A/N: I hate to do this. But I've put up 2 chapters with no reviews, no feedback of any kind. And, quite frankly, now that school has begun, I have less time to devote to this story. And if no one feels I need to continue, then I might as well stop wasting my time writing it. I don't mean to sound harsh or like I'm just begging/whining for reviews. I'll admit, I've read stories and not left feedback. But I do think that after 2 chapters of new material, someone would have said something, even if it was just "Good".
So, please review. I would hate to abandon this series of drabbles because no one was reading.
Thunder: 69
"Oh no," Usagi whispered, glancing around in the near darkness. Her unadjusted eyes couldn't see more than the vague outline of the swing set, a merry-go-round, and something that was possibly a sandbox. The youma was invisible to her.
"Let's play a game," the creature cooed in a singsong tone. "I like games. Would you like to play hide-and-go-seek with me?"
Usagi didn't answer; too busy trying to figure out the source of the voice. But it was impossible—the trees surrounding them made the voice sound as if it was coming from every direction at once.
"I don't have much patience," the youma crooned. "If you don't like that game, let's play a different one. How about…hide-or-you'll-DIE!" it screamed, sending a jet of fire in the shape of a unicorn straight for Usagi.
Usagi saw the bright orange flames blazing a fiery trail through the darkness and quickly jumped aside; the fire merely singed her skirt.
"I don't have time to play games!" Usagi stated sharply. The sky was growing darker, and the lightning was flashing brighter than ever now, illuminating the surrounding area for a fraction of a second at a time.
FLASH.
The youma was cutting the girl loose from the swing set. Usagi blinked, and then raised her Crescent Moon Stick.
FLASH.
The youma continued to saw the girl, who appeared to be unconscious, free of the ropes. Usagi pointed and aimed, preparing to shout her attack phrase.
FLASH.
The girl was tangled as ever, but the youma was gone. "MOON HEAL—" Usagi began, stopping once she noticed the absence of her enemy. If the youma wasn't untangling the witness, where was it?
"Yoo-hoo, Sailor Moon…" a childlike voice called, echoing from every direction.
FLASH.
Usagi turned around, but there was no youma to be seen anywhere.
"I'll make you a deal, Sailor Moon…" it crooned in a soft voice. "I promise not to hurt you, and you can go home away from this awful storm…"
FLASH.
Usagi continued to turn slowly in a circle, keeping her wand pointed outwards; she wasn't stupid enough to stand completely still. But again, no glimpse of the youma was to be found. And now, the lightning was flashing less brightly, limiting her already poor visibility.
"Come on, just go home…. Or better yet, sleep…. It's been a long day; I bet you're ever so tired…. Sleep, Sailor Moon, sleep…" it lulled. Usagi felt herself growing tired, it had been a long day at school, and she really just wanted to go to sleep and forget all about the storm….
"Yes, that's it…. Sleep…." it continued to croon, chanting "sleep" over and over in a soothing rhythm, humming its sick lullaby.
No, you can't sleep! Usagi's mind screamed. What about that innocent girl? You can't leave her to die!
"But I'm so tired…" she mumbled, eyes beginning to close. Usagi's wand fell out of her grasp onto the ground, and she sank to her knees, the enchanted sleep to overtaking her.
FLASH.
Her wand was gone. The youma was floating in the sky, cradling it. But she couldn't find the strength to move, couldn't fight the sleep any more….
And then the thunder hit with a mighty BOOM, snapping Usagi awake from her trance. She quickly shook her head back and forth, allowing her hair to slap her gently in the face.
Another great clap of thunder made Usagi flinch for the second time since her henshin. Great, she thought bitterly. There's lightning and thunder; the youma has my wand and I don't know how to get it back; Luna is nowhere to be seen…nothing else could possibly go wrong.
It was then that a single drop of rain fell onto Usagi's head.
