Puffgirl1952 the 2nd: I do? I checked the chapter again, but if it's there, then it's slipped my attention.
JFVM: It won't be easy, granted, but it's definitely a possibility of a happy ending.
Enjoy the story.
The Senshi were all seated inside the designated meeting room of the Hikawa Shrine, divided clearly into two sides. The four Guardian Senshi were sitting at one side of the table, with the four girls occasionally sharing anxious glances before looking over the table at the three Senshi that sat opposite. Rei watched with cautious violet eyes, kneeling on the wooden floor with Ami sitting cross-legged on her right. The priestess was a little less concerned as to why the blue-haired genius looked utterly unfazed by the situation and more worried by the Senshi of Uranus' steely glare.
Opposite the four, Haruka and Michiru sat on each of Usagi's sides — or rather, by the sides of the girl who looked exactly like Usagi but with long black hair and violet eyes like the Senshi of Flames. The sandy blonde was glaring daggers at the quartet whilst Michiru looked less murderous, though her eyes were dark with disapproval. Their hardened gazes contrasted starkly with the nonchalant expression of the girl who looked exactly like Usagi.
Finally, the priestess leaned forward to break the silence. "Alright," Rei said with a scowl. "Now what's the matter?" The Senshi of Mars had been caught neatly off guard when the group of Senshi had turned up outside her school after the final bell. The final surprise had come when Minako had privately pulled her aside and given her a short but informative brief on what was going on, and grudgingly, the girl had agreed to a meeting at the Shrine, where the four Guardians usually held their meetings.
The racer across the table scowled at her. "Watch your tone," she hissed angrily, eyes narrowed. She folded her arms over her chest, keeping a stern glare fixed on the black-haired priestess. "We're here to extend the olive branch. I don't care what koneko believes; this is your last and only chance. You won't be getting another."
Rei bristled a bit at the accusing statement, but wisely kept quiet for long enough that Ami could step in and take over the conversation. Her violet eyes darted over to Makoto and Minako, the former of which refused to look at the Outer Solar System Senshi for too long, the latter of which kept on glancing in between the two sides like she was watching a game of table tennis, which, now that the priestess considered it, the conversation was shaping up to be. A verbal table tennis match, granted, but it matched the spirit of the observation.
Ami sent each of the three a reprimanding glance, silently mouthing to them to let her take over the conversation. The genius girl adjusted the thin-framed wire glasses she wore and turned her attention back to the trio across the table and began the discussion in a distinctly formal tone. "Before we proceed any further, I would like to humbly apologize to the princess for my actions," the Senshi of Mercury said, "of which were uncalled for and inexcusable. As the heir apparent to the Mercury Crystal, I should not have acted that way."
What the hell was she talking about? Rei blinked, but didn't say anything, listening intently to the conversation which had started up on the other side.
"Princess Mercury, your actions were unwarranted; however, it is clear as day that neither you nor your comrades were in full control. The corruption of your water is now clear to me and your treason has been lifted," the Usagi-lookalike said calmly. "It is in my best hopes that neither you nor your comrades fall under that corrupt influence again and atone for the damage."
Ami bowed her head. "It is done, princess. Your faithful guardian will see to it that she is never corrupted again and that she will repay her sins in full."
Briefly, on the brows of both the blue-haired girl and the black-haired girl, the symbols of their heritage flared to life. The Mercury symbol burned brightly in blue, and a star pattern with the marks of both the Lunar kingdom and the planet Saturn flashed with silver light.
"Then we shall let the past be past," Not-Usagi said clearly. "Daughter of Hermes, return to my guard. No more are we meant as enemies; old friend, welcome back."
The genius girl smiled, and dropped the formal tone entirely. "It's good to be able to speak with you again, Usagi-chan," she said sincerely.
The other shook her head. "That's not my name. Not anymore, at least. Call me Hotaru," she insisted, and though her voice, appearance, and everything else were precisely identical to Usagi's, Ami seemed to have obliged to the request.
The blue-haired girl nodded, sitting back. "Horatu-chan, then. Other than this, is there anything that happened?" she asked, genuine concern that all four of the Guardians felt clearly expressed through the question, as well as her expression. "It was very sudden to see you there with Haruka-san and Michiru-san."
Michiru leaned forward to speak, delicately bracing one hand on the surface of the table. "Indeed, Mercury." Her eyes were a little softer as she continued, "Ami-san. Our new enemy has been identified. Avatars of Chaos from out own Solar System, and from our own homes, are attacking the Earth. What is their mission, and what they want, we still don't know, but we're hopeful that we can find out before they find us out." The silvery tone of the woman's voice grew a bit harder, and Rei was reminded why the Outer Solar System Senshi were so formidable once again.
"Eh? From our own homes?" Minako exclaimed, the red bow-wearing girl leaning forward to listen more attentively to the news. "That... oh no... they're just like the Black Moon Clan!" the blue-eyed blonde declared in horror, sitting back in her place with a contemplative look on her face.
Haruka decided to intervene here. "What about the Black Moon Clan?" she all-but-ordered.
Makoto gently reached out to grab Rei's shoulder, mouthing to her, 'Where is Luna-P?' while making vague gestures with her hands. 'Maybe they can tell us more... maybe Neptune can help with reading what happened to it."
The black-haired priestess nodded grimly, getting to her feet. "It's a long story," she finally said. "Mako-chan, I've told you everything. Can you help me explain? I'll go and retrive Luna-P." As she made to leave the room, she felt a pair of eyes on her, and slowly, the priestess looked behind her to meet the violet gaze belonging to Hotaru, who looked equal parts taken aback and horrified.
What happened?! She seemed to be demanding answers with her eyes, and the questions read clearly in her wide-eyed gaze. Where is Chibiusa-chan?!
Rei pressed her lips together into a thin line, and as she headed to the door, she finally shook her head. I don't know.
Heavy combat boots resounded loudly with each stomping footstep as Aris stormed down the black marble hallways of the base that the seven had adopted for use. The armoured-woman had an impassive face, but her red eyes glowed with fury as she headed towards the meeting room. Her wild white mane hung over her eyes, much to her annoyance, but she was in no mood to adjust her already messy shock of hair, and instead continued to make her way to the room. Her arrival was heralded with her slamming the oddly durable door open and storming in past Triton to her seat.
"Curb that anger of yours before you fry us alive, Aris," the aforementioned man said smoothly, shutting the door with a simple flick of his wrist. The dark-haired man slid into his blue seat at the head of the table, looking over the gathered six before he turned his full attention to the last to arrive. "Aris, report."
The muscular woman sneered. "They're back together," she seethed, and that was all it took for the meeting room to explode into chaos. Well, almost. Two of the seven people were perfectly calm aside from the armoured woman. Triton and Maia. Why's it always those two? Aris growled, pounding her fist onto the surface to call for the others to shut up. She had a bad issue with too much noise — it reminded her too much of a situation which she'd rather leave forgotten.
"Oi, shut up!" she hissed, gruff voice not quite reaching over the deafening din. Her fist slammed onto the table again, but to no avail. Her blood red eyes turned onto Triton and Maia, glowing as she glowered at them. Do something, dimwits! A snarl curled her lips back and she pounded the table again.
A clear, ringing sound came from the seat hosting the orange and pink-haired woman, who was enjoying some sort of sweet drink. The very scent made Aris sick to her stomach. Maia had tapped her spoon on the rim of the glass, and that was enough to get everyone's attention.
How does she always manage that?
Aris leaned back in her seat, casting the darkened shadows of the room over her form. Her hands still rested on the surface of the table, but only barely, so that her burnished red gauntlets caught the light of the candles on the tables. Her blood red eyes watched coldly as the other four finally calmed down, and a snarl curled her lips back, revealing unusually sharp teeth as she growled to herself in anger.
So they had reunited. Damned princess. Damned Serenity. Damned it all.
One of her hands curled into a fist as Triton took over, speaking clearly, though his voice was lost in her haze of anger. Why? Why did they have to get back together? They were fine split as it was! A sneer curled her lips, and the armoured woman slammed her fist onto the surface of the table, muttering in a dark tone, "Damn those Senshi."
"—Aris, is there something you would like to share?" Maia's sickeningly sweet voice cut into the woman's thoughts, and the white-haired woman shot her a vicious glare.
"No," the woman spat. "Continue."
She didn't miss the smirk that curled the other's lips. Aris hated the woman. She hated every single one of the others, to be honest. Charon's laziness. Miranda's childish and selfish behaviour. Neith's self-absorbed superiority. Maia's sickening behaviour. Triton's... well, Triton's everything. Callisto was the only one she could remotely tolerate.
Why do I subject myself to this again? she mentally grumbled, but turned her attention to the meeting at hand, not wanting to be called out yet again. One day... one day, it'll be over, and all these idiots will be dead, by my hand or theirs.
Triton walked down the corridor with Maia right next to him after the meeting was dismissed. The man was mildly in thought, and a frown marred his handsome features. "Maia," he suddenly said, "stop. We're here."
"You still haven't told me what 'this' is yet," the woman reminded him in a bored tone. She folded her arms over her chest, looking equally as bored as she sounded, likely because she had left the last of her chocolate pudding on his behest. The blue-eyed woman tapped her foot on the ground incessantly, staring at him. "So what is this?"
A dark smile twisted the man's expression, filling it with a sadistic sort of glee as he produced a silver key and unlocked the door they were standing in front of. The refreshing power of Chaos' darkness instantly seeped out of the formerly-locked room, making him sigh. "That power...yes..." He walked in calmly, dress shoes tapping lightly on the smooth marble floor as he headed in further in the entirely darkened room. No light whatsoever was present, even with the open door. "Come, Maia. You will see what I have in store."
The woman walked in behind him, still with an impassive face. Her heels clicked on the floor, and when she reached him, the door swung shut behind them without a sound, leaving total darkness behind. "So what's the surprise?"
Triton clapped his hands, and a single spotlight lit up the center of the room, where a young girl with pink hair done into pigtails and cone-like buns was sitting on the floor, motionless like a doll. His hand fisted, and black tendrils shot out to wrap abound key points of her body — her neck, her wrists, and her ankles.
Red eyes stared lifelessly at the two.
"Behold," the man declared, "the Moon's child."
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