Thanks so so so much to reviewers:
Dark shadowed rose
TsukiyoTenshi
SailorSea
MAKOVIL
Ariel Night
MJ
CaseClosed621
And loveinthebattlefield (happy new year!)
So reviews were so great that I had to write something up as soon as I had a chance just to give you guys another chapter (a modern chapter). That and I needed something to do while waiting to query a specific literary agent for my original manuscript. Wish me luck! And please review this because it really makes me want to write more, I know every writer says that but you guys are the best and the feedback is really inspiring for this and my other works.
Also, this chapter is really broken up, I apologize for that but I was imagining it in my head and it was flipping from character to character (kinda like the climax of an action movie I guess) so that's what this chapter does.
And by the way, not to spoil this chapter or anything, but I really messed up the whole Sailor Venus thing. I'm kinda still trying to get it to work out the way I want it to. For now, we'll just assume Sailor Venus is the princess. And "love crescent shower" is from the manga Codename Sailor V (which I highly recommend because when Minako called Artemis a "cross-dressing cat", I lost it).
Still don't own Sailor Moon (or Codename Sailor V)
Amara and Michelle moved from their hiding spot.
"Did Serena mention wearing a costume?" Michelle asked.
"No," Amara replied. "She didn't have a costume."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Michelle whispered. "Something is wrong here. Very wrong."
"Come on. I want to keep an eye on Serena." Amara grabbed her hand and dragged her along as they searched each of the rooms.
"Are you two lost?" a woman asked.
Amara and Michelle jumped, turning to face the woman standing in the doorway.
"I'm looking for my cousin," Amara growled, noticing that Michelle had tensed upon the intrusion. "Serena Tsukino. Where is she?"
"Was she auditioning?"
"She was supposed to but this is ridiculous and I'm not letting her."
The woman smiled dangerously, stalking closer to the two. "Well, I can't have you dragging her out of here."
The woman raised her hand as Amara moved to stand in front of Michelle. A toxic smoke quickly filled the room, causing Amara and Michelle to collapse.
Jadeite entered the room. "It's time for the first group. We have to collect as much energy as possible to please Queen Beryl."
The woman smiled. "Of course."
Jadeite looked at the crumpled young women on the floor. "What's this?"
"Two girls who decided to sneak in. They were going to remove one of the girls. I figured we could collect energy from them as well."
Jadeite's eyes narrowed on the two as the woman passed him on her way out. When she was gone Jadeite stepped closer, examining the two more closely.
"Well, well," he said. "Maybe Sailor Moon won't be the only scout to show up after all."
"That must be where the Sailor Moon auditions are," Hotaru said, looking up at Trista. "A bunch of girls from school were gonna go try out."
"Really?" Trista replied. "It looks like no one showed up."
"The auditions are inside. They must have let everyone in already. But something seems strange about it. I expected more advertisement on the outside."
Trista nodded in agreement. "Where did Darien say he was going again?"
"I don't remember," Hotaru answered. "He said he had to help a friend or something."
"Andrew?"
"He didn't say. I think he has a girlfriend he's not telling us about."
Trista smiled. "What makes you think that?"
"Because I tricked him. I asked why his friend needed help, and he said "she" when he gave a rather vague explanation that she just did."
"Hmm…sounds like Darien has some explaining to do."
Hotaru nodded in agreement. "I still wish he'd have liked Serena more. I wonder what she's up to today."
"We're the first group," Mina half-screeched as she read the schedule they'd been given.
Serena and Raye stood side-by-side, both doing their own scans of the room. Their eyes met momentarily. Serena held in the hope that Raye's powers would awaken, just so she wasn't fighting alone. Unfortunately, she was sure that wouldn't happen. If any scout awakened first, she knew it would be Sailor Venus, who was to pose as the princess until the silver crystal was safe.
"Come on you guys, aren't you excited?" Mina asked.
"Something bad is going to happen," Raye whispered to Serena. "I can sense it."
"Just stay alert," Serena told her.
Raye nodded.
The doors suddenly burst open and the woman from outside entered. "Hello, ladies. If you would please follow me to the audition room in an orderly fashion, we will get through this as quickly as possible."
Serena's hand clutched the broach hidden in her pocket. She glared at the woman, knowing she was merely one of Beryl's youmas in disguise. She joined the other girls as they were led to their auditions.
Tuxedo Mask ducked in the shadows as a large group of girls were led past. He blinked twice at the sight of a familiar young teen.
"Serena?" he whispered.
Glancing around, the masked man followed the group, staying hidden in the shadows. As if she sensed his presence, Serena looked back. She saw the swish of the cloak as Tuxedo Mask ducked into one of the rooms. Slightly relieved the girl relaxed, pretending to be as clueless as her cousin was at the moment.
"Please wait in here for our director," the youma said.
The woman turned and left, closing the door behind her. Serena watched her leave, slowly inching toward the door.
"Serena, where are you going?" Mina asked.
"Just to find the bathroom," Serena lied.
Raye watched her in suspicion but said nothing as the blonde ran out. Amy looked up from the textbook she'd been reading through.
"Serena has certainly been acting strangely today," she noted.
"Yeah," Lita agreed. "If I didn't know better I'd say she knew something we didn't."
Raye's eyes narrowed as she sensed something she couldn't name. The feeling slowly got stronger and threatened to break her down as Jadeite entered unseen by anyone. "Maybe she does."
"Luna, find Sailor Moon. If the Negaverse is involved, she's bound to show up. I'll find the princess and make sure she's awakened!" Artemis shouted.
Luna nodded, watching a man in a black tuxedo run by without noticing them. "I know just where to look."
The two separated, going in opposite directions. Luna ran as fast as she could to keep up with Tuxedo Mask. She remained unseen, even as footsteps echoed closer and closer to intersecting their path.
Tuxedo Mask quickly came to a stop as a small girl ran into him. She looked up at him with wide blue eyes and gasped.
"Sorry," Serena mumbled before taking off again.
The masked man stood for a moment, unsure of what to do when Sailor Moon suddenly appeared.
"Tuxedo Mask."
"Sailor Moon," he replied. "They split the girls up."
"I know. I think they're planning to attack one group at a time. I also know which group they're going after first. Come on!"
Sailor Moon took off back to the room she'd just left before transforming. As they neared it, screams echoed through the halls. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon exchanged a glance before picking up pace.
Luna looked in the direction Serena had taken off in again, debating on which girl to follow. Deciding finding out more about Sailor Moon was more important, the black cat took off.
Raye, Lita, Amy, and Mina glanced around the room as one by one the girls surrounding them dropped unconscious. Amy knelt beside one of the girls, checking pulse and breathing.
"Everything seems normal," she said.
"So what's going on?" a frightened teen asked right before she herself dropped.
"Their energy's being drained," Raye realized.
"Ours is draining too," Lita said, collapsing to her knees.
Amy was the next to fall, as Raye insisted on fighting it. But a moment later Mina was left alone.
"You guys!"
Jadeite angrily watched as Mina remained unaffected.
"Mina!"
The blonde whirled around, seeing a single white cat fun towards her. Artemis summoned Venus' transformation pen dropping it by her feet.
"Take this! Say 'Venus Power! Make up!" he commanded.
"You…you talk?" Mina exclaimed.
"Mina! Just do it!"
Mina fumbled to pick up the pen. "Venus Power! Make up!"
A bright light caught Jadeite's attention. He turned, spotting the newly awakened sailor scout.
Mina glanced down, seeing her golden orange skirt and red bow. "What just happened?"
"Who are you?"
"Sailor Venus," Artemis said. "You must fight him. You are the moon princess. You must protect this world and these people! Earth and the entire universe are counting on you!"
Sailor Venus stared at the white cat. She barely had the ability to move out of the way as Jadeite shot a blast of energy at her.
"I'll take care of her," the woman said, transforming into her true monstrous form.
Venus's eyes widened and she took a step back.
"Remember your power, Sailor Venus! Draw on your memories to fight them!" Artemis shouted.
Venus nodded. "Venus Cresent Beam!"
The youma dodged the attack, pinning Sailor Venus against the wall before the girl could blink.
"Moon tiara action!"
A glowing tiara slashed through the youma's arms, causing it to become dust and freeing Sailor Venus.
"Did you really think I'd fall for such a sickening scheme?" Sailor Moon asked. "I wouldn't have even shown up if it hadn't been so painfully obvious that it was you, Jadeite. I said before I wouldn't kill you, but you're going too far! I am Sailor Moon, the champion of love and justice! In the name of the moon, you're punished!"
"I've heard it before," Jadeite said. "Get rid of her, and the new scout." He took a leap back, disappearing into thin air.
"Now my dears, rise and take down Sailor Moon and the new scout once and for all!"
Sailor Moon glanced at Sailor Venus, who stood struggling to search her memory for an idea. As the humans closed in on both girls, she had it.
"Love Crescent Shower!" Venus shouted.
A sparkling rain fell down on them and the girls returned to their energy drained states. The youma moved to attack but was slashed by a blood red rose.
"Your turn, Sailor Moon," he said.
Sailor Moon nodded to him, removing her tiara once again. "Moon tiara action!"
The youma didn't have time to move and slowly crumpled into dust. Sailor Moon smiled in satisfaction and went to make her leave before being stopped by Artemis. Luna appeared in the shadows, having fallen behind, watching as her companion cornered the mysterious scout.
"Who are you and what is your relation with the Negaverse?" Artemis demanded.
"You heard me earlier. I am Sailor Moon! I fight for love and justice. That's all you need to know." She jumped up, avoiding the cat and joining Tuxedo Mask on the window ledge.
"Hey!" Artemis protested as the two made their escape.
Luna joined him as he approached Sailor Venus. The scout of love stood examining her surroundings, slowly focusing on the two cats.
"Princess, you have awakened," Luna said happily.
"Princess? Me?" Sailor Venus shook her head. "No. I'm not who you think. I'm…just Mina."
"You are the princess of the silver millennium," Artemis corrected. "It's up to you to destroy the Negaverse once and for all."
"The Negaverse? You mean that man, Jadeite, and that…thing?"
Both cats nodded.
"In order to protect our world from negative forces," Luna explained. "You must fight them. The remaining scouts will awaken soon."
"Sailor Moon…is she…?"
"We don't know," Artemis admitted. "She could be good or evil. We do not remember her from the silver millennium, but neither of us have our entire memories back. We will begin your training immediately, Sailor Venus, Princess."
Sailor Venus looked around again, her eyes going from the now-open window, to each of her friends. Finally she nodded.
"I'm ready."
"Why do you refuse to kill him? You must tell me!" Tuxedo Mask demanded. "And none of this about his heart being pure. What sort of man preys on innocent young girls?"
"I know who he is!" Sailor Moon replied, suddenly angry at her companion. "Please, trust me. I know I can save him, I just have to figure out how. I might…I might need help."
"What do you need?"
"Not help from you. From his soul mate. If he merely sees her in her Sailor Scout form that might be enough to weaken the hold the Negaverse has on him."
"His soul mate?"
Sailor Moon nodded. "I don't expect you to understand."
Tuxedo Mask watched as she examined the girls slowly leaving the building. Her eyes locked on her friends, noticing that Mina now held a white cat with a strange crescent moon on his forehead. Luna snuck out with them, but quickly made herself scarce. Sailor Moon looked to Raye.
"It won't be long," she whispered. "Jadeite will soon be free from Beryl's control."