Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the canon characters. Miyako, Cleo, Lia, Harper, and Owen, as well as a few others, are only figments that have escaped from my imagination. Another little note, I'm going back to the divisions of Terra I used back in by other Sailor Moon stories, so, when I refer to the five divisions of Terra, I refer to them by their direction from Elysian, thus North and South America, being to the East of Terra are the Eastern Division, Africa and the Middle East are the Western Division. Europe, Russia, Greenland, and Iceland are all the Northern Division, while Australia, Antarctica, and the Pacific Islands are the Southern Division. The rest of Asia would be Elysian.
Chapter Eleven: Double Trouble
Usagi walked into the bustling school cafeteria, clutching her lunch bag to her chest. That was one thing she really did miss about Tokyo. She wished she could eat outside, again. Here, everyone was crowded into the cafeteria and told to stay there, unless they had a pass.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"We're not letting you sit by yourself at lunch, today, Usagi." Miyako gave her a mock glare. "I don't care what happened in Tokyo. Come on."
As the ebon-haired girl drug her across the cafeteria, Usagi frowned. "What do you know about Tokyo?"
"I figure something happened there, with your friends turning on you, and so you don't trust us not to do the same thing," she answered, with a one-shouldered shrug. "So, we'll just have to prove it to you. We aren't them."
She nudged Usagi into the open chair, next to Lia. On the fire scout's other side sat Cleo, who looked far more relaxed than her blonde friend.
"We can't be discussing stuff like that here," hissed Lia, glaring at Cleo.
The other girl shrugged. "And why not? This place is crowded, noisy, and it's a lot harder to make out what anyone is saying. So, the chances of us being overheard are rather slim."
"Slimmer if we could go outside," grumbled Usagi.
"Wait," called Lia. "You got to eat outside in Tokyo?"
She nodded. "And we kept the same classroom. The teachers moved, not us. No crazy, crammed hallways between classes. No mad dashes to make it before the class bell. No crowded cafeteria." She sighed, staring down at the grey-flecked, white table. "Sometimes, I really miss Tokyo."
"I can imagine," agreed Cleo, wistfully.
Miyako slid into the chair next to Usagi. "Well, on a different note, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?"
Usagi blinked in confusion. "What's Thanksgiving?"
"American holiday," explained Lia. "An excuse to get family together, eat massive amounts of food, and for a number of people, watch football. My family comes in from all over the place. The weather here doesn't turn bad until just after Thanksgiving, usually. Last week in November, there's more Agni's in this town than I can keep track of. So, I'm going to be pretty busy at home. Thankfully, volleyball's just about over."
Cleo nodded. "Originally, it was a day to gather and give thanks for all the blessings you'd received. Like a bountiful harvest, or whatever. Now, it's just become a veg-out day. Mom and Dad used to go all out. Turkey, stuffing, the works. Last year, Kyle tried to cook. Turned into a disaster."
"So, we're trying to decide what to do this year. Isolde's dad is working again, so we thought about inviting her over, so she's not alone, you know. I thought, if you didn't have any plans, you and Trista might like to come, too. And Kyle's inviting his best friend from high school, Noland Baker, so we can just sort-of have a relax day. Plus, we usually start discussing things for the Snowflake Festival."
"And I think Kyle said something about asking the Melanthios brothers and Darien to join us, too," added Cleo, shoving her silvery, white-blonde hair over her shoulder. "And doing sort-of a potluck thing. You know, everyone brings a dish. Just figured we'd ask."
Usagi looked back and forth between the pair of adopted sisters. "I'll talk to Trista. But, as long as nothing comes up, we should be fine."
"Great!" Both sisters cheered.
"So, anything else you miss about Tokyo?" Lia demanded.
The three of them had met up with Isolde after school. At Miyako's urging, they were heading to Usagi's apartment to hang out and, hopefully, study.
"Well, I do miss the Crown Arcade. I used to go there almost every day, after school. The guy who runs it, Andrew, is practically like an older brother to me. I've known him for ages. There are a couple of friends I miss. Molly and Melvin, mostly. Yes, Melvin used to annoy me, with his crazy theories and his good grades, without really even trying. Molly's been my best friend since my first day of school. Her mom owns a jewelry store, and we loved to go in and look at what she had. Sometimes, I'd even be able to get some rhinestone pieces on a bit of a discount."
"But, they aren't scouts, are they?" Lia asked, noticing the sad note in Usagi's voice. "And they don't know about scout business."
Usagi shook her head. "No. I couldn't put them in danger, like that."
She swung towards the park, trying to enjoy the nice weather while it lasted. But, there was already a bite in the air. Winter was coming. Besides, she really wasn't in any hurry to study. Yes, there'd probably be another battle tonight, so she should get it done, now, but…
Then again, maybe not, she thought, as a scream echoed across the park.
She ran towards the sounds of screams and fighting. The others followed closely behind her.
Kyle was already there, helping people evacuate the scene. Nearby, a small figure crouched in one of the trees, a winged snake wrapped around his arm. It took her a moment to recognize Owen, especially beings as he wore his white, gold, and brown uniform, with his black-lined, brown cape, and his customary shades were gone. She had to admit, the milky white eyes were a little disturbing.
Then, she looked towards the monsters. There was one of Poppet's, this time resembling a marionette. Across the clearing from it was another fiery, demonic creature, with black bat wings and a barbed tail. But the odd thing was, neither creature was attacking. Instead, all their attention was focused on two women hovering above them, screaming at each other and, occasionally, physically attacking each other, as well.
"The right of conquest is mine!" Stringy white-blonde hair fell to the knees of the speaker. It didn't take the sock puppet on her hand for Usagi to recognize Poppet, though the Anti-Elements general wasn't speaking in her usual couplets. "I was first, Demona!"
Demona, for apparently that was her name, was dressed in siren red, a dress Usagi was sure Beryl would have approved of, as revealing as it was. She could swear it was shorter even that the dress she'd worn to the Halloween part, and it was certainly as low-cut as Beryl's. Black hair flared out in jagged layers to her knees, streaks of red edging her face. Her eyes were completely black. The scent of sulfur wafted through the air around her.
"I care not what imagined rights you have, Poppet. I will be the one to destroy the Elemental Warriors, in the name of our great Master, the Void," hissed Demona.
Poppet screeched and launched herself at Demona.
"Is it too much to ask that they take each other out?" Lia mused. "You know, save us the trouble?"
Miyako shook her head. "No. They're risking too many lives. Let's go ahead and get the monsters while they're distracted. Then, we'll move on to Poppet and Demona. Kyle has the civilian evacuation under control. Let's go!"
Usagi nodded. "Royal Star Power!"
"Soul of the Elements!"
"Soul of Fire!"
"Soul of Water!"
"Soul of Earth!"
Sailor Element and Sailor Fire headed towards the marionette monster, while Sailor R, Sailor Water, and Sailor Earth turned to face the demonesque creature.
"Molten Inferno!"
The marionette monster never even saw the attack coming. In seconds, she was nothing but a pile of ashes. The demon turned to Sailor Fire, preparing his attack.
"Fossilizing Cage!"
"Aquatic Flood!"
The attack never left his hands. Sailor Earth's cage trapped him, and Sailor Water's attack filled the cage. Without his flames, he crumpled, uselessly, to the ground.
"Regal Star Magic!"
The attack from Sailor R finished him off, drawing the attention of both Poppet and Demona.
"My precious puppets you did harm,
Now face the power of a puppet swarm!"
A mass of small puppets flew from Poppet's open hand and the mouth of her sock puppet. The five scouts hurried to dodge them.
"Wyvern Shadow Barrier!"
Onyx, Shitennou of Shadows, dropped down from his tree, his hands stretched out in front of him. Shadows flew from all across the clearing, forming a wall between the scouts and the puppet barrage.
"Thanks, Onyx," waved Sailor R. "Now, it's our turn!"
"Elemental Energy Strike!"
Sailor Element leapt up, to shoot her attack over the wall of shadows. It blasted into Poppet, sending her flying backwards into Demona. At Sailor Element's nod, Onyx dropped his barrier.
Sailor Earth lifted her hands.
"Fossilizing Cage!"
She trapped the two generals, before stepping to the side.
"Together, Sailor R?" Sailor Element asked, already stretching out her hand, again.
Sailor R strode forward, calling forth her Star Wand.
"Majestic Star Healing!"
"Elemental Energy Strike!"
Poppet let out a squeal, before disappearing. Demona, however, smirked, behind a wall of red and black flames.
"I am not so easily dealt with as that," she laughed. "By unholy might, I call forth a creature of darkness…"
"Molten Inferno!"
Sailor Fire's attack slammed into her, interrupting the summons.
A light flickered in Sailor R's eyes. "She has to be purified in order to be destroyed! Unholy power! That's the key!"
"But purification belongs to the elements of Air and Aethyr," protested Sailor Earth, confused. "Wait. How do I know that?"
Sailor R reached towards her bracelet. Was purifying Demona worth the risk of letting Beryl find her? But, what other choice did she have?
"No," interrupted Sailor Element, smiling at the blonde scout in red and pink. Sailor Fire returned the look with one of confusion. "Air and Aethyr aren't the only ones who can purify," explained the ebon-haired scout. "Fire is just as capable of purifying as they are."
"But my Molten Inferno barely fazed her," protested Sailor Fire.
Demona cackled, rising back to her feet.
"Aquatic Flood!"
Sailor Water narrowed her eyes, concentrating on holding the flood on Demona. "Hurry up! I can't hold her forever, you know!"
Instinctively, Sailor Element knew what she had to do. She wouldn't have been surprised if this scene hadn't been one of her forgotten dreams. She held out both of her hands, palm up.
"Place your hands over mine, Sailor Fire."
Slowly, the blonde scout complied, a frown still on her face. Sailor Element smiled, allowing her magic to reach out and touch her friend's. Her violet power mixed with the vibrant, fiery red of Sailor Fire's and it began to take form between their hands.
Sailor R shot the pair a confused look. For a moment, Sailor Element's fuku flickered, replaced with a black and gold gown, a crown of gold resting on her brow. But it faded before she could get a good look, and Sailor Element stood there, apparently unaware of the brief transformation.
Sailor Element lowered her hands, as Sailor Fire's right hand grasped the power flickering between the two of them. Looking down, she saw a short, curved saber clutched in her friend's right hand, her left hovering over the blade.
"You know what to do, Sailor Fire," commanded the Elemental commander.
She nodded, tightening her grip on the silver hilt, the blade glowing a brilliant white.
"I call upon the ancient, purifying powers of Fire," she called out, lifting the blade over her head, before lowering it, slashing at Demona.
"Encircling Firestorm!"
White flames, edged in brilliant blue, streaked towards the soaking, Anti-Elements general. They surrounded her, engulfing her in the overwhelming heat that could be felt even several yards away, where the other scouts stood. When, at last, the flames extinguished, all the water from Sailor Water's attack had evaporated. All that was left of Demona was a cracked, black and red amulet, which crumbled into dust and blew away, even as they watched.
From his post at the edge of the park clearing, Kyle began to clap, quickly joined by Onyx, even as he faded back into Owen.
"Nicely done, ladies," complimented Kyle. "Not sure you really need all that much help."
Sailor R grinned. "Well, we certainly needed Onyx's help, today. That barrier of yours was quite impressive."
"Thank you," he gave a small bow. "Well, I should be getting home. Good day, everyone." He gave another wave, grabbing Vista's harness as the golden retriever trotted over. "I'd say I'd see you around, but…" Owen shrugged, and he left, heading towards the bookstore and café.
Kyle shook his head. "Until later, ladies."
"So, study group still on?" Sailor Water asked.
Sailor Element shrugged. "I see no reason why not. Usagi?"
But the blonde girl wasn't paying any attention to her fellow Senshi. Only a few feet away, Darien looked at the remains of the battlefield, an unreadable look on his face. As if noticing Usagi's gaze, he looked up, giving her a sad smile that didn't reach his eyes, before he turned and followed Owen.
What was that about?
"Hey, Usagi!"
"What, sorry. My mind was wandering," she said, shrugging.
"Study group. We still good?" Lia demanded.
"Yeah, sure. Let's go."
Meanwhile, in a small, dark cave in an undisclosed location
"Two more generals have failed me, falling to the hands of those pesky, little Elemental Warriors," growled a hunched figure, resting on a throne of polished black marble. "I thought you had better recruits than that, Ichirou. Do not let the others fail, or on your head be it."
He pulled his long robe tighter around himself, burying his head in his chest. "Their defeats weaken the Void. We cannot allow the Warriors to reclaim the Garden."
The young man kneeling at the throne's base lifted his head. "I shall dispatch Romera and Microbis at once, before the others can return. The last four Elemental Warriors will not return to her side. The Garden's Gate will remain sealed. I promise you that, my lord."
"Then be done with it, Ichirou Nori."
Ichirou rose and bowed to the man. "As you wish, my lord. We will succeed. I have no doubt of that."
So, there we go! One more chapter down! I have eight more chapters planned for this story, and then it'll be on to the next story in this arc! Well, with a possible detour for some more of Harry Potter and the Secret Past on the way. Though, we'll see.
Four more Elemental Warriors are out there, waiting to be found! Who are they? Where are they? Any guesses? And what about the pair plotting in that cave? When are the Elemental Warriors and Sailor R going to finally run into them? And what's with Darien? What's bothering him? All will be revealed in the coming chapters!