Everything was supposed to be so easy for them, the worst was already over. There would not more fighting until the next millennium…right? The pieces are falling into place but what are the hero's of two worlds to do when their forced together in a time of fragility in each of their own version of peace. Evil lurks in the silence in one world while confusion and suspicion prevails the other. Will friendship be built across the two worlds or will their presence only lead to demise. But that is only where the journey begins. They don't know it yet, but they need each other. More than any of them ever will realize.
Color My Heart in Two
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Running
Racing down the dim damp streets in the late evening hours, clutching her long coat closed with one hand and the other holding her hood in place, the cool fall air chills her through and through. Though it's only a little past eight o'clock, the normally bustling corners of Jubon are nearly barren, the people chased indoors by the impending colder weather and the days storms that have only recently decided to take a break. Rain had assailed all day until now, only a minute drizzle remaining, but the rumble of thunder still rolls in the distance.
The click of her shoes on the pavement echoes through the many alleyways, one of the few sounds breaking the silence as she dashes past. A sudden cold wind picks up, pounding against her thin frame and impeding her progress as she strains against its might. The day had started like any other but had only digressed from there as she now flees, her lungs burning and heart pounding against her chest. The darkness, eeriness of the night looms on her as she rounds a corner and on into a passageway to cross between streets. The flash of lightning and a thunderous clap crash closer just as she crosses into the low light, drawing a scream from her lips.
Releasing her hood, she clamps a hand over her mouth, backing into a dark alcove and hoping her pursuer didn't hear. The forgotten clothe drops slowly from her head, revealing her mane of hair as she leans against the old brick and mortar of one of many degrading buildings in this part of the district. Trembling just slightly, she attempts to calm her racing pulse, begging for her luck to not run out yet. She'd been doing her best for some time now, hiding and evading the doom that has been hunting her, for reasons she has yet to understand. But that hope that welled within her, much the same as it always had is soon dashed as a wicked and chilling laugh echoes through the alleyway, colder then the night air could ever hope to be. Even the bundle hidden beneath her jacket begins to stir at the unwelcomed sound. The sound of the one they so desperately had been trying to escape.
It's only been four years.
Four years since their last battle. Four years since Galaxia's defeat. With peace restored and the world balanced, the starlight's returned home with their Princess and everyone retuned to a normal life. No fighting, no threats, no need for sudden late night trips to save the world. The ten friends continued on. High school completed and off to college soon after, each and every one of them revelling in the long awaited calm that was foretold for them all those years ago to think it's been so long since they had first taken up arms to guard the world and gotten that all important glimpse of their true future.
They all knew of the great freeze. It was foretold for them and was only looming with less than a year to go. The calm would cover the world and they would emerge again in the year 3000 to their destiny, arising for the first time since the Silver Millennium, Crystal Tokyo would be set to begin. Leading the world together as protective and loving rulers, the same as the future they had already seen. Loved by their citizens after saving one and all from the evil of the worlds own damnation.
The building blocks were already falling into place. Those vital pieces that are meant to put their world together. This is how it all began. Returning from study abroad, Mamoru and Usagi were married only months ago and the rumor mill adds that she may be with child so soon. A beautiful late summer ceremony with all their family and friends there to watch and see them into happiness, and if it stays the way it was that day, Chibi USA will be here at last at the end of June. The same day as Usagi's 21st birthday no doubt, the 30th day of June, and the big freeze intending to happen not too long after.
But they weren't the only ones bestowed with a fragile happiness. Ami as well continued on to her dream. Completing school as first in the country and thus moving on to medical school to take that first step towards being the wonderful doctor they all believe she can be. Passing for the chance to study abroad for the time being, she remained home with everyone, knowing the impending birth would call for her to be there. Who would want anyone but there best friend for such a special moment. Aspire; she still does in the National Institute of Medicine. There will always be graduate school for her later years abroad.
Makoto's passion drove her on as well, loving to cook and care for her friends. Culinary school called her and she followed without question, desire driving her to be successful. And thus she too found herself, like Ami, more than willing to give her daily lessons as treats to her friends. Honing the skills she already possessed to perfection supported her marks as she too hoped to lead the country, much like Ami, in her profession of choice one day. Even knowing that with great freeze coming, they wouldn't be using their skills for a very long time, still she ventured on without waiver or doubt.
Younger than the rest, Hotaru still battles her school days and the awkwardness that comes with teenage life, while still watching with the others as her Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama do what they do best, Haruka on her bike or in her car and Michiru with her art and music. The three play the role of a loving and happy family to perfection, and that's exactly as everyone sees they are. A makeshift family but a family none the less, Hotaru can't help but loving all her sisters and parents, a group that any kid or teen would dream to have. Even her Setsuna-mama makes the semi-frequent visits just to see her and the others as well. Such a life the peace has been when even the Time keeper can find time to relax.
Happiness, perhaps it was only there to cloud their minds as the unknown approaches, the unknown that wasn't supposed to be there, or at least not yet.
Of the friends there are two whom are not to be forgotten though, bringing in their own dreams to aspire towards and desires to reach for while the world is free and before their future comes calling. Keeping the family shrine well and calm, Rei works diligently day in and day out to carry on the traditions her mother and grandfather passed on to her through the generations. Still casually pursuing her music, her dream of being a full Shinto priestess is nearly within her grasp. Prayers and vigils by the fire swept the calm over her fiery soul, but it failed to reveal to her what would happen next. They never  would have expected. That is when all the trouble began to brew, building over the last few weeks, disrupting the mood of the Hikawa shrine.
Then there was Minako - Singer, Idol, Model, and actress. No one can say she wasn't ambitious. Life demanded her to be everything and more, the image of perfection with that intoxicating air of love and allure, the people adored her and the passion she brought to their ears, eyes, and soul. Passing through school well enough, with more than a little help from their resident genius, contracts and jobs fell into her awaiting her hands. Success. She wanted nothing more than to shine, prove she can be anything, everything, and more. Remaining herself as well has taken no effort on her part, down to Earth yet always dancing on the clouds, her friends always remaining number one, while work taking the spot as her one and only true love.
Love. And there in is where the problem started. A curse set out over 7 years ago and still haunting in the back of her mind or maybe it was a thousand years before that. It's hard to say any more at this point in time. With her success came a price none of the friends knew to expect, her name became known and attention was drawn her way. Attention that wasn't only of this world but of many worlds, worlds that should have long remained in blissful sleep. The attention swarmed towards her glistening light and thus this is how she finds herself today.
Back against the decaying facade.
Back pressed to the cold stone work and mouth clenched shut, she stares out from the shadows, searching for the source of that haunting laugh she has grown to hate. Why her? Why any of them? Why this planet? Why no peace? She'd been running for over two hours, not to mention the last few weeks, and her pursuer has never yet decided to relent. She had nothing they could ever want, not even the bundle she held close to her was of any real value to them. Even now as it moves again and peers out from the gap in her coat before hiding once again.
Feeling the air current change as it wisps across her cheek, she jerks her head right as her pursuer finally appears in the private alcove, feet finally touching the ground. Clenching her jaw ever harder in determination, hoping not to show her true fear. She drops her second hand from her mouth to better cover the bundle under her coat.
"Ah, Venus-chan", her pursuer tisks, a feminine venom dripping from her sugary words. "How I've enjoyed this little game of cat and mouse. But I'm afraid this mouse has tasted her final bit of cheese." The woman murmurs threateningly, as she pulls a whip out from behind her, snapping it as it sparks with life. The thunder and lightning as well, crash with her motions in a nearly perfect unison. "Now be a good girl and just die!" She hisses stepping forward.
Unable to hold tight any longer, the bundle bounds from Minako's arms and emerges from the opening of her coat in the form of Artemis. Ears back and hair bristling across his back, he plants both front paws on his keepers arms and bars his fangs at the advancing woman. Hissing protectively, he bounds forth when she lashes at them with her stinging whip and runs his razor sharp claws against her porcelain face, creating four long and very deep gashes. He then flips back from her reach and perches back in Minako's arms.
"My face!" She screams in rage, wiping at her burning cheeks, before glaring back at the offending feline. "You beast." She growls while gathering a blue electric energy in her hands and lashing at the two. "I shall banish you, you filthy vermin. Not even you will get in my way of ridding this world of your Senshi." She shouts, raising her charged weapon above her head. "This world will be mine once Venus is out of my way." She cackles, bringing her weapon down on the two. "Say good bye!!"
"You have no idea who you're messing with!" Artemis hisses again, about to attack her again, as Minako grasps for her henshin wand.
Before she can thrust her hand in the air to call forth her Venutian power and before he can attack, a stroke of lightning from the still brewing storm glances into the alley and charges the whip is it comes down on the pair. Three screams erupt from the dark night as it's pierced by a shower of magnetic light that washes across the Tokyo skies, drawing many to peer out their windows or look up from their place on streets at the sudden white brilliance filling the once dark night skies.
Several minutes pass on until the light dies away, disappearing back into the alcove where it began, and the cold showers suddenly begin again with renewed ferocity. The ground mixed with the failing torrent turns the terrain into a pool of mud. And face down in the filth, the scarred woman groans and pushes her body half up, gasping in pain as her whip lies charred and useless beside her. Groaning as she manages a sitting position, supported by her arms, she shakes her head from side to side before flipping her long purple hair behind her back, the mud splattering down her leather body suit.
Soon focusing in on her surroundings, she searches the dark shadows around her for her cornered prey, finding within seconds that the peppy blonde is nowhere to be found. Rage boiling within her, she finds the strength to stager to her feet and thrash in a circle to search once more. Only to find her gone again. That is, all put a tattered collar lying upon a burnt patch of ground. Turning her scowling face to the heavens as the rain smacks her bleeding skin, she screeches into the night. "VENUS!!"
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Comments are appreciated. I know I have no place to begin another fic but this idea came to me and I'm taking a brief break from fight with YMK. I'm kind of stuck with the way I want to work the next chapter. The next few chapters are already planned out, but my schedule makes updating and writing less then consistent. Tell me what you guys think. There may or may not be a few pairings in this fic and I'm sorry guys I am a supporter of Mamoru and Usagi together.
And I know you guys will ask, even though I've implied it. The ages. The Inner Senshi is each 20, going on 21 while Michiru and Haruka are in their mid 20's along with Mamoru. Setsuna as always is ageless and Hotaru is approximately 13. I will hold off on the pilots' ages until next chapter.
Enjoy!
Tunks