The first fight scene I have ever written. Please tell me what you think: good, bad, ugly, or worse.

Penance

by faelyn leaf

3/14

Chapter Three

Usagi woke up groggy, disorientated and confused. Her alarm clock had gone off, but when she went to shut it off, it wasn't in its usual place. Where was Mama yelling at her to hurry up, or Shingo's taunts about expulsion? She opened her sleep heavy eyes, and panicked. She wasn't even in her room!

And then she remembered. She wasn't at home. Mama was across the city with Shingo, and Usagi was alone. There wouldn't be any rice balls to gobble down on her race to school, Naru wouldn't be there to meet with her at the corner, and there would be no Haruna-sensei or after school milkshakes with Motoki. She was going to Mugen now and, she decided dramatically, she'd never see her old friends again.

Usagi felt despair well up inside her. She didn't want to be here, she didn't like her apartment, and she wanted to go home! She sat up in bed, tucked her legs against her chest, and let hot tears run down her cheeks. "Luna?" she cried.

There was a muffled sound from outside the bedroom, and Luna ran into the room, carrying an instant ramen package in her mouth. Usagi's stomach rumbled, and she forgot her tears. She had skipped dinner the night before and was starving. "Food!" she squealed. "Thanks Luna!"

Luna jumped on the bed, and dropped the ramen on Usagi's lap. "I'm afraid you don't have time to cook it, but this should do for breakfast. It's something, at least."

Usagi wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her soft, pink pyjama top. "It's okay, Luna," she smiled as she ripped into the package. "I like the miso kind raw."

Luna hid a fond smile. "Do you?" she asked.

Usagi carefully tore open the sauce package and sprinkled it on the dry noodles. The somewhat graceful effect was ruined when she scooped up a large handful of noodles and shoved them into her mouth.

"I don't condone you eating it everyday," Luna said sternly. "It's unhealthy, but we need to get some food in you."

Usagi swallowed. "It can't be!" she protested. She stuffed some more in her mouth and crunched on it thoughtfully. "Nothing this yummy can be bad," she said as she licked her fingers clean of the powdered sauce.

Luna ignored her. "When you get home from school, we're going to go shopping. We' re just lucky that your father arranged your furniture to be here, so all we need are food and toiletries. You still have the list your mother gave you?"

"Uh huh," Usagi said between mouthfuls. She frowned and swallowed thickly. "Wait, does this mean I have to cook?"

"I think it's best to avoid anything that involves you and an open heat source." Luna deadpanned.

Usagi, oblivious, beamed at her. "Shingo said I should have cake for breakfast since I'm not at home any more. What do you think?"

"Your mother may not be here, but I am. Besides, I thought you didn't want to get fat."

"Luna! Don't be mean!"

"I'm not being mean, I'm being truthful. Now hurry up. What will your new teachers think if you're late on the first day?"

"That they shouldn't be surprised when it happens again?"

"Usagi!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going." Usagi grumbled. She groggily climbed out of bed, and went into her bathroom to get ready.

"I want you to be careful on your way to school." Luna called from outside the bathroom door several minutes later. "There are rumours of youma being seen in this district."

The reminder of her senshi was a painful one, but Usagi bravely fought her tears. Something had been bothering her, but she was afraid of what it might mean, and hadn't wanted to hear the answer. She was only wearing her uniform skirt, but she opened the door, and scooped up Luna in her arms. "Luna," she whispered.

"Yes, Usagi-chan?"

"How ... how are they going to get Mamoru back?" Usagi bit her lip. She couldn't bare to think about not getting him back, her heart would break. "I can't heal him, not without the crystal."

"I am sure they will find a way, Usagi. It's not something you need to worry about any more."

"No," she said sadly. "I guess not. I just don't want him to get hurt. It's not his fault, he was captured because of me." She tightened her grip on Luna, and buried her face in the cat's silky fur. Usagi shivered. Nothing had ever frightened her as badly as seeing her love impaled by Zoicite's icicle. She hated thinking about how she had lost Mamoru, and not even Jadite's giant spider youma had scared her so much.

"There is nothing you can do about that right now, Usagi," Luna said soothingly.

"I love him."

Luna butted Usagi's cheek with her nose and purred. "That's never been in question, but right now you have an important job to do." Usagi looked at her curiously, and Luna explained, "How is Mamoru going to feel when he comes back to find his true love failing all her classes?"

"I guess he'd be pretty mad." Usagi scrunched up her little face. "And call me Odango Atama for the rest of my life." There were tear tracks on her cheeks, but she managed to smile anyway. "He really is the biggest jerk in Tokyo."

"Well then, if you want to avoid that fate, you'd best hurry up."

Usagi carelessly dropped Luna on the floor. She ran to get her school shirt and shoes, and managed to find them under her bed. She hopped on one foot, pulled on her shoes with one hand, and did up the buttons of her top with the other. "Well," Usagi nervously pulled at the hem of her uniform skirt, "how do I look?" Luna's expression of disgust said it all. Usagi grinned. "I told you it was designed by a blind youma!"

"You said no such thing. Now, I'll see you again when you get home."

"Bye, Luna!"

Usagi grabbed her school bag and zipped out the door, heedless to anything around her. Luna was right, she wanted to make Mamoru proud of her, and she would start by getting good grades. Or at least getting to class on time. She nodded decidedly to herself. She was almost sure she could do that.

Usagi was so busy caught up in planning out her new life as a model student, she didn't notice anything around her. She was almost down her hallway when she tripped, crashed into something hard and fell to the ground. She landed on her bottom with her legs spread eagle. "Ow! That's going to bruise," she pouted.

"I wouldn't worry too much, you'll still be cute."

"W-what?" Usagi's felt her cheeks turn scarlet. She looked up from her prone position to see a guy with his hand outstretched to help her up. A very cute guy, she thought, noticing his sandy blond hair and blue eyes. Her cheeks felt hotter. She put her hand his his, and he pulled her up. "Sorry for running into you!" she said.

"Don't worry, about it. Besides, now I can say I've met the new girl. I'm Tenoh Haruka."

"Tsukino Usagi!" She bowed. "I guess I'm your new neighbour," she chirped.

"New to Mugen?"

"How'd you know?"

Haruka laughed. "Can't miss the uniform."

Usagi tugged on her sleeve distastefully and made a face. "Oh yeah. I'd almost forgot about that."

"It gets easier." Haruka grinned. "Just try not to look directly in the mirror, or at any of the other students, and you won't want to throw up."

Usagi didn't get the joke. "What?" she asked. "Why would I do that?"

"Uh, never mind. Listen, I'm headed out to the Academy, too. Want a –"

Haruka was cut off by Usagi's panicked voice. "Oh no, now I'm really going to be late!" she shrieked. "Gotta go!"

"... but I was going to offer you a ride." Haruka said as she watched the blonde dash down the hallway. She laughed to herself. That Usagi was a cute kid. She'd have to watch out for the little Odango; a girl like that needed protecting.

xXx

Michiru casually strolled down the street, ever the picture of collected calm and cool grace. She held her school bag in one small hand, and her violin case in the other. Occasionally she would away brush a lock of sea green hair that the wind blew into her eyes. She never tripped or stumbled, but instead projected an aura of sophistication and maturity. Naturally, of course, appearances were deceiving. Michiru felt anything but serene, but she did not believe in broadcasting her weaknesses. Inner turmoil was just that: inner.

The youma she was encountering were getting stronger. This it itself did not bother her much, it was the natural progression of things. What did bother her was that she was only one senshi. She had thought about seeking to join the others, but something had held her back. The sea whispered to her of another destiny, one she only had to wait for. Something even more remarkable would come to her, and Michiru believed it, for Sailor Neptune always listened to the sea.

Still, complete isolation was not part of her fate. She could feel the sea's impatientness; turbulent waves that crashed up against and threatened to drown the unwary. Michiru was never unwary, and if the sea was waiting for something, she would as well.

Another senshi, she had concluded months ago, and had thought Tenoh Haruka would be the one. There was something compelling about the other woman, something that Michiru always wanted to reach out and touch for herself. Her fingers itched to drawn, sketch and paint the woman – anything so long as it was about her. And yet, Tenoh-san remained elusive and unresponsive to even the most gentlest of questions.

Could Michiru have been wrong?

Even more perplexing was the wrongness she felt. That she was too early, or worse, too late, to prevent something catastrophic. A vision lurked at the edges of her mind, but it was nothing she could see. Usually her dreams of the future were impressionist paintings. Details were soft and distorted from the thick brush strokes of her vision, and she had to step back from the piece and view it as a whole to make sense of it. This new sight had not even granted her that, and she had no inkling of what was to come. It unnerved her, and the sea's stony silence on the matter unnerved her even more.

Perhaps it was simply not the time for her to understand. She could accept that, she could –

"Michiru! Michiru!"

Her musings were cut short. She turned around to see the girl from yesterday with the odd hairstyle run to catch up to her. Usagi, wasn't it?

"Michiru!" the girl had caught up her her and was panting. "Oh, I am so glad I found you!"

"Why, is anything wrong Usagi?" Michiru asked, feeling somewhat alarmed.

The girl blushed. "Um, not really. It's just... it's just I was on my way to school, when I realised I don't really know where it is. Mama's map to it's almost as bad as the one she drew to the apartment."

Michiru laughed. "It's a good thing you found me. Come, I'll walk you to class."

"Okay!"

They walked in companionable silence for a while. At Michiru tried to, but Usagi fidgeted nervously beside her. Michiru wouldn't normally be so rude, but she felt compelled to try and help the girl. "Today's your first day, isn't it?" she asked.

Usagi stopped walking and scuffed the tips of her shoes on the side walk. "Yeah. I'm kind of scared. Mama said that I won't have any trouble making friends, but ..." the girl bit her lip.

"But you're nervous anyway?" Michiru prompted.

Usagi nodded. "I miss my old school, and my old friends. I didn't want to come here." Her eyes widened, and she slapped her hands over her mouth."Not that I'm sorry I met you! Oh, I'm so sorry, Michiru!"

Michiru smiled. "There was no offence taken, Usagi. When I first started at Mugen, I felt much the same way."

"You did?"

"Yes, I missed my ... I missed my friend. I'm glad I came now, but it was hard at first." Michiru paused thoughtfully for a moment. How to describe a lesson as old as the sea itself to the flighty little rabbit beside her? "It made me realise something very important: change is inevitable. We can either let ourselves drown in it, or ride the currents."

Usagi frowned. "I don't understand."

"What I mean to say is that it's how you deal with change that will ultimately define you. If you wallow in self pity, you won't make much of yourself, will you?" Usagi shook her head vehemently. "If you accept your situation and make the best of it, then –"

"Then you can go as far as you want?"

"Something like that, yes."

Usagi beamed at her, and Michiru couldn't help but smile back. The girl's happiness was contagious, and she could almost forgot her troubles. Michiru started walking again, and Usagi bounced along, following her.

Michiru couldn't help be charmed. She felt a certain kinship with the girl, not the same as she felt for Tenoh Haruka, but strong nonetheless. She let the younger girl chatter along about friends and her cat when a sudden thought came to her.

Could Usagi be the one Michiru was looking for?

xXx

The park was dark, but despite the long shadows, Mars could see the youma perfectly. She watched it from a safe distance, looking for an opening to intervene. It was a serpent: half woman, half snake, all ugly, and straight out of Greek mythology. She vaguely wondered if it was Mamoru's doing.

The human sized creature was hideous. It's blue skin was covered in scales and open, infected wounds. Bulbous, sickly green eyes started out ahead without blinking, and even from this distance, it smelt of rotting flesh and decay. Mars tried to think of anything but her breakfast.

It also held a vicious looking, curved sword in one of its hands. Just great, Mars thought. As if they weren't having enough trouble with youma lately.

"A warrior," a voice whispered in her ear.

Mars started, and bit back several curses. She looked behind her to see Mercury with her computer out and visor activated. The other two senshi stood next to her.

"Scare you?" Venus teased.

Mercury smiled shyly in apology. "It looks as if it simply meant to terrorize, but why?"

Jupiter shrugged. "As long as it's not draining humans, who cares?"

"I can't scan it from this distance. You're going to have to keep it it occupied until I can find its weakness."

Venus nodded. "Might need you to fog the place, though. Ready everyone?"

"Ready," the three others echoed.

The ran towards it, but Jupiter was the first one to get close. "Hey ugly," she called. "Looking for us?"

The youma opened its mouth, and Mars could see it had sharp, fang like teeth. Very, very sharp teeth. "My Queen demands the ginzuishou," the creature hissed in an oily voice. "Give me the ginzuishou!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have our answer." Venus said dramatically. "It wants the crystal. Always the same old line," she clucked. "You really need a new agent."

Mars just ignored it. "Fire Soul!"

The fireball hit the youma in the arm. It slithered back,, but otherwise was unharmed. "The ginzuishou!" it screamed.

"Mercury, hurry it up, will you?" Mars shouted.

"I'm trying! Shabon Spray!" The fog would give them a little more time. Not much, but it was better than nothing.

The serpent blindly lashed out its tail. It almost strike Jupiter but she dodged, and came back with an attack of her own. "It wants to be slippery, so I'll just fry it!" she snarled.

"Jupiter, no!" Mercury cried. "It's resistant to –"

"Supreme Thunder!"

Mercury's warning was too late, and the youma used its sword to block the attack. The lightening bounced off the blade and hit Jupiter in the chest. It knocked her off balance and the youma caught sight of her.

"Echi!" it crowed.

Jupiter was still trying to stand back up when the youma struck at her again with its tail. This time the senshi was caught off guard and the youma managed to wrap it's tail around her throat.

"I must have the crystal!" It squeezed its tail, and Jupiter choked. She struggled, but the youma's grip was too powerful.

"It takes more than that to bring down a Sailor Senshi!" Venus yelled. She pointed at the youma's tale. "Crescent Beam!"

There was an overwhelming smell of cauterized flesh, and a sickly, squelching sound. Venus had cut off its tail. "Echi!" The serpent screamed in rage.

Jupiter was released. She rolled to the side, and gasped for breath. Her hands circled protectively around her throat, while she tried to prepare herself for the youma's next attack.

The youma slithered back on its amputated tail, but Mars saw in dawning horror that its limb was beginning to regrow. "This isn't working!" she said through gritted teeth. "Mercury, what the hell is taking so long?"

"I have it, but I don't, I don't understand!"

Mars almost missed the sweep of the youma's blade. She jumped back, and barely missed being decapitated. "Understand what?"

"Its weakness. It is fire!"

"Then I guess I'm going to have to try again! Fire Soul!" This time Mars put every ounce of strength she had into the attack. The fireball exploded in the creature's face, burning the flesh and momentarily blinding it. Still, it kept coming. "What?" she demanded. Why hadn't it worked?

Venus aimed for the serpent's sword arm. "Crescent Beam!"

The serpent's arm fell to the ground with the the sword still clutched in its grip. It stopped the youma's advance, but the arm would regrow soon, and they didn't have much time. "We need a new plan!" Mars shouted.

The creature blinked, and Mars saw its eye was normal. "Give up! Know the triumph of my Queen, and give me the ginzuishou!"

"Like I'd hand it over to you!" she shouted in reply, hoping to stall it. She knew exactly what would happen if they failed, and Beryl somehow got it.

The serpent looked at her with its terrible eyes. "Your games are nothing to my Queen. Time to end this." The serpent arose to its full height. "Echi!" it screamed, and bright green acid sprayed out of its mouth.

"Crescent Beam!"

"Shabon Spray!"

Their attacks were too late, and Mars knew that she couldn't escape. This was the end for her. She closed her eyes braced for death; she would go to the next life honourably.

Seconds passed, and Mars didn't move. She heard the other girls scream her name, and opened her eyes to realise the acid hadn't hit her. She blinked. Everything seemed to be illuminated in warmth and silver light, and the ginzuishou floated inches above her. She reached out to touch it with her fingertips, only to find that she was barricaded in the light. She looked at the ground and saw smoke rise out of acid eaten pavement. The crystal had protected her.

And the serpent, the youma was screaming.

Mars looked on in reverence as the the crystal lit up again, and she felt its magic wash over her. The feeling of serenity, of peace, of power, broke through her soul and she suddenly realised why the darkest beings of the world wanted it.

The ginzuishou was supremacy. It was the strength to do anything, to achieve the most wildest dreams or the most depraved nightmares. It was the power to protect Usagi and the world, or to destroy them. The ginzuishou was life. It was everything. The power felt unending, and Mars knew she had to break the connection to it before it destroyed her. She wrenched herself away, but not before seeing the what the crystal had been trying to show her. The words formed in her mind, flames danced at her finger tips, and Mars knew what she had to do.

With renewed strength lent from the crystal, from Usagi, she shouted, "Burning Mandala!"

She closed her eyes against the scorching heat of the fire. She heard the creature wailed once, and then there was silence. She opened her eyes, and there was nothing but a pile of dust where the youma once stood. Mars watched its ashes fly away in the night breeze before collapsing on her knees.

"Mars!" shouted Jupiter.

The others ran to her, but Mars was already irritated with their over protectiveness. "I'm fine, just tired," she said to her worried friends.

Venus whistled. "You really know how to put on a light show."

"Yeah, mind telling us what the hell that was?" Jupiter demanded.

Mars squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples. "It was the ginzuishou."

"Can you tell us anything more specific?" Mercury asked, and Mars could see she had already activated her computer and visor.

Mars struggled to find the right words. Not even the fire held that much raw power. It had been euphoric, addicting, and demanding. And yet... and yet it almost felt guided. "Usagi," she whispered. "It felt like Usagi was there, telling me what to do." She stared at her hands in astonishment. "I only borrowed the power from her."

After a few minutes of furious typing, Mercury put her computer away, and powered down her visor. "The energy reading I just picked up confirms it. There's a massive energy signal leading directly from here to her new apartment."

"Great, a smoke signal." Mars said bitingly. "After everything we've done to keep her safe!"

"Let's just hope no one else notices it." Jupiter muttered.

"Oh way to go, Jupe!" Venus said sarcastically. "Famous last words. If they hadn't noticed before, they will now!"

Mars ignored her bickering friends. She just hoped Usagi was okay.