Setsuna was walking back through a large open square surrounded by trees. It was deserted, other than one small house and a tall wooden stage with a taiko drum in the centre. She supposed that the area would fill up when the performance began.
In the house, she saw a young woman practicing her drumming technique. She was sweating with effort, her face full of concentration and determination.
Whoever this girl is, she's got astounding drive and dedication.
Suddenly, a white hatchback car came tearing through the park with an incredibly careless speed. Setsuna dove behind the house in terror to try to avoid it. She crouched down and peered suspiciously at the driver.
She was a red-haired woman wearing glasses and a lab coat, and she looked very agitated. The woman glanced in all directions trying to locate something, and then grabbed a handheld speaker and activated a megaphone connected to her car.
"Maya Tohno, please. Can Maya Tohno please come outside? There is a message for Maya Tohno."
The drummer stopped practicing and looked up with confusion. She went outside, and looked around. "I'm...Maya Tohno. Someone had a message for me?"
The woman in the car then leapt out of it, and held up a gun filled with a sickly pink fluid. She was pointing directly at Maya's heart.
NO!
Setsuna got up to try to intervene, but the red-haired woman was so quick to shoot Maya that Setsuna had no chance to act. The gun let out a malevolent black force similar to what the Daimons used, and Maya's Heart Crystal instantaneously popped out from her back. She collapsed lifelessly.
This is horrific! They're so brutal!
Setsuna crept backwards towards the darkness and retrieved her transformation wand from her satchel.
They're not far away. Please, please let the Sailor Senshi come. Please.
She was truly beginning to hate her incognito role, because she felt like a coward.
The red-haired woman smirked and walked over to Maya's lifeless body to examine the Heart Crystal.
"Hold it right there!"
The woman turned in fury. "Who's there?"
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars were standing back to back, illuminated by the light from the house. Mars' expression had a particular rage to it. Sailor Moon was saying something angrily to the woman, but Setsuna couldn't quite hear. She then crept closer to listen.
"I'm the Pretty Sailor Suited Soldier of Love and Justice, Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
"Agent of Love and Fire, the Pretty Sailor Suited Soldier, Sailor Mars! In the name of Mars, I will chastise you!"
The woman was unimpressed by the two Senshi's gestures and threats. She tore off her coat, revealing an outfit comprised of a red bra top, loose red pants, and an absurd spiky black skirt. "So you're two of the Sailor Senshi. I am the first and greatest of the Witches 5, Eudial." Her eyes then glittered. She flipped a switch on her car, and its back door swung open, revealing a metal box with a star insignia on it. "Come out, Daimon!" The box began to expel smoke, and someone called out, "Soiya!" The Daimon was shaped like a drum, with spiky red hair and a cruel expression. She leapt out of the car and challenged the two Senshi. She threw red-hot fireworks at them, which they were only barely able to dodge.
Eudial chuckled maliciously as Soiya distracted the Senshi. She slowly walked over to Maya's body. Setsuna was torn. She wasn't sure if she wanted to help the Senshi, or to help Maya.
Where are the others? Where are Uranus and Neptune?
Eudial crouched down and snatched the Heart Crystal. She looked at it carefully, and her face contorted with rage. "This isn't a Talisman! Damnit!"
She turned around to Soiya. "Keep them occupied while I destroy this Crystal!"
She ran to her car and prepared to pull out another gun, this one smelling faintly of brimstone.
The Senshi were helpless, as Soiya had now trapped them within oversized duplicates of her own drums. Soiya generated two enormous spiked clubs, and taunted Moon and Mars. "Which one shall I play first?"
Soiya raised her clubs, and Eudial prepared her gun.
I have no choice!
"PLUTO PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!"
Swirling purple mists surrounded her, and she became Sailor Pluto once more. The Time Key materialized in her hand. She gripped it with rage.
You will not touch this innocent girl.
She rushed up behind Eudial and hit her in the back of her head with the top of her staff. Eudial's eyes bugged out and she fell over. She recovered quickly, and turned around to face her new adversary. "Who are you?"
Soiya and the other two Senshi were momentarily distracted by Pluto's presence. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars' expressions dawned with recognition.
"You're..." Sailor Mars began.
"Guarded by Pluto, Planet of Time! I am the Soldier of Revolution, Sailor Pluto!" Pluto held up her Time Key intimidatingly.
"Sailor Pluto! What are you doing here?" Sailor Moon asked.
Eudial, still rubbing the back of her heard, paused and considered her odds. Then, in a display of sheer cowardice, she threw aside the Heart Crystal, leapt into her car, and tore off, yelling, "YOU TAKE CARE OF IT FROM HERE, SOIYA!"
Taking the opportunity, Pluto speedily returned Maya's Heart Crystal, watching with satisfaction as the colour returned to her cheeks.
Soiya sputtered a bit in surprise, then turned to Pluto and began to charge towards her, holding the spiked clubs.
Pluto stood up and held her Time Key horizontally, and felt the mists of Time and the spirits of the dead flow around her. In reverence, she whispered her attack, "Dead Scream." The jewels on the Key flashed, she spun around quickly, and a large purple planet of energy hurtled towards Soiya. The Daimon was unable to dodge it, and screamed in agony.
Soiya collapsed on her knees, singed and ragged from the force of Pluto's attack. Pluto looked up and saw that Mars was pulling Sailor Moon free.
"Sailor Moon! Please!" Pluto called out to her.
Sailor Moon cried out in reply, "Right!" She prepared her attack, twirling the Moon Spiral Heart Rod at a dizzying speed. "MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!" An enormous glowing pink heart whirled out from the crystal on her weapon, smacking Soiya head-on. "Lovely!" she cried, as she faded out and became an egg and drum once more. As usual, the egg cracked and the malevolent spirit dissipated.
Mars, now freed from the taiko drum, ran up to Pluto. "Sailor Pluto...I thought you were always supposed to be guarding the Gates of Time! Why are you here?"
Sailor Pluto studied the two girls' faces steadily, and chose her words carefully. "I have observed twists and turns in the Timestream that I have never encountered before. I believe that the Earth is in danger, and I am here to try to prevent things from getting worse."
Mars flinched a little, and Pluto could swear she could almost see the echoes of the apocalyptic vision in Mars' eyes.
Sailor Moon gently held on to Pluto's arms. "Are you here to help us? Will you fight alongside us?"
Pluto smiled slightly. "I have always fought alongside you, Neo-Queen Serenity."
Sailor Moon's eyes watered slightly, but she accepted the vague answer.
Pluto then lifted up her Time Key. "If you'll excuse me, ladies, there are pressing matters I need to attend to." She then leapt up and out of sight, taking advantage of her heightened physical abilities to hide from the two Senshi.
Pluto held up her transformation wand, and her transformation melted away, leaving Setsuna once again in her beautiful yukata. She secretly watched Moon and Mars become Usagi and Rei again too, and they ran over to tend to Maya.
About an hour later, Maya ascended the wooden platform and began her performance. The square was bustling with excitement, children dancing along to the rhythmic beats. The Inner Senshi, now relieved of their goldfish catching duties, watched Maya's performance with pride.
Setsuna enjoyed it too, having never experienced a taiko drum performance before. It seemed to make the blood rush inside her and give her strength.
"Oh, you're here too, Setsuna-san?"
Setsuna turned around her, and there were Haruka and Michiru, looking perfect in their blue and yellow yukata.
Setsuna nodded. "I wouldn't miss something like this for the world."
Haruka smiled. "Well then, let's watch this together." She stretched her arms so she was embracing both women, who both laughed at her outrageousness.
Setsuna's eyes shone with happiness.
Looks like my cover's blown.
But I have my companions.