The cool fall wind picked up, as nighttime deepened into a blacken view of the quietude that spread outward across Tokyo. Shadows dispersed, growing, and energy crackled, hidden from view of sight but those sleeping, in a deep trance, shivered and many were plagued time and again, twisting and turning as blackness covered their minds.
Fast forward, climbing into a single story home, a room in the far back, the door painted in dull white as the wind pushed it even more open from its slight revealing. A young girl slept, blissfully unaware of the strange events that were progressing around her.
Her magenta hair was strewn, mussed with tossed sleep, across the pillows, trailing to lope over the edges. Her bangs covered her closed eyes slightly as she shifted, muttering about something incoherent as a whisper of blackness shifted from a shadow cast by her bed. It started to climb at the end of the small bed, tickling her feet as she kicked off the blanket in sudden agitation.
A memory, a dream of something familiar. She could see white hair, fluttering in a dead air as something shone underneath, casting shadows to hide the person▒s delicate-like features. Someone was whispering words to her that even though she strained to listen, she couldn▓t hear a single word. The outfit was bizarre but familiar, a sailor fuku of white, gold, and a rainbow of colors against the flowing skirt, ribbons trailing from the front as a hand rose, golden jewels against the knuckles and she awoke to a start.
The alarm was buzzing madly as she turned and fell off with a near shriek.
⌠Kousa!■ A voice came out.
⌠I▓m fine..■ Came the muffled answer. The girl pushed herself up, her blue eyes blinking slowly as she frowned. She couldn▓t remember quite what she had dreamt but she suddenly wished she did. But she shrugged as she stood up. She looked to the clock and groaned.
⌠I▓m so freaking late!■ She dressed in quick motion, her clothes having been set out the night before. She placed her long magenta hair up into two sets of rabbit pointed odango, the single strand trailing to past her shoulders as she fingered the Juuban Middle School uniform with a snort. ⌠It▓s boring..■
⌠Kousagi! You▓re going to be late!■ Her mother▓s voice came out again. To be truthful, she wasn▓t exactly her mother but since she didn▓t have memories of her life, Kousagi liked that she had someone to call mother.
It▓s been just over a year since she was found at the side of the road. Her clothes were tattered, her head bleeding, and what thought would be a concussion was actually amnesia. For the life of Kousagi, she could only be sure of her name and nothing else. She was taken in by a nice family who watched over children until they were adopted but Kousagi was too old for most and would end up spending the rest of her childhood with her new family.
If only she knew who she really was.
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⌠I can▓t wait anymore!■ Minako snorted, tired from the night before. She had actually done some studying, though at the threatening insistence of her mother. She wondered if anyone else had a nag for a parent. She wished she could live on her own like Makoto for what was the umpteenth time for the day before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and screamed as Usagi did the same, grasping her chest.
⌠Don▓t do that!■
⌠Don▓t do that!■ Minako groaned as the bell rang. Thankfully, the two were just outside the gate. ⌠We need to hurry!■
The two raced in, just barely making it. They skidded to their seats as both breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn▓t until later when they had free time that they had a discussion.
⌠So, what made you so late?■ Minako inquired. Usagi blinked before yawning wildly. ⌠Stop that!■ It was too late as Minako yawned. ⌠Great, now you have me doing it!■
⌠I▓m sorry but I was having a nasty nightmare last night.■
⌠About what?■
Usagi was quiet. She wasn▓t sure if she should come clean but she really didn▓t want to discuss her nightmares. They weren▓t just nightmares, they had been visions of a past and startling, a future she wasn▓t sure she could comprehend. A lonely soldier, she mused sadly. ▒Is that who I▓ll be?▓
⌠It▓s nothing,■ Usagi said finally, looking up with a bright smile, a ghost of emotions in her eyes that just dimmed the blue abyss only slightly.
Minako studied her friend before smiling brightly. ⌠Well, how about some games after school?■
⌠That▓d be fun!■ Usagi beamed, back to herself. ▒It was just a nightmare. It wasn▓t real..▓ She told herself firmly.
Ami and Makoto were waiting outside as the two blondes nearly dove out. ⌠Freedom!■ Minako shouted with glee. ⌠Let▓s go have some fun!■
They were met by Rei, who began a conversation with Ami as Makoto and Usagi listened to Minako ramble on about a new C.D. from some gorgeous guy that Minako swore was her true love.
They entered the Crown Parlor and found it nearly empty. ⌠Hey, where is everyone?■
Una came out from the back door. ⌠My brother▓s still in class so I▓m working today. It▓s been a slow day too, so I▓ve gotten a lot cleaned.■
⌠It does look a bit shinier,■ Makoto mused. The group was startled by a shout from the near back.
Kousagi was attempting the driving game, swerving in her seat as she howled as the car crashed, not for the first time, into a brick wall. ⌠Darn! Why can▓t I drive!■
⌠Maybe you need lessons!■ Minako beamed. ⌠Want me to show you?■
Ami was staring at the head of Kousagi. ⌠Rei...■ She whispered. ⌠Doesn▓t that look.. familiar?■
⌠Well, yea but I wasn▓t going to say anything,■ Rei whispered back.
⌠Hey! You look like you have Chibiusa▓s hair!■ Usagi said gleefully suddenly. A look of a deep sadness washed over her face before she wiped her looks clean with a wide smile. ⌠I▓m Tsukino Usagi!■
Kousagi blinked. ⌠Err... I▓m Tsukino Kousagi.■
The room went eerily silent before Minako burst out laughing. ⌠Oh wow! What a coincident!■
The group laughed with her though Kousagi did it reluctantly.
⌠You think you could be related?■ Makoto asked with a smirk. ⌠You both look alike!■
⌠No.. no, I▓m pretty sure we▓re not,■ Kousagi said weakly. ⌠I have to go now..■ She hurried past them, keeping her face elevated to the floor.
⌠I think we hurt her feelings,■ Ami said finally.
⌠From what? We didn▓t say anything mean,■ Rei retorted. ⌠She▓s just shy or something.■
⌠It is strange but people have the same last name everywhere so it was bound to happen,■ Usagi agreed.
⌠I don▓t know. I feel bad still,■ Ami said carefully.
⌠Aw, Ami, sometimes you▓re a little too sensitive,■ Makoto grinned. ⌠She▓ll be fine!■
Kousagi was now a good deal away from the arcade as she blinked furiously. She wasn▓t sure why she felt like crying but she thought that it was probably for some stupid reason. She turned a corner and felt herself crash into a pole. ▒Why must I be so clumsy!?▓ She thought darkly as she attempted to get up only to fall back again. Her head hurt, a headache blossoming from the already forming purple bruise.
⌠Are you all right?■ An unfamiliar blur peered down before solidifying into Ami▓s concerned look. ⌠Wow, you hit the pole?■
⌠Uh...■ Kousagi was having trouble moving her tongue.
⌠Here,■ Makoto reached down and neatly yanked the girl up.
⌠Makoto! Careful! She could have a concussion!■ Ami admonished the taller girl. Makoto flushed as she shrugged at the other girl.
⌠I can▓t believe I hit the pole.. while I was walking,■ Kousagi glared at the offending piece as if it had popped into existence just to show her up.
⌠Are you all right?■
⌠I▓ll be fine.. I guess I wasn▓t watching where I was going,■ She turned without thinking and began to walk into the coming traffic.
⌠STOP!■ Five sets of arms reached out and plucked her into safety. ⌠Maybe we should help you home?■ Ami suggested.
⌠Sure..■ Kousagi shrugged. She felt sick but it was caused by the headache, not by the eerie familiarity of these girls, she was quick to convince herself. They reminded her of another bunch, locked in the back of her mind with her memories and it bugged at her.
She didn▓t live that far from the center of the town and was soon in front of her home. She was holding her head and alternating that with a tug on her book bag to make sure it didn▓t slip off her shoulders.
⌠Kousa?■ Her mother exited, blinking at the group. ⌠Hello, girls.■
⌠Hello, ma▓am,■ the group chorused.
⌠Kousagi, what happened?■ She reached up to trace the bruise. ⌠Another accident?■ She attempted to hide her smile.
⌠Oh, go ahead and laugh,■ Kousagi rolled her eyes but grinned to show she wasn▓t angry about it all.
Her mother shook her head. ⌠It▓s amazing what kind of scrapes you▓ll get into.■ She sighed as she then shook a finger at her. ⌠Now get inside and straight to homework!■
⌠Aye aye captain!■ Kousagi saluted with a silly grin before turning to bow at the others. ⌠Thank you all very much for your consideration. I am very appreciative of the help.■
Kousagi watched them leave and felt again a twinge. Something stirred in her blank mind but it was too quick for her to grasp it.
⌠Kousagi?■
⌠Coming.. coming,■ She rubbed the bruise with a wince. ⌠Darn it, why do I do this to myself?■
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⌠We▓ve sent the Oneiroi out to gather more energy but it▓s not working. These human spirits are far too embedded in their dreams to unleash them, let alone gather enough energy.■
Three figures, cloaked by night in a dimly luminous rock cave. A fourth lay in a glass coffin, surrounded by glittering poppy flowers. ⌠Each time a poppy flower dies, he slips further away..■ The same one spoke with a tinge of sadness.
⌠Then we must seek during the daylight,■ a second voice, also masculine as the first but had a harsher tone underneath, spoke, the sound echoing.
⌠My eyes will burn,■ the third had a softer, gentler voice, a mere whisper that cast no echo. But his companions heard him and one of them chuckled.
⌠Don▓t worry, Phantasos,■ the first one said, a smile in his rich voice. ⌠We will take care of the situation. You watch over our elder brother.■
⌠Of course!■ Phantasos sounded relieved as the world swirled back into even blacker night until the world was gone from sight.
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Kousagi was fiddling with her notebook. She was counting the minutes with agitation. ▒Only five left to go..▓ She wondered who could handle Ms. Haruna. She thought the woman was pompous, loud, and highly over-rated. Of course, Kousagi wasn▓t in much a good mood to think positively like she normally did. She barely slept the night before. Nightmares kept plaguing her and she was so exhausted that when the bell finally rang, it took someone to accidentally hit her shoulder to startle her.
⌠Crap!■ She groaned as she hefted her bag up, rolling her eyes up to the heavens with a silent thank you. She managed to exit the building uneventfully but tripped on a pebble.
⌠Ouch!■ She flinched as pain went through the knee that hit the cement walkway. Most of the other students were gone and those who were around where snickering. She wondered if she could find herself a black hole.
▒It▓s strange.. being this klutzy doesn▓t feel familiar to me,■ Kousagi grumbled. ▒I mean, I don▓t mean it!▓
She staggered up with a low sigh. ⌠A nice walk will take the pain off..■ She limped until she finally settled into her original gait, humming slightly as she passed the arcade. ⌠I wonder..■ But she didn▓t want to peek in to see if those girls were in. They looked like high school material so they probably were very busy. ⌠Unlike me..■ she muttered.
She turned a corner and felt a body crash. ▒At least it▓s not the pole again..▓ She muttered darkly to herself.
⌠Excuse me..■ A deep voice spoke, reaching into her mind as she ogled above her. ⌠I▓m sorry. Are you all right?■
⌠Wow..■ She turned beet red. ⌠I▓m sorry!■ She stood up hurriedly. ⌠My fault! My fault, really,■ she giggled nervously.
⌠Mamo-chan!■ A voice rang out. Usagi came prancing up. ⌠Hey, Kousagi-chan, right?■
⌠Y..yea..■ Again she giggled, a high pitched sound that even she flinched. ⌠Err.. sorry.■
⌠So what are you up to?■ Usagi asked brightly.
⌠Heading home since I▓ve got nowhere else to be,■ Kousagi shrugged, leaning against the wall, hoping to look casual. She found herself suddenly slipping as her vision blurred. ⌠Oh..■
⌠Kousagi!■
▒Kousagi!▓ A familiar voice, tinged in sadness but held a familiar warmth. It was a voice of an angel, Kousagi thought dimly. ▒A white haired angel of justice...▓
⌠Kousagi?■ Usagi was pressed close, her eyes peering deep into Kousagi▓s own set.
⌠I▓m sorry... I haven▓t been sleeping well. I keep getting nightmares,■ Kousagi admitted all in rush.
⌠Oh.. you too?■ Usagi sat back to muse. ⌠I keep having nightmares too. In fact, my friends have mentioned the issue a few times..■
⌠Well, I better...■ Kousagi never got to finish her sentence as there was a collective scream followed by a strange surge of black energy, crossing over them. The three were thrown back as Kousagi fell into the trash bins.
▒Not.. my... day..▓ was her last thought before falling into oblivion.
She awoke to the sight of the Sailor Senshi, all of them around a wild beast. It was a mixture of horse▓s feet, a bull▓s head, a dog▓s body, and a long, thin tail. It was wild, running and crashing, each thump on the ground sending out a cold wave of blackness that had Kousagi gag.
⌠Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!■ Eternal Sailor Moon shouted. Her Eternal Tier shone brilliantly in the capturing sunlight as Kousagi▓s eyes slowly widened in a dim recognition.
▒The woman.. from my dream?▓ She thought weakly before there was a thump on her back.
She looked up into four faces that just screamed ▒remember me?▓ as her mouth dropped open. ⌠I know you all, don▓t I?■
⌠Ding, ding, dong! Give the Princess a prize!■ The lemon blond hair cheered. Her orange eyes went great with the orange ribbon tying up the long hair, the bangs breezing across her eyebrows toward the right. ⌠Where have you been?■
⌠I.. I..■
⌠Get out of the way!■ Eternal Sailor Mars shouted. The four girls instantly jumped back but Kousagi felt the beast lung at her as she screamed in wide terror. This time the energy hit her straight on and she felt a strange, draining sensation in her stomach as she moaned, falling to her knees as something colorful exited her.
⌠NO!■ The four young girls were shouting. The older ones were attempting to break the beast as Kousagi▓s eyes fluttered. ▒I feel so.. hollow..▓ A whirl of blackness was descending before a pinpoint of light struck into it, into her heart as she felt the heartbeat echoing in her ears.
⌠Moon Luminous Power, Make Up!■ She felt the words, oddly familiar, as light billowed from the charm she constantly wore. It was a translucent rabbit-shaped crystal pendant attached to a thin beaded chain. It wove around her before she stood up, clad in a strange fuku.
Her odangos had a rabbit ornament attached, with a yellow round orb in its round face. Two round gems adorned each side of her parted bangs as crescent moon blazed upon her brow. Her earrings were of crescent moons, her choker pink with white simplified rabbit▓s head. Her collar was completely violet-blue as her brooch was a white rabbit▓s head, exactly like the one clasped at her choker. Her bow was pink on the top level, white on the lower and the bodice had no shoulder rolls and the waist band was a divided two set, the upper level pink, the bottom white, that both had it▓s center dip in front clasped by a yellow crescent moon. Her gloves were red and to her elbows, with two round bands, the uppermost pink, the lowest white. Her skirt was single layered and violet, the back bow▓s top pink and the lower level white. Her boots were red with pink platform heels, the top edged in a rounded upside down set of two v▓s, the top most pink, the lower one white.
⌠I am the pretty suited sailor soldier of the Mirai timeline, Parallel Sailor Moon!■ She shouted, though she still didn▓t understand a thing about anything.
⌠Parallel.. Moon?■ Venus was gaping. ⌠There are two Moons?■
⌠Hurry and move!■ Mars shouted as the group dispersed, the beast once more finding it▓s way to Parallel Moon.
⌠Oh.. so not my day..■ She hurriedly aimed. ⌠Moon Sequin Twilight!■ Her fingers formed into a triangle, a beam of light in each general point that shot out, swirling together to merge to become blinding as it shot through the monster.
It roared, wounded but not defeated by a long shot. ⌠Oh.. well, that sucked.■ Parallel Moon began to sweat. ⌠What as I doing again?■
⌠Parallel Moon! Don▓t forget us!■ Four new clad senshi, also strangely like the other senshi but with subtle differences, appeared.
⌠In the name of Parallel Mars!■ Shouted a girl with the same hair and fuku as Mars but her hair was violet and she had red eyes. Her tiara was yellow with a violet orb in its center. Her choker was violet, her collar completely red, her bow orchid with a round violet brooch. Her bodice was white and she had two shoulder rolls. Her gloves were white with three red bands. Her waist band and back bows were violet and her single layered skirt was red. She wore the same red high heels though.
⌠In the name of Parallel Jupiter!■ Shouted a girl with the same hair and fuku as Jupiter but her hair was shorter and green and she had green eyes. Her tiara was yellow with a pink orb in its center. Her choker was pink, her collar completely green, her bow jade green with a round pink brooch. Her bodice was white and she had two shoulder rolls. Her gloves were white with three green bands. Her waist band and back bows were pink and her single layered skirt was green. She wore the same green ankle boots.
⌠In the name of Parallel Mercury!■ Shouted a girl with the same hair and fuku as Mercury but her hair was blue and she had light blue eyes. Her tiara was yellow with a light blue orb in its center. Her choker was light blue, her collar completely blue, her bow turquoise with a round light blue brooch. Her bodice was white and she had two shoulder rolls. Her gloves were white with three blue bands. Her waist band and back bows were light blue and her single layered skirt was blue. She wore the same blue knee high boots but the v went down and was outlined in light blue.
⌠And in the name of Parallel Venus!■ Shouted a girl with the same hair and fuku as Venus but her hair was lemon yellow and tied up with an orange ribbon and she had orange eyes. Her tiara was yellow with a orange orb in its center. Her choker was yellow, her collar completely orange, her bow blue with a round yellow brooch. Her bodice was white and she had two shoulder rolls. Her gloves were white with three orange bands. Her waist band and back bows were yellow and her single layered skirt was orange. She wore the same orange high heels though.
⌠We are the Parallel Senshi of the Mirai timeline! In the name of our worlds, we▓ll defeat you!■ The four shouted in resonance.
⌠Wonderful... so I -do- know you all, right?■
⌠Attack first, discuss later!■ Parallel Mercury said with a grin. ⌠Hey ya, Nightmare! Come on and get me!■
⌠This isn▓t fun..■ Parallel Moon rubbed her fingers together nervously.
⌠Up and let▓s go!■ She was tugged up by her collar as she let out an ▒urk▓. Parallel Jupiter winked at her. ⌠Come on, don▓t you remember?■
⌠I don▓t!■ Parallel Moon wailed. Everything she▓d been feeling about, bottled in her, was too much as she wailed. Her crescent moon upon her brow shone brilliantly as she howled in grief. ⌠I.. just... want ..to .. go.. HOME!■
⌠ENOUGH!■ Parallel Venus lunged, knocking her and Parallel Moon down. ⌠Let▓s finish this.. up?■ She looked up to see the nostrils flaring above her, hot breath startling her. ⌠Oh.. nuts.■
⌠Mars Flame Sniper!■
⌠Jupiter Oak Evolution!■
⌠Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!■
⌠Venus Love and Beauty Shock!■
⌠Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!■
The five massive attacks combined as the beast was turned to dust. ⌠That wasn▓t so hard.. we just need time for it,■ Sailor Jupiter mused.
⌠Who are you clones!?■ Sailor Mars was screaming at the group of four. It took her a moment. ⌠One.. two.. three.. four? Where is Kousagi?■
⌠Kousagi ran with her tail between her legs. Though, thinking about that, it▓s just not like her,■ Parallel Mercury mused.
⌠No, it▓s not. And she didn▓t even recognize us!■ Parallel Jupiter blinked, teary-eyed.
⌠Oh well, time to drag her back!■ Parallel Venus said cheerfully. ⌠Bye bye, elders!■ The four of them pressed their brooches simultaneously and disappeared in a flash.
⌠I▓m so confused!■ Sailor Venus wailed.
⌠Me too!■ Sailor Moon cried out. ⌠I don▓t want any more competition!■