Episode 3 – A New Team of Guardians? The Sol Knight's Shimmering Debut!
It was a chill summer evening as Rei peered into the ritual flames of the Hikawa Shrine, seeking… she wasn't quite certain. 'Answers' seemed far too generic. 'Guidance' was something she found with ease. Whatever it was that she was looking for tonight, however, was strangely elusive. Some sliver of information about this new enemy. What might they want with these Pure Souls? Who were these new Sailor Guardians, and why did they wear uniforms that were echoes of the garb that she and her friends wore? If they were Guardians from the Silver Millennium, they would have heard of them?
Wouldn't they have?
So, Rei had no earthly idea as to what it was that she was seeking, but the dark flickering that filled her fire certainly wasn't it. It roiled and raged as if it truly threatened to burn her. Rei closed her eyes and moved to stand, knowing that the fires wouldn't reveal anything clear cut tonight. It was murky, and that was troubling. There was no clear picture. No clear goal. At least not one that she could discern.
With a sigh, Rei walked over to the interior hallway and opened the door to peer into it. She could hear Yuuichirou snoring from his room down the hall, as well as her grandfather peacefully sleeping in the room beside Yuuichirou's. They, like the rest of Tokyo, were completely unaware of the true situation that had unfolded at K.O. University just a handful of days ago. None of the officials had spoken out about a fight involving the Sailor Guardians, but rumors were already swirling. After all, Sailor Moon and her group hadn't been seen for two years. Why should anybody expect that to change, now?
Rei stepped out into the cool, crisp air, which sent her hair and robes billowing. She was about to turn in to bed when something caught her eye. Blinking in surprise as a sheet of paper flew across the front courtyard of the temple, Rei stepped down with raised, inquisitive brows. Several more spread out in the wind, drawing Rei closer when one nearly blew into her face, causing her to recoil and reach out at the same time.
Rei looked at the paper in silence,
One Night Only – Astronomer Jane Devons at O.K. University.
Come and join us and renowned Astronomer, Jane Devons, in her special guest lecture on the phases of the moon, and the effect they have on people.
2 P.M.
Sincerely, Ryo Urawa – Vice Chairman of the Students Astronomy Club, K.O. University.
The woman, Jane Devons, was fairly pretty – with short, professionally cut blonde hair and vibrant green eyes that seemed to glitter to life, even in the still photograph reprinted on the flyer. Rei looked up towards the sky and let the wind kiss her face. Something was going on. Something that had to do with Jane Devons and Rei was determined to figure it out.
Especially if she was going to be Olivine's next target.
Rei tossed and turned that night, her mind continuing to wander towards the possibility that some force had intervened to bring her the identity of a potential target. Or a potential enemy. How many times had their abilities drawn them to their enemies, to those whom they needed to protect, to powerful objects that had to be found? Too many to count, Rei noted as she sat up in her bed. Looking around her small bedroom, she wondered if that same force were trying to implore her to do something else, as well.
Minako and Makoto lived together closer to town. Usagi and Mamoru lived together in town. Ami lived in town, too. All of them were situated on the periphery of O.K. University, which might very well be the location of another enemy attack. Perhaps she was being urged to move closer to the university, as well. It was something that Rei had thought about since getting her car, now parked down the steep hill that the shrine was set atop of.
As long as this force wasn't trying to draw her closer to her father, Rei might consider listening to it.
Rising out of bed, Rei got dressed and went about her morning duties. Hours before they might need to be performed, but it was enough busywork that her mind was able to move away from the potential enemy attack and the possibility that she was being called away from her work as a priestess.
Hikawa Shrine had offered her sanctuary in the wake of her mother's death. Rei thought about her mother, Risa, often. Whenever Rei saw Casablanca lilies or the scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, her mind wandered to her mother's love of flowers or her phenomenal beauty. Whenever Rei focused on her work as a shrine maiden, she wondered if it was a task that her mother had performed while growing up here. Rei knew quite well that this bedroom had been her mother's – it was why she had chosen it, instead of all of the others that the shrine had to offer. It was a part of her mother that she could share, even in death.
Rei made her way through the temple to the kitchen, near the back of the complex, and put on a pot for tea. Through the windows, she could see Phobos and Deimos swirling high above in the sky. There were so many secrets surrounding the pair – birds from the planet Coronis, far and away from them in the Milky Way. That they, like Luna, Artemis, and Diana, could shift into human form, brought any number of questions to Rei's mind about the greater universe. What it all meant to be a Sailor Guardian, that true, physical forces could manifest themselves from one galaxy to another to place themselves in the orbit of the Silver Millennium.
Were they truly so special that other worlds would bow before them and the Court of the Moon Family?
Or was there more to it than that?
Rei shook her head and went about making herself a cup of tea, saving the deep, philosophical questioning for later in the day after they had staved off the enemy.
She walked over to the round table, which featured a glass top, and sat down in the simple chair beside it. Over the past two years, after finishing her duties, this had become another sort of ritual for Rei. To simply sit and watch as the sun rose into the sky, bathing its beautiful colors across the temple grounds. It was a grand scene to behold, and one that Rei was grateful to have every single day.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you're up this early," Yuuichirou said from the doorway, drawing Rei's gaze across the kitchen to him. He offered a toothy grin and leaned against the doorjamb, taking her in. Folding his arms across his chest, Yuuichirou tilted his head, and asked, "Is everything alright, Rei?"
"I've just been thinking about a lot, lately," Rei replied, turning to face him while she reached for the pot and poured a second cup, leaving the third for her grandfather. She suspected that he would be up, soon, as well. "But don't worry, it's nothing too terribly serious, Yuuichirou."
"When it comes to you, everything is serious," Yuuichirou countered as he strode forward, his smile warm, but also small. "These last two years, you've been bright and full of cheer and excitement, but now… when I look at you, I see a woman who's holding the weight of the world on her shoulders."
"Sometimes it feels like that," Rei said with a slow, thoughtful nod. Yuuichirou wasn't always the most perceptive person, especially when he let his emotions run wild, but there were times when he saw things with a clarity that rivaled the sacred fires of the temple. "Then again, I suppose we all have the weight of the world on our shoulders – our world, at least."
"As long as that weight doesn't crush you," Yuuichirou added, leaning forward to pick up the cup of tea. He tilted the porcelain cup towards her before bowing slightly and turning to leave her to her own devices. In the years since they had triumphed over Sailor Galaxia and Chaos in the Galaxy Cauldron, Rei had grown used to the peace and the quiet. But that time had come and gone, it seemed.
Now was the time for them to fight, so that was what Rei would do. There was no getting around the fact that they had an enemy to deal with. No matter how much they would all like to.
Rei finished her tea and rose from the table, cleaning the cup and leaving it to dry, before she strode back to her room, with her mind made up. She picked up her communicator and looked down at it, mulling it all over one last time before she pressed the button and contacted the others.
Olivine poured her magic into the daffodil before her, watching as it began to ripple with her power. Soon, her creation would be complete, and she would be able to make her move on her next target. Olivine picked up the flyer, chuckling darkly – her target wouldn't ever see Sprigara coming. By the time they did, it would be far too late.
Seeing as how the Sailor Guardians now had a strong enough power to wipe away even the most creative of constructed creatures, Olivine knew that there was no sense in playing tricks or games. She need only swoop in, identify her target, and strike before the Sailor Guardians had a chance to intervene in her plans. Otherwise, she would only be setting herself up for a swift defeat, which was, quite simply, unacceptable. If she returned to the Cabal emptyhanded… she might as well have remained behind in America at their base at Illus.
Olivine looked up at the crackling portal that opened up in the middle of her arboretum and quickly dropped on bended knee when General Zultanite stepped through it. She could see the silhouettes of Lapis, Cordierite, Alexandrite, and Opal – their gleaming eyes narrowing on her before the portal snapped closed behind Zultanite. Zultanite stepped forward in his militaristic glory – with his head held high beneath the horned helm he now rarely wore outside of meetings with the Council. Which could only mean…
"Yes, I did just come from a Council meeting," Zultanite said, reaching up to remove the helm so he could hold it beneath his right arm. He leveled a cool, unemotional gaze at Olivine and the creature she was making. "After your most recent report, I felt it necessary to soothe any… doubts that the Council might have about your performance as of late."
"Thank you, General, for your vote of confidence," Olivine murmured, her head bowed low. General Zultanite stepped closer, still, his gaze on the daffodil that was rapidly gaining sentience and pure, chaotic power. "After Arowine and Woodron's defeat, I felt it prudent to bring forth a new creation from the power gifted me." She looked over towards the dome which held chaotic energy. It connected her to their true base of operations, where other Illusory Wretches were stowed until they had been ordered to act. "Their powers are more formidable than anticipated, and so…"
"You're in no danger of being disposed of, Olivine," Zultanite said as he cupped the air around the vibrant flower, watching with keen interest as it continued to absorb the chaotic energy. "It took the American Guardians a while to figure out our tricks, just as it took us a while to adapt to their presence." Zultanite turned to face Olivine, absently gesturing for her to stand tall. "Arowine and Woodron were, as we both know, phenomenal Wretches – but even they had their weaknesses." He pinned Olivine with a gaze, "I am only here to encourage, not castigate. You have your mission, just as the other Witches have theirs – find the Pure Soul that we seek. And, if possible, determine a way for us to eliminate the Guardians once and for all. Though, keep in mind – the Council's patience is not eternal."
"Yes, of course, General," Olivine replied quickly. General Zultanite nodded curtly before he replaced his helm atop his head and strode forward, snapping open the portal once more. The other Witches were nowhere in sight, but they didn't need to be. Their presence was always felt. As were the claws they would surely dig into her if given a chance to appear indispensable to the Council.
"Good luck, Olivine," General Zultanite said without looking back. The portal snapped closed behind him, allowing Olivine to breathe in and out with ease once more.
Olivine looked back to her creature and threw her hand out, letting more and more power fuel the Wretch. She wasn't going to fail.
She simply couldn't!
Olivine vanished in a swirl of flowers, leaving behind her green room for the site of the guest lecture. It was still empty, though it wouldn't be for much longer. So, Olivine knew that she had to move fast. Turning around, she opened a portal lined with rocks and sent the delicate daffodil, filled with the power of chaos out towards the table which stood against the back wall. Her smile was mischievous as the portal dissipated, leaving behind nary a mote of dust, and strode towards the flower with one final spark of chaotic energy to give it the last push over the edge that she needed.
Olivine threw a hand out and splayed her fingers sending a tiny bolt of black lightning at the flower, forming a ceramic pot etched with ancient symbols of power. Lowering her hand to her side, she popped a leg and let out a low, sultry chortle as the plant multiplied into a splendid array of flowers along the back table. By the time Olivine made her move, she would have already won. The Sailor Guardians would find themselves completely outmatched this time and, if she played her hand right, they might not even survive the encounter. It was, after all, a possibility.
With a flick of her hand, other potted flowers populated the table, allowing the chaotic energy to be hidden amongst the purity of the other flowers. Glancing over her shoulder, her gaze swept the room. There would be well over a hundred people in this room by the time the lecture was at its height. A hundred people there, just to provide Olivine with a useful distraction. Turning back to her floral display, Olivine snickered, leaped back through the air, and vanished in a swirl of petals once again.
There would be plenty of time to lay in wait so that she made her move at the perfect time. It was, after all, her only option. General Zultanite would only tolerate a lack of results for so long. And by the time he made his displeasure known, it would be far too late.
Usagi wiped the table clean before picking up the basket of dishes she had set aside and walked them from the terrace and through the dining room of the café, smiling all the way. She had found solace in her job here at Fruits Parlor Crown – with its familiar routine, friendly clientele, and chummy boss. Unazuki practically glided around the parlor, carrying trays of parfaits and sweet drinks or other tiny deserts served with coffee. Unazuki was always smiling, Usagi noted, as she set the tray down in the kitchen to be washed, and Usagi was happy about that. It provided a warm and inviting atmosphere, and all of the other staff appreciated it, too.
Gathering the next tray for a table in her section, Usagi hummed to herself as she crossed the room again and stepped out into the terrace. The midmorning sunlight bathed the terrace and brought out the aroma of the flowers which had been perfectly arranged in the boxes between the booths and tables, giving the illusion of privacy.
Dressed in a beautiful lavender dress etched in red and white, Rei was the picture of smoldering beauty. Her long black hair was woven into a thick braid, with crow-shaped bands set into it. Mamoru was suave in his partially unbuttoned dress shirt, tailored slacks, and polished dress shoes, casual and relaxed packaged into a handsome form that Usagi got to call her own.
Mamoru and Rei sat together in one of those booths, the picture of comfort and familiarity. Years earlier, their closeness would have irked Usagi no end, but not anymore. Their friendship was important to Usagi, and it was just that: friendship. Usagi knew that she didn't have anything to worry about, and so she had grown out of those childish reactions to the mature woman she had always aspired to be. Besides, they were discussing all of the strange things that had begun to pop up here in Azabu-Juuban as of late. Olivine and her Illusory Wretches chief among them, but also the strange windstorm that had blown a flyer practically into her face the night before.
They had grown accustomed to fate and happenstance drawing them to people who might need their help. People who might be targeted by an enemy. And Rei was reasonably certain that this was the reason the wind had carried that flyer to her. So that they might offer this woman their help. At the same time, Usagi was intrigued by the fact that Ryo Urawa was the one who had put this seminar together. His precognitive abilities had drawn him into their world from time to time, but the last time they had crossed paths was about four years ago. So, what had brought Ryo back into their orbit… and was Ami aware?
A gentle breeze kissed Usagi's face and drew her hair flowing towards the open doors that led into the dining hall. Turning around, Usagi blinked back surprise and interest at the sight of a pretty young woman who leaned over the counter talking to Unazuki. She had long golden blonde hair that fell in styled waves around her smooth shoulders. Her laughter was lilting and full of life, and as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, crystal blue eyes flickered about the room. She wore a chic romper and platform sandals – both of which were white with shades of blue seemingly breathed on to the ensemble.
"Thank you, for meeting with me today, Unazuki," the woman said, as Usagi walked closer to pass into the kitchen and collect her next order. "I really am looking forward to starting work here – after the move… I'd just like to dip my feet in and get a feel for the place."
"Well, I, for one, am glad that you decided to stop by," Unazuki replied, her own laughter full of warmth. "Your application was impressive, and I know that you're going to fit in here really well and really fast, Kari."
"Here's hoping," Kari replied with crossed fingers. She looked around and gestured for emphasis as Usagi picked up the tall glass of iced tea. "Everything about Tokyo, so far, is just awesome. The people, the culture, my building."
"I think you just moved into the same building as Usagi," Unazuki said, catching Usagi's complete attention. Unazuki glanced down at the paper in front of her, nodding, "Yeah, my friend, Usagi – and your new coworker – lives in that building with her boyfriend." Unazuki turned, smiling widely, and ushered Usagi closer. "Usagi, Usagi! Come meet our newest hire!"
Usagi was all smiles as she stepped up beside Unazuki, her hand already jutting out to greet the girl. Kari smiled in reply as she shook Usagi's hand, while Unazuki made quick introductions. "Usagi, this is Kari," she said, "Kari, this is Usagi. We go way back."
"If it weren't for her family's arcade, I don't know what would have done after school for all of those years," Usagi laughed, pulling her tray in close to keep the glass from following. "Motoki and Unazuki have just been amazing to me all of these years."
"Well, I'm truly looking forward to joining you both here," Kari said warmly as she took another, longer look around the parlor. "It's so open and inviting in here, I can practically feel the love and happiness that your café is built on."
"We try," Usagi and Unazuki said in unison, eliciting a shared smile from them both. Kari sighed longingly as she arched her back and simply took a moment to breathe it all in. Whether it was her warm smile or her kindness, there was something about the girl that drew Usagi in. What it might be, though, was up in the air. Though, if they worked together and lived in the same building, Usagi had a feeling that she would get to know Kari sooner, rather than later.
"Oh, Usagi," Unazuki said, drawing Usagi out of her thoughts. "I heard Rei and Mamoru talking about that guest lecturer – with Jane Devons," Usagi tilted her head and blinked back surprise, as Unazuki smiled and waved it off. "I have this place covered for the rest of the day, why don't you join them. It is, after all, a one time deal for the university you plan on attending."
"Are you sure, Unazuki?" Usagi asked, glancing at the clock behind the front counter. She still had another two hours on her shift today. Looking around, Usagi saw a few more servers than typical, but still, she was getting used to the routine of balancing work, her future education, and their new enemy.
Unazuki nodded firmly, and said, "Trust me, we've got everything covered. So, skedaddle!" Unazuki turned to Kari before Usagi could even reply, and said, "And I hope to see you here at the start of next week for your first shift, Kari."
"I'm looking forward to it," Kari said before she stepped away from the counter and glided out of the parlor. Usagi walked out to the terrace in a state of confused bliss. While she was glad that she would have the chance to investigate Rei's strong feeling about this astronomer being their enemy's next target, she was also curious as to why Unazuki was being so… freehanded with her schedule.
"Hey, guys," Usagi said, stopping beside Mamoru. She absently rubbed his shoulders, while Rei and Mamoru looked up at her in greeting. "Unazuki told me to take the rest of the day off to go with you guys to this guest lecture."
"Well, that's convenient," Rei said, glancing sidelong at Unazuki through the terrace windows, past the beautiful flora that surrounded them. Rei looked back at Usagi, setting her empty cup of tea aside. "At least this means that if we run into an enemy, we can eliminate them if they prove immune to our abilities again."
"That's true," Usagi sighed, letting her hands fall to her side before Mamoru caught one and kissed it lightly. She smiled warmly down at him and stepped aside to let Mamoru and Rei rise to walk out with her. No, there was no reason for her to be envious of Rei and Mamoru's close friendship. They had put that brash pettiness aside years ago. And they were all friends, real and true, and that was all that mattered to Usagi.
That, and stopping whatever enemy they crossed paths with.
They descended the stone steps that led up to the terraced entrance of Fruits Parlor Crown and strode past the arcade to Mamoru's new car, parked just alongside the curb. He'd picked it up this morning, and that new car smell still filled the space. Though he had offered to give up his motorcycle, Usagi had quickly pooh-pooed the idea. They were both working and, soon, both going to school, but they were still figuring things out. Sure, they had a new apartment together and a life that they were building, but Usagi and Mamoru had had a long conversation about not sacrificing their own personal interests. That could be saved for when they had a child…
A child they were both already keenly aware of. Besides, now that Usagi could drive, too, she could use the car when he felt like enjoying the freedom of his motorcycle. It was, quite honestly, a win-win situation.
Glancing over her shoulder absently, Usagi spotted Kari playing the Sailor V Game through the front windows of the arcade, with a small crowd gathering around her. Arching a brow, Usagi slid into the front passenger seat of the sleek town car, while Rei claimed the back passenger side seat. More and more high scores had appeared on the game as of late, but then, Usagi and her friends had stopped frequenting the arcade to play games weeks ago.
It was only natural that others would fill the void.
Usagi looked ahead when Mamoru pulled out into traffic and sat back and listened in to Rei and Mamoru's conversation, "Whether she's a target is still something I'm trying to figure out. The other possibility is equally possible."
"After the encounter with Woodron posing as that teacher's aide Gerry, I concur," Mamoru replied, glancing critically around as he wove through traffic effortlessly. "Anybody could be disguised as one of those Illusory Wretches, and that is one of the most frightening things about them."
"We haven't had to deal with something like this since the Droids that the Black Moon Clan used against us," Usagi said, shuddering at the memory of the alien invasion that had happened under their noses. Sure, Sailor Tin Nyanko had disguised herself, poorly, as an exchange student, in order to secure Usagi's star seed, but those women had never used their creatures to infiltrate the world. That this new enemy could, and would, infiltrate their world was frightening. "We're going to have to keep a close eye on her, in case the worst turns out to be the case."
"Regardless of how they attack us, we'll find them and face them," Mamoru said as he reached over to squeeze Usagi's hand in her lap. She smiled sidelong at the love of her life and nodded her agreement curtly. Mamoru glanced into the rearview mirror as he slowed at the next light, and asked, "Rei, are the others already at the lecture hall?"
"Ami, Makoto, and Minako should be there now with Artemis and Luna," Rei said with a curt nod of her own. She glanced down at her communication bracelet and tapped it gently, activating it. "Guys, we're on our way to the university – are you already there?"
"Just got in," Minako replied, speaking for all of them as the leader of their group, next to Sailor Moon of course. It was strange, really, to think that one day she would have to give up this power completely and become Queen. "Everything seems quiet, right now, but we're keeping an eye out for anything even remotely suspicious."
"Alright, girls, we'll be there soon," Usagi said from the front seat, as Mamoru continued on towards their destination. Her heart was pounding in her chest, with every second bringing them closer to their future.
Sandra Deveraux stepped forward in line with her brother, Bradley, and two of her best friends, Alana Lane and Jennifer Drew. With her platinum blonde hair styled into loose waves that fell around her shoulders and down her back, it wasn't immediately evident that the empire waist green and white block strip dress she was wearing was completely strapless. Though, the backless heels she wore were far more obvious in their freedom. It was stylish – modernly so.
Next to Alana's vintage blouse and trousers, deep blue and black respectively, and her wedge shoes, it was even more so. With her shoulder-length brunette hair pulled back into a taut bun, the businesslike style was completed with grace. Then, there was Jennifer – who wore a slim hooded sweater, red in color, with a t-shirt that read POWER, which she had paired with extremely short white shorts and simple flats. Bradley, ever the effortlessly charming gentleman, looked relaxed in his formfitting t-shirt and slim jeans and running shoes. They were, to all the world, a group of coeds interested in a guest lecture. Rather three Sailor Guardians, and a powerful warrior in his own right, waiting to see if they were right.
If Jane Devons was a potential target of the Illusion Witch Olivine.
Something had pulled Jennifer here. A feeling. Some kind of prescience. None of them were quite clear on what it was that drew them to their foes, but it did. If they were right, then this would be the second attack centered around O.K. University, further validating their decision for several of them to attend the university in order to keep an eye on it. If this was where their enemy had centered their activities, so it was where they had to focus their attention.
"At least it should be an interesting topic," Bradley murmured under his breath, elbowing Sandra lightly in her side. She shook her head and chuckled up at her brother, who stood a foot and a half above her height. "What?" he asked, innocently of course, "Astronomy is something that I am acutely interested in."
"I'm well aware," Sandra laughed warmly, though she couldn't help but roll her eyes. She enjoyed astronomy, too, though she had put it aside in recent years to focus on her fledgling modeling career. But there were still those days when Sandra would kick back in a comfortable chair, in comfortable clothes, and read deep into the night about the stars and everything that lay beyond what they could see with the naked eye. "Perhaps if we spend the Q and A portion pelting her with complex queries, the enemy will get so bored that she ups and leaves."
"One can hope," Alana commented under her breath, her gaze sweeping the crowd once more. Even in hushed conversations, there was the threat of being overheard. Sandra looked over her shoulder, disguising it beneath the flip of hair that had countless guys, and some girls, looking her way. They simply weren't looking at her eyes. She spotted a few people who she might peg as a potential threat, though the reasons varied. None, however, immediately stood out as being Olivine, or one of her cohorts. "It looks like Miss Devons is ready for her debut."
Sandra, Bradley, and Jennifer all looked ahead, as the double doors to the classroom were opened and a woman appeared, smiling out as she extended her hand to the first students in line. Although Jane Devons looked like her picture, there was a subtle grace to her beauty in person. The line moved quickly, yet Jane somehow managed to talk to each person or group that had come to listen to her speak.
"It's gonna start without us at this rate," Sandra heard a familiar voice sigh, drawing her gaze over her shoulder to a group a few places back. Golden blonde hair, a vibrant red bow, and glittering blue eyes that simply glittered in the sunlight. "Usagi, Rei, and Mamoru were supposed to be here already."
"If you want, Minako, I'll wait for them here," another woman said, glancing around the park that spread out between this particular classroom and the main structure of K.O. University. It was dangerously close to the quad that had been the scene of their last fight – far too close for comfort for Sandra. But the trio of girls had Sandra intrigued, especially since she already knew one of them.
"Oh, Mako-chan!" Minako groaned, reaching up to scratch the back of her head in exasperation.
"Sandra?" Alana asked, arching a brow as she gestured to the next few groups of people to go on ahead of them. "We're here to investigate not…" Alana sighed and simply stepped back to let a young couple by.
"Minako, what a pleasure to see you again," Sandra said, and she knew that Bradley had looked up from his conversation with Jennifer, the both of them having stepped aside without comment. Minako looked up with a smile, the same smile Sandra was certain that she wore when she was recognized on the streets. Sandra strode forward, wearing her best smile, as the three women looked up at her. "We must have missed each other this morning."
"Ah, yes," Minako said with a wide smile of her own. "I was registering for classes today, with Ami and Makoto. So, we had to get out here pretty early in the morning." Minako stood between them, gesturing, "This is Ami, and my awesome chef of a roommate, Makoto."
"It's nice to meet both of you," Sandra said, extending her hand to shake theirs. Ami was a cute young woman with shoulder length blue hair, partially pulled back while several locks framed her face, dressed in a slim black and gray blouse and skirt with heels that were perfectly paired. Makoto, tall and beautiful despite her deep, tough, mien, had wavy auburn hair pulled into a voluminous ponytail with thick bangs that flowed over her forehead. Makoto wore a black and green mini dress with thin straps, over a thin black shirt and leggings that flowed into stiletto boots, artfully draped. Sandra couldn't help but appreciate their distinct beauty, before she looked around, "where's your other friend run off to? Rei, I think her name was?"
"She's on her way with Usagi," Minako answered, as Jennifer, Alana, and Bradley stepped forward to greet them, too. "Guys, this is Bradley – our new neighbor and… Makoto!"
"He looks just like…" Makoto started to say, before shaking her head and smiling as she shook Bradley's hand, a distinct blush filling her cheeks. Bradley's smile was disarming as he stepped in close to shake Makoto's hand, and there was a distinct crackle of electricity when their hands touched. It seemed both of them felt it and chuckled lightly with one another before Ami stepped forward next. "I just remembered we saw you the other day, at Fruits Parlor Crown."
"Yeah, I remember," Bradley grinned in reply, letting his hand fall to his side.
"What brings you guys here?" Ami asked, innocently enough, though Sandra sensed a distinct interest in the answer. She pushed it aside, though, after all – there was nothing wrong with genuine curiosity.
"Brad told us about the lecture," Jennifer answered, using their prepared reason for being here. "He's thinking about taking a course on astronomy this term, and he wanted to see what the program had to offer in terms of a guest lecture. It can be quite prestigious, I think."
"Yes, it can be," Ami agreed with a brief nod before she, too, looked around the campus. Ami's smile was knowing as she leveled a gaze at Bradley. It was subtle, but Sandra noted the flash of interest in Ami's gaze – whereas Makoto and Minako seemed a bit more obvious about how attractive they found Bradley, Ami was subtle in her interest. "So, what courses are you taking here at the University?"
"Well, science is really my passion," Bradley replied, his smile turning coy. "So, I loaded up on several courses – intro to botany, astronomy, and physics." He shrugged as if he hadn't announced to the world that he had essentially put himself in some of the most intense courses that education had to offer. With each course, though, Ami's smile grew fractionally. "Why, are you taking any of those."
"Knowing Ami, she's probably taking all of those and more," Minako said wryly, elbowing her friend in the side. Ami chuckled in reply as she casually waved Minako off, though her excited nod proved Minako to be absolutely correct. "See, what did I tell you?"
"You only have to add biology to that," Ami countered with another, more reserved laugh. She covered her mouth, adding a bit of cuteness to the act, but her expression soon turned sober. "I'm working up to applying to medical school, so all of the courses I have to take are strictly defined. Though, by the time I finish…"
"Ami was accepted into a premier internship in Germany that would have run parallel to her undergraduate studies," Makoto revealed, eliciting wide eyes from all of them. Sandra was especially surprised – from the look of her, Ami had to be around their age, but to have secured such a unique opportunity…
"If you don't mind my asking, what prompted you to not accept it?" Bradley asked, and Sandra couldn't help but lean in, to listen herself. "It sounds like it was an amazing opportunity."
"It really was," Ami sighed and nodded in agreement, "but, events out of my control forced my hand." Ami looked up, and although her eyes were faintly glassy, there was genuine warmth in her expression. "I know that another opportunity will present itself sooner or later – but, for right now, my place is here in Tokyo."
"That is incredibly brave," Alana said, and Sandra and Jennifer both nodded in agreement. It was something that they could all understand, even if they couldn't share the true reasons with these girls. Sandra and her friends had put the pursuit of their dreams on hold so that they could pursue their enemy and find their true leader. It hadn't been easy, but it had been necessary. Alana wiped away a tear and, in the process, caught sight of the line rapidly moving into the building. "Well, it looks like it's our turn to go inside."
"We should all get together sometime," Minako put forth, something Sandra had been seconds away from suggesting herself. They had to blend in, and what better way than by making friends who had lived here. They could also glean information from them, though Sandra didn't intend on using them like that. They were far too personable for that. "Perhaps we could meet at Fruits Parlor Crown, or even here. Who knows?"
"It's definitely something I plan on doing," Sandra agreed with an excited smile and nod, as they all started to move towards the double doors. Jane Devons had long since entered, no doubt to begin her lecture, but Sandra didn't much mind. After all, nobody was crying out in fear or pain, it was clear the enemy had yet to make an appearance. So, Sandra fell into step with Jennifer and Alana, while Brad lingered a bit to walk with Ami and discuss their shared course load. They were steps away from entering the building when a voice cut through the din of conversation.
"Ami, I was hoping I might catch you today," a young man called out as he stepped out through the double doors to join them, smiling from ear to ear. He was about as tall as Ami, with short tufted brown hair and big, deep blue eyes that shimmered as he strode straight for Ami and Brad. "I figured this lecture would be in your wheelhouse."
"Ryo, I thought I might see you here today, too," Ami said with a warm, friendly smile as she stepped forward to shake Ryo's hand in greeting. "It's been so long since we last saw each other, so when I saw your name on the flyer, I hoped you would be here."
"Just good luck, I guess," Ryo replied before he gestured over to a bench a short walk away from the lecture hall. "Do you have a few minutes? I'd love to catch up with you…"
"Sure," Ami said, before stepping away to walk with Ryo over to the indicated bench. Sandra arched a brow as she turned back to the entrance but said nothing. There was a look in that boy's eyes, and that strange feeling that had brought them here seemed to be pulsating rapidly now.
"I'll meet you guys in there, I think I want something to drink," Sandra said, before peeling off even as Alana and Jennifer looked at her with inquisitive glances. None of them stopped her, though, and they walked into the conference hall with Makoto, Minako, and Bradley.
If they had focused on the wrong target on that flyer… Who knew what might happen to that poor boy? All they could do now was divide and conquer. Sandra only hoped that whichever person was targeted today, that those girls weren't caught in the crossfire.
"I wasn't lying," Ryo began as they sat down on the campus bench in a clear space, far and away from the buildings that dotted the university campus and any groups of trees that might have provided cover for any potential eavesdroppers. It was telling that he had chosen this bench – so close to the conference hall, Ami couldn't help but note as she sat down beside the boy she had once felt extremely strongly about. There was still an echo of those feelings in her, Ami knew, but they had long since been dulled by time and personal growth. "I am glad that you came here today, Ami."
"I know you are," Ami replied, her smile still warm despite the hardened edge. "Though, I'm sure that there are other reasons that you're glad I came here…" Ami brushed her hair back when a breeze threated to loosen the delicate knot, she'd put part of it in to style her hair this morning. Longer hair was, she'd come to realize, far easier to manipulate into numerous styles, but it also came with the threat of refusing to work with her when the weather decided to change on a whim. "I can only assume you know why we're here today."
"Because of an impending attack," Ryo said with a curt nod, confirming what they had all already suspected. "Though, the target isn't exactly clear," Ami blinked back surprise but waited for him to speak. "In half of my visions, it's Jane Devons, but the other half… it seems I'm the target."
"Perhaps Olivine hasn't made up her mind, yet," Ami surmised, stroking her chin in thought. The future, as all of them had come to understand, wasn't exactly fixed. Things had changed from when they had visited Crystal Tokyo some years ago – their powers, for one. With two potential targets at play, though, Ami was glad that Ryo had pulled her away from the others. She could keep an eye on Ryo while they watched over Jane Devons. "In that case, I can-!"
"No, if you stay with me, she'll discover your identity," Ryo said quickly, reaching out to squeeze her hand, emphasizing the point. Ami looked back at Ryo, with worry and concern filling her expression. "I know one thing for certain, I'll make it out of this alive. You all see to that, no matter which one of us is the target."
"We've dealt with enemies knowing our identities before, Ryo," Ami pointed out, though his knowing smile let a piece of what he had truly meant slip. It was ever so casual, but Ami immediately picked up on where she had misunderstood his point. "Ryo, do you know who the Zodiac Guardians are?"
"I only know that it's not yet time for you to know one another's identities," Ryo said, patting her hand before he moved to stand up. Ami followed suit, ready to pelt him with more questions, but he simply shook his head. "Trust me on this, when the time comes, it will all make sense." Ryo looked over his shoulder, then, and smiled, "Usagi, Rei, Mamoru! What a pleasant surprise."
"Ryo, it's good to see you again!" Usagi exclaimed as she bounded forward, still wearing her work uniform, to wrap her arms around Ryo. His hands moved out quickly, anticipating where Usagi was going, and he hugged her tightly, but quickly. "It's been so long, Ryo – why haven't you kept in touch?"
"It's just been a hectic couple of years," Ryo replied, sheepishly reaching up to scratch the back of his head before he shook Mamoru's hand and nodded warmly towards Rei. "But, if we spend our time catching up now, you'll miss Ms. Devons' lecture."
"He's right," Rei said with a businesslike nod, checking her watch to confirm. "It should have already started, though, so…?" Rei looked between Ami and Ryo, but Ami was the one who returned the gaze while Ryo simply shrugged.
"We were just catching up," Ami said, before stepping aside and gesturing for them to continue on. Ami fell into step beside Rei and Usagi while Mamoru managed to get ahead of them a few feet with Ryo. "Ryo suspects that either he or Jane Devons, is Olivine's target today. Though he can't be certain which one of them will be chosen, at least it narrows it down for us." Ami looked away for a brief moment, before adding, "he's warned me off of standing by his side until the attack happens, in order to preserve our identities from outside forces."
"There's more to that, though, isn't there, Ami?" Rei asked, with a critical eye. Ami nodded silently, prompting Rei and Usagi to nod in reply. "Our identities should be protected, but… not at the expense of an innocent."
"He made it sound as if our identities being found out now would cause catastrophe," Ami murmured under her breath. They strode into the classroom, which was styled like a theater, with descending rows of seats curved around the platform that Jane Devons now sat in. Minako waved them over to the four seats that were still vacant in their row, subtly saved with multiple purses. Ami chuckled under her breath at that as they quickly claimed their seats.
"You haven't missed much," Bradley whispered, leaning over his armrest in the seat that he had taken next to Ami's, which left Minako and Makoto eyeing her surreptitiously while they continued to listen in to Jane Devons' lecture. "She just started to discuss the way the moon affects the ocean tides, and why we can suggest from this how the moon's phases might also have an impact on us, due to the amount of water in our bodies."
"Not exactly an unwieldy tact to take," Ami said under her breath, eliciting a light laugh from Bradley. They both turned ahead and focused on the woman, though Ami knew it was for vastly different reasons. Bradley's attention was rapt by the Doctor's presentation. Ami glanced sidelong to offer Minako and Makoto sympathetic, understanding smiles, but Makoto had already moved on.
Ami's gaze trailed Makoto's intense stare towards the table covered in vibrant flowers. Makoto's eyes narrowed considerably, prompting Ami to take a closer, more critical look at the flowers. They were all bright and colorful, but there were some amongst the display that looked to be dull and lifeless, despite their full bloom. Her hand automatically started to reach for her earring, but Ami altered course into brushing her hair back behind her ear. She wasn't Sailor Mercury, right now.
And there were far too many eyes on them for her to pull out her supercomputer. So, Ami simply sat in her seat, though she was on the edge of it throughout the entire presentation.
With the data that they currently had, Ami was willing to go with Jane Devons as Olivine's target. If those flowers were the source of an Illusory Wretch, they had to get the Doctor away from them. How they were going to do that without arousing suspicion, on the other hand, was something that Ami had to think about. A distraction would be helpful, but if it was too grandiose, it could be detrimental.
There were so many decisions and paths that had to be analyzed, but Ami had to believe that the right one would present itself and-!
A loud, screeching alarm blared throughout the classroom, sending people looking around in stunned curiosity. There didn't seem to be a fire, and there definitely wasn't any smoke, yet the alarm had gone off. Ami looked over her shoulder and blinked back surprise as a smile formed at the sight of Ryo passing through the side door…
Next to the fire alarm.
Ami rose with the others and made an orderly exit, her hand already reaching for her Crystal Change Rod.
Makoto walked out into the midafternoon sunlight with her hand held up to block out the incessant sunlight. Granted, it also gave her the ability to look around and take in the crowd as it formed several yards away from the lecture hall. Jane Devons was situated squarely among them, while university officials worked to stave off any concerns from the students or guests. Ryo Urawa stood within the crowd, doing nothing to stand out as he spoke to another person about the strangeness of the situation that they had all found themselves in. It had been a clever maneuver, but a delaying tactic would only help them for so long.
So, Makoto scanned the crowd, looking for anybody who did stand out.
"I have to say, this isn't exactly how I saw this lecture ending," Makoto heard Jennifer murmur to Sandra and Alana, though she also looked to Makoto and the others, including them in her conversation. Jennifer let out a long, exasperated sigh, adding, "are they even going to continue it? Or is it just going to be cut short?"
Makoto parted her lips to reply, when Jane Devons cleared her throat, drawing their attention to her as she approached them with a small smile, "The administrators are investigating the room, and they've promised me that we should be able to resume the lecture shortly – though, I suppose I'd rather wait and see in an hour lunch."
"I'm truly looking forward to hearing the rest of your presentation, Doctor Devons," Bradley said at the same time that Ami said, "Your research is incredibly interesting, Doctor Devons – I can't wait to see where you take it next."
"Well," Doctor Devons chuckled coyly, reaching up to scratch the back of her head. "After all of these years, I still don't know how to take a compliment, it seems." Her lighthearted laughter drew Makoto in, as the shy doctor blushed profusely. "Thank you, both, for your kind words, and I look forward to seeing you both during the presentation." Jane Devons turned to leave before she paused and glanced back, her smile soft and grateful, "Truly, thank you for that. Sometimes I feel like my work is nonsensical, but when I hear from those who can make sense of it… I don't know, it gives me hope that I might be able to truly make an impact in the arena of science, unlike any other."
"Studies from ancient Greece and Egypt looked into this," Alana spoke up, drawing interested looks from Makoto and the others. "In fact, as far back the lunar effect can be traced back as far as the Assyrian's and the Babylonian's – so, don't worry, if your work is nonsensical then so were some of the great thinkers of the past. And," Alana added with a wink, "I tend to find the 'nonsensical' to be far more interesting to unravel."
"A student of history," Doctor Devons said with a warm smile and a polite nod. She looked around at all of them, taking them all in one by one as her smile grew, "it truly was a pleasure to meet all of you, and I hope you all continue to find new ways to expand your mind here at the university."
"Oh, I'm looking forward to starting classes here this fall," Alana said with a curt nod and an anticipatory smile. Doctor Devons smiled and excused herself to speak to another group as the crowd began to disperse as word started to spread about the hourlong delay. "Well, it looks like we might be able to take that lunch early if you're still interested."
"Absolutely," Minako said, clapping her hands together in excitement. She looked around until she spied the campus directory on a sign just off of the pathway they stood on. "Come on, let's see where the cafeteria is and get something to eat. I'm sure we can figure out something awesome, here."
"It seems we're not the only ones in search of the cafeteria," Sandra chuckled behind her hand, pointing out Doctor Devons and Ryo Urawa walking towards the directory, too. "Well, perhaps we can just shadow them and find out for ourselves."
"Why not," Usagi said as she linked her arms around Mamoru's, drawing him in close to kiss his cheek. Usagi looked up into his eyes, as she asked, "You don't have class today, right, Mamo-chan?"
"No, not today, Usako," Mamoru replied, his voice low and sultry as he claimed a brief kiss before gesturing for them to continue on. Makoto looked up ahead towards Doctor Devons and Ryo, who continuously glanced over his shoulder at them as he and the Doctor spoke together. He had interrupted whatever plan their enemy might have had by pulling that fire alarm, but Makoto had to wonder if their enemy would have made such a blatant move in public. Because, if she had attacked in front of that lecture hall, she would make no exceptions for the cafeteria – or the walk to it.
"Were you as fascinated by her lecture as I was?" Makoto heard Jennifer ask from her left, drawing Makoto's attention to the brown-haired beauty. Her exasperation was clear in her tone and, while Makoto often enjoyed learning new things, she loved it when it was her own choice, rather than out of obligation. "I was hoping I wasn't the only one who was nearly falling asleep." Jennifer chuckled dryly under her breath and leaned in close, "the flowers were far more interesting to me, as well."
"I find botany to be far more interesting than astronomy, I won't lie," Makoto replied, before jerking her head towards Ami, where she walked with Bradley, Rei, Sandra, Minako, and Alana, talking about what they had all heard. "Ami is far more invested in this than the rest of us, but we're also here to support her. She would do the same for us, and our interests."
"True friendship is rare," Jennifer said with an understanding nod, "but when you find it, you should hold on to it with all of your strength." Jennifer's gaze fell on Alana and Sandra. "I've found that with them, and Beth and Celia, and I can see it in you and your friends."
"We've all been through a lot, over the years," Makoto said as the group veered onto another path, drawing them closer to the cafeteria. Makoto thought about all of the battles that they had faced, all of the trials and tribulations that they had been put through, and the shared history from lives gone by and lives yet to be lived. It was so intense… so incredibly intense. "It's brought us all exceptionally close, so much so, that I'm surprised we all almost separated a few weeks ago."
"I can only assume that you had a great opportunity like your friends, Ami and Minako," Jennifer said as she looked back at Makoto, who nodded in reply. Jennifer wrapped her arms around herself at the appearance of a sudden chill wind, and asked, "What was it if you don't mind my asking?"
"I was going to work for a renowned patisserie in Paris," Makoto revealed, looking up at the sky. The sun bathed her in its beautifully warm rays, and she let out a long sigh. "It was everything that I had ever dreamed of, but the stars just weren't aligned. They will be, again, one day."
"I'm sure that it will, Makoto," Jennifer said with a quick nod of agreement. Makoto smiled and nodded, too. They reached the cafeteria shortly after the others, and Makoto and Jennifer trailed the group as they picked a table. Well, as Alana picked a table, about three away from where Doctor Devons and Ryo now sat together with trays of food. It definitely helped Makoto and her friends' reason for being here, now they didn't have to seem too obvious in their interest in Jane's activities.
Their group made their way through the cafeteria's many aisles, taking in the various offerings before they each settled on something fresh and delicious. Walking back out in a loose group, Makoto scanned the cafeteria and was pleased to see that Ryo had kept Doctor Devons at their table, and both were still deep in conversation. Makoto could hear Minako and Sandra discussing their portfolios and offering tips on how to maximize their exposure, improve their call back status, and on which jobs had already been snagged in the area. Ami and Bradley had been joined by Mamoru and Rei in conversation on the history of the university, and Tokyo – including some of the strange occurrences from a handful of years back. Makoto couldn't help but itch the back of her ear at that conversation. Makoto and Jennifer, however, joined Usagi across from the others so they could have their own conversation on subjects that weren't necessarily as heavy.
"So, you work at the Fruits Parlor Café, you're getting ready to start taking classes at university, you have a fabulously handsome fiancé," Jennifer said, gesturing about in the air with an interested smile. "How in the world do you find the time to do anything else?"
"Well, my boss, Unazuki, is pretty relaxed about my schedule," Usagi said, around sips of her iced fruit tea. Her smile was wide and full of excitement as she went on, "Mamoru and I have been together for about four years, now." Usagi leaned back, her smile growing as her mind wandered. Makoto couldn't help but share a smile with Jennifer. It had been beautiful, watching her friend fall in love with the man who made her truly happy. Destiny aside, it was clear in the way that Usagi and Mamoru saw one another that their love was true, regardless of what fate had in store for them. "And, yes, during the fall semester I plan on attending K.O. with my friends."
Usagi's gaze spread out towards Ami and Minako, before turning to Makoto, who smiled sheepishly and nodded in confirmation. She hadn't planned on attending university this soon, at least not a traditional one. Makoto had hoped to expand her studies at a premier culinary institution after her internship, and then contemplate a standard degree at another university. But now that her plans had been put on the back burner, she might just have to reevaluate the order of her plan. Otherwise, she'd spend however long it took them to defeat this new enemy ignoring her future studies, and that was simply unacceptable to Makoto.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious of your good fortune, Usagi," Jennifer said with a wan smile. Usagi offered a sympathetic smile and reached over to pat Jennifer's hand.
"Love is…" Usagi began, tilting her head to the side as she thought about what she was going to say. Her smile returned in full force, "Love is something that happens when you least expect it. Mamoru and I absolutely despised one another the very first time that we met, and it took time for us to admit our feelings to one another and build up the kind of trust we both needed to enter into our relationship. So, trust me, love is out there, and it will definitely come to you when you least expect it.
"Some days, I just don't believe love is in the cards for me," Jennifer replied under her breath. Makoto was about to ask Jennifer what she meant by that when Jennifer's gaze suddenly snapped past Makoto. Looking over her shoulder, Makoto watched as Ryo and Doctor Devons rise from their table.
"Now, are you sure I can't convince you to tour the university's research facilities?" Ryo asked, his tone nonchalant despite the sweat that had begun to form on his brow. "We passed them on the way here," he went on as they pushed their chairs in, looking directly at the Doctor. "They're doing some interesting studies in sleep therapy, right now."
"I think I might just take a few of the minutes before the lecture resumes to recollect my thoughts," Jane replied with a smile and a polite nod. "Though, after the lecture, I will definitely take you up on the tour." She gathered her things while she spoke, her tone sincere and unworried. "I'll see you in the lecture, Mr. Urawa."
"Of course, Doctor Devons," Ryo replied, and Makoto could hear the pang of guilt in his tone even if the others couldn't. Finishing her lunch as gracefully, and as quickly, as she could, Makoto rose with Usagi and, surprisingly, Jennifer.
"This might be the only chance I have to ask her a question before she's pelted with dozens from the other attendees," Jennifer said with a wry grin. "Of course, if you had something you wanted to talk with the Doctor about first…?"
"No, no of course not," Makoto replied, laughing and scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "I think we might take this time to take another look around part of the campus. Right, Usagi?"
"Absolutely, there's just so much that we haven't seen, yet," Usagi replied, having already caught on to Makoto's plan. Minako, Ami, Rei, and Mamoru had already politely excused themselves, and Makoto watched as Bradley, Alana, and Sandra left to join Jennifer in tracking down Doctor Jane Devons.
"We're cutting it pretty close," Rei said as the six of them slipped away from the cafeteria. "I hope we can get there before they do – I'd hate it if they were caught in the crossfire of our battle."
"If they're smart, the second a monster appears they'll cut and run," Minako replied with a curt nod. "Otherwise, we'll just have to do our best to curtail any errant attacks."
"Are we ready for this, then?" Ami asked as her hand slipped into the pocket of her skirt, no doubt already grabbing her Crystal Change Rod. Makoto already had hers tightly wrapped in her grip beneath the folds of her skirt, and Rei and Minako had theirs at the ready.
"We're going to have to be," Usagi said under her breath as they hurried to the lecture hall. They reached the back of the building and Mamoru partially opened the side door which led directly onto the stage. "It's still pretty quiet in there."
Jane Devons sat in a chair off to the side of the table of plants, jotting notes down on the pad propped up on her leg, folded across the other. She was deep in thought, but Usagi was right. It was fairly quiet. Usagi looked up and exchanged glances with each of them, her lips parting, when a laugh broke through the silence.
"I had hoped to catch you in front of an audience," a familiar voice said from the top of the classroom, near the front entrance. Their gazes snapped to the tall, beautiful black woman who stood before the double doors, one hand on her hip and the other gripping the back of the chair closest to the aisle. "The chaos of their attempts to escape would have provided me with ample cover. However, this will simply have to do."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Doctor Devons asked, standing up to face the woman who had appeared out of thin air. She leaned in, trying to get a better look at Olivine, whose lips curled into a thin smile. "I don't recall you from earlier, I think I would have noticed an outfit so… tacky, in the crowd."
"Style is obviously something you're unfamiliar with," Olivine replied, never losing her cool demeanor or her arrogant smirk. Makoto and the others had seen enough, though. It was time to move.
"Mercury Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
"Mars Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
"Venus Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
"Silver Moon Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
"What exactly is it that you want?" Jane Devons asked, arching a brow towards Olivine, causing Sandra to bite her lower lip, anxiety piercing through her whole body. Sandra glanced over her shoulder towards her brother, her face full of determination. Bradley nodded curtly in understanding and peeled off. He had to get Beth and Celia here, while they took matters into their own hands for the time being. At the very least, they could hold Olivine off for a short while. Sandra exchanged brief glances with Jennifer and Alana, knowing that they were all in agreement. It was now or never.
"Leo Zodiac Power, Make-Up!"
"Cancer Zodiac Power, Make-Up!"
"Gemini Zodiac Power, Make-Up!"
A rush of fire, water, and wind brought forth their guardian uniforms, and they quickly started for the door, only to watch in stunned silence as they were beaten to the mat for the third time in a row.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!"
"Venus Love-Me Chain!"
Frigid water splashed around Olivine, causing her to look around in shock, only for it to close in on her seconds before a chain of golden energy snapped taut around her arms and waist, locking her in place. Sailor Cancer couldn't help but smile as she watched Olivine fret and fuss over the inconvenient interruption to her master plan and opened the doors wide to watch as five figures leaped into view on the stage all around Doctor Jane Devons.
"Attacking a brilliant woman in the middle of her work isn't just inconsiderate," Sailor Moon called out, her hands moving through the air, drawing a confused look from Olivine. "It's something that I can't stand by and ignore. Those who spend their days espousing knowledge are incredibly important to our world, and to disrupt their lives with your insensitivity is unacceptable. So, in the name of the Moon," her gaze narrowed as the other four guardians formed a defensive barrier around the doctor, "I'll punish you!"
"Does that inane speech ever really work on the people you give it to?" Olivine asked, tilting her head to the left in curiosity. Sailor Leo stepped forward, drawing the attention of the room to all three of them. "Ah, and I see you're not alone again." Olivine's gaze snapped to Sailor Moon and her group, narrowing into annoyed slits. "I do have to say, catching me off guard was quite the lucky move on your part – but, don't expect it to happen again."
Flowers swirled up around Olivine, snapping her out of existence and causing Sailor Venus' chain to dissipate into thin air seconds later. Sailor Cancer looked around, taking in the wide room for any clue as to where the witch had gone off to, but by the time she set her eyes on the flowers again, it was too late. Olivine appeared behind the group of guardians and Doctor Devons, hand outstretched with long, jagged stone claws extended, ready to pounce and slash them into ribbons.
Sailor Cancer barely parted her lips before something snapped between Olivine and the group of guardians, giving all of them the time to turn around and face their attacker. Sailor Cancer, however, arched a brow at what had interrupted Olivine's attack and left her hand bleeding in the process. A solitary rose was embedded into the stage, large and vibrant and full of life, its stem dripping with Olivine's blood.
"It isn't wise to ignore the voice of reason in the room," a confident voice filled the room, drawing their attention to the lower doorway where a silhouetted figure stood with a cape billowing in a breeze seemingly only affecting him. "In times like these, their words of wisdom may just save the day."
"Just how many of you are out there?" Olivine ground out, leaping back to the wall. Stone claws dug into the wall, giving her purchase with it, but her gaze scanned the room, taking in all nine fighters in her path. Nine warriors stood between Olivine and her target, and if they held her off long enough, that number would grow to twelve. "No matter," Olivine went on, drawing her stone claws back into her regular fingernails, "Once I've cut my way through you, the Illusion Council will be draping me in ceremonial robes."
"If you make it that far," Sailor Leo countered, drawing her hand out in a circle before her, trailing fire in her wake. "You're outmatched, Olivine, surrender now or face the consequences of your ineptitude."
"Ineptitude, eh?" Olivine asked, tilting her head to the side. Olivine chuckled darkly and leaped down to the stage and pushed herself up onto her feet again in front of the table overloaded with plants. "Whatever luck or coincidence bought you the time to gather here today did nothing to prevent my plan from unfolding at the same time. How inept must I be when I prepared for a war?" Olivine threw her hand into the air and snapped her fingers, sending out tendrils of black lightning towards the table. "Your own arrogance brought you into this war," Olivine looked back, her gaze falling on each and every one of them, "and you are all vastly unprepared to fight in it."
"Tuxedo Mask, keep Doctor Devons back," Sailor Mars called out, as she and Sailor Venus placed themselves directly in front of Eternal Sailor Moon. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter stood on the periphery, their hands raised and ready to strike. Sailor Cancer met Sailor Leo's expectant gaze and then exchanged a brief look with Sailor Gemini. Olivine was right about one thing… they had walked into this fight, now they had to walk out of it.
"Sprigara, it's time," Olivine said as flower petals swirled around her. She vanished into the air, while the table before them began to rock violently, sending pots tumbling off of it. They cracked on the ground, sending soil spreading out across the dais, but before they could even focus on that, one of the plants erupted into a glowing sphere of energy. Olivine's laughter filled the room at the same time sparks of black electricity spread out, blinding Sailor Cancer and her friends.
Sailor Cancer could hear the others cry out in shock, and through her fingers, she saw Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Mars close ranks around Eternal Sailor Moon, while their ally, Tuxedo Mask, shielded Jane Devons with his cape. The sparks, however, continued to flurry about the room, blinding them when they got too close, all the while Olivine laughed at their paralysis. The Illusory Wretch hadn't even appeared, yet, and they were already stuck in place!
"Your foolishness brought you here today, guardians," Olivine announced. The sound of fingers snapping broke through the din of electric sparks, and Sailor Cancer opened her eyes in time to see the sparks flurry back to the stage. They all watched as they flurried into a twister, interconnecting with one another, forming a chaotic gem that Sailor Cancer and her allies were very familiar with. For a fleeting moment, Sailor Cancer could have sworn that the crystal multiplied, but then there was only one, as a body snapped into existence before them.
The Illusory Wretch was tall and slender, with long, svelte legs and arms, vibrantly yellow hair fell around the creature's head, sculpted into flower petals. She had a long neck bound by a thorn-riddled choker which formed the neckline for the halter dress she wore – little more than straps above her décolletage with a sweetheart neckline that emphasized her cleavage. The skirt was slit along pleated lines, forming individual pleats. The outfit was piped in deep, forest green, but primarily pale lavender. With green skin, she was practically a flower in appearance, something her red eyes betrayed.
"I was hoping to come out a play a while," Sprigara said in a high, cute voice that made Sailor Cancer cringe. She winked at them and popped one leg up as she brought her clasped hands up to her cheek, "because now I get to cut you all up and turn you into mulch!" Her gaze narrowed and darkened, and then Sprigara threw out her still clasped hands, forming thorn-laced vines towards the Sailor Guardians directly in front of her, "Vine Vice!"
"Burning!" Sailor Mars breathed, forming a ring of fire with the tip of her finger, but as she brought her hands in close…!
"Doctor Devons, duck!" a voice called out from behind Sailor Cancer, drawing her gaze over her shoulder quickly just as Sprigara's power swept past Sailor Moon and her group, towards Tuxedo Mask and Doctor Devons, before any of them ever saw it coming.
"What?!" Sailor Cancer's eyes widened at the silent approach of Ryo Urawa, but her attention quickly returned to the pair in Sprigara's crosshairs. Tuxedo Mask had withdrawn a cane, and a rose and slashed through the vines before leaping into the air with Doctor Devons in his arms. Sailor Cancer glanced back and saw Ryo as he looked up and met her eyes with a worrying amount of clarity, but before she could say anything else, he pointed past her towards the stage. Sailor Cancer looked back towards Olivine and Sprigara, as the former reclaimed her stone claws and stalked forward. Sailor Cancer knew that she could question Ryo later, but right now, they had to fight. Sailor Cancer threw her arms out wide shooting water straight out, brought them back out in front of her and breathed, "Liquid Dance!"
Whips of water lashed out, striking Sprigara and knocking her off of her feet into the table of plants behind her. Olivine vanished in a swirl of petals only to reappear directly in front of Tuxedo Mask and Doctor Devons, now several tiers up from the stage, but he was anything but defenseless. Tuxedo Mask surprised Sailor Cancer when he threw his hand out with ridiculous speed and cast, "Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber!"
Shock registered in Olivine's face at the sphere of energy that appeared in the form of Tuxedo Mask's palm – to be quite honest, even Sailor Cancer was stunned by the sudden attack. Olivine vanished in a flurry of flower petals before a burst of energy could obliterate her. The attack tapered off before it could damage the building, and then Tuxedo Mask was rushing Doctor Devons to the back of the lecture hall, towards Sailor Cancer, Sailor Leo, and Sailor Gemini.
"Sprigara, get off of your ass and stop them!" Olivine roared as she appeared back on the stage, her tone snapping Sprigara to attention. The creature surged through the air, bypassing Sailor Moon and her group, half of whom turned to follow her, while the other half faced off against Olivine. "You are all truly annoying, I hope you know that."
"It's in the job description," Sailor Venus breathed, drawing her hands up into the air, "Crescent Beam!" She directed a beam of energy at Olivine, sniping the witch at close range and knocking her into the overturned table. She then spun around, with Sailor Mercury and Eternal Sailor Moon at her side. "Venus Love-Me-!"
"You bitch!" Olivine roared, throwing spikes from her palm. Sailor Cancer had already moved, leaving Sailor Leo and Sailor Gemini to intercept Sprigara with Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars.
"Cancer Claw!" she called out, sending claws of water to catch the spikes before they could cut through the Guardians. Sailor Mercury held her arms up into the air, her breathing even, her demeanor calm – yet there was a cool rage beneath the surface.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" she sang, sending out a rush of water that broke into numerous columns that struck Olivine, piledriving her back into the wall. Sailor Venus and Sailor Moon hit the ground, barely having dodged the spikes that would have obliterated them in seconds. "With the waters of Mercury, I'll douse you into repentance for your cowardly assault on our Princess," Sailor Mercury said, swinging her arms out, she turned partially and paused. Sailor Mercury's gaze narrowed, and as she spun back, she called out, "Sabão Spray Freezing!"
Then, and only then, did worry fill Sailor Mercury's eyes, Sailor Cancer joined Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus, as they picked themselves up and dusted themselves off, in trailing the guardian's gaze, and Sailor Cancer's eyes turned glassy with fear. Blood dotted the wall beside the left side door, and one of the spikes was embedded in the wall a few inches away. It had torn through at an upward angle through the four seats in successive tiers to hit that wall. On the right side, Tuxedo Mask had stopped abruptly with Jane Devons. On the left side, a hand gripped the ruined back of a chair, pale but still moving.
"Ryo," Sailor Mercury breathed, stepping forward as the room registered what had happened. Sprigara backflipped out of reach from Sailor Gemini and Sailor Leo, who risked brief over the shoulder glances when Sailor Mercury heaved a sigh of relief.
"I'm alright!" Ryo called out, slowing picking himself up off of the ground. His right arm had been slashed, but only just. Otherwise, Ryo was completely fine. What exactly it had been that had kept him from being further injured, while stopping Doctor Devons and Tuxedo Mask from walking straight into Olivine's attack, Sailor Cancer didn't know. Perhaps it was prescience or, more likely, keen insight and a critical eye. "Sailor Mercury, she's escaping!"
"Already escaped," Olivine breathed from the middle of the room, as the frozen snare Sailor Mercury had created shattered with the sudden loss of solidity. Olivine hovered in the air, watching them as she spun around slowly. "Your efforts are admirable – but even your greater numbers won't give you the edge in defeating me. Not today," Olivine stopped turning and snapped her fingers, summoning vines from all around them.
Sailor Cancer looked up and around, chiding herself for not having noticed before. That display of power before Sprigara's arrival hadn't been just to keep them from making a preemptive strike. Olivine had laid seeds all around them and had simply waited for the right time. Now…!
"Fire Soul!" Sailor Mars breathed, her hands clasped together even in the vines. Fire erupted from her fingertips and spread out around the vines that had ensnared her, and Sailor Mars leaped out of the way as another set moved to recapture her. Sailor Leo moved to burn her own vines as even more snared her arms and pulled them apart, hard and fast. "Has anybody ever told you that you talk too much?"
"All of the time," Olivine said, raising her hand above her head. A stone spire sparked into existence, but Sailor Mars was already on the offensive. She threw her hand out, sending another ball of fire, quickly followed by something far less dramatic.
"Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen…!" Sailor Mars chanted, her hands moving with rapid precision. Olivine slashed Sailor Mars' Fire Soul aside before a parchment flicked into her face in the same instant Sailor Mars cast, "Akuryo Taisan!"
"Sprigara, get that woman's Pure Soul right now!" Olivine demanded as she found herself incapable of moving. Fire spread around the room, burning the vines closest to Sailor Mars first and, freeing Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Cancer first, but Sprigara was speeding towards the ensnared pair and Sailor Mars' wouldn't be able to reach them in time. "There is nothing you can do now, feeble Sailor Guardian. Just watch and-!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!" Sailor Mars roared, firing a burning arrow through the air. The attack slashed Olivine on the way, burning the parchment that paralyzed her in the process, but leaving a clean cut across her cheek, and impaled Sprigara seconds before she could get her hands on Jane Devons.
Sprigara's roar filled the air as her body exploded into glittering dust and sparks, leaving behind a shattered crystal. Olivine spun around, stunned. Sailor Cancer blinked back her surprise at how easy that had been, even with the fight they had just clawed their way through. With all that they had faced these past few years, it had never been possible for one of them to eliminate an Illusory Wretch in just one hit, even if they knew where the crystal was. Yet…
Yet even as those words flowed through her mind, black lightning filled the room again, and a violent whirlwind shot up from the stage, knocking Sailor Mercury, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Venus off of it. Sailor Cancer turned, drawing an attack, as Sailor Gemini and Sailor Leo took cautious steps forward. Tuxedo Mask extended his arm out in front of Jane Devons and Ryo Urawa, as Olivine's laughter filled the entire room…
And Sprigara formed anew on the stage.
Times two.
Sailor Venus looked between the two identical Illusory Wretches with raised brows. She had, for a brief moment, believed that they had eliminated their enemy's soldier before the creature could achieve its goal, now… She highly doubted it would be that easy. Their new foes were persistent and, it seemed, careful planners. Anticipating the early destruction of her Illusory Wretch and laying a trap with such finesse. Sailor Venus glanced sidelong at Olivine, who floated in the air with her arms folded across her chest. Olivine was a truly dangerous threat, and Sailor Venus would engage her as such.
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!" Sailor Venus breathed, blowing a deadly kiss at the witch, who had looked on at her creation beaming with pride. Olivine barely had time to react before Sailor Venus' attack struck her and sent her pinwheeling through the air into the staircase that bifurcated the classroom. Sailor Venus twirled back, already preparing her next attack, when a stream of fire shot through the Sprigara on the left and a blade of wind cut through the Sprigara on the right.
"Leo Flare!"
"Wind Blade!"
Sailor Leo and Sailor Gemini stepped forward and joined Sailor Venus and the others in watching as the Sprigara's fell to dust, defeated once more. Sailor Venus made a face, her own shock buried beneath her own awe at the speed with which the two Guardians had dispatched the newly formed Sprigara's. But their good mood was short-lived, as the chaotic whirlwind returned, this time bringing forth four copies.
"It's like a hydra," Sailor Mercury breathed, seconds before her Mercury Goggle flashed over her eyes. The four Illusory Wretches spread out and lunged for them, prompting Sailor Venus to leap back with Sailor Mercury, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mars. Sailor Jupiter finally reached Tuxedo Mask, Jane Devons, and Ryo, and moved to get them out of the building when Olivine's voice cut through the din.
"Not like, Guardian," Olivine cooed, sitting straight up. She cracked her neck and arched her back, cringing at the loud crack that came with it. Olivine turned a sly grin on Sailor Mercury, as the Sprigara's continued their approach. "She might grow weaker with each iteration, but her numbers grow to compensate the lack of power. But don't worry, I'll just even the odds for you!"
Sailor Venus started, but Sailor Cancer was faster, "Sparkling Wave!" Her attack swept Olivine's hand off course, as a burst of stone spikes shot forward and pincushioned the left two creatures. One moment later and it would have been all four. Now, as four more appeared, they were faced with six.
"Well, you're no fun," Olivine said before she flipped herself through the air to land deftly in front of the double doors, dangerously close to her two potential targets. "But that is quite alright – because I'm done playing with you."
"None of us are playing," Sailor Jupiter said as she placed herself between Olivine and the others, electrically crackling between her palms. "You're not going to get close enough to them."
"But, I'm close enough," Olivine replied, sending a thunderbolt of shock through Sailor Venus as her gaze snapped to Sailor Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask. Tree branches burst through the wall, knocking them through the air and away from Jane Devons and Ryo, who looked to make an escape. But it was too late.
Sprigara appeared behind Doctor Devons, one hand pulled back crafting a burst of dark energy and then-!
"Sword of the Solar Guardian I summon thee!" a voice boomed through the destroyed doorway, as Sprigara's arm jutted out sending the dark beam towards Doctor Devons as vines snapped up to ensnare Ryo and Olivine jammed a staff against his back. The outline of a burning sword appeared behind Sprigara, as Doctor Devons and Ryo screamed in unison, and the booming voice called out, "Destroy thine enemy with impunity!"
Sailor Venus watched as that Sprigara cried out and died in a fiery slash in the same instant that Jane Devons Pure Soul was forced out of her body. In the same instant as Ryo's Pure Soul was forced out of his body, with Olivine turning to see who it was that had interrupted her in her moment of victory.
"He's here," Sailor Cancer breathed, as three figures appeared in the doorway, silhouetted by the sunlight that streamed through. Olivine took a cautious step back, swinging the staff she had summoned out before her defensively while the two Pure Souls floated in the air. Ignored. "The Sol Knight is here, Sailor Leo, Sailor Gemini!"
Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Jupiter groaned from the tiers they had been thrown to when Olivine had made her move. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury looked up, concern and fear in their eyes, as Olivine seemed to hover between going for the Pure Souls and standing her ground. Whoever the Sol Knight was, dressed in a shimmering golden suit of armor with a beautiful helmet made of crystal and etched with gold, stood between Sailor Aries and Sailor Taurus who both looked ready to put themselves directly between Olivine and the two Pure Souls that she had extracted.
"Who's that?" Sailor Moon asked, looking up at the man who now looked down at them from up above. They could see wisps of blonde hair, clear blue eyes, and chiseled features, but something about the handsome figure was… obscured. Sailor Venus knew exactly what the obscurity was, of course, she had seen it firsthand the day that she had joined the Sailor Guardians fulltime. A shield, of sorts, to guard the secret identity of a Sailor Guardian. It could be pierced, but how and when that might happen wasn't always predictable.
"She called him the Sol Knight," Sailor Mercury answered, eyeing the newly arrived trio through her Mercury Goggle. "And, judging by his abilities, solar fire seems to be his domain."
"Yeah, but what is he?" Sailor Mars asked, her brow arched in inquiry. She looked between Sailor Cancer and Sailor Leo and Sailor Gemini before pinning the Sol Knight with her violet gaze. "Is he like Tuxedo Mask? A male Guardian empowered by a crystal? Or is he something else?"
"Whatever he is, he's in the way!" Olivine announced, throwing her arm out towards the Sol Knight and Sailor Taurus and Sailor Aries. Long, stone claws shot towards them, only to pass through the doorway when the three soldiers leaped up into the air and launched themselves over Olivine to land directly behind her.
"Earthen Brace!" Sailor Taurus cast, bringing forth the entrapment that she had first used to ensnare Woodron just the other day. While Sailor Aries spun around towards the stage and sent a burst of fire, calling out, "Searing Bolt!"
The group of Sprigara burst into fire and turned to ash while Olivine struggled against Sailor Taurus' hold, giving Sailor Venus the opening that she needed. She looked to Ryo and Doctor Devons, the former held aloft by the vines Olivine had used to restrain him, the latter slumped over the portion of a chair that hadn't been destroyed in the middle of the fight. Their Pure Souls floating between them, and nobody was paying any true attention to them. So, she jumped.
Sailor Venus landed between the two in the same moment that Olivine snapped free of Sailor Taurus' hold and ten Sprigara took the stage. Which only meant…!
Sailor Venus looked up and raised her hands at the same time, calling out, "Venus Wink Chain Sword!" The Holy Sword appeared between her hands, summoned from its resting place on the Moon in the Holy Chamber of Prayer and blocked the vines that the pair of Sprigara directed at her. The vines wrapped tightly around the blade, but Sailor Venus didn't yield. Rather, she met Sailor Jupiter's gaze and nodded curtly.
"Your attempts to keep me from the Pure Souls will only delay the inevitable," Olivine said, as a stone spire shot through the vines, nearly knocking Sailor Venus off balance when the tether was severed. Sailor Venus divided her attention and looked between the pair of Sprigara and Olivine. "Those Pure Souls don't hold the power we're after, I can tell that from here, but their energy is powerful, nonetheless. Powerful enough to strengthen my creatures so that no matter how many times they're felled, they can still kill you."
"Your nefarious intentions will never be allowed to succeed!" The Sol Knight declared, throwing his hand into the air. Fire burned from his palm, forming a blade that he grabbed out of the whips of fire. It was nearly identical to the sword that Sailor Venus had summoned mere moments before – with its ornate hilt and a powerful ornament embedded into the blade itself. Who was this Sol Knight? "We will burn the shadows away with the fiery light that empowers us… Sol Wave!"
A rush of fire spread from the blade and shot towards Olivine, whose expression changed from one of nonchalance to stunned surprise before she vanished in a flurry of flowers that were soon turned to ash. Olivine reappeared on the stage, ensconced in the company of ten Sprigara's, only to be joined by the final two. She turned an unimpressed gaze on the twelve warriors who now faced her, but it looked far more polished than her usual unconcerned mien.
Sailor Venus carefully guided the crystals back into Ryo and Jane's body, while Sailor Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask cut through the vines holding Ryo up. Sailor Moon, flanked by Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars, stared down Olivine and her twelve Sprigara, with Sailor Cancer, Sailor Leo, and Sailor Gemini on the periphery. The Sol Knight, Sailor Taurus, and Sailor Aries stood on the stairs, ready and waiting. The tension was taut, but it would break sooner rather than later.
"Evening the odds certainly didn't change anything," Olivine said, as stone claws spread out from her hands. "So why don't I just give myself the edge that I deserve and double my chances!"
The Sprigara were cut away in the blink of an eye, and that chaotic whirlwind appeared at the table once more, as twenty-four Sprigara took the stage. It was becoming clear what it was that they had to do – and fighting and destroying each Sprigara wasn't it. Sailor Venus scanned the table, something Sailor Mercury was already in the process of doing with her Mercury Goggle. Even the Zodiac Guardians and their armored ally, the Sol Knight, where watching the table with a critical eye.
"Now, why don't we end this once and for-!"
"Sailor Moon, target the plants on that table!" Sailor Mercury interrupted, eliciting a smile from Sailor Venus as the words were ripped from her lips, and those of the others, it seemed.
Sailor Moon exchanged a quick glance with Sailor Mercury and nodded, as her wings spread out wide.
"It isn't nice to interrupt others!" Olivine called out before she snapped a glare to her minions. "Sprigara, destroy them!"
"Yes, Mistress Olivine!" the horde of Illusory Wretches said before all of them leaped into the air. Sailor Mercury widened her stance, but it was Sailor Mars and Sailor Gemini who struck first.
"Burning Mandala!" Sailor Mars formed a ring of fire that broke off into eight smaller rings which cut through several of the Sprigara in quick succession. Eternal Sailor Moon held her hands out, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back as a brilliant burst of energy appeared between her hands.
"Aerial Strike!" Sailor Gemini interlaced her fingers, causing them to glow, before she spread her arms out wide in an arc above her head, sending bursts of energy up into the air that then rained down on the rest of the Sprigara. Eternal Sailor Moon opened her eyes as she gripped the powerful staff that had come with her newest ensemble.
Olivine ground her teeth as forty-eight Sprigara stood between her and the twelve warriors, but it didn't matter. Eternal Sailor Moon's wings drew in close as she spun around, charging the powerful staff. Olivine's confidence fell away in the bright light that lit up the room, and Sprigara turned away to shield her eyes as the attack formed at the adornment of the staff.
"Moon Crystal Lance!" Sailor Moon breathed swinging her weapon wide. Bursts of light shot through the air, some piercing Sprigara in their path and obliterating them on contact. Others sidestepped the attack and survived the initial wave, but as a pane of light formed behind the table loaded with daffodils, it didn't matter when Olivine teleported out of the line of fire. A column of light sprang from the weapon in Sailor Moon's hand and coursed through most of the Sprigara towards the source of their continuous resurrections and multiplications.
Those Sprigara that had dodged the whole event stiffened before fading away into dust, as the daffodil front and center faded to reveal the chaotic crystal that had given the creature life. The crystal cracked and fell apart, leaving nothing behind. Sailor Venus turned to thank the other guardians and the Sol Knight, only to find that they had left, too.
"Go…" Ryo breathed weakly, as he patted Sailor Venus' hand. She looked down at him and nodded her understanding. Meeting the gazes of her friends, they leaped towards the lower entrance and disappeared as civilian help arrived.
Within minutes, Ryo and Jane Devons were attended to, as the authorities moved in to assess the damage done to the building. Now, it was clear that the fire alarm being pulled, albeit premature, had saved a lot of lives.
'If only they knew,' Minako thought as she and the others slipped into the crowd of onlookers and concerned citizens. Ami broke away to speak with Ryo as a paramedic inspected him. Her smile was wan but hopeful, and as she turned to rejoin them, Minako had a feeling that they would see Ryo again soon.
Looking around, Minako was about to ask where Jennifer, Sandra, Alana, and Bradley had gone off to, when she spotted the quartet with two other women on the outskirts of the crowd, just as interested in the strange turn of events as everybody else. She recognized the tall, black beauty who stood with them from the other day at Fruits Parlor Crown, but the last one – a tall brunette, was completely new to Minako. Sandra's smile through the crowd, however, was enough to let Minako know that it didn't matter right now.
Ryo and Jane were safe, and Minako and the others had managed to make a handful of new friends today. All in all, it was a good day.
Usagi leaned into the deep bathtub and let out a contented sigh. Their apartment had begun to feel like home these past few days, and Usagi was wonderfully, beautifully happy about that. She shared a home and a life with the man she planned on spending the rest of her life with – and, if things turned out the way she suspected, it was a long, long life to be shared. That happiness was only somewhat dulled by the day's events. By all three attacks, really.
Arowine. Woodron. Sprigara. Olivine.
What was next?
Usagi sat up in the bathtub, bathed not only in water but her golden blonde hair which she gathered up into a towel before standing up. She grabbed another towel and sat on the edge of the tub so that she could dry up. Letting the water out of the tub, Usagi watched it drain away absently. This new enemy could not have come at a worse time. Her friends had given up their dreams and their passions once again to face the threat of Chaos, but, at the same time…
Usagi couldn't imagine what she, Rei, and Mamoru would have done on their own.
She finished drying off, rinsed out the tub, and went about brushing her hair as she stepped out into the main bedroom of the apartment. She could see part of the balcony through the wide bedroom window, but mostly it was Tokyo cityscape, lit up in the evening. It was beautiful.
Mamoru sat on the balcony, looking out at the city that, for some, was only just coming alive. Tokyo had a powerful nightlife, with clubs and restaurants for people to frequent, parties to attend, and even quiet pockets where one could simply walk and be alone. Here, high above it all, it was little more than a backdrop to the life that Usagi and Mamoru were just beginning to build for themselves.
Smiling, Usagi climbed into the wide chair with Mamoru and curled into his side, as his arm slid around her shoulders and he caressed her side. They watched the city together in silence for several long moments before Mamoru cleared his throat, and said, "Today was tough, but a success. We have to remember that."
"I know we won," Usagi murmured in reply, leaning her head against Mamoru's chest as her hand caressed his chest. "I also know that I didn't do anything until that last moment – until I knew what to hit. All of my attacks need to charge. All of my attacks need a definitive target. Rei and Minako and Makoto and Ami and those other Guardians took out handfuls of that Illusory Wretch, but I had to wait until I could get in a shot I knew wouldn't miss."
"You've always offered a way to decimate the enemy once and for all," Mamoru pointed out, bringing his hand over hers to squeeze it tightly. "That isn't something that should be overlooked, Usako."
"I'm not overlooking it, but I am pointing out an obvious flaw in our initial plans," Usagi sighed, looking up into Mamoru's eyes with intense guilt. "If Ami, Makoto, and Minako had left us, would we have been able to combat this new enemy, even with this new power of mine?" She bit her lower lip and looked out towards the city that they had valiantly fought to protect for years. "Back when I first started, I could at least use my tiara before I had the Moon Stick or the Cutie Moon Rod."
"Perhaps this new weapon of yours has other techniques that you can use," Mamoru suggested, drawing Usagi in closer to hold her tight. He brushed his lips against Usagi's forehead, eliciting a light blush on her cheeks. "We don't even know what to call your new weapon, so how can we possibly know what else it can do?"
"I think…" Usagi said, looking at her chest where that power had burned so hot that first time. It had filled her whole body with warmth and power, spreading from her heart to create a new form. To bring her to another level of power. She was still Eternal Sailor Moon, yet she felt stronger, faster, and more powerful than she had with the Eternal Tiare. Perhaps there was more power to be found, and she had to simply figure out where to go to find it. Usagi looked back at Mamoru with a smile, and said, "I think you're right, Mamo-chan! There's a lot we still have to figure out, but the name… I think 'Crystal Scepter' sounds appropriate."
"Well, then I'm glad you have the Crystal Scepter, Usako," Mamoru murmured, as he nuzzled in close to her. Standing, kissing, Mamoru lifted her into his arms and walked into the living room, closing the balcony door with his foot. Mamoru carried her into their bedroom, then, and as they lay in bed together, an explosion of sensations filling her, she was able to push away the dark and the grim.
Later, Usagi wrapped a robe around her nightgown and walked into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Looking back out at the skyline, she wondered how might be the next target. Who would Olivine pick next to attack? And why was she attacking people for their Pure Souls, anyway? There was so much that they didn't know. And it wasn't just this new enemy that was shrouded in mystery, but the new Sailor Guardians, as well.
Sailor Leo, Sailor Aries, Sailor Taurus, Sailor Gemini, Sailor Cancer, and the Sol Knight. Why did they wear the same uniforms as she and her team? Why did the Sol Knight wield a blade that resembled the Sword of the Silver Crystal? Why didn't she know anything about them? If they were so closely related in powers and attire, why did Usagi not remember them from her life as Princess Serenity? Why didn't Luna or Artemis know? After all, the pair had not been reincarnated as Usagi and the rest of the Court of the Silver Millennium had been.
Questions without answers that could go on endlessly. Usagi hoped that they might find those answers before it was too late.
A breeze rustled Usagi's hair and robe, drawing her gaze to the open balcony door. She blinked back her surprise, and her hand immediately reached for her broach. The broach she never wore to bed and was currently on her nightstand. Usagi hesitated before approaching the balcony door, mentally preparing herself for a fight without the power of Sailor Moon behind her. She had other skills, after all.
Usagi froze when she reached the doorway and saw that the person who had opened the balcony door wasn't even on her balcony, but the rooftop of the building across the way. A cape billowed in the moonlit silhouette, a familiar scene from some years beforehand. Usagi knew who it was immediately, so it wasn't even surprising to Usagi when the cape fell away to reveal two other slender silhouettes in the shadow of the first.
Haruka Tenou, Michiru Kaiou, and Setsuna Meiou.
Usagi strode into her bedroom and grabbed a dress from her closet, which she quickly pulled on, along with a pair of slippers, and her broach, and glided out of her apartment. Usagi reached the elevator of her building and rode down to the first-floor lobby with her heart beating loudly in her chest. The elevator doors opened, and Usagi stood there, rooted in place, for several long seconds. Catching her breath, Usagi stepped out into the cross corridor and walked through the glass doors to the lobby, only to stop dead in her tracks.
They had beat her here.
"Hey, there, Odango," Haruka said, with a flick of the fingers as a wave. Her smile was knowing and flirtatious, as it usually was, but there was an uneasiness in it that Usagi didn't remember from the last time that they had seen one another. Albeit infrequent, they had gotten together over the past two years, but this… it felt different. "How's it going?"
"Alright, I suppose," Usagi replied, offering a smile and a cute tilt of her head. She reached up and scratched her head as she thought about everything. "Obviously, I've moved – in with Mamo-chan actually!"
"That's sweet," Michiru said with a warm smile and a friendly shrug.
"I got a job at Fruits Parlor Crown," Usagi added, counting off the changes in her life. "And I'm going to start college, soon, at K.O. University. So, there's that to look forward to."
"A lot going on," Haruka said, her smile warm, but a pale imitation of its usual warmth. Haruka exchanged a glance with Setsuna and Michiru, and Usagi knew that this conversation was going to change course fast.
"You don't have to," Usagi said before any of them could say anything. Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna all looked at her, really, truly looked at her. Their gazes were questioning, yet respectful. The taut lines in their faces betrayed stress and anxiety, but they did not question her. They waited. And listened. "None of us knows what this new enemy wants, or what they're capable of, but we do know one thing – our powers can destroy them. Give us some time…" she locked gazes with them, though she stared at Haruka the longest. "To figure out who these new Guardians are. What our enemy wants. And how we can combat them going forward. Your powers are… specific, and I don't yet know if this threat meets that level just yet."
"The reasoning of a Queen," Haruka said, her voice full of strength and conviction.
"The wisdom of a Leader," Setsuna said, her voice low but full of power and understanding.
"The passion of a Warrior," Michiru said, her voice full of faith and certainty.
"I do hope," Haruka said, as the three of them turned to leave, "that you won't hesitate to call – even if it's just to spend the day together, Odango."
"Always," Usagi breathed and watched as they disappeared among a flurry of rose petals that came and went as quickly as the three Guardians of the Outer Planets had. "I will."
Usagi looked back towards the elevator and took a moment to simply breathe. The conversation had come and gone so quickly, and yet she had spoken from the heart. There had been no demands to fight alongside her. To protect her from some threat that they did not yet understand. They had waited and listened, and then they had given her words of encouragement. It was encouragement that Usagi hadn't realized she'd needed. Combined with Mamoru's words from earlier, Usagi knew that it didn't matter if she couldn't fling her tiara across the battlefield or if she had to stand back and charge one surefire move to obliterate their foes.
Usagi knew that she was strong. That she was a Queen. That she was a leader. And that she was a warrior, just like the rest of them. She had faced countless battles and triumphed each and every time, no matter the cost. She could do it again. She would always fight the forces of darkness and evil. It was who she was, and there was no getting around that.
So, Usagi wasn't going to try.
Usagi walked back to the elevator and rode up to her apartment, which she lovingly shared with the man of her dreams and removed her clothes and got back into her nightgown. With her transformation broach safely stowed on her nightstand, Usagi laid back down into her bed and snuggled in close with Mamoru before closing her eyes to let sleep claim her.
Everything that she had fought for throughout her life was still standing, and if the future were to be believed, it would remain standing for far longer than this enemy would remain before them. Usagi would fight for that future as if it were a certainty, even if, in the end, it turned out to be only one possibility.
Because she wanted that happiness and that peace. They all deserved it.
Olivine appeared in her green room, clutching her arms about herself as she took a deep, soothing breath. She looked around at all of the plants that tended to give her joy and hope and wanted to scream at them for failing her. Slumping into her chair, her next sigh was far from calm. She was exhausted, but otherwise fine. Her wounds were healing, and the pain was ebbing away, but the echo of those attacks could still be felt. Olivine was truly disturbed by how many hits they'd landed, chief among them being the blow that Sailor Venus had dealt her.
Olivine shuddered and chided herself for allowing herself to be so distracted in the heat of battle. That energy had knocked her down, hard and fast, and the other one, Sailor Mercury, had momentarily immobilized her. Then there was that damned brace used by Sailor Taurus. Their powers were formidable, Olivine had to admit that. She simply couldn't allow herself to succumb to arrogance and ego, or bruises would be the least of her worries. Death awaited her if she continued to fail the Council. Death awaited her if she made the wrong move against the Sailor Guardians. Death might even await her amongst her own cadre – the other Illusion Witches.
They were, all of them, infiltrating this country in order to oversee the various missions assigned to them by Zultanite and, by extension, the Illusion Council, but it was Olivine who had the coveted task. Finding the Pure Soul that would break the seal on Chaos and powering them to their ultimate goal was a tall order. One soul in a sea of millions on this island held the power that they needed, and Olivine was now four targets in with nothing to show for her efforts other than the power that their enemy boasted.
That kind of power was what truly set her nerves on edge and literally sent the hairs on the back of her neck standing on edge. She had obliterated Sprigara completely with that power, picking them off one by one before the grand finale had nearly taken Olivine down, too. She had contemplated that power after it had vaporized Woodron, whose hardened body had insulated the crystal that powered his existence, but now that she had been caught in the middle of that power… Olivine leaned her head into the back of her chair and sighed once more.
She had laid out traps for targets close to her base of operations three times now and found resistance at each and every step of the way. Perhaps it was time for her to cast a wider, more diverse net. Sitting forward, Olivine flicked her hands and summoned a map in a whirl of flowers. Turning towards her computer, she looked for something that might give her the type of target she needed. A soul pure enough to crack the seal on Chaos.
Otherwise, she might find herself at death's door regardless of how her next fight with the Sailor Guardians turned out.
"I had hoped that we wouldn't need to bring you out so soon after our last fight stateside," Sandra sighed as she looked over her brother's bare chest for any signs that the crystal which powered his guardian form had injured him. "It was risky, Brad, and you know that."
"I know, I know," Bradley replied, waving off her concerns even as he offered a wan smile. Sandra was unimpressed. "I had to do something," he said, looking up at her with a frown, "after Seattle, I… I don't know. I had to be there for this fight. Something was telling me that I had to be there."
"The sword, perhaps?" Jennifer asked from her spot on the couch. They were in Sandra and Brad's apartment, tonight, taking a beat after their most recent fight and Sandra was grateful for that. She wasn't certain if Brad would have made it back here from one of their friend's apartments. Not after the fight that he had just participated in. "I noticed something when Sailor Venus defended those Pure Souls. The sword that she called was so similar. I don't know why I didn't recognize it the other day."
"That battle with Woodron was so exhausting I'm surprised we remember much about it at all," Celia commented as she leaned forward to pick up her cup of coffee and nursed it. "Olivine's sudden arrival then took my attention away from everything else that was going on. Now she's actively fighting alongside her minions, something she seemed averse to doing those last few weeks in Seattle."
"Her creature was able to evade our attacks to destroy it long enough to handle whatever task she'd been fielded out for," Beth pointed out, and Celia sighed and nodded her agreement. "Now, she's out three Illusory Wretches, two of whom we can thank Eternal Sailor Moon for."
"That scepter she summoned," Alana murmured, stroking her chin in deep thought. "It was phenomenally powerful. I almost thought that Olivine would have fallen right then and there."
"I have a feeling Olivine felt the same way," Brad said, wincing when Sandra poked his chest. "Damn, that stings," Brad complained, eliciting a sympathetic smile mixed with 'I told you so,' eyes. "I know, I shouldn't have put myself at so much risk. Not when this power is still so volatile."
"You could barely summon the sword, today, Brad," Jennifer said, leaning to the left so she could peer around Sandra and lock eyes with Bradley. "You have to rest and recuperate your strength or something worse will happen."
"I just wish that we knew what it was that they did to me…" Bradley whispered, looking away and biting his knuckle. His anxiety and fear were clear in his gaze, but he quickly put those aside and looked back with a warm, happy smile. He'd always been good at that – at burying what he truly felt. But sooner or later it would all come to a head. "I'll try to stay off of the battlefield, ladies, and leave the heavy lifting to you. But if it comes down to it, I'll fight. I'm a soldier still, through and through. Even if you don't need me to rescue you, I want to be there by your side."
"And we hope to keep you at our side," Sandra said, leaning in to hug her brother tightly. Sandra sat down beside Alana and let out a long sigh. "Now that we've dealt with that, are we going to discuss the fact that we keep crossing paths with these other Sailor Guardians?"
"It's a fact that we can't ignore, but it doesn't mean I won't try to find a way," Celia said with a curt nod that elicited an eye-roll from Beth. "Hey, I'm calling it how I see it – we don't need them, even if they have the power to destroy the Wretches in one go. We've figured out how to beat them, and we can do it for as long as we have to. Our goal is to find that Pure Soul, not to cozy up with them."
"We have to do what's best for our mission, I agree," Jennifer said, looking at her palms for several long seconds. Jennifer blinked away something she didn't share with the rest of them and looked up to meet their gazes. "But I don't think we should dismiss them out of hand, Celia. We've fought side by side twice, now, and it might make us more successful if we fight side by side from now on."
"And if they don't want us to fight by their side?" Beth was the one to ask the question, and it left Sandra with an ache in her middle. Beth and Celia had arrived partway through their fight today and missed how those other girls had handled the situation. Sprigara might have multiplied, and Olivine may have evaded them from time to time, but those girls… they had kept their cool, even when they were knocked down.
They got back up.
Sandra wanted to work with them, as closely as they possibly could. There was something about those five Sailor Guardians that drew Sandra in close. Whether it was their determination or their optimism, Sandra didn't yet know, but there was a mysterious pull that was drawing them all together. A force that had crossed their paths three times now, and Sandra was certain would continue to do so in the coming weeks. They could ignore that force and continue their search for the Pure Soul alone, or they could listen to it and figure out what it was that had brought them all together.
"For the moment, we don't know what they want any more than we know what we need," Jennifer said, her tone firm but respectful. There would come a day when she stepped aside as the de facto leader, and they all knew that. "We have to find the Pure Soul before the Illusion Council does and protect it with everything we have. And that might include the other Sailor Guardians. We don't necessarily have to work with them, even though I think we should, but we also shouldn't stand in their way. Not unless they give us a reason to."
So, it was settled. They wouldn't obstruct the other Sailor Guardians, which was a definite step in the right direction.
Rei sat at her round table in the kitchen of Hikawa Shrine, with her hands wrapped around her cup of tea and her tablet propped up on its stand with a romance novel keeping her attention. She let out a contented sigh and sipped her tea, enjoying the subdued flavoring made from the steeping process. Yesterday had seemed dark and dreary, but today…
Today felt bright and hopeful, something that she could truly get used to. The early morning sunlight filtering onto the temple grounds bathed the trees in their beautiful sunrays, alighting the expansive estate. It was peaceful, inviting, and something that she couldn't believe she had ever thought of giving up. Though the prospect of moving out and changing course with her life was still an option, it wasn't the right one at the moment, at least not for her.
Rei leaned back into her chair and picked up her tablet as she read the next passage of her book. The sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen door, though, prompted Rei to set her tablet back down and glance over her shoulder. Yuuichirou appeared in the doorway, half asleep and desperately in need of tea or coffee, but he grinned when he spotted Rei once more.
"You look a lot happier today, Rei," Yuuichirou noted as he strode into the kitchen, a little more alert than he had been a moment ago. Rei shrugged in reply before picking up her cup of tea and savoring another sip. "It doesn't look like the world is weighing you down, today."
"I guess I just realized that I didn't have to hold it up all on my own," Rei said with a wink and a smile, bringing out a brighter, happier smile from Yuuichirou before he turned to the task of making himself his morning brew. Rei finished her tea, then, and rose, collecting her tablet in the process. "And, I have to go and meet my friends, so I'll catch up with you later, Yuuichirou!"
"I'm looking forward to it, Rei!" Yuuichirou called back, tipping his hand towards Rei before she disappeared into the hallway and glided back to her room to pick out something cute to wear for the day. There were so many things that they had to do, now that they were staying together. The summer would be over, soon, and they would be in a similar position to the one they had almost walked into a little while ago. Rei supposed that the only major difference would be, of course, that they were all here together in Tokyo. That was something that they could rely on, for now.
And it was something that Rei did not plan to let go to waste. Not after all of the time they had been blessed with, even if it did mean that they were faced with a new threat. As long as they worked together, nothing their enemy threw at them would be able to defeat them, Rei was certain of that.
After all, that was what friends did for one another.
