Artemis woke with the dawn, she looked down at her wound and stood. It had bled through her shirt and dripped onto the blankets,
Artemis sighed; it was just another thing that had to be done. Ignoring the blood soaked bed, she wandered to the bathroom, once getting there she tied a new bandage on to the gaping wound.
She wandered back to her room, carefully removing the soaked bed sheets and blanket, walking to the laundry. Once that was started she changed and grabbed her bag, leaving the apartment walking towards school.
Artemis once again drifted through the day waiting for it to end, it was a almost pointless chore for her; almost. But she needed a good cover, and appearing young as she was, it wouldn't be good it the government found out that a fifteen year old girl not going to school.
Something about how all the young ones needed school to get a prefect jobs in the future. Whatever, as the young ones say today, time how quickly it passes and then it slows down once more.
Bring, Bring, the bell rang for the end of school and the teacher once more bowed to the class, leaving the students to do what they wished, if only a moment. Artemis stood, walking quickly out of the classroom and out of the school.
It was handy for her, having no friends that is, no one to ask weird questions; or to wonder where she went at night and why she seemed so sad all the time.
Better for everyone, Artemis thought and deep down she wondered if that really was true. But now wasn't the time for such thoughts, there was work to be done. Artemis filched and stopped for a moment at the sudden burst of pain in her chest.
Artemis cursed silently, stepping into a nearby alley. She tried to breathe deeply, pushing the pain away wasn't easy, it took her precious minutes that she could have used against the rising darkness.
Once the pain became manageable, Artemis took out her compact. "Ante Iron Make-up..." She whispered, transforming into Iron heart, Sailor senshi of the forgotten kingdom. Artemis placed her full faced mask and leaped to her perch looking for the next battle.
Through the slits in the mask, Iron Heart spotted a monster. It was tracking someone, a possible meal or maybe it was under orders to follow, either way it mattered little to Iron heart. She followed the beast to a nearby park, watching waiting for its next move.
The apparent target was a young woman of about 15, possibility 16, she was a blonde. The girl had long blonde hair tied up in two buns on opposite sides of her head; she wore a high school student uniform.
The girl seemed to be hurrying through the park, like she was late to some very important date. Artemis wondered what it was like to be so carefree, but that thought was silenced by the monster it had made its move.
Jumping right in front of the girl it stared at the girl with a large grin, 'Come to me be my friend..' the girl stepped back, reaching into her bag. The monster growled at the girl and inched closer, it was playing its food, this was to much for Iron heart, it was time to step in.
Iron heart leaped down from her tree, landing before the monster and in front of the girl. "What is this? Some stupid human is protecting another human..?" Iron heart nodded and flicked her wrists, allowing her paired blades to appear.
The girl started to protest; Iron heart turned and looked into the girl's eyes. All protests were quieted with a look into the voids of sadness. The girl stepped back futher, and pulled out her Sailor commucater and bent down.
"Usagi? Where are you? We have been waiting for a half an hour!" The girl named Usagi whispered; "I'm sorry that I'm late, I'm being delayed at the park, something new has come to town, please come quickly.." "What do you mean? Usagi?..Usa.." The girl closed the commucater and looked at the new arrival.
Iron heart stood waiting for any sudden movement from the beast towards its intended victim. The monster grinned at Iron heart, amused at the sight of a human trying to protect another.
It leaped above Iron heart clawing downwards, Iron Heart stepped backwards and shoved the girl to the right, out of the path of the beast. The beast landed hard on the ground, just bare inches from where the girl named Usagi crouched.
It clawed at Iron heart, tearing her chest reopening the wound. Iron heart coughed, stepping back and holding her chest. Blood seeped through her fingers as she clutched at the reopened wound, she coughed again.
The girl named Usagi cried out and the beast laughed; " Stupid human, now you will die a fool..." Iron heart took a breath, and adjusted her mask, stood straight up. She dropped her arms from her chest and bend her arms to allow easier use of her blades.
"My death has been in long coming, I would welcome it knowing it would be saving a innocent from a beast of the dark." Iron heart whispered loud enough for the beast and the girl to hear. Usagi stepped closer to Iron heart, "Please you don't have to do this, You're hurt, please don't hurt yourself even more for me. Please stop,"
Iron heart raised a blade to Usagi's neck. "Do not infer." Iron heart lowered her blade and turned back to the beast. She leaped backwards, and stood in battle stance, her blades raised. Iron heart twisted her hands around three times and whispered. "Rosen Blades.."
Her pair of blades, glowed a blood red; Iron heart charged the beast. The beast sidestepped, Iron heart missed and jumped backwards, missing another slash by the monster. Her blood flowed like a river onto the concrete path of the park. Iron heart charged again, slashing at the monster, the beast screamed in pain.
"Twisted thorn attack.." Iron heart launched her blades at the beast. They tore into the monsters flesh, ripping apart the muscles of the lower chest. " I'm sorry...So sorry.." Iron heart bowed her head and said her voice cracking.
" Midnight Bloom.." The blast was enough to knock Usagi to her knees, but Iron heart stood waiting. Once more there was a charred circle and Iron heart walked to the circle, picking up her blades. She turned to Usagi, who was kneeled on the ground.
Iron heart stumbled to where Usagi was and offered a hand. Usagi looked to her saviour and took the offer hand, standing. "Thank you..." Iron heart nodded and pulled her hand back, placing it on her wound.
"USAGI! USAGI!" Sailor Mars, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter, ran towards Usagi, they surrounded her with hugs. "You had us so worried, Baka!" Sailor Mars slapped Usagi on the back of the head, "Ow, Mars!" Causing the others to laugh, and shake their heads.
Iron heart doubled over coughing loudly, blood flowing out her chest, she fell to her knees. The Sailors turned watched Iron heart falling. Usagi cried out and bent down, reaching out to Iron heart. Iron heart bent her head, hugging her arms to her chest, trying to stop the bleeding.
Mercury bent down as well trying to look at the wound, to see how deep it was. "Who is this Usagi?" Venus asked quietly, as she kneeled beside Usagi. "She saved me, from that.." Usagi pointed to the remains of the monster.
Mercury reached in closer trying to inspect the open wound. Iron heart raised her blade to Mercury's neck. "Don't touch me.." Iron heart said with venom dripping in her voice.
Mercury and Usagi backed away, as Iron heart stood. Iron heart turned away from the Sailor senshi and walked into the looming dark. The senshi stood silently watching Iron heart walk away. "Who was that and why wouldn't she let us help her?"
Sailor Jupiter asked quietly. "I don't know, but she needs help, I think that we should try to help.." Usagi said quietly as well. They stared after Iron heart wondering, who she was.
Was she a Sailor senshi? If so did she not know of this galaxy's senshi? Why had she refused their help? So many questions left unanswered.
" It looks like we have a new enemy and a new mystery to solve.." Jupiter said with a smile, turning to the others.
Mercury stood and nodded, then offered a hand to Usagi. "Guess that means another meeting at Mars's place.." Venus grinned at Mars and Mars spat her tongue back at Venus.
"Ok, I'll bring the snacks as always.. but what this time, Hm.." Jupiter tapped her chin thinking. They all talked some more and the evening grew late, and they drifted off to their own houses.
Yay edited verison?