Chapter 10: Broken
Venus looked between Mercury and Jupiter. Her mind was scrambling for an answer to the precarious situation. She whispered looking at the prayer room behind her. "We need to go..." Her body stiffened at her own bold statement.
Frowning Jupiter nodded in agreement. "Is it even possible? We've never tried to transport with just three of us." The pressure of the situation was still weighing heavily on her.
Mercury pressed her lips together and paced. "If we do... Our energy levels will probably be nearly depleted." She stopped and looked at the two. "They killed Hotaru..."
No one in the group needed to discern that what the senshi of ice was trying to say was that the enemy had to be strong. They looked at each other concern setting in.
Jupiter muttered. "What about Usagi?" She glanced at the prayer room. Inside the dark temple their princess was in a painful slumber.
Venus placed her white glove on Jupiter's shoulder. "There is Mars, but you're right this could be a decoy to get the princess." She breathed out frustrated, her soldiers were fighting for them with no hope. "I am asking you guys to do something foolish, there's no disputing that. My gut is telling me if we don't go we will lose them."
Mercury calmly spoke. "None of us like this situation.. We all care for Haruka and Michiru." She touched her temple looking at the coordinates she had found earlier. "Against my better nature... I am going to follow you." She looked between her two comrades and breathed out deeply.
Jupiter groaned heavily smacking her forehead. "How do we even know they are still alive, that broadcast was thirty minutes ago." She shook her head guilty setting in from her fear driven statement. Slowly she looked up into Venus' blue eyes and whispered. "I mean..."
Venus looked down to the ground and then softly at Jupiter. She struggled to find the right way to express this. "...We have to try..I don't think we'll forgive ourselves if we don't. Usagi would tell us to go on." She stared softly at the brunette. "We don't have a choice. Mars can't be distracted and the answer is with us." Directing her attention to the two. "We leave and we don't tell her. She needs to focus on the princess."
Mercury frowned. "None of this feels right, but there's no easy answer." She looked at the others who clearly felt uncomfortable about the situation. "If we are going to do this, then I suggest we do so before anyone else is lost. Just be warned, we might not be able to teleport back if we don't get the other's assistance."
Venus nodded and grabbed both senshi's hands. "We do this together." She grimaced slightly and yelled. "Sailor Teleport!"
In a flash the three disappeared leaving the temple behind. The cold breeze wafted over the dark stone ground, and light snow began to fall from the sky.
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Venus and Jupiter screamed out as they poofed and began to fall through the branches of trees.
Jupiter was the first to get her bearings and reached out desperately grabbing onto a branch. With her other hand she clumsily grabbed Venus' fuku. The strong orange skirt threatened to rip as Venus reached out embracing Mercury's stomach. Against gravity's threatening pull They hung from the tree like monkeys in a barrel. The blond cursed. "Fuck!!" The entire scenery was spinning and she felt sick to her stomach.
Clenching her eyes shut Jupiter struggled. "No shit... Guys I can't hold on much longer." She blushed feeling the strong curves of Venus crushed against her clenched fist. Realizing Mercury hadn't spoken she came to attention. "Mercury are you okay!?"
Venus breathed out heavily adjusting herself to hold Mercury with one arm. Hastily she seethed. "She's unconscious... Hold on..." Disoriented she focused hard and then screamed out. "Venus love me chain!" The golden chain shot out to the branch above them wrapping tightly around the dark lumber. Gingerly Venus wrapped the other end around Mercury's waist and took hold off the chain herself. "You can let us go now."
The lightning senshi released her grip allowing the other senshi to swing gently back and forth. As the blood quickly returned to her hand she felt relief. She struggled and pulled herself up to the branch, and looped her leg over to straddle it. The bark scratching against her fuku she cringed. "Ready?"
Venus grew pale the nausea coming in waves, but forced her way through the sickness. "Bring us down." Her determines voice echoed upwards. As Jupiter swiftly nodded, Venus jolted as the chain began to release from the branch and slowly eased to the ground.
The brunette breathed out stressfully once her job was done and let her stomach slump against the branch of the tree. Her head was pounding and she felt extremely tired. She smacked her cheeks trying to get focus. "Come on Mako..." She uttered in an attempt to motivate herself. The tired senshi looped the chain around the branch and began to slide down. Halfway to the ground the magic failed and the chain dissipated. Her eyes widened as she began to free fall.
Venus gasped feeling the connection break. Hastily she jumped embracing the lighting senshi and breaking the long fall. Both girls thudded to the ground. She sucked in air and rolled her body into Jupiter as they skid through the mossy forest floor.
Jupiter breathed heavily her chin digging into Venus' shoulder. Somewhat caught aghast by the warm rapid breaths crawling up her neck from the other woman. Groaning in pain she sighed. "So that's why we don't teleport without the group." She attempted to pull herself off, but found her muscles wouldn't allow it.
Mercury awoke with a stir and sat up her legs spread out. She breathed in deeply trying to compose herself, finding she was having a difficult time seeing. "Are you guys alright?" She rubbed her eyes clearing her vision and pressed the visor on her temple, letting the light blue screen slide across her face. She got on her knees her legs shaking before going to full stand. At the seen before she awkwardly approached the two entangled women.
Venus groaned out. "Mako-Chan..." She gingerly shoved at the other woman's shoulders trying to pry her off.
Mercury gasped as large amounts of red dots began to appear on the screen each a short distance from the senshi. She whispered urgently. "Get up now!"
Hearing the distress in Mercury's warning the other senshi rolled apart. Jupiter reached out extending an arm and allowed the ice senshi to pull her up. "What is it?"
Mercury cringed at the growing flashes crawling across her visor. "We need to hide... There's a hoard." She pointed to a large tree with a hollowed out crack. "There!" The space was just deep enough to conceal the three.
The senshi hurried to the tree and slipped in quietly. The thunderous march of feet erupted through the trees with consecutive cracking noises sounding out as the forest floor was desecrated.
Jupiter breathed in deeply wrapping her arms around both senshi to better squeeze inside the concealed space. She looked down into Venus' concerned eyes giving her a knowing smile. A certain comfort took over from the pressing warmth, and she felt oddly at peace in the situation.
From outside the tree a shrieking voice sounded out. Julia barked at the hoard. "Find the senshi or answer to the king!" She crossed her arms and looked to the white haired demon.
Clarissa spoke in disappointment. "Don't look at me like that, I couldn't have predicted Abaddon's intent." She looked at her fingernails avoiding the glare of the dark haired demon next to her.
Julia hissed. "Where is your sister?! This is a disaster. If we can't find them we will need to relocate everything!"
Clarissa spoke lowly. "She is adapting to the new form... It's going to take a while, the senshi's spirit is fighting." She bit her lip knowing that Marie's blood magic came with a price, one that her sister was currently paying. This however was not a secret the devious woman next to her needed to know.
Mercury looked to the others and silently mouthed. "Hotaru.." she shuffled squeezing into the other two. Letting her hand crawl up Jupiter's back.
At the gentle touch Jupiter let her eyes settle into Mercury's dark blue gaze sadness growing steadily. The confirmation of "the girl's spirit" truly meaning the fall of one of their comrades. Their bodies tensed as the hoard began to slam into the tree on their march causing the dead wood to crack and she felt as fingers tightened into the flesh of her shoulder. Small bits of rotten wood showered down on the three.
After what seemed like forever the forest became silent again. Mercury slowly let go and observed her screen, motioning for the others to exit. "They must have turned off their communicators when they went into hiding." She opened her mini computer and began to clack the small keys. "From this distance I can remote turn on Uranus' so we can try and find them."
Venus breathed out the stale air of the inside of tree suffocating. "... You guys... We can't afford to get into a fight if we want to get out of here... Even using love me chain was difficult." She gulped down saliva. "I'm having a hard time keeping my transformation.
Jupiter tightened her fist. "Just hold on... Mercury will take care of us." She looked to the blue haired senshi. "She always does." She presses her lips tightly together, knowing how much in all aspects she had underestimated her peer in the past. Her chest pained as the other girl failed to make eye contact with her.
Mercury looked away from Jupiter slightly distracted by the comment. She murmured incoherently. "I can't do everything here." She knew the comment was petty, and quickly delved into her computer wishing she hadn't said anything. The bitterness in her tone surprised even her.
Jupiter raised her eyebrows and frowned. "We are in this together." She said affirmatively and looked at Venus unsure if she had just heard the comment correctly.
Mercury shut her computer rapidly and looked at the two. "They are about 2 miles from here." She pointed in the direction the hoard had just gone.
Wiping her mouth with a muddy white glove Venus coughed. This was no time to doubt each other. It was possibly the worse time for it. She spoke authoritatively. "Follow My lead." Urging her legs to move she ran, each stomp causing her muscle fibers to scream.
Mercury and Jupiter chased after the senshi of love trying their best to move silently across the forest floor. Having difficulty with the footing they jumped nimbly from spot to spot crouching deeply as they did.
Jupiter looked to Mercury who appeared to be purposefully looking forward without falter. She wondered how long her ignorance had harmed their friendship. Sighing out she clenched her fist jumping forward. "I'll make it right."
Suddenly Venus stopped, lifting up her hand and directing them behind a tree. A large menka ran on all fours lifting its scaled snout to the air. It's heavy weight cracked a small branch as it tromped forward.
The girls clenched in anticipation as it neared the opposite side of the tree they were behind. Each of the senshi held their breath asthe very sound of air leaving their lungs threatened exposing their location.
The creatures claws scratched the ground beneath it as it moved , slowly it paused snorting the air. Growling out it ran in the opposite direction following the other two of its small pack.
Mercury breath out deeply and whispered. "There's a few of them still spread throughout here, but it seems they passed the outers location." She looked at the other two, inwardly she felt guilty for giving Makoto the cold shoulder and possibly taking away from what was truly important. Knowing that no matter what course she took, they were still a team.
Venus nodded. "Let's go!" Once more she lead the other two through the forest, slowly the large trees began to thicken, obstructing her sight from what was ahead. She placed her heels down and slipped on a rock covering her mouth as an "Eep!" Slipped out.
Jupiter caught her arm pulling her back up and nodding. Before they could advance one of the large beast burst through the trunk of a tree its large teeth threatening to engulf the two.
Her eyes going wide Mercury reactively formulated the moisture in the air into a spike of ice and drove it through the base of the beasts neck. As black blood splattered across her face and onto the others she blinked confused, not expecting the natural protective reaction she had demonstrated.
Both of the other senshi looked at her in surprise, and caught the girl as her knees buckled.
Awkwardly Mercury wiggled trying to compose herself. "Kami..." She placed her foot on the ground to straighten up and nodded them forward. She had never felt so weak in her life.
Venus shrugged running forward. After another mile they came to what appeared to be a clearing in the forest. The large trees formed a circle, moss had collected over large massive rocks. She looked to Mercury. "Here?" She surveyed the land inquisitively.
The ice senshi nodded. "That's what it says." She looked around trying to see where Uranus could be hiding. Observing the surroundings she spoke to the others. "I'm not sure how though... They'd have to be in plain sight."
Jupiter clicked her tongue. She walked around the mossy rocks. Finding tracks would be pointless as the menka had trekked through the area destroying any remaining evidence.
Venus gasped deeply feeling her energy fading she struggled to stand. "Mercury... Are you sure that they are here?" She clutched at her knee feeling the nausea return.
Mercury nodded staring at Venus and feeling the exhaustion she saw in the other girl. "Or at least I am sure the communicator is here..." She looked around still not seeing anything obsvious, but she would expect nothing less of the older senshi.
Venus spoke in a low and serious tone. "Call it." She looked at the other two holding her stomach tightly. "It's now or never." She knew she couldn't hold out much longer, and prayed she could teleport back.
Mercury nodded slowly. She tapped in the information to her visor and like a scream in a quiet room ringing exploded in the clearing. He echo of the noise was heart wrenching.
Jupiter burst forward towards the sound, finding it was coming from underneath a large rock. She looked to the others her usual strength failing her. "Help me."
Swiftly the other moved in unison and together the girls pulled at the mossy rock, it creaked as it shifted and rolled to the ground with a loud thud.
Venus groaned focusing with difficulty to keep it together. "Come on!" She looked around hearing the distinct marching rounding back like the approach of thunder. She couldn't let the others down.
Jupiter looked into the darkness of the rocks and yelped as a blade flew in her direction. Recognizing the shiny saber she shouted out. "Uranus it's us!" Her eyes darted into the hole trying to see clearly.
From the darkness Uranus peeked out, her fuku covered in red and black. She breathed heavily. "Thank God.." She reached out her hand to Jupiter taking the white glove and holding tightly.
Mercury equally grabbed onto the arm and together they lifted Uranus out of darkness. She gasped realizing that she was holding onto an unconscious and bloody Michiru.
Uranus groaned heavily and in a daze murmured the question. "Hotaru...?" Her legs buckled as she fell to the mossy rock. She looked at the others begging for a different reality than what her gut knew.
Looking at the four, Venus yelled out. "We have to go now!" The roaring of the coming beast were growing. She looked frantically seeing the darkness approaching, and gasped as she saw a white demon at the tree line. There was something terrifying in the way the smaller white demon stood out in comparison to the dark forest, more so in the clearly red drenched claws.
Clarissa's smile grew on her features as she flew in the uncovered senshi's direction. She laughed maniacally. "It's about time you little mice came out!"
Hastily, Jupiter grabbed onto Uranus as Mercury grabbed Michiru's body. They clambered down the rocks looking in terror as the demon approached them. No small attack would be enough for the approaching witch. Rocks slipped downward with them as they moved and with a thud the hit the forest floor.
Mercury placed Michiru between them and grabbed onto Venus' hand. Her gloves covered in blood, the blonds hands nearly slipped from her grasp. She desperately reached out and grabbed Uranus' glove and together they yelled. "Sailor Transport!"
In a blink the group was gone leaving a frustrated Clarissa screaming. She slammed her fist into the ground angrily. "It's not fair!!! It's not fair!!" She scampered around the spot which the senshi has disappeared.
In a black poof Julia appeared next to her. "Don't worry dear... The game has just begun and now they have lost one while we are still many." She looked at her wrist a watch appearing. "You need to help me move the castle... The king insists they will be back."
Clarissa frowned. She grabbed onto the other woman and in a flash they were gone.
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The group of senshi landed in a skid on the frosty ground. Jupiter cried out as her head smacked into the cement and her transformation fell. She breathed in heavily her vision threatening to go black. Concentrating she looked around her seeing that everyone had lost their transformations and were unconscious. A small sheet of white was quickly covering each girls body.
Desperately She clawed through the gathered snow towards Michiru and felt for a pulse. It was dim, but it was still there.
Makoto tried to summon the strength to sit up, but couldn't manage it. She breathed in deeply as she saw the blurry image of a auburn wolf and her body froze.
The large wolf cautiously approached Ami and moved her body with it's snout. When the motion didn't get a reaction Sage's ears lowered to her head. Grabbing the back of her shirt the large wolf dragged the blue haired girl to the door of the temple out of the snow. Seeing the slow motions of Makoto she stepped carefully over the girls body and looked down.
Makoto coughed choking on her own saliva and spitting it out as the wild invaded her personal space. She raised her arms defensively, feeling the hot breath crawl against her skin. Slowly she lowered them and looked in the wolf's sharp blue eyes. Again her vision began to fade, she felt her body loosening and her muscles giving out. Helplessly she looked from the wolf to Michiru and pointed as she lost consciousness.
The wolf snorted and nudged Makoto's arm with her nose trying to get a rouse out of her. Keenly she noticed that none of the girls smelled as enticing as the humans on the street. Sage looked to the woman the brunette had pointed to and stepped over Makoto's body.
Looking down at the woman with light blue green hair Sage saw the massive puddle of blood on her chest. Her noise scrunching she felt the thirst and archer her back. Her eyes wide she stood hesitantly over the damaged woman and snorted deeply several times. Slowly the smell grew less and less appealing. Gingerly she opened her mouth and allowed her teeth to snag the woman's clothing managing to lift her up to her back.
Sage looked to the unconscious group on the ground and let out a howl. She listened hearing the small slow heartbeat of the woman on her back and ran.
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Mars' eyes grew large hearing the howl echo through the cooridor. She looked to Usagi, biting her lip she knew that she had done all she could and rose to her feet.
She yanked the door open and darted to the outer temple, gasping as she saw the circle of her fallen comrades. Deeply she cried out. "Everyone!" Dropping her transformation she ran forward and went to them. She checked each one finding all of them were unconscious.
She gritted her teeth noticing the clear absence of two of the outers and seethed out a curse. "I can't believe you went without me." Standing up she grabbed Minako's arms first and began the process of dragging each girl inside. Hastily she looked to the tree line hearing shuffling. Knocking it off to the wind she continued in her endeavor.
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Haruka awoke gasping for air. She looked around the well lit room, each of the lights dancing as she did. Frightened she yelled out. "Michiru!!!" She breathed in panicked as a soft hand landed on her cheek.
Rei cooed the sandy haired woman, not able to imagine the pain she must be feeling. "Haruka she's gone."
Haruka scrambled ignoring her bodies wishes not to move. She glared at Rei. "Don't you fucking lie to me! We teleported her." She grabbed her stomach feeling sick. Her heart thudded in terror, believing she had lost her family.
Rei looked at her confused. "I'm sorry... When I came out you were all unconscious she wasn't there." She furrowed her eyebrows and watch the glaze take over the sandy woman's eyes.
Haruka felt as if time had stopped. Had she actually blacked out and left her lover to die? She looked to Rei and then breathed in deeply. She shook her head vehemently. "Listen... if she was dead... I would know."
Rei shook her head terrified of the idea that the girls had gone on a secret mission without her, and more so that they had left a soldier behind. She was about to say something but noticed Ami stirring.
Ami groaned out, her head threatening to split open. "Oh my..." The room spun like she had drank far too much, and was living the hang over simultaneously.
Rei hurried over to her. "Ami... What happened to Michiru?" She looked back to Haruka hoping the genius had answers.
Coughing Ami motioned for the glass of water too far from her reach. The miko hastily provided the beverage and she gobbled it down. "I'm not sure... we teleported with her, but our energy was too low it's possible we couldn't manage it."
Haruka slammed her hand down and wobbled to a knee. "We have to go back!" She groaned and pressed herself against the wall. "I'm not losing her and my daughter in one night." Her breathing was becoming more erratic, even she had spotted the terrifying demon who had approached one whom had already bested her that night.
From besides her Makoto whispered incoherently. She pressed her eyes open, and tried to get Haruka's attention. Reaching out she slid her fingers down woman's shaky leg in a total lack of energy.
Frustrated Haruka forced herself to the brunettes level and she yelled out. "What?" Lowering herself down she squinted her eyes as Makoto whispered again. "What do you mean the wolf was here."
Rei perked up. "Are you sure that's what she said?" She looked at Ami trying to determine if she knew anything about it.
Haruka looked like she was about to burst. "Please tell me what is going on." She heaved the pain in her chest threatening to overflow. The image of a rabid wolf now in her head.
Rei pressed her lips together. "I thought I heard something and decided it was the wind blowing. I'm truly not sure it's good or bad news." She looked to Ami again feeling she could portray the truth.
Ami groaned out again failing to lift herself up. "Where's my purse Rei?" Every fiber in her being was screaming and the last thing she wanted to do was look at a computer screen. She breathed out. "Sage, saved me once, lets not eliminate that she might have done the same for Michiru."
Haruka looked slightly hopeful, and tore herself from the floor to the nearby chair which was filled with various items. Spotting the trademark blue she grabbed it, and stumbled towards Ami.
Ami reached for the bag on her side and pulled out her glasses to slip them on. Her site focused in on the screen and she began to type away. She first searched the emergency pathways, but didn't find anything about a wolf. Second she searched the hospitals for any Jane Does. The computer binged in satisfaction however felt like a gunshot to her head. She read aloud. "We've got a female who appears to be in her twenties that was dumped at the emergency room exit door at Uzor Hospital an hour ago, identifiers bluish green hair, and a chest wound." She pinched the bridge of her nose the light making her head thud.
Haruka sighed in relief. "That's got to be her." She attempted to bolt to the door, her knees buckling as she did. She looked up at Rei and plead in frustration. "Please take me there."
Rei gritted her teeth in concern at Ami. "Can you manage on your own? Usagi is still unconscious." The thought of leaving her lover alone was terrifying at the moment, but inwardly she knew the beautiful moon princess would insist that she take Haruka.
Coughing from behind her Makoto growled out. "Take her Rei... I've had hangovers worst than this." Awkwardly she raised her hand as if in a wave and let it slump back to the floor.
Rei nodded imagining how she would feel if it was Usagi that had mysteriously disappeared. She grabbed Haruka by the arm and helped her stumble toward the front door. Looking back she spoke low. "Call me if anything changes with Usa... We still don't know what's going on."
Ami nodded as we as she could letting the computer slide to her side. As the two left she found herself wondering about the auburn wolf, however her attention was swiftly drawn to the unconscious blond next to her.
As Rei and Haruka left Makoto half army crawled, half scooted to Minako. She gingerly tried to wake her. "Mina..." She frowned as her prodding prompted little reaction.
Ami leaned on her side next to Makoto and placed her hand on the blonds forehead. "She has gone beyond exhaustion. It's going to take a while for her to wake up. We should let her rest." Her eyes connected with Makoto's from across the girl's body.
Makoto smiled softly. "Thank goodness." She allowed her body to slump to the ground next to the blue haired genius, the screaming of her muscles easing. Tilting her head she looked at Ami. "Are you okay?" She bit her lip knowing the her dear friend was anything but okay.
Ami looked up at the brunette and gently ran her hand on the other girls forehead to check for a fever. She spoke deeply. "Always." Exhausted she let herself rest against the floor.
Makoto frowned and let her eyes rest on Ami's slightly too long wondering how she could ensure that would somehow be the truth.
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The king stood in the dark chamber once more before Setsuna. His voice held a clear tone of satisfaction. "Tell me Setsuna... Was that enough to change the future?" He grabbed the woman's tear stained cheeks. "Can you see it yet?"
Setsuna glared at the king's glimmering mask. A chain now at her mouth like a horses bit. The new addition came shortly after she attempted to bite off her tongue. She knew the king didn't expect her to answer, so instead she looked away from him.
He chuckled. "Of course not... She's not dead yet and that's what truly matters." He raised his hand unvaryingly. "You could change all this though if we could come to an agreement."
Setsuna's eyes widened as she felt a familiar energy. Inwardly she cried out. "No Hotaru it's too dangerous!!" Her breathing quickened as she saw the dark outline of a female at the door.
Red eyes glowed in the darkness upon approach. The black upside down sign of Saturn arched on her forehead, as she looked cunningly at the senshi of time.
The king stood straight hastily approaching the woman. "It worked..." He looked between Setsuna and Marie. "Does this mean?"
Marie nodded. "It's taking more time that I would like. This girl is strong, her spirit won't let go of the power." She pointed to Setsuna. "Not to mention I am feeling odd sorts of affections for this woman." She stared in disgust. "It's rather bothersome... I think I came here just to check on her."
The king nodded. "We thought there might be some side effects..." He grinned from ear to ear. "This means my plan will work..."
Marie rolled her eyes annoyed. "I think we need to move to phase two... That is if you still intend to move forward." She grabbed her chest feel another burst of pain move through her body.
The king nodded a new lust in his eyes. "Nothing will stop me from moving forward. Do whatever needs to be done." He walked the short distance between them.
Marie grinned and in a coy voice spoke. "So long as you willingly take the gift, it will be given. Then you can have the one you want." She brought forth her arm as the king kneeled in front of her.
Setsuna watched in disgust as the demon queen slit her wrist and allowed for her dark crimson blood to splatter down into Gilgamesh's eager mouth. She watched in horror as the king's skin turned a dark black and scales emerged under his fancy armor. Hate grew within her as a new future focused in her minds eye. The demon before her would indeed corrupt it.
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Sorry for the delay I had one hell of a Spring Semester this year... Let me know your thoughts.