For everyone reading this, this is the second chapter of the collaboration story called "Us Against The Shadows." It's authored by both myself, and one author using the name 'Leche Flandre,' the author who made "The Girl Who Shattered Time" but is taken from the world of his work called "Displaced" and mine called "Sky Dreadnought." Both works are under one universe and the two of us are collaborating authors. YES!

I'm the author of the two stories "Magical Dimensions: Magical Janeth Maria" and "The Nine Stars: Cosmos Sailors." We've put those stories together to make a Story Tennis with the title I first mentioned. The first chapter of this work, comes from my partner, Leche Flandre. THIS is the second chapter you guys are waiting for. I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter. If you haven't read it yet, visit Leche Flandre's page and read it first before this one.

The work is inspired from Puella Magi, Love Live, and somehow, Sword Art Online, since a character from there is a companion to Janeth Maria. ;) Check out my page for her OC details. ;)

So… HERE WE GO! 2nd chapter is in the house!

Chapter 2: "Fighting the darkness within"

I: "Come in, the half-android sniper"

The barren city was ruined, and abandoned. A sandstorm recently passed it, and no one passed the sand-covered roads. It was an afternoon with the sun high, and the clouds partly covering the brightness coming from it. What it lit into brightness were the buildings that were wrecked, the wrecked cars that looked futuristic in its appearance.

The crosshair from the Anti-Materiel Rifle Hecate II was aimed from a vantage point, towards to the dark parts covered by the tall buildings: They are spiritual to less than corporeal forms of monsters acting in Shadow energy. They have red eyes. Some have yellow. Each monster uses their hind legs to walk, and most of them have a height of 9 feet, while some are 4 feet in height. They were randomly walking as they looked around for any threats they thought weren't visible any longer. Soon… it will change.

"Shino…" A girl's voice sounded at the earpiece of the Hecate II's owner, who had short pale blue hair, indigo colored eyes, and was wearing desert-military style attire on her. She was on prone position as her weapon was comfortably set on the ground. Then she was listening to the girl talking to her. "Shino, are you there?"

"My name… is Sinon."

"I know. But don't forget where you came from."

"Of course I didn't. What is it now, Janeth?"

"I'm about to make my move."

"Acknowledged. I'm ready here and provide you support from a distance."

"And why wouldn't I trust my friendly sharpshooter?"

"You picked me up from the ashes and rebuilt me to have this body, right?"

"That's during your promotion job of the NerveGear in the Middle East…"

"Just don't remind me! Are you ready?"

"I am. Remember that the target is scared and is in hiding. She's in the wrecked car you're seeing right now. She might be a little girl, but she knows how to keep her mouth shut at a time like this. They don't know she's hidden inside it."

"And we're here to rescue her, right?"

"We're doing that with your help. Jan is about to clear up the south side, so she'll be helping around here soon enough. I'm gonna start my run. Finally…"

Janeth running on the same road the monsters were in a sprint…

She opened her eyes and smirked with her Cannon-Rifle out one hand and a bunch of playing cards at the other. "…I'm about to make them feel pain." As soon as she said it, the monsters saw her coming and were growling. One of the monsters extended its arm and fired out a shadow energy blast. She jumped off the road as the round made a small explosion near it. She landed on a car and jumped, then ran across the side of the building and threw two playing cards, now glowing purple as it hits two monsters. It weakened them just before she jumped off the building side and aimed her Cannon-Rifle at the monsters hit with the cards. "SPARA!" Her weapon charged and she pulled the trigger as a shell left her Cannon-Rifle before it splits into three. Three large explosions were made as multiple whines from monsters were heard from being hit. "Sinon… OPEN FIRE!"

Sinon…

Sinon then wasted no time as she pulled the trigger and fired a shot, before cocking her weapon and firing another shot. Two monsters went down, but they were slowly generating, just before cards landed on them and were weakened and were shot by shells. "You're overdoing it."

"I'm simply double-tapping them. Can't you see that?"

Janeth...

She kept sprinting and evaded big punches that only landed on the hard ground as she went her way to the car just as a 4 foot shadow monster blocked her way and shot shadow blasts. She evaded them by an inch for each just before she threw a purple-glowing card and shot it off with an explosive shell. "This is too easy!"

"Don't get too confident, Janeth. They're converging on your position."

"Oh, are they now?" She smirked before she removes her Cannon-Rifle from her hand and replaces it with a golden AK74 before firing a burst at the oncoming wave of monsters just to push them back. Two of the 9-footers absorbed the damage like a sponge and continued to charge towards her. "Your actions are not worth it!" She jumped and spin before throwing two magic cards at them before they're weakened and shot off by her AK rounds. Eventually, she arrived at the wrecked car. "Cover me! I'll try to get the subject out."

"Ryokai! (Roger!)" Sinon then decides to pack up and get close. She then equips herself with an H&K MP7 and jumps off the building she once sniped from. "I'm coming!"

"Just hurry up!" Janeth then finds the scared subject: A girl with brown hair looking to be 10 years old of sorts, keeping her head down while trying to shut out sounds anything when… "Casey!" Janeth calls out the girl's name, and the girl looks up to her. "We have to go, now!"

"D-Daddy?!"

"He sent us, okay?! Now you're coming with me!" Janeth starts to get Casey out of the car as she heard Sinon arrive, firing her MP7 and easily switching to her rifle and fight at close range. "Sinon, good!"

"Don't delay any longer!" Sinon fired another shot from her rifle just before her body felt a pulse and stopped moving. At her fear, a monster was starting to insert its spirit to her. "AGGH! NO!" She got on her knees, now getting weak.

"SHINO!" Janeth then threw a card at the monster trying to possess Sinon before it got hit by the magic card. With no delay, she aimed her AK74 at it. "GET DOWN!" Sinon then found some strength to bend aside, and Janeth fired a burst at the monster before it growled and was defeated. Sinon was finally released and breathed. "You okay?!" She asked but then put up a rift beside Sinon. "Go on! GO!"

Sinon nodded before she got on her feet and crossed in the rift. "JANETH, CROSS NOW!"

Janeth then saw monsters coming at her and Casey furiously. "Casey, RUN! GO!" Janeth then pushed Casey as the girl ran, with her following tightly behind before the two crossed the rift together. The rift closes, leaving a confused bunch of shadow monsters behind…

Just outside the city...

A rift opened above a road just before Sinon jumped out of it, falling 3 feet before landing on her feet. She then moved out of the way to see Casey and Janeth finally cross the rift and land hard on the ground before the rift closes.

"CASEY!" A man with a beard while dressed in a civilian desert attire ran towards Casey and helped her up, before she hugged her. "Oh... Casey!"

"Daddy...!" Casey lets a tear out unconsciously upon holding her father.

"Chancellor Duran." Janeth calls out the man in the desert attire. "Casey is safe and unharmed. I hope you got here with good reason, when I told you to stay in the palace where it's safe."

Duran then gently pulled away from the hug and stood up, just before he browsed a pocket and took out a small bag before throwing it to Janeth's hands. "That's what I owe you, Magical Girl."

"Thank you... But what you did is a little reckless."

"I know. I just wanted to see my daughter alive. That's all."

"You don't trust me?"

"Of all things I heard from you, the worst is that you already destroyed two worlds just to get this planet to be in peace. You might be a savior, but you're also a walking death trap."

"Am I now?" Janeth smirks while seeing Sinon walk beside her. "I understand you want to fear me, but you could at least thank me."

"I do, Magical Girl."

"And call me Janeth next time WE DO see each other. I want you to tell them the name of the girl who might be a terrorist in your eyes. I destroyed two worlds... but I did so with a heavy heart," Janeth said. Then she glanced towards the utility vehicle nearby. It's not scratched for one bit, and it seemed to be okay. "Since you drove that vehicle here, just use that to leave. If you don't trust me so much, that is. If you do, I'll open a rift and get you off-world."

"It's fine, Janeth." Duran then keeps Casey tight on him. "I think we'll take our chances."

"I can respect that. Stay safe for me." Janeth then sees Duran nod before he walks away from her with Casey in tow.

Casey looks back at Janeth while walking with her father. "Thank you!" She then waved at Janeth just before she got in the utility vehicle with her father. The vehicle then was driven off.

Sinon saw the vehicle being driven away, leaving them both behind. "So... is that a... Mission Accomplished?"

"It seems so. We were given the credits."

"But aren't you going to help them get off-world faster?"

"I'm letting them go, respecting Chancellor Duran's wishes."

"I see," Sinon said just before something vibrated from her attire. Browsing her pocket, she found her compact communicator ringing. Once she looked at the contact's name, she winced. "Um... Janeth, mind if I take a minute?"

"Maybe a minute or two could help. Make it quick, will you?" Janeth then walked away from Sinon to leave her alone.

Sinon then reached for the cover of the compact communicator before opening it, and was surprised of the person she's about to talk to. "Ayase Eli?" She saw Eli's small hologram self on her compact communicator.

"It's me. Is this a bad time?"

"No. It's fine, but... You really shouldn't have called me. I just finished a job."

"Isn't that okay? There's another one for you."

"Oh?"

"Well... it's not a job. Maybe if it is, there should be payment, but I don't know."

"How do I know you're not gonna lie?"

"Did I ever?" Eli asked this, testing Sinon's faith.

Then again, Sinon knew Eli is honest about most things. "If you test me..."

"Look... I'll tell you straight away. Sayaka... is gone."

"What?"

"Wait, do you know?"

"Well... Knowing that I've been going around for jobs, I hear a bit of Sayaka Bishop herself."

"You know her?"

"I do, but only by her face and name. She's liberated a few systems from wicked hands. That's something to be recognized of."

"I see."

"How did she disappear?"

"That's what we're about to find out. We might need an extra hand."

"Fine. Just for backup, I guess I'll just do you a favour."

"Serious?"

"Yes. I never met Sayaka Bishop before. But if it's finding her that you like done, I'll be happy to help."

"Great. Then I look forward to seeing you. I'll send you the rift location via the numbers. See ya." And Eli's hologram faded before a complex combination of numbers replaced it. Sinon knew about the combination and she raised an eyebrow.

"London?"

"I see." Janeth's voice spooked Sinon.

"J-Janeth?!"

"So they're requesting assistance, huh?"

"Seriously, what's up with you?!"

"Oh, I want to hear a lot of things. That was Eli Ayase, wasn't it?"

"So?"

"I'm not going to lie to you... Ever since I hired you, I was already watching your moves. Like you, I've also been in contact with the Cosmos Sailors."

"Why are you telling me just now then?"

"It's because I wanted to surprise you. I knew one day you'd get a chance to help them out for yourself. I've shown them the ropes on the Shadows in their MultiVerse."

"But this MultiVerse Međurasni has its own, right?"

"They can be few or there could be more. It's random. But Ambrogio's filled with the majority, since the Shadow Lord is still living."

"Ah."

"But anyway... You're going."

"What about you?"

"I'll run along and do other things. Knowing the Cosmos Sailors, they can take care of themselves. Plus... maybe they'd know about you working for me at a better time to avoid confusions."

"So I won't say anything, huh?" Sinon sighed and looked away, then glanced back to Janeth. "You're shady."

"Yes... but I saved your life many times. Does that justify? I know I don't tell you other things, but it's meant to protect you. I might have hired you for various things, but I consider you as a friend. You're independent and I made you that way. But if you're with me, trust me. It's the only thing I'm asking now... What are the coordinates?" Janeth asked and Sinon shows the numbers. "Universe 11 Junistera, huh? And in London too, inside Oxilla Galactic. It could be a good place as any anyway. There are shadows hiding there. They found a good place as any." Snapping two fingers, a rift opens beside Sinon. "Be on your way, Sinon. And remember: Nobody knows you're involved with me... yet. Understood."

"Yeah, I got it."

"Take care of yourself." Janeth smiles just before she waves and sees Sinon cross into the rift. She then closed the rift and narrowed her eyes. "Damn it, Sayaka. Whatever you got into, it might have been reckless. An incorruptible gem... and now you're gone. And with those Shadows still crawling... Hmph." She then started walking away from the barren city. 'You're gonna get others killed or hurt just because of what happened you. I promised I shouldn't disturb you. But if I will, I must have good reason.'

MultiVerse Junistera... Universe 11... Oxilla Galactic System...

Somewhere at a flat in a peaceful morning in London...

The redhead teen named Kyoko paced back and forth while the tension was high on her. The nine former idols looked at her as she kept walking. She was nervous, and it increased at each second.

This, Eli didn't want to continue seeing. And so, she stood up and held Kyoko's shoulders. "Kyoko, stop. This isn't gonna help."

"What isn't? Seriously! Sayaka and Azusa are GONE! And you expect me to calm down?!"

"Please... Sakura-san..." Kotori said with her hands clasped in prayer. "We can't be in level if we don't think well."

"Look... What do you expect we do?"

"It's obvious," Eli replied. "We try finding them."

"How?"

"Flying over the city is out of the question for now. So the only thing we could try is go on foot from the club. This is low-level but..."

"Um..." Hanayo wanted to say something as Eli's eyes along with the rest glanced towards Hanayo. "I talked to Melusine about this for a while. And something else strange came up."

"Hm?" Honoka seemed interested.

"Explain," Eli advised.

Hanayo started. "Melusine told me something strange. Remember the time when we couldn't find any shadows? Well... this is what I wanted to show you." She then pressed a few buttons on her Wrist Analyzer before a holographic image of the London map came out. There were black smoky spots on some places. "See... There's only a very little amount of the shadows left. There used to be a lot around in the city."

Kyoko decided to speak out. "Wait... They're Shadows?"

"Why? What is it?"

"She told me something about Shadows existing here and she took on some, I think."

Nozomi gasped at the idea. "Of course... There's something I've noticed." She then glanced at Kyoko's soul gem. "That... right there..."

"It's a soul gem," Kyoko replied.

"I sense there's magical power residing inside it. But in the core lies... a living consciousness. Did you tell us it's a soul gem?"

"It's exactly as it's named, where our soul is stored in. It's the fate a magical girl to have this. I have one. Sayaka has one, but it's incorruptible. She's gone through some heavy stuff just to get to that result. Anyway... it doesn't gather corruption like mine doe. Usually when it comes to our negative emotions that completely becomes our despair, it darkens our soul gems, no... just mine. Sayaka's different now."

Nozomi analyzed Kyoko's understanding of the soul gem and was in thought. 'Could it be...?' "What else aren't you telling us?"

"Well..." Kyoko uneasily laughed. It was beginning to be a hot-seat treatment for her. Everyone expected an answer and she finally spoke out: "Sayaka has a doppelganger. I don't know, but it was formed through the Shadows she faced."

"DAMN IT!" Nozomi fisted her own thigh at the revelation, with gasps coming from others who have heard about Shadow Sayaka. "Then I have a theory that could support this. This soul gem that you say it is... From Sayaka, it's incorruptible. Well... She engaged them, right? Did she have any magic to counter any of the shadows?"

"I didn't really hear. But she did channel mana to her attacks against shadows."

"That's not good enough. Maybe she might have defeated the shadows. But instead of extinguishing them immediately, those shadows eventually found a source of life to possess. They never had a chance to possess Sayaka Bishop since her soul gem is powerful, so my guess is: They all gathered in the soul gem to try. You only had to tell us this morning to tell us Sayaka and Azusa disappeared. That must have been when the shadows gave up in possessing and found a different approach: Cloning themselves into one body. With so much power from the soul gem, they might have pulled it off, making the shadow doppelganger of Sayaka."

"Oh my..."

"Shadows can't be extinguished easily."

Kyoko winced at this. "Wait... You're not telling me the shadows aren't really dead, are you?"

"They usually vanish from existence, you know. But that's only if there's a certain form of magic used. I've been imbued by it after Lady Sayuri made me learn different kinds that counter the Shadow energy. No other magic could be learned except this one. And my cards can be great weapons once I bless them with my magic. So unless I banish Shadows using the magic I know, there's no way the shadows could be easily extinguished. We use extensions, yes... But that's only to paralyze or hurt them. They can use whatever little their essence can do."

"Then we haven't really learned everything, right?"

"That's not your fault," Maki said. "If there was something you should have known, it's the kind of shadows you will face inside that doppelganger. I doubt the same methods would work, but we'd try."

"I'm not blaming you, or Sayaka," Nozomi continued. "Look... It's pretty much a knowledge that's based for another location. Ambrogio is the place to go, but this is Junistera. Nothing like that can be learned in any of the galaxies in this universe, or in any of the universe, in this current MultiVerse. I'm sorry."

"Nah." Kyoko crossed her arms. "Now what's our next move?"

Umi then decided to reply. "Since there are small traces of those Shadows left from the places Sayaka engaged them in, we should start searching from there."

Hanayo then pointed a place on the holographic map of London. "The Falkland House Government Office in 14 Broadway is the place where shadow energy is a bit plenty. I say we start there." And eventually, the hologram changed to an image of Melusine from the Sailors HQ. "Melusine?"

"Hello, everyone." Melusine spoke in a calm manner. "I know your original mission is look for shadows acting independently and extinguish them, but it seems that your mysterious friend took care of them. Sayaka Bishop, right? Wait... What am I...?" Then she gasped. "There's a rift opening there!"

Eli knew it as a dimensional rift opens next to Kyoko just before her expected guest comes through. Sinon then saw everyone as the rift finally closed behind her. "Ah... You're here."

"Sinon!" The other girls said, except for Kyoko who didn't know her.

"Who are you?" Kyoko asked in curiosity at the guest.

"Same question," Sinon replied.

"What's going on?! Wait... That's Asada Shino! What is she...?"

"I called her." Eli had to say it now as other eyes glanced on her. "I knew we might run into trouble, so I had to bring another one in to help us out on finding Sayaka and Azusa. Kyoko... That's Sinon, also known with her real name as..."

"...Asada Shino." Sinon then glanced at Kyoko. "But call me Sinon, please," she said before extending her hand out.

Kyoko smiled and reached Sinon's hand, then clasped it before they shook hands. "Sakura Kyoko. Pleasure's mine, I guess. So you know them, huh?"

"Yup. We kinda met way back when I was on a hostage rescue mission. They helped make it easier, and I offered my services if ever they need it."

"Ah."

"Story-telling goes later," said Melusine as she got everybody's attention. "Start off at Falkland House. Sailors... you know your methods. Use them. I'll contact you all again later." Melusine's holographic image faded from Hanayo's Wrist Analyzer.

"I guess we have our objective laid out on us." Honoka stood up first. "Girls, let's make this day count! We're gonna find Sayaka and Azusa-san together!"

II: "My friends... we meet again"

Sinon stretched her shoulders while walking together with Honoka, Eli, Nozomi, Kyoko and Maki in a group. They were walking at the side-streets of London making sure they're separated from the rest on the way to Falkland House. It also follows with the others who have split to take different routes. Knowing the situation of the shadows, they had to make sure not to catch any attention of any eyes. Recently, Eli felt like she was being watched from afar. But even SHE has no idea who it was.

Meanwhile, Kyoko was still silent of all this since Sayaka and Azusa had disappeared. Feeling bad after it happened, it made her feel guilty. 'I shouldn't have been caught off guard. I knew at any time that Sayaka could be in danger, but with a Shadow doppelganger of Sayaka? That's something unheard of.'

"Sakura?" Sinon called Kyoko out, concerned while noticing she was deep in thought. "You okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Your tone doesn't say so though."

"Well..." Kyoko sighed.

"You're the only one to see Sayaka and Azusa gone after that doppelganger attacked you all. By that, the blame isn't supposed to be put on you."

"But I DO blame myself, Sinon."

"You know... I once asked myself a question whether in the past, it was my fault that things happened. Long before I became introduced to the world of guns and became relieved because of it, I experienced protecting my mother after my father died in a car accident. I was about two years old, I think. Nine years after the accident, a robbery happened at a postal office. There was a man who was about to try kill my mother, and I shot him with his own gun. I was filled with trauma afterwards, and tried to find peace. So I tried relieving myself by joining a game by the use of a NerveGear. It's named Gun Gale Online. Sure it had guns, but it was relieving to me, in a world that had guns but didn't look scary. In the real world back then, I was afraid of them. Months passed and friends helped me out of it. I even experienced going out against a murderer in GGO with Kirigaya Kazuto's help. That got me to resolve my trauma a little later by facing my own fears. I talked to a person from the postal office back then, and I knew killing a life back then saved many. For the first time, someone thanked me because of it. And I listened. So if you ever wanted to ask yourself that things are on you, don't. All you have to do is be yourself and do whatever you can from where you left of. If it's not for your friends, do it for yourself."

"Well... I kinda owe Sayaka on one thing. I'm a half-witch after all. Though..."

"It's ok. You don't need to tell me everything. Tell me when this is all over, Kyoko."

"Thank you. I think we'll be great friends." Kyoko then looked forward and made a weak smile for the sake of trying to cheer up. Sinon believes in her, and knows Sayaka does the same.

Eli just took of her finger from her earpiece. "Everyone, we're almost there. Once we get there, we try acting casual."

"Right," Honoka commented. "We're not really sure of what to expect there, so stay cautious."

"Honoka, think we could get word out to the current Incumbent about our intentions around Falkland House?"

"Elizabeth II?"

"I'm not sure about that, Ericchi," Nozomi replied for Eli. "We're not really from around here."

"True," Maki commented. "We only got here to kill some Shadows but not really ask assistance from anybody in this world unless we have to."

Kyoko was thinking as they are. 'Nah... Elizabeth II in there? Obviously, hell no. But shadows gathering at that place could mean trouble...' she thought. "Guys, there would just be officials working who don't know about the shadows."

The earpieces rang out through all of them as Melusine's voice was heard. "This is HQ! If all of you are reading me, get to Falkland House in a snap!"

"Why?" Eli asked.

"Shadow energy is gathering up and fast for a reason! I have a feeling it will be messy with people there."

Honoka gasped. "No! This is Sailor Lead. We are on the case! Everyone, we're getting there NOW!"

Maki smirks. "This'll be fun."

"I'd say," Nozomi comments with a smile.

"Honoka?" Eli inquired.

Honoka nodded. "Well I don't care if we get found out. I won't have people hurt... NOT ON MY WATCH! SAILORS, WINGS!"

"RYOKAI! (ROGER!)" Along with Honoka, every Cosmos Sailor turned as their attires changed into the white Battle Dress.

"Ready!" Rin said.

"Orders?" Hanayo inquired.

"I'm excited for this!" Nico said.

"Umi-chan!" Kotori called Umi out.

"Right!" Umi replied for Kotori.

"Ready when you are, Sayaka." Eli said.

"I'm about to shock everyone." Nozomi said with a smile.

"Let's make this count!" Maki said.

And every Cosmos Sailor put out their fairy wings.

Honoka then looked back to Kyoko and Sinon. "We'll have to get there fast. But you two should stay behind. This is our fight."

"Uh-uh." Kyoko crossed her arms. "That's what you think." And her eyes glowed orange to a gold color. "See... This is my fight too, and Sinon's. I never ran away once, even from a friend who wants to kill me. I won't do the same right now." And balling fists with both hands, flames had enveloped her body, until her attire has changed to a kimono-style outfit, while her hair had a fiery-orange color. Her spear fell from the sky as she caught it and expertly handle it, getting into her final stance to complete her transformation. "You four go ahead and I'll catch up with Sinon here."

Honoka nods and glances at the other three Sailors. "Let's go!" She then spreads her wings before springing up and flew with Eli, Nozomi, and Maki following suit.

"Now where were we? Ah..." Kyoko then whistled by instinct until a creature like a horse in its figure came and neighed with an echoed effect. It then stopped beside her before she got on it and looked at Sinon while reaching a hand out. "Come on!"

And as soon as Sinon held Kyoko's hand, she stopped and felt like her senses were synced with the horse. It took a while for her to snap out of it and got on Kyoko's horse. "Whoa... What did I just feel?"

"You tell me."

"For a moment there, I saw what the horse saw. I saw what it hears and I felt what it felt."

"That's what I first knew when I obtained my half-witch form. I'm one with it. Right now... you are. But since you're not its true rider, you'll only have it when you're riding with me."

"Alright."

"Now instead of sitting with our butts cold... HYAAA!" Kyoko then held tight to her horse and Sinon held Kyoko's shoulders as the horse neighed proudly while raising its front, just before it got back to all fours and galloped forward, speeding at the street as others looked at them. "It feels good when the wind hits me."

"When we're near there, I'm jumping off. I need to get a vantage point."

"Right... you're a sniper. Sure thing!" Kyoko smiles as she looked forward. "Yeah!"

In front of Falkland House Government Office...

Shadow Sayaka saw people run from her in fear. Calmly walking at the sidewalk, she glanced around, seeing figures flying from afar coming at her direction. She smiled, recognizing them. "My friends... we meet again..."

III: "It starts with a greeting..."

Weather: Cloudy...

Honoka finally got the lead while she led her flight of the half cosmic fairy Cosmos Sailors as they flew together to 14 Broadway. Rin, knowing she had fast senses was the first to notice someone familiar formed as a Shadow minion just out of the office. And she couldn't believe her eyes as to who it was.

"No... way!" Rin said in disbelief. "That's... That's her! Kyoko is telling the truth!"

"I confirm it!" Hanayo replied, just as her eyes were working with her ability, Tech Analysis. "Oh my god... All that Shadow energy... it's swarming on her. And... it's like the Shadows are combined into one independent body. So this is what the incorruptible gem could do?"

"Stay cautious, everyone," Honoka commands just before they spread out and land just distant from Sayaka. "Sayaka?"

Shadow Sayaka noticed she was called by the orange-haired Fusojin. "Ah... Honoka, right?"

"Um..."

"Let's get straight to the point," Eli spoke up for Honoka. "What happened early morning, Sayaka?"

The Shadow girl smiles. "You already have knowledge of it. It was probably Kyoko who told you since we haven't found her."

"You attacked the original Sayaka and Azusa. Then, we were told they disappeared and are nowhere to be found."

"Is that what Kyoko told you?"

"YOU BET!" Kyoko's voice rang as she soared from the sky while on her horse before she landed near the Sailors and put her spear forward towards Shadow Sayaka. "Where the hell are Sayaka and Azusa?!"

Sinon has her crosshair focused on Shadow Sayaka at a floor in a nearby building. "Make your move," she muttered. "I dare you."

Shadow Sayaka had to stay calm at this point. 'Kyoko...' "I see you haven't lost your touch."

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW, HUH?!" Kyoko was feeling furious. "How dare you...! Are you THAT evil to take them away from me?!"

"It depends..."

"...on what?!"

"Enough...!" Honoka demanded Kyoko to stop, and had to make sure the situation is controlled. "Kyoko, this isn't helping."

Umi was observing Shadow Sayaka before she saw her put a hand behind her. 'DAMN!' Umi then summoned her Cosmic Bow & Arrow before pulling an arrow back on the bow and released it towards Shadow Sayaka. Just as the handgun was out, the arrow hits the handgun and freezes it before it hits the wall, destroying it.

Shadow Sayaka was impressed. "Well done." And she saw Umi aim her bow and arrow at her.

Nozomi and Eli felt inclined and summoned their respective Extensions. After they did this, the others did the same thing. Shadow Sayaka was beginning to be a potential threat.

Sinon was keeping her scope centered on Shadow Sayaka. Then, her earpiece gave a ringing sound, since it's connected to a phone packed in her attire jacket. Briefly pressing a button on the earpiece, she gets her hands to steady her rifle again. "What is it? This is not a good time."

"Sinon?"

"Mato?"

"Janeth tells me you're helping look for Sayaka."

"I only ended up finding her Shadow self. And no kidding... I'm seeing her shadow self. The Cosmos Sailors are trying to get things under control."

"Rock and I could get there and..."

"No. With all things I hear about Sayaka, I don't think you'd match up well with her. Not even Rock has that power when she uses your body for combat."

"That's what YOU wanna say, Sinon."

Meanwhile, Shadow Sayaka widened her eyes, seeing images of the memories from the original Sayaka. It flooded in her before her head started to hurt as she clutched it with both hands. "UGH...! Damn you...! UHHN! LEAVE OUR HEADS!"

The Cosmos Sailors all noticed Sayaka suffered, but Kyoko didn't care. "I've had enough of this." Kyoko then jumped off her horse. While in mid-air and going towards Shadow Sayaka, she spun her spear just before she swung her spear towards an unsuspecting opponent.

But the Shadow girl knew and summoned a cutlass before she defended herself. Time slowed down in a stutter as Kyoko was still in the air, blade connected to Shadow Sayaka's cutlass. "You didn't learn anything, did you?"

"GIVE THEM BACK!"

"WE WON'T. Besides... We still have to look for them ourselves so we could enjoy them without your interruption." Shadow Sayaka spun and took away the blade of Kyoko's spear away from her before she jumped and kicked Kyoko towards the Sailors.

Time flowed normally as Kyoko came crashing down to the ground in front of the Sailors.

"SAILORS, ENGAGE!" Honoka commanded this furiously. 'I'm sorry, but this is not the Sayaka we knew.'

Sinon then decided and pulled the trigger. Time slows down again as she saw Sayaka's eyes dart over to her before time flowed normally again. The Hecate II was cut into half but Sinon slid back and got on her feet. Shadow Sayaka was already in front of her... "The hell...?" 'That was too close.'

"Trying us from afar, are you? It is not wise." Shadow Sayaka then extends her hand before a time bubble was around Sinon, seeing her extremely slow inside it. The Shadow girl then dashed before she suddenly thrusts her cutlass into Sinon's torso while removing the time bubble and seeing a Sinon in disbelief bleed. The Shadow girl then nears her mouth to the half-android's ear. "That's your lesson, android."

"Damn... you..."

"You are most welcome." She then removed the cutlass blade from the sniper's bleeding torso before she spun-kicked her, making the sniper hit the wall and make a hole through. "Good riddance." And she sensed a Rapier blade oncoming from behind. "Useless." She turned and spun her cutlass as she blocked Maki's rapier. "Maki."

"NO! What have you done?!"

"We defend ourselves, as well as dispose who dare oppose us." Shadow Sayaka pushed Maki back with her cutlass before she launched forward and started her combo against a defending Maki.

Maki on the other hand was blocking every strike Shadow Sayaka was doing to her. 'But she's faster! Damn it!'

"You are sloppy, Nishikino." Shadow Sayaka then puts a time bubble around Maki before she slashed at her many times, only seeing her Battle Dress defend from the worst of attacks. 'Their attire rather gives a nice protection. It doesn't just break, but I don't have time to try killing them anyway.' She removes the time bubble before kicking Maki out of the crashed window.

Rin saw it from below and ran. "MAKI!" She used her super speed to catch Maki and sets the unconscious girl down away from the battle. Analyzing the injuries, she found out the Battle Dress was completely worn out. "Damn... the Battle Dress is out of commission."

Shadow Sayaka jumped out of the building. And while in mid-air, she saw Eli fly at her. "Another obstacle for us." She spun her cutlass before it meets with a blocking pair of razor fans from Eli. "Are you ready to yield?"

"Never." Eli then started her attacks while they were falling to the ground. Seeing Shadow Sayaka land on her feet, she wasted no time and continued to attack her opponent. She got pushed back and got attacked by the Shadow girl's cutlass while her Battle Dress protected her from the worst of the damage. Eli blocked against and tried to slash at her opponent, only seeing blocks and no damage. 'Is she toying with us?!'

Nozomi flew from above the two, holding two magic cards with her two fingers. "Begone, Shadows!" She swung her arm back before throwing the magic cards at the Shadow girl, and got hit on her shoulders.

"AGGH!" Shadow Sayaka suddenly jumped back, seeing her shoulders pierced with the magic cards. "Cheap tricks to extinguish us. Tch." She dashed once, and twice, catching an unaware Eli off guard as she slashed her upwards, letting Eli experience a lethal cut on her torso and chest.

"HAAAA!" 'Damn!' Eli felt the pain made through her Battle Dress.

"ERICCHI!" Nozomi shouted in fear of Eli's condition. She then saw Eli fall down backwards before she flew downwards and caught the half-Russian. Nozomi took it to lower her down gently to the ground, seeing the Battle Dress torn up as blood was starting to flow. "NO, no, no!"

Eli was still conscious and saw Nozomi holding her. "Nozomi... I'm... fine..."

"No... you're not." Nozomi lets tears come out before looking at Shadow Sayaka bring the tip of her blade close to her neck.

"It is better you both surrender like the rest of you. We will not be halted." This, Shadow Sayaka had warned to both Nozomi and Eli.

Nozomi balled a fist secretly before letting her purple aura expand as she glared at the deathly staring eyes of Shadow Sayaka. "Who are you to tell us that, Shadow scum? You instil fear to the hearts of many to gain advantage for the Shadow Lord."

"At this point, you have no choice." But before Shadow Sayaka was about to raise her cutlass, her head ached again. "Uhhn!"

Nozomi had to her reflexes to glide her hand to Eli's chest and focus magic there, before sliding her hand down on the wound going to the torso. Intense magic glow ran through the wound before she sets a screaming Eli down. Eli was feeling the effect of the magic just as Nozomi stood up. "Save your strength, Ericchi." She then looked at an off-guard Shadow Sayaka with anger. "We'll take care of this fiend." And she dashed forward summoning magic cards.

Hanayo and Rin were steady in the air, seeing Nozomi throwing magic cards at a defending Shadow Sayaka, but it was soon turning around and noticed Sayaka was attacking a defending Nozomi this time.

"We have to do something, Rin!" Hanayo then raises her Cosmic Pistols.

"Let's go at it together, Kayo-chin!" Rin holds her Cosmic Bat with a tight grip.

"Need help?" Nico said it, and flew beside them. "I bet with speeds, we could try. Three are down, but I wanna see us try before we go down. And I got plan for that."

Kyoko then finally got up after the strong kick she received. Things were falling apart as she witnessed. No sniper shots were heard. Maki was nowhere to be seen. And now Eli is screaming 'bloody murder' while she was being healed forcefully with magic. 'This... It's my fault...'

"Sakura-chan!" Kotori called out from above while she landed along with Honoka. "Are you okay?"

"You took quite a hit and landed on your head," Honoka commented. "We weren't sure if we should help you or engage her."

"Why didn't you?"

"Eli's down, along with Maki and Sinon. We gotta stop her. Even Nozomi's cards aren't working and... LOOK OUT!" Honoka flew up and caught a flying Nozomi before bringing her to the ground.

"Uhhn..." Nozomi groaned, knowing her Battle Dress was torn up. "Kuso..."

Shadow Sayaka took off magic cards off her body, while seeing a recovering Nozomi being helped up by Honoka and Kotori, together with Kyoko. Suddenly, she saw rounds come at her from her before she was being hit with fiery red sphere-rounds. Looking up, Hanayo was using her Cosmic Pistols to shoot kill-spheres at Shadow Sayaka. The Shadow girl deflected some shots with her cutlass, but didn't expect things were to happen on the ground. She was whacked once with a bat from Rin's Cosmic Bat in super speed, while a fool's strike from Nico was made before she blocked an actual attack from behind her, by Nico. "All for your strike?!"

Nico smirks while pushing with her Ninjato. "Not quite."

Seconds before it happened...

Hanayo finished firing her rounds of kill-spheres from her Cosmic Pistols. 'The people are gone from this spot so it should be good.' Then she used her radio as a mini-radio transponder appeared on her belt and a little headset got on her ears. "HQ, requesting Star Bomb strike..." Then she looked below her, seeing Nico defend herself from Shadow Sayaka's attacks. "...right at my coordinates."

"Are you sure?" Melusine's voice of concern reached Koizumi.

"Trust me."

"Alright! Ordnance is on the way!" And Melusine's voice came with flashes from the sky. As Hanayo expected, Star bombs were fast approaching from above.

Shadow Sayaka attacked Nico one more time, throwing off her opponent's Ninjato. "If it's not for you, then it's for someone else." She then jumped up high before opening a rift, shortening her way to Hanayo before grabbing her body and neck. "Your actions are useless, Hanayo. Suffer your own consequences." She threw her upwards, forcing Koizumi to see the oncoming Star Bombs about to hit her before a series of explosions rang in the air. Shadow Sayaka then opens a rift and lands on the ground successfully on her feet.

Rin stared in horror as tears left her eyes, seeing Koizumi falling with black smoke from the sky. "KAYO-CHIN!"

Koizumi later crashed into an office building, rolling on the floor and crashed more through desks at a regular floor just before she stopped.

Honoka was seeing everything was going to chaos and had to do something. "This has got to stop. We can't have any more of us getting hurt." Her hands shook, knowing her Ton Gloves were on her, but even she... felt weak. "It's... It's useless, isn't it? I've seen Sayaka's power. Although she's not using it in full right now, she's doing her worst whenever we keep fighting her. This has to stop... all of it."

Kyoko's balled fist then goes limp as she looked at Shadow Sayaka from afar, and imagined the horror she would spread if this indeed kept going. If the Battle Dresses weren't strong, some of the Sailors would have gotten killed. "Yeah... I'm with Honoka."

"That makes three of us," said a panting Nozomi.

"Four," said Kotori.

And Shadow Sayaka turned to the four from afar, before looking at a crying and angered Rin. "Didn't you hear? They want to yield."

Rin winced at the statement. "No... NOT AFTER WHAT YOU DID."

"Enough!" Nico shouted at Rin. "They have a point."

And without a further response towards Rin and Nico, Shadow Sayaka started walking towards Honoka's party. "This should have been more interesting if we have grasped more into the fullness of our power. But knowing the circumstances that this was our first fight, our message needs to be sent to you all." And she stopped, just in front of them, now looking at Kyoko. "We have risen from nothing, Sakura. Perhaps you may see them, or perhaps you won't. Your emotions gave you away, making us more than pleased to force our hand."

Kyoko looked away. "What do you want from them?"

"We will let you use your imagination. And let this be a warning to you from us: Once you meet us again..." Shadow Sayaka opens a rift behind her before she walked back. "...we will not hold back, and try killing you. Farewell... Kyoko." She then crosses in the rift before it closed leaving the rest of them alone.

Umi then supported Sinon from the holed building just to stand up. "Sinon... You made it out... alive."

"Eh... Bleeding to death isn't where it should end. I'm a half-android after all." Sinon was then helped towards the hole and saw the carnage done down below. Lampposts were knocked down. Holes were made. Bullet holes were around as well. "It was just a street fight, I guess. But what's what worst that happened?"

"Well... Nobody died."

"Could you just...?"

"Sinon... No. Look... we were spared." Umi frowned at this. "But then we were given a bigger problem: She got away."

"She... WHAT?!" Sinon then pushed Umi away before she attempted to stand on her own. "Damn it... It's her fault... FUCK!" Not minding Umi on the ground and getting on her feet, Sinon left the floor.

Back in the Cosmos Sailors' flat...

Eli was looking at Koizumi and Maki, strapped with bandages to let them heal naturally as they sleep. The other girls seemed to be out of it, so they went out and had time to themselves. Nico, Honoka, Nozomi, Kotori and Umi were observing them.

"We let this happen," Eli said.

"It's nothing for you to be blamed of," Honoka replied. "All of us had no fault in this."

"It's no wonder that Shadow self of Sayaka was loose. But... Kyoko wouldn't really mean for that fight to happen in the first place."

"Rin wouldn't say the same thing," Umi commented. "She's pretty much upset at Kyoko right now. Good thing Kyoko's separated from Rin. If she were with her, she would have plucked her eyes, or her internal organs out."

"Oh, Umi... Still realistic." Nozomi remarked. "Kyoko felt responsible after Sayaka and Azusa were nabbed. She might have gotten carried away, but we at least saw Sayaka's Shadowy self can do. And that's something we can't beat. She's a powerhouse like how we know Sayaka."

"It seems so far, huh?" Kotori asked rhetorically. "I guess we're pretty much screwed right now."

"I wouldn't really say that, Kotori," Honoka replied. "Maybe we're beaten today, but remember: We always stand up. And that's exactly what we're gonna do. As soon as Hanayo and Maki are good to go, we'll start to go places and go after Shadow Sayaka. We can't have her loose..."

"...not without a plan." Kyoko surprised the six who were talking to each other. "Sure we can keep moving, but the best we could do is make a plan of action. Shadow Sayaka is loose, and she can travel dimensions. Guys, we gotta get our heads together."

"What do you suppose we do?" Eli asked.

"Well, if Sayaka can go from one dimension to another, we just gotta find another one who can do the same. And yeah... Sinon's getting a hold of her now."

"Her?"

"T-that means..." Honoka's statement was incomplete.

"...SHE KNOWS JANETH?!" The other girls finished it.

At the roof of a building...

Sinon slaps somebody's cheek. "YOU HEARTLESS BITCH!" Sinon seemed furious and a tear left her eye as she glared at the magical girl in front of her.

Janeth felt her cheek before she turned to Sinon. "You wouldn't fully understand."

"What wouldn't I?! What were we all to you...? PAWNS?!"

"Hmph."

"ANSWER ME!"

"FIRST OFF, WHAT ARE YOU?!" Janeth shouted back, now glaring at an angry Sinon. "Shino... I'm methodical as I go. Engaging someone without knowing full extent of the opponent's power is futile, especially if the opponent can control time. The only way for you to see that is for you to see it yourself. As for me, I already took a lot of experience just watching the fight from afar."

"You're cruel."

"And so? I have at least enough to take note if I wanted to foolishly take on Sayaka again. I've seen my other selves lose to her, to the fate put around her. The mistake I made was not understanding my opponent, even when I faced her."

"So you're making up for it by watching us while we almost got killed? You know... I feel like I'm being used."

"Isn't it true?" Janeth smirked at Sinon. "I WAS USED." Her smirk quickly faded and she glared at the sniper. "WE ALL ARE."

"This isn't just about you." Sinon sighed. "Look... I know I owe you a lot, but you gotta consider lives for your own sake. We got a Shadow doppelganger of Sayaka loose out of there. Don't you think it's important we look this over together? The reason why I called you out here now is..."

"...you want me to help you and the Cosmos Sailors look for the loose cannon and kill her."

"Well..."

"And you want to recover Sayaka and Azusa with my assistance as well."

"That's what I'm concerned of. We don't know where they are."

"True. If Sayaka didn't even bother using her powers, she wouldn't be here. It means one thing: The power was sucked out of her and she can't recover from it. And since I'm the only dimension-travelling magical girl you know, why not? However... do you wanna do it with the Cosmos Sailors?"

"Why not?"

"Well..." Janeth smiled and chuckled. "It's Melusine who wouldn't like it, but she'll know there's no other choice. I'll have to modify the HQ Travelling Engine."

"Wait... that floating HQ ship in space... You're gonna what...?!"

"You heard me." Janeth made it final, just before she walked towards the roof door. "If we wanna find Sayaka's doppelganger, together with your closely new friends, we're doing it together." She then opened the door. "Question is... will you ride some of my crazy ideas that would work? If you don't have faith in me now, then you're wasting someone's energy to convince you that we'll be a step closer towards our goal. Think about it and come down when you're ready." She crossed through the doorway and closed the door behind her. Then it opened again and she winked, before she closed the door behind her again.

Sinon knew obviously that she needed progress. And since Janeth is with them right now, more steps were needed to be made with her help. "Oh... shit. Could have been left to die but..." She laughed it off as she headed for the door and left the roof.

Meanwhile...

Azusa felt her body was sore. She had scratches all over her body. That fall she took from the hill hurt her quite a lot... "Uhhn..." Moaning in pain, she knew standing up would be a bad idea and decided to wait it out, but she felt weak to make a difference.

Her eyes focused upward and she eventually felt her vision was blurred, and her consciousness fading. But before that happened, she thought she saw a dog with a kind nature towards her. And from the looks of the appearance, the dog was an Akita. 'Is that... a dog...?' She felt like asking herself could bring her one step closer to finding where she was.

She knew she needed to get back to her friends, but she fell unconscious before thinking of another thing. She only saw an image of Sayaka, and of her Shadow doppelganger together before it all went black.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

YEAH! Goodness it's over.

"Of course it is."

Ah. Hey, Janeth.

"Disappointed of me?"

I don't know, really. You just stayed back and watched.

"But they haven't seen what I can do. It's because I was observing from afar. If this doppelganger is the same as the original, then she could have more."

Ah.

"My methods are just. It's not an act of cowardice. It's about measuring up when I've learned from my mistakes before. I fought against Sayaka. I'll just have to make sure foolish moves aren't made again. This time, I'm sure."

Good to know, Janeth.

"So, check out his collab author's profile for the next chapter! Chapter 3 is on him so watch for updates! By this time, my OC details would have been posted on Mr. Author's profile page right now."

See ya on the next chapter. Yeah… Done. Want some chicken?

"I say. Let's go." *winks*