Welcome to Gaia! ::

There was quite little that the yellow adorned Princess could contribute to the conversation for a period. Rather than remain idle, she moved closer to Zia's new location while still attempting to casually gather the information she could. Some of the information truly was going over her head, but the mentions of the coma epidemic did manage to catch her interest.

So the whole ordeal had something to do with the Pyrite Crystal?

Iris might have held onto the power of a crystal, but it was by no means considered a greater crystal. Those were rare and fleeting, usually being the sort of power which legends spoke of.

She could not dwell very long upon the subject as the conversation grew more tense between Zia and the Priestess. Iris' face remained neutral as she listened, but one sentiment seemed to hit home with her.

"She can go home, and I can go back to normal."

Gold eyes fell upon the cat on her own shoulder. That's right. Zia is not naturally a Mauvian.

Blinking before turning back to Zia, the Princess stepped forward, placing a hand gently to the Mauvian's back. Running the hand up Zia's shoulder, Iris offered a faint hint of a smile.

"...I would venture to say it is not within her power at the moment..."

Dulling out her smile to something more dutiful, she looked back to the Priestess once more.

"Would I be incorrect in thinking that the Pyrite Crystal is a key component to all of this?"

'The moon and the earth are both threatened by outside forces, so they are not in opposition'....So the Black Earth and Black Moon were mostly alone in habitation and also at opposition to each other? Are or were? All the more curious if they were, that 'phoning home' for extra dimensional cats should reach a mirror on the Black Earth then? How comes that so? But it was difficult to gauge if anyone else was concerned or surprised on that specific point.

The information on the 'greater crystal', whatever that specific designation meant in the larger scale of things, was welcome. It was at least something that sounded more hopeful in theory of usefulness if they could locate it for helping the Zirconia soul go home and maybe ending the Dark Mirror court of ....whatever growing menace the explanation also threw into his own gut. There's no immediate answer to that question though. If the souls don't come from that universe, which was Zirconia's idea, then we're back to square one for exactly what IS going on with those starseeds. And if she can't 'feel' the crystal because of the barrier, its as much an answer that yes, it is on this side somewhere. Unless destroyed or gone on to some further universe. Cosmic destruction on large scale seems over-blowing any single thing anymore, considering the crystals of other royals failings. Maybe I'm just jaded of the strength of anything not Chaos.


Following the conversation further had further oddities. Why would someone through the mirror not have a conception of what 'mirrorspace' was, specifically if it was intrinsic to the world and part of the histories of their enemies or allies of the Black Moon? Is this the actual Black Earth we speak to, or a construction of some other magic? There's lies somewhere, or misunderstandings...but something isn't right either in Cassandra, in this mirror, or in Zirconia. Well, the last one for certain since we started this. But who wouldn't be a little mad.


Iris' then weird tenderness towards someone she'd not twenty minutes before been treating a pissant was more surreal lighting on the problem. He didn't trust the weird softening of her manner compared to every other instance he'd seen her, even if it was something Zia could need in the moment. But Iris and Kairatos had given questions already, so Thraen held his peace on any of the subject angles he considered himself and waited for the outplay from Zirconia and Cassandra both.

Though Zia lashed out against Iris' gestures, the princess did not seem to startle or show any sort of hurt expression. Injured animals couldn't be held liable for their actions in such a trapping situation. The blonde woman did not shift from her position as things got progressively louder.

The little furry lump upon the princess' shoulder puffed up slight and her ears pinned back.

As the accusations began to fly (yet again), Iris lowered her gaze, bending her upper body slightly in a respectful gesture to the Priestess. In a sense, Cassandra was correct in her assessment. This dimension was indeed an absolute mess. Chaos now inflicting those claimed by the Negaverse and fellow Senshi under the guise of the Dark Mirror, and the extinction of many worlds were solid facts against this dimension.

There was no room to retort, as the connection seemed to get closed from the Priestess' end. Perhaps it was for the best rather than to continue arguing pointlessly over hypothetical scenarios. The woman straightened herself up, watching as Zia attempted to reconnect with Cassandra in vain.

Rather than attempt her gestures again, the woman once more scooped up the tailless Mauvian, though this time she lifted her up to set her gently on the ground.

It was merely instinct which caused the manx to scamper over to Zia's side, attempting to rub up against the dark cloth of her dress. It would probably have her pale fur show on it as a few stray hairs stuck to it.

In a gentle tone, the true Mauvian coaxed "...I know it seems... difficult at best... but... at least we have a starting place now... right? It might take some work... but we can figure this out..."

********* might not have been able to contribute much, but she could at least offer an optimistic outlook and a helping paw.

Iris still remained silent, but she looked at the mirror itself critically. Cassandra was now gone, and her wings seemed to finally relax enough into folding up against her back in a more restful position.

So... this greater crystal, the Pyrite crystal...it has been destroyed... lost?

It was another loss for Order that they had not even known was a loss until now.

Turning to the men in the room, the princess asked "...so... now where do we go from here?"

Another disapproved romance hinted at between a man of Earth and a woman of the Moon. The Will of the Universe has a sick sense of humor. Or is very, very uncreative.

" Freedom is something to work for. Freedom for Zia- though if the only other outlet is into that Black Moon's room, I don't imagine Zirconia's soul will find hale welcome. " If that is what this was all about, Zia? You were looking to be free? Should those with the least information about all these matters really be the ones spit-balling what move comes next? Well. Maybe. Zia's in a wreck at the moment. A fresh perspective- what can you see, if you were Walsingham and adviser. There was little point in asking her the direct question just yet at the height of her despair.

"They may be variables we don't have knowledge of, but right now, if an effort was going to be made to send the last pure soul back home there is the other mirror in the throne room of the Dark Mirror Court, the one Zirconia said Ares and Leto were awakening new mirror souls with. Regardless of....whatever those things are, since it is not actual mirror souls if we assume that Cassandra is a reliable source of information. This mirror here opened to one on the Black Earth...is there no door or person to answer on the Black Moon at a mirror in their Throne? No other relatives of Helen to have talked to? If Zirconia is from the Black Moon, that would be a better place to turn this to if it were possible. There's the Pyrite crystal. Cassandra said she couldn't feel it at all, is her certainty of its destruction on the death of her..."

"Brother...based on some other presumed mechanic of magic surrounding 'greater crystals'. Or royal crystals more generally? Iris, as the only royal I've spoken to you have the best chance of answering that quandary. Would your crystal destroy on your decease? Or does anyone know closer how the man died- 'The kickback from his crystal'....knowing what that means would help some. Was something done to the crystal actively to destroy it? Even if it is 'destroyed', would there be fragments behind to make use of in study or in creation of some lesser thing that might be enough to open the door one way for even an hour? "

"We live in a world of magic, fortunate or unfortunate, meaning that the rules governing our world seem largely mutable. Where there's a will, there's probably a way with the right tools. There's also the Marcasite Crystal still unaccounted for- lost? destroyed? If this Helen is dead, it does not seem to have followed her as a 'greater' crystal having been destroyed as well. "

"There's also this connection through Tartaros that was being lobbied for- a different door. What is the mirror to that on this side? Myths we have would give the impression that some analog called Asphodel or Elysium or some other Hades realm. If Tartaros has a priestess, then there must be a priestess or priest of some analog here. Can that be found, or used for a different door? From the sound of Cassandra, the Black Earth is no friendly place to Zirconia and now no friendlier to any of this universe. That blame was blanket. " If mirrors are perfect reflections and all to the point of doomed romances existing. Unless such a person hasn't been awakened yet. As much a chance of that as anything else, since there's major planetary bodies missing Senshi as it is this side. A Sailor Earth to match this Gaia very prime amid that if his or her world is the last with life and under siege.

The manx cat was excellent for all petting needs. Her green eyes looked up to Zia (at least as best as she could from this angle), trying to take in any other information that had been withheld prior. She remained silent, but thoughtful.

It was probably her best interest to not explain the full details for Alexandros' death. It may have been necessary, but it still is not easy news to receive.

Iris' wings ruffled a bit at the question Thraen directed to her. It wasn't an easy question to answer. Even after all this time and multiple uses of her crystal, it still was not something she understood perfectly.

"...I do not know how the mechanics work for a Greater Crystal..." She flicked her fingers in front of her, as if she to open up her hand and reveal her own crystal for all to see. However, when she opened her hand, her palm was empty.

As she gazed at the empty spot within her hand, she continued her explanation. "However... it isn't a matter of the crystal destroying itself upon my death. I suspect in my case, it would be more of an issue of the crystal becoming inaccessible."

Closing up her hand, she glanced to Thraen, expression serious as she momentarily debated how to phrase the next part. Once she seemed to have an explanation, she spoke again. "My crystal is not tangible most times... it is hidden in a different sort of subspace pocket than the usual henshin pens and phones. Only I can access it. Without this Iris-shaped key, the crystal would remain locked in that subspace pocket."

Her gaze shifted to Zia as she continued. "Based off your explanation, the greater crystals may have more of a defense mechanism to them when it comes to their handler's demise."

Her eyes once more flickered towards the mirror they had just been communicating through. "There are many things I do not know... I am just guessing at this point..."

The cat was let down, and Zia announced her intents. The chubby manx trotted towards the girl's ankles, weaving about them inquisitively.

The princess gave Zia a look akin to something like the Senshi had done earlier as she announced her intentions with the mirror.

"...I do not think it is wise, considering this room was sealed off. I am certain it was sealed off for a reason." Her reasons might have been simple, but at least it was to the point.

Were there time and willingness, this would be where I would ask for all our benefit if we could experiment with Iris crystal to learn more about it, whether with me or finding one of her teammates. Probably her teammates. I don't expect there's that much good blood between us. Well, that sort of thing would take a lot of trust, and is a different focus subject. "Iris, if you ever have the time or inclination, it would help in general knowledge about the royal's crystals if you could run some tests with your teammates - can one of them hold it with you and without you powered up. Can they wield its magic. Things of that sort. Then relay the information to Ash or Kallichore for possible addition to the Primer. Or maybe Start a second document for more advanced knowledge since Primer's are supposed to cover basics."

He tried to put some scenario together of Iris' information and how the missing crystals may have ended out," If he was asleep in a hospital bed, it doesn't seem likely that he would have had his crystal out of its personal subspace? Or did he? I suppose that information would need if you knew or had been in the room before the explosion to have seen it. Unless someone else of 'those around him' had been able to access it for him. And the Marcasite crystal... was it with Nehelenia in hers at the time? If it was, its likely not to be accessible."

And Kairatos has a good point that it strange something of that power only destroying a room with no wider sensed feedback. I expect the answer would be 'because magic' if it was so.

Until such time as she's reborn, if she's reborn, or someone finds or invents and item that remove accesses subspace- He was distracted with cosmic surety of the Catception of a cat-girl holding a talking cat and petting it for comfort, leaving him paused in speech and motion for a long count of seconds.

One senshi in all the two or multiuniverses with a magic that has no other purpose than portal-ing across them? That sounds either dubious or pointing to some other ends I can't see the whole of. It seems like there should be some other senshi then, who's whole purpose was closing portals to keep them and their doors shut where they aren't wanted. That assumes a not wantedness. Or that there is or was only ever hostility. "Things usually evolve for a benefit- what was the hope of the cosmos for interdimensional travel..."

The inquiry was not addressed to anyone, just thrown to the air like the Cosmos itself or God was going to answer. Or many gods. Thraen didn't expect an answer, though, no more than he believed in any greater power(s) anymore. Usually rebirth cycles were tied in reasoning to a creation mythos, but with no proof of 'Will' had proven presence in what he'd come across. "What are the mirrored crystals here? To the Pyrite and the Marcasite- they had twins here like everything else it could be reasoned? Can we find those? If their power is so cosmically significant, or infinite, than they could have the power needed to separate souls and send another to its proper home."

The Lobby to move the Mirror was unexplained- like Zirconia was expecting any of them to just take her at her word now. "With hostility from the end that can open and close it at a whim, bringing it to the last bastion of live in all the galaxy sounds dubious. It would be easier to study, since it wouldn't require contacting a senshi, and would allow more than three days. "

"There is more certainty that none of the Dark Mirror can access it here than Earth. " A point of magical experimentation that could reveal something or go really horribly awry and proof all the misgivings Cassandra implied about this side of the Mirror. "Why, exactly, do you want to remove it? You can't suggest things and not give reasons."

True reasons. But verbally adding that had no point or purpose but causing derision. As pointless as bothering with letting emotions make decisions. He was, ultimately, there to try to help Zirconia.

Iris said nothing towards Thraen's prying for more information on the Royal Crystals. Instead, she just looked at him. It wasn't her usual hardened gaze he was probably quite accustomed to. Instead, it was something softer, yet still reluctant.

However, upon Zia's question back to her, those eyes shifted towards the lilac haired girl. The Princess remained absolutely silent throughout the explanation of Tartaros and Elysion. The Pyrite Crystal and the Golden Crystal.

Taking note of the partial inquiry, the manx replied "I was not overly familiar with Helios prior to the battle in Elysion... but I personally have not encountered her since that battle. I have heard nothing of her or the Golden Crystal since then."

Soft words escaped the Princess, far softer than her usual speech. It was almost as if she didn't want anybody else to hear her utterance.

"...it is what legends are made of..."

The blonde turned away from the whole group, walking towards the entrance to the room. As she walked, her dress faded back to the familiar fuku she usually wore. She stopped at the opening. Without even turning back, she stated what was on her mind.

"If anything happens and I find out that damned mirror was the cause... I am after yer blood, Zia..."

"Iris!" the manx said in an indignant tone.

Still turned away, the blonde replied "Do what ya want... I'm outta 'ere..." With that, the eternal senshi exited.