
     The fuku retrached into ribbons and with a burst of water whcih came forth 
from her, drenching them all, she was left plain ordinary Corona. Her eyes 
closed in what 
seemed to be a peaceful slumber.
     Gordon fell back in surpise at the water, 
but to his relief, it was warm.
     Ishtar immediatly shook of the water and then licked her face. Her eyes 
popped open and she smiled up at him. "I had a strange dream tiger."
     "Princess. it is time you introduce yourself properly.. now.. up with you, 
you are fine now."
     She grumbled and pushed herself up. "Corona D'ualtaire." She said softly. 
     Then with a shy smile held out her hand.
     "Gordon Gabriev." Gordon said as he shook her hand. As always he trembled 
slightly, fearing that she would realize his secret. But of course she didn't. 
No one could feel it through the thickness of his glove.
     "You tremble so.. why?" She was inquisitive, unlike her normal front of 
shyness and silence.
     "Uh, nothing." He blushed. *Get a grip Gordon.* "It's just your magic 
energy. It's quite powerful, and completely unlike any of the magics I know."
     She was nervous and threw a hand behind her head and laughed softly. 
"Magics? Is that what you really call 'IT?'"
     "IT?"
     "You call it magic?" She asked, wondering how someone who appeared so 
intelligent could possess such a mundane idea. "Every one knows it isn't magic, 
but the aura of the planets and the stars sent into their 
avaitors."
     "Well, I didn't know it isn't magic."
     She laughed. "You are humerous Gordon."
     "Ah, nice to hear, I guess."
     "Ivy!" Zelgadis cried as he burst out of the bushes and ran to Gordon's 
side.  
     Cora jumped and screeched.. and grabbed onto Ishtar.
     "Huh?" Gordon looked at Cora as he scratched Zelgadis's head. "Oh, you 
don't need to be afraid. This is Zelgadis, my companion. Zelgadis, say hello."
     "Ivysaur!"
     Ishtar startled by the sound, stood Cora jumped again. "What is that 
thing?"
     "It's a pokémon. An Ivysaur to be precise. He evolved just a couple of 
weeks ago."
     "It's... it's strange.. but it's adorable.." Ishtar looked at Cora as if to 
say 'Are you nuts!' 
     "Now, I know most people don't name their pokémon, but I don't understand 
why not."
     Cora looked at him and her eyes scrunched together. "What's a pokémon?"
     "Well, it's short for poket monster, or something like that. They're 
creatures of incredible power. Many people devote their entire lives to hunting 
and catching them."
     Cora smiled, "Now why would someone want to hunt or catch something so 
cute!"
     "I don't know. Maybe so they could have them all. Once a pokémon is caught, 
they are loyal to their captor. Unless their captor is too weak.
     "I didn't catch Zelgadis though. I rescued 
him from a family of Ekans."
     "Ek whats?"
     "A Poison pokémon. A large snake."
     Cora paled. "Poison.. wow.. I've never encountered anything like this 
before
     "Ivysaur!" Zelgadis cried.  "Saur!  Ivy, ivy!"
     Cora looked confused.  "Huh?"
     "Their coming." Gordon glanced around, his hand inadvertantly going to his 
side, where his sword would rest, if he still had it.
     Cora paled.  "Whats coming?"
     "The Aku...Aku...Aku-somethings."
     "What are they?"  she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.  "Yuoma?"
     "Yuoma?  I don't think so, but I know very little about these beasts.  But 
they have the power of Dragon Slave."
     "Dragon slave.. what is that?"
     "The most powerful black magic that mortals can cast."
     Cora didn't like the sound of that.. Ishtar's fur stood on end and his head 
snapped up.  "I feel something.."  he snarled.
     Cora nodded, "I feel it too."
     "I cannot afford to fight them now.  I must rescue my friend.  I wish to 
learn more about you Princess Corona, but I must go."
     "Your leaving us here?"  she paled again, pushing herself up and glaring up 
at his handsome face.  "WEll fine then, we can hold our own.."
     "I suggest you flee.  You do not know the destructive capabilities of these 
warriors.  I would go with you, but I must head into the heart of their base.  I 
have to rescue my friend."
     "Do you need help rescueing your friend, Gordon Gabriev?"
     "I cannot put a princess at risk.  My very presence endangers you."
     "You can't do muych to a princesss without her kingdom.. I'm not a Princess 
here Gordon, I'm somehow free of what I dreaded most in my life.  let me help 
you."
     "Allright.  But know that we are fighting a very deadly force.  Not only 
are there these creatures chasing me, but there is also a man of unbelievable 
power whom they work for.  I would not think less of you if you chose to leave."
     "And where else do I have to go?  This isn't the world I left..."
     "Alright then.  Let's go.  We have to move quietly, so the Aku-thingies 
don't spot us."
     As they turned to move, a large cracking noise announced the entrance of a 
large black cat, who fell from the tree above.  Gordon's reflexes kicked in and 
he rushed to act.
     "DIM WIND!" Gordon cried as he pushed his way in front of Cora.  A strong 
blast of air threw the panther into the forest.
     "They probably heard that.  We've got to hurry."
     Cora paled "Then why we waiting?"
     Gordon grabbed Cora's arm and ran into the woods.