Right. Back to the Moon again. Nothing weird or intimidating about that. Even if Queen Serenity’s hologram hadn’t turned out to be some manner of horrifying laser defense system ready to vaporize them at a moment’s notice, that echo of the past across the barren Moon was almost worse. Even putting aside whatever ethical issues might lie in the creation of a conscious hologram, the thought awakening to strangers among the stark emptiness of a home in ruins left her feeling strangely hollow.

Sailor Tempesti chided herself for her inability to loosen the fear that clutched at her chest and throat, spiderwebbing across every nerve in her body. It was easy to imagine what someone with a kinder view of her situation might say. The old reminder that fear was a reasonable and rational response to danger, and maybe it was, but any truth the sentiment might hold felt miniscule against the reality that even with power as inconsistent and wobbly as hers, she couldn’t afford to stand idle at the summons. With that in mind and her breath fighting viciously against her steadying efforts, she gave the button a light tap.

The pious silence of the Spire contrasted sharply with the near cacophony that accompanied the crowd during her last visit. Despite the invitation, an unavoidable sense of trespass crept up the back of her neck as though her footsteps intruded upon the building’s quiet contemplation. Queen Serenity’s ghostly voice felt almost like a quiet rain, descending mist-like from some unseen font. Whatever she instructed, it was a foregone conclusion that Tempesti would join what power she had with that of whoever needed her to. It might not be much in the grand scheme of things, but a thousand small actions could build to, well, something.

The absence of the curtain drew the senshi in, toward the gleaming beauty that beckoned from within the Chamber of Prayer.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Sheer will carried her forward, an expression of unadorned awe dawning upon her face as she approached the enormous crystal. Even dormant, the stone projected a powerful presence, though she had no idea if it was an energy emanating from the crystal itself or if it was merely an illusion brought on by her own sense of wonder. To offer some of her power to this entity felt right.
Praying had never been one of Rowan’s strong suits, but sharing her power in good faith and honest intention was something she could do. She could only hope that her earnest desire to help would be enough to convince the tower to accept her offering.

A small, tremulous hand reached for the crystal, coming to rest gently on one of its many facets. With a few deep, steadying breaths she focused her mind and will on the resonance within her. It wasn’t always entirely cooperative, but even her mercurial starseed seemed to recognize the immensity of their need. Wind and rain lashed her mind as the energy flowed from her body into the crystal, hand pressed firmly against the stone until it had taken all it could. After a few wobbly steps back, she craned her neck to see if anything about the crystal had changed. It was impossible to say, but with the exhaustion streaming through her limbs she knew she needed to leave.

Craning her neck to look into the emptiness above, she murmured her gratitude to whatever remained of Queen Serenity.