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Elysion really was beautiful, Alkaid couldn't deny that as she stood there staring across the endless green fields. It was so peaceful, one couldn't even tell that one of the most bloody battles of the modern age had taken place right where she was standing. Even so, as she looked at the fields and flowers, at the wizened old trees, at everything in this fantasy dreamscape - she could feel deep in her bones that she didn't belong.

Overhead stretched a bizarre sea of stars, one that she had trouble picking apart. Somewhere was her star, only it was impossible to find in that maze. That was where she belonged. That was where all senshi belonged, in that jumble of tiny lights, not here - not earth, not Elysion. Even the stars were strange from the view in Elysion, which told her more than anything that it was not a place for aliens.

She dropped her gaze then, reminded that she had a purpose in Elysion tonight other than stargazing. She didn't think the person she had come to meet would be very appreciative of her absent-mindedness when there was a job to be done. Tonight she was a soldier of the negaverse, not a homesick senshi.

"General?" She called out tentatively as she surveyed the landscape one more time with bright eyes, turning in place slowly as if she expected the purple amazon to appear anywhere at any time. Of course, she didn't really know how this dream mirror thing worked, so maybe Tanzanite really would just pop out of no where.

Alkaid tried her best not to be surprised when Tanzanite appeared at her side, but that was like asking someone not to seize up when they were tased. It wasn't so much that Tanzanite was that terrifying (though she was pretty damned scary when you were on the wrong side), it was simply that arrivals in Elysion were nothing like in the real world - you couldn't see them coming no matter how hard you looked. With General Tanzanite appearing so suddenly right beside her, it was lucky enough that she managed not to jump clean out of her fuku.

As it was, she was just proud that she hadn't actually jerked away. Her eyes did widen a fraction and her pulse quickened beneath her skin, but that was easily squashed once she realized it was Tanzanite and not some Senshi she was completely unprepared to do battle with.

"No need to thank me, General, those were my orders." She did incline her head though, a gesture meant to show she appreciated the thanks and respected Tanzanite for saying as much. "Besides, I owe you that much, don't I? I've committed my fair share of crimes against you in the past, I would be the worst kind of low-life if I didn't try to repay you." It was not idle talk, or groveling, her face was honest and calm as she spoke. It was clearly the simple truth, she really did believe she had to repent for some of her worst sins as a soldier of the moon.

Tanzanite didn't have to say anything, not a single word. That smile was all Alkaid needed to know that Tanzanite was proud of her for how far she'd come. She knew without a doubt that all was forgiven then, that Tanzanite accepted her and she would never hold her misguided actions against her.

Alkaid could only smile in return, staring up at the taller woman with admiration. If Alkaid had ever had a reason to doubt the negaverse, to doubt her superiors and their cause, Tanzanite had effectively rid every last ounce of it from her mind. How could someone so readily capable of forgiveness be wrong? How could such a kind leader be unjustified in their cause? Alkaid could not fathom it and, thus, found her devotion growing stronger even in the silence that passed between them.

"Yes, General," she said without a moment's hesitation, falling into step at Tanzanite's side as she began to descend down the hill towards the building in the distance. "Is there anything specific we want from her?" she questioned casually, glancing back up at the purple-haired amazon.

As Tanzanite had predicted, whether by prior information or negaverse intuition, Helios had in fact been residing within the polished marble that had long fallen into a mild state of disrepair, a practice she had taken up with a literal religious zeal. It took only a few moments for the winged form of the Priestess of Elysion to appear at the top of the steps which sloped up from the soft grasses, and she stared unamused down at the two below, gold eyes displaying her ill-humor even from the distance spread between them. It didn't help their case that despite their lack of formal meeting, there was clear recognition of the General, her reputation having far preceded her and, in this instance, having only a negative effect on the situation. Of all the negaverse agents, General Tanzanite was, without a doubt, the most recognizable from a description: scaled armor the color of amethyst, with the arm of a youma and heated, violent eyes that pierced your soul. It was the latter that was more compelling to Helios, and her eyes lingered there more than they did the grotesque arm that marked her so definitely -- it was the stare of death itself, a promise to tear every secret from your dismembered, crippled body, a description that followed her literally in her murderous reputation. The General's companion did not fair much better -- although she did not recognize Alkaid, she certainly recognized the corrupt fuku that so familiarly labeled the blond as a senshi, the slim, black-stained material evoking a gentle ache of something lost. Between the two of them, they earned themselves a cool, undaunted stare even before they had stated their intention, the redheaded girl seeming keen for the chance to expel them from Elysion.

Even so, slim eyebrows lifted a little as she noticed how they had stopped just short of the temple -- in the days following the battle, many had tried to climb the steps. Not many had succeeded in getting further than the first few.

They had earned themselves a grudging audience.

"So talk," she replied in cool, clipped tone that matched the amber of her eyes, making no noise as she descended down the steps. Although she knew it was likely unwise to go within any sort of close proximity to either alone, much less together, she ignored the faint warnings in favor of facing them eye to eye. Perhaps she was compelled by the violet eyes. Perhaps she wanted a closer look at the blackened fuku. Or perhaps she thought it would be polite. Whatever the reason, Helios stopped on the first marble step, wings folded loosely at her sides.

Tanzanite had never been the bowing type, at least not to anyone who was not a Negaverse officer of superior rank, but she nevertheless took a knee as the Priestess descended the steps. Palm open, blackened hand pressed to the ground, she looked as unthreatening as Tanzanite was capable of looking. Her human hand draped over one knee, and after a brief bow of her head, those grey eyes fixed upon those of the Priestess of Elysion.

She remained kneeling, and the glance she gave Alkaid suggested that the corrupted senshi do the same.

“You fought to protect this sanctuary, Priestess,” Tanzanite began, and at first her tone seemed almost thankful, “But you fought the wrong opponent. Elysion does not belong to anyone, and we do not seek to own it.”

Well... Tanzanite didn't seek to own it. Metallia was a different matter entirely.

“Not once have we entered Elysion until now. Not once have we threatened your sanctuary, though you must know that our Queen has had the power to do so. We came here not to rule. Not to take. Not to claim. We came here to drive the senshi out of a place that is as sacred to us as it is to you. Every officer of the Negaverse was born on this Earth, without another planet to call our own. This is our planet. We have no comets. No stars. No past lives. Yet you cut us down without ever turning your fury upon the senshi.”

Bold words, but Tanzanite had never been known for her subtlety.

“You have failed your duty, Priestess. You may have been reborn into the body of a senshi, but your obligation here? Your duty to this place? To the Earth? To her people? You shame that duty when you would allow the senshi to step foot here. When you let a Blood Moon whore break a single blade of Elysion's grass. You fought for their right to defile this place, and would drive out those who seek only to ensure it's safety.

And so,” Tanzanite rose slowly, and spread her hands in an almost submissive gesture, “I have come to make you an offer. Stand down, Priestess. I would not ask that you fight for us, only that you do not dirty your hands at all. Elysion is a sacred place, and the senshi are invaders just as much as we. It was they who first set foot in this place. It is their invasion that brought our Queen's wrath down upon you. In exchange,” Tanzanite paused, as though evaluating Helios for a moment, “I, too, will stand down.”