Finally another new addition to our story! We hope you enjoy. Please leave us your feedback. Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season.
~Sailor Violin and Sangoscourage

Disclaimer: We do not own Sailor Moon.

Trials Along the Way

Chapter 10

Xena sighed as she entered the park. She was a little miffed at Seiya, for being mad at her. But then again, she knew deep down that he was right. She had felt justified with getting back at her parents but she had broken the senshi code. Perhaps Serena/Princess Serenity should take away her powers for a little while. Just as she stepped past a clump of trees, a wind suddenly blew past her with a hiss.

'That's an awfully strange sound for the wind to be making! Since when does the wind give off a snake-like hiss?!...' Xena thought as she whirled around and jumped back several times.

What she saw stunned her into silence for a few moments. There before her was a tall man, petting the head of a very large snake. There was an eerie yellow aura shimmering around him. On closer inspection of him, Xena noticed that he was wearing an outfit that looked like it was made out of snake skins, adorned with the strange gray/yellow shirt. His hair was blood red; seemingly ignoring the slight wind around him. His eyes were like a snake's, with slit like pupils. To top it off, half of the snake he was petting, was wrapped around his waist.

'This guy is just plain weird. Who in the blazes pets a snake?!' Xena thought to herself before she spoke up. "Who are you, and what do you want!?"

"I am the god Susanawa, my dear girl. And what I want, it's quite simple. I wish to leave the netherworld and take over the surface world. And in order to do that, I need a strong partner. That person would be you my dear. I have heard of your great power Xiomara, Sailor Eris." Susanawa announced proudly.

"You know my identities? ...What makes you think I would let you take over the world? I am a sailor soldier." Xena stated firmly.

"I heard you telling your boyfriend earlier, outside his window. It's a shame what happened to your uncle and that you weren't treated better by your parents." Susanawa simply replied.

"You were listening at the window?!?! That's very rude to listen into someone else's private conversations; and none of your business!" Xena growled.

"So what is your answer? Will you join me in my quest?" Susanawa inquired, completely ignoring the girl's last statements.

"My answer is NO! Eris Crystal Power Make-Up!" Xena yelled as she pulled out her pen and transformed.

"Well, that is too bad. Then again, my pet could use the exercise. Shimara, go and teach that girl who is boss here." Susanawa crooned at his snake. The creature seemed to hiss in pleasure as it slid to the ground and raced over to Sailor Eris.

Jumping back, Sailor Eris removed her sword from its sheath ready to slice and dice the slimy fiend. The slick reptile's eyes glowed yellow as it grew in size the closer it got to Sailor Eris. By the time the creature was two feet from the sailor soldier it had grown to the size of a boa constrictor. Sailor Eris frowned at her opponent.

"Shimara feeds off of your fear Xena. The more afraid of him you are the larger he may grow." Susanawa sneered laughing evilly.

"I am not afraid of you!" Xena said charging Shimara with all her might. She managed to dodge most of Shimara's assault as she made some of her own advances. At one point, Sailor Eris had fallen to the ground to evade an oncoming attack from Shimara's whipping tail, when she was surprised by a sharp pain in her shoulder. Shimara had whipped its head around and taken a bite. Angry she let her guard down; Sailor Eris cast her final blow, slashing her sword up and removing Shimara's head. The remaining snake body shriveled back to that of a normal snake. Susanawa approached the headless snake as Sailor Eris detransformed, falling against a nearby tree.

"Very good, Xiomara. I have no more use for you here tonight. You gave Shimara quite a run. This war is not over however. Shimara and I will be back." Susanawa said as he pointed his finger toward the headless snake. In front of Xena's eyes, Shimara sprouted a new head and crawled back to his master. "You better have a look at that arm. You are no use to me wounded." Susanawa laughed evilly as he began to disappear into the night air.

Moments later, Serena and Darien walked into the clearing finding the wounded Xena slumped against the tree.

"Xena? Oh my goodness. Are you okay? What happened?!" Serena exclaimed in rapid succession.

"I am okay." Xena began to sputter. "New enemy, Susanawa, wants to leave the Netherworld and take over the Surface World...Thought I could be of assistance." Xena said weakly trying to stand up straight.

"Xena, you're in no condition to move. We need to get you to the hospital." Darien said grabbing a hold of Xena's arm as she grimaced in pain. Darien removed his hand to find Xena bleeding from her shoulder.

"Shimara, Susanawa's pet snake, bit me; he said it might be poisonous." Xena stuttered as she began coughing heavily. Darien picked Xena up as she began falling forward and carried her to the hospital with Serena. The doctors cleaned up the wound although they found no detectable poisons in her system. Darien had called Mina to pick them up from the hospital, explaining everything that had happened.

Xena fell asleep in the car on the way back to Darien's apartment. She didn't even open her eyes as Darien lifted her out of the car, so Mina went up to the apartment with them to help get the poor girl ready for the night.

"Why didn't she call the rest of us for back up. She shouldn't have fought Susanawa or his snake alone." Mina replied quietly as she shut the bedroom door.

"I guess there was not time. We'll need to call a meeting at Rei's temple. I'll call Ami when I get home. Serena asked seriously.

"I'll call Rei and Lita. What about Seiya? Does he know?" Mina asked as she stepped into her shoes at the apartment door.

"No he doesn't." Serena simply, not wanting to explain about the earlier fight...

"Darien, would you mind calling him in the morning? I better get going; I'm late getting home as it is." Serena asked as she put her shoes on.

"Of course. I'll phone Michiru and Haruka in a little while. I'll talk to you tomorrow Usako." Darien answered, kissing Serena on her forehead.

"See you tomorrow Mamo-chan." Serena replied as she closed the door and ran outside with Mina. As she waved good-bye to Mina, Haruka's car appeared beside Serena, startling her a little.

"Sorry Koneko. You need a ride home?" Haruka asked, smirking a little.

"Haruka, Michiru! Yes please." Serena replied as she hopped into the back seat. "Just the people I need to talk to."

"What's going on Serena?" Michiru asked, looking back at their odango headed friend.

"It looks like we have a new enemy; by the name of Susanawa. After Xena took Seiya home from that fight with the youma we fought, she ran into him and his pet snake. I don't have all the details, but Xena, or rather Sailor Eris was the only one there fighting him. When Darien and I got to there, Xena was slumped up against a tree with a wound to her shoulder." Serena reported, and filled her two friends in with the rest of the information by the time they arrived at Serena's house.

"Alright kitten, just let us know what time, and we'll be there. Have a good night." Haruka replied and drove off.

Xena slowly opened her eyes the next morning. Sitting up and stretching, she felt a dull pain in her shoulder. Touching the tender area, it took her a moment to remember what had happened last night. Then it hit her; she had fought Susanawa and his pet snake; alone. No wonder she had slept so well. Darien and Serena had found her in the park, totally exhausted, not able to walk properly on her own. Standing up, Xena put on her housecoat and tied it securely; rifling her fingers through her hair to straighten it a bit.

"Any fresh made coffee made?" Xena asked as she stepped into the living room.

"Good morning Xena. Yes, I just made a fresh pot. How are you feeling?" Darien asked as he stood up and hugged his best friend.

"Good. Although I'm still a little tired." Xena replied, and yawned deeply as if to emphasize her point.

"Well, why don't you go out on the balcony for some fresh air and I'll bring your coffee to you. Serena should be here soon." Darien suggested. Xena nodded and did as the young man suggested. A few minutes later, he came out with two mugs of coffee. After handing her a mug, he sat down across from her. He couldn't help notice the guilty expression that appeared on her face.

"Xena, what's the matter? Do you have something to tell me?" Darien asked, wondering what was going on with his best friend.

"Yeah I guess I do have something to tell you. But I think it better wait until Serena gets here." Xena answered with a heavy sigh. Just then, they heard a knock as the front door opened at the same time.

"Darien, Xena; where are you two?" Serena called out.

"Serena; out here on the balcony. Xena has something she wants to tell us." Darien called out.

"Morning guys. What did you want to tell us Xena?" Serena asked when she suddenly transformed into her princess self. Confused, she looked over at her friend and saw the guilty expression.

"You need to get something off your chest, am I right?" Serena....umm Princess Serenity stated, more than asked.

"I guess I should just say this straight out. I broke the senshi code yesterday myself." Xena replied quietly, not really looking at her two friends.

"How so Xena?" Darien asked. He had also changed into his prince outfit.

"Well, Michiru, Haruka, Seiya and I were walking through park after having lunch downtown when we came across my parents. Apparently, they are here on vacation. They were being verbally abusive towards me when we heard the scream from the first attack. I used that distraction as an excuse to use my Curse attack against them. We had to leave them there and go to the fight. So I guess you will want to talk away my henshin stick and powers Serena." Xena reported quietly.

"You're right Xena you did break the senshi code, and you know better." Serena/Serenity scolded, and then sighed. "But I can understand why you did, even if it was wrong. And they couldn't see you and the others transform. I won't take away your stick or powers, but please Xena, don't do this again."

"I won't, I promise. And thanks. I guess I better go have my shower and get dressed." Xena replied, happy that she had been so easily forgiven; not what she had expected.

"And I'll go get your breakfast ready." Darien replied. Just then the phone rang. "And....I guess I'll get that too.

"And I'll go help Xena with her bed and shoulder." Serena replied, chuckling. When the girls came out of the bedroom, Darien was putting a plate of pancakes and a glass juice on the table.

"Who was that on the phone Mamo-chan?" Serena asked.

"That was Seiya. I filled him in on what happened, and he'll meet us at Rei's temple as soon as he can. He had things he just had to do. He sure went crazy when he heard you were injured. The guy sure loves you Xena." Darien stated.

"I know. And I certainly hope he's not blaming himself. He was in no shape to fight last night." Xena replied, smiling a little.