Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.
Near and Far
Chapter Two: Questions & Discoveries
Sailor Mercury and Luna returned to the senshi's apartment after fighting the creature at the jewelry store, and she instinctively released her transformation and settled on her bed.
Before Ami could ask any questions Luna leapt up into the air, flipped backward, and landed on the bed along with a beautiful delicate looking watch.
Ami picked it up and saw that it had thin blue bands attached to a round blue face edged in gold with a small golden symbol for mercury set in the curve of a golden crescent moon in the center with different colored round buttons around the edge. There were four buttons in red, green, orange, and white.
Aside from that she discovered that the watch face was a cover, and she opened it to see a classic white watch face with gold numbers and hands.
"It's a communicator you can use with your fellow senshi to keep in touch with each other. You can also use it to contact me when we are apart." Luna said as Ami looked to her. "Each button represents a senshi and when you contact one the watch face will disappear and show the face of the one you're contacting."
"To contact me all you have to do is turn the golden edge around the watch face." She explained.
"Thank you." Ami said before she decided it was time she learn more about being a senshi, and the creatures she was going to be fighting. "What was that creature? Was it one of the dark beings you mentioned?" She asked.
"Yes." Luna answered as she nodded. "The creature you fought is known as a youma. Those are the type of beings you and the other senshi will be fighting as you protect the princess." She explained, and watched the young woman nod.
"You said you would know who the other senshi are when you saw them, but I wonder how I can find them." Ami said. "Do you know the planetary names of each senshi, and what traits the other senshi have? I think it can help me find them if I see a person with those same characteristics."
"Yes," Luna said as she nodded. "but I can't recall all my memories of the past, so I won't be able to answer every question you have." She added.
"I understand." Ami said even as she frowned.
"Besides yourself there is Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Jupiter." Luna began. "Sailor Mars is known for her fire, passion, psychic ability, and spiritual powers. Sailor Jupiter is known for her thunder, physical strength, courage, and love of plants."
"Sailor Moon is known for her leadership, light, love, healing, and also justice. Sailor Venus is known for her love, light, beauty, and sense of justice. I suspect that she is the Sailor V that is making the media headlines right now." She explained.
"You Ami as Sailor Mercury is known for your water, ice, intelligence, and knowledge.
"Sailor Moon is known for her leadership." Ami said.
"Yes." Luna said. "I don't remember anything else about the Senshi, but I know the Moon senshi is the leader of the Guardian Senshi."
Ami nodded and sighed.
"I'm now Sailor Mercury, a senshi charged with the task of finding and protecting the Moon Princess." She said. "Aside from that I need to find my fellow senshi, of which are four more, and fight the youma that appear in the city to attack people so there will be less chance for the princess to be hurt."
"That is right." Luna said.
"Do you know what the Moon Princess looks like?" Ami asked.
"Unfortunately I don't." Luna answered, and Ami nodded.
"You said that you were an advisor, guardian, and confidant to the princess." She said, and Luna nodded. "How did you remember that? You said you were born, but you didn't say when or how long you've been alive."
"I was born around three years ago. I was a regular house cat for a time, then a stray cat, before I was eventually picked up by animal control." Luna said. "I was in a cat shelter when I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night a few weeks ago, and remembered who I was and what I needed to do. The crescent moon on my forehead was there the next time I saw my reflection."
"I don't know what caused me to awaken to my identity then, but I used my power to free myself and flee the building. I had already learned to understand speech from years of being around people, and practiced speaking myself as I searched for the Guardian Senshi and Moon Princess." She explained.
"Do you know anything about the dark beings?" Ami asked.
"I unfortunately only know that they are part of the evil that destroyed the Moon Kingdom. I don't remember having been told about the evil in the past, so I will be learning right alongside you." Luna admitted, and Ami sighed.
"We have our work cut out for us." She said, and Luna nodded in agreement.
N&F
Usagi and her best friend Naru were sitting in their seats in class during a break, and Usagi listened in surprise and concern as her friend described a strange being impersonating her mother, somehow attacking all the customers in the store, and coming after her.
Then she described the surprise of a woman arriving that looked similar to Sailor V; only she wore blue and white. She had saved her by getting the being to release her, and then fought all the customers who looked like they were being controlled. She dealt with all those people without seriously hurting them, and then used these cool attacks on the strange being.
Usagi was wide eyed as she hung on every word.
"Are you okay?" She asked quickly.
"Oh I'm fine." Naru reassured her. "I wasn't hurt at all; just very scared and surprised."
Usagi nodded and then allowed her awe to show through now that she was sure her best friend was okay.
"No way! You actually came so close to someone like Sailor V." She said. "Did you get her name?" She asked excitedly.
"No. She never mentioned it." Naru said with a slight frown.
"Ah that's too bad. Maybe we'll see her on TV or games, books, and toys will start being made after her like they have with Sailor V." Usagi said thoughtfully.
"There's always a chance." Naru said as she nodded. "So, was your day as exciting as mine after we part ways yesterday?"
Usagi blushed brightly and glanced around before she leaned closer to her.
"I met a guy named Mamoru right after I left your family store." She revealed. "I was frustrated with my failed test and I crumbled it up and tossed it over my shoulder and it hit him unexpectedly."
"He insulted me after getting a look at my test, and I snapped back angrily after snatching my test back. I was about to storm off but he stopped me and said he was sorry and that his words were uncalled for, and I said I was sorry for throwing my paper at him." She explained.
"After that he offered to make it up to me by helping me study, so we went to the nearby park and he did just that." She finished.
"Wow." Naru said as she stared at her.
"I know. He was so cute! He's seventeen, and goes to Azabu High School, and he's so cute!" Usagi said with a grin. "He was so nice, and he agreed to keep helping me with my homework and studying. I already like spending time with him." She added with a blush.
"I'm impressed. Congratulations on meeting such a cute and smart guy." Naru said with a smile. "Do you like him?" She asked, her smile turning into a grin.
"I like him so far, and I definitely want to see more of him." Usagi said.
"Keep talking to him then, and getting his help with your studies. The more you know about him and the more time he spends with you the better chance you have at getting yourself a boyfriend." Naru said.
Usagi grinned and nodded, liking that if all went well she could have a boyfriend in a few weeks.
N&F
A few days had passed since Ami had become Sailor Mercury. She now wore her communicator watch at all times, and she was doing her best to get a start on searching for her fellow senshi. She had decided to start with them and leave the princess for later, so that she would have more help finding the Moon heiress.
Luna had agreed and they had started by searching in her school and her advanced after school class. In those areas her task was cut in half for the most part since she could eliminate the boys in both areas, but that still left a great many girls.
Ami subtly searched with her minicomputer. She had done a scan on herself and found that her energy was different than everyone else, and Luna had said it was because she was a senshi. So she started looking for energy that was like hers, and when she wasn't in a position to bring out her computer she tried to see if she could spot any girls with the characteristics that Luna mentioned each senshi had.
So far she had been unsuccessful, but she was crossing girls off the list.
Ami sat out in the courtyard at lunch, and sighed as she took a bite of her lunch. It's going to take forever to find any of my fellow senshi. She thought. It was actually still surprising to believe that she was a senshi like Sailor V, but she was glad she hadn't had to fight anything since that first time. She needed a period of adjustment.
She held in another sigh and wished she had some way to contact Sailor V. She had searched out all the information she could on the mysterious girl, and now suspected that she was in fact Sailor Venus just as Luna did despite the outfit she wore.
She assumed that the other senshi would be dressed just as she was, and Sailor V wasn't but there was always the possibility that the girl did that on purpose.
Ami looked around suddenly as she heard shouted words and saw a girl with long golden hair done up in a unique style of two buns on top of her head with the remaining hair trailing from them pass her knees in two streams.
She hadn't done a scan on her yet despite being in the same class as her. She hummed as she mentally went over the list of characteristics that Luna had mentioned.
She could see that she had one or two characteristics from Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus, but she had been in the same class with her long enough to see that she didn't have all of the characteristics of either senshi.
She definitely can't be a senshi. She's too loud and bubbly to be a senshi; although I acknowledge that the girl is very friendly. She thought, and sighed as she looked away from the girl, and hoped she had better luck with her search in her afternoon class.
Ami sighed as she walked up to a new looking building. The sign read Crystal Seminar and it was the name of the school where her advanced class was. She opened the door and walked inside and traveled up the stairs to her classroom.
She stepped inside her classroom, which looked like any other classroom. A desk at the front of the room with a chalkboard and rows of desks. Only these desks had computers on them with privacy cubicles around them to keep the students from being distracted by what their neighbors were doing on their computers.
Still, they were not high enough that the students couldn't see over them to the front board.
Ami moved further into the room and toward her usual seat. She sat down and placed her school bag at her feet leaning against the inside of the cubicle. She turned on the computer in front of her as she looked to the front, seeing other students entering and their teacher now standing at the front desk.
The teacher was a tall woman with dark brown hair just pass her chin and wore glasses that went well with the shape of her face. She was dressed smartly in a lime green skirt, and a white button up blouse with a lime green blazer.
As she was getting the computer set up to how she was used to studying the teacher closed the room door, and instructed everyone to take out their disks and begin their studies. Each student had been given a disk when they first started at the school, and was told it would increase their intelligence to study with it.
Ami had used it at first but didn't notice any change in her intellect so she stopped using it and just studied on her own since that's what she was used to anyway.
So Ami just pulled out her notebook and set it on the desk next to the mouse, and began her studying since she wasn't worried about the teacher seeing that she hadn't pulled out the disk.
Half an hour passed and Ami was in her study zone. She wrote notes down in her notebook, she had a book open in the little space available on her other side, and she searched the internet looking for credible facts and tips.
Suddenly everyone around her stood and she lifted her head and looked around. She hadn't heard the teacher say anything; she knew she hadn't been studying that hard to miss the woman speaking.
She stood belatedly and watched as seemingly every head turned to her without their bodies moving. She looked around warily as alarm bells went off in her head, and suddenly the teacher began walking toward her.
"What is this? Someone hasn't been using the disk." The teacher said as she came to a stop in front of her cubicle.
Ami looked at her before glancing around her. All the other students were silent and had blank faces, and she knew something was very wrong. She looked back to the teacher and watched her take off her glasses and put them in her pocket.
"Why are you not using the disk?" She asked.
"I prefer to study without it." Ami answered, and watched the woman shake her head.
"That is not how this class works. The students here, my students, follow the rules and the rules are to use the disk." The teacher said.
Ami frowned since she knew that wasn't the rule. They had been given the disk, and told what it could supposedly do, but never told they had to use it.
"You will use the disk." The teacher said firmly.
Ami shook her head and watched as the other students all shifted around to face her.
This isn't good at all. She thought; their behavior was too strange and had signs of hostility.
Ami started glancing to her sides to see if she could get away when the teacher grew angry and seemed to get taller suddenly, and next thing she knew there was a hand around her throat. She gasped and brought her hands up to the hand at her neck, and her eyes widened as she saw that the arm attached to the hand was long and had red skin.
She blinked and watched as the teacher shifted into a tall creature with red skin, pointed ears, beady eyes, dark spiky hair, a light purple mark on her forehead, and spikes that stretched from her shoulders and back. Her lime green skirt suit was gone and in its place she wore a black sleeveless pants body suit.
A youma. Ami thought in surprise, but it didn't last long as she began to look for a weapon to help her escape. She spotted the pen she had been using and snatched it up and quickly stabbed it into the youma's wrist.
The female cried out with a slight growl and Ami took off; pushing the other students out of the way as she ran off down the aisle. She felt bad for any pain they might feel, but she reminded herself that judging from their behavior they were being controlled like the customers had been at the jewelry store.
It likely has something to do with the disk since the teacher, youma, was so insistent. She thought as she ran.
Once she reached the wall at the side of the room she quickly pulled her transformation pen from her subspace pocket.
"Mercury Power, Make Up!" She said as she held up her pen, and transformed instantly surrounded by blue water and light.
"Mercury Aqua Mist." She said, quickly launching the blue liquid-like energy to provide herself some cover. Misty fog instantly filled the room from the energy that formed from her hands.
Sailor Mercury wasted no time moving away from the area, staying low as she cautiously moved around the students that were clearly trying to find her in the fog.
She managed to make it to the front of the room and behind the teacher's desk. She sighed lightly before she cautiously stood up. She activated her visor and saw that the students were all over the room, looking for her, and the youma was standing where she had last seen it with its head turning this way and that way, obviously looking for her.
Suddenly the youma snapped its hand in her direction, and an attack that she couldn't see clearly came speeding at her. She dropped to the floor and looked up to see what looked like sheets of paper sticking out of the chalkboard.
Mercury analyzed them with her visor and saw that they were actually test papers, and were razor sharp considering that they were pieces of paper stuck in the chalkboard.
She blanched as her eyes widened; realizing that if she hadn't dropped they could have cut her head off.
"Double Aqua Pressure." She said as she stood up and held her palms toward the youma. High pressure water streams shot out of her hands and toward the youma, which it mostly dodged but was still hit with one and caused it to get knocked into the cubicles behind it.
Mercury moved from behind the desk, her fog dissipating, and just then the youma came up attacking, razor sharp test papers came flying at her.
She ran, the papers piercing into the wall behind her as she moved, she shot her Double Aqua Pressure attack again, but the youma avoided it and continued to shoot the deadly papers at her.
The papers stopped and so did she, but before she could do anything the students were coming at her again. She used the same attack she had on the youma but instinctively decreased the pressure so as not to hurt them.
Her visor beeped and she looked up in time to see the youma's left forearm shift into an axe. She sucked in a sharp breath and immediately attacked before the youma could come at her.
"Sparkling Ribbon Illusion." She called out, and watched as multiple blue ribbons of water flowed from each of her hands toward the youma, and wrap around it until it was encased in a sphere of water then squinted as it exploded.
Sailor Mercury looked around and was satisfied that the youma was actually destroyed and gone. She then looked at the students, and listened as they groaned.
I better get out before they see me. She thought, and hurried out of the room and closed the door. She leaned against the wall and sighed before she glanced around to make sure she was alone and released her transformation.
Ami glanced to the door and closed her eyes tiredly. If nothing else she learned from this experience that she needed to be more aware of her surroundings even when she was in a place she could consider safe.
Obviously danger could lurk anywhere, and she wouldn't let herself be caught off guard again.
N&F
Mamoru turned in his sleep his physical body restless beneath his covers as his mind drifted in his dream.
Mamoru stood in the familiar foggy rose garden and gazed across at the silhouette of the young woman. His eyes flickered over the unique buns on top of her head and the long streams of hair trailing down to the ground, and the dress that covered her yet allowed her legs to show.
"Please, find me." She begged him yet again. "You are the only one who can. It is so very important that I am found."
He decided to speak to her as he had never thought to before, thinking she was like a recording in a sense. He guessed he would see if he was right in thinking that.
"What's your name?" Mamoru asked, and surprisingly she answered.
"I do not know." She said softly.
"How old are you?" He asked.
"I do not know." She answered.
"Well, what do you look like?" He asked.
"I do not know." She said.
"How? How am I supposed to find you?" Mamoru asked in frustration; something he should have done long ago.
"You need to remember who you are." She answered. "When you do you will remember me and be able to find me."
Mamoru frowned in confusion about what she meant, but decided to move on since he was getting answers now.
"How am I supposed to do that?" He asked.
"The answer is inside you." She told him. "There is something inside you that will return your memories."
Mamoru nodded as he stared at her silhouette, but he still couldn't see her clearly.
"Can you see me?" He asked idly with a sigh.
"I can see you perfectly." She answered, and he blinked in surprise.
"Do you know who I am?" He asked suddenly.
"All I know is that you are the only one who can find me, you are very important to me, and these dreams are the only way we can communicate before you find me." She answered honestly.
"Are you dreaming as well?" He asked in surprise.
"I am." She revealed. "Although, I know as soon as I wake I will have no memory of this dream; as if I had not dreamed at all."
Mamoru nodded. He understood that wherever she was part of her knew that it was important she was found, and he considered there was possibly a serious reason that she needed to be found. Judging by the increase in frequency of the dream it was probably safe to say that she was running out of time.
Part of him felt uneasy at that thought, which lead him to believe that she must be important to him somehow.
"I'll do all I can to find you. I'll work at it every day." He assured her.
~N&F~
Later that day after waking up Mamoru went about his day as usual until he found himself once again with Usagi. He had spent time with her almost daily for two weeks after their meeting. He enjoyed getting to know her and helping her with her studies.
He had found while helping her that she was rather intelligent she just didn't do well under pressure. Tests and being put on the spot in class could do that to a person unfortunately, and tried to help her with that as well.
He also found that she did better with encouragement instead of criticism, and he was saddened to know that she received the latter more than the former.
Mamoru liked that she liked to eat instead of nearly starving herself like many girls seemed to enjoy doing to maintain a figure. She had been shy at first eating around him, but he had quickly put her at ease with a comment and she was fine after that. She inhaled food and he couldn't help wondering where it all went since she had a slim figure.
He had easily added his enjoyment of her appetite to her being pretty, and having a nice voice to the list of things about her that attracted him.
Besides that Usagi was fun to be around. They laughed and laughed while playing arcade games, and she always had something to say and constantly surprised him with witty comments here and there, and she didn't have some ulterior motive for spending time with him.
That was something he really liked; that she seemed to like spending time with him just because he was him.
Mamoru wondered if he should worry about the time he was spending with her when he knew there was a strong possibility that the princess he had been dreaming about was important to him.
Usagi was only his friend, but he wouldn't lie to himself and say he didn't want more. His previous thoughts had confirmed that. He was also aware that he didn't know the exact connection he had to the princess.
She could be his sibling for all he knew, but he seriously doubted that. He just didn't get that feeling.
He decided to hold on to his first impression of Usagi looking similar to the silhouette of the princess, and try and find the royal woman quickly while hoping he already had in the form of Usagi.
N&F
A quiet fourteen year old girl with silky black hair trailing down to brush the back of her thighs wearing red stud earrings got off the bus.
She had purple eyes and her black hair had a slight purple tint to it. She wore her school uniform which consisted of a gray blouse that had a black collar with a red stripe on it with a red bow, a black skirt, knee-high white socks with a red stripe around the top, and black shoes.
She walked down the sidewalk and held in a sigh. She was glad to be off that bus. People recognized her from the shrine, and as soon as they saw her the whispers began. They claimed the area was cursed, and her family shrine was the center of it all.
It's lucky the attacks haven't stopped people from coming to the shrine altogether. Even if they are dare devils, adventure seekers, and unbelieving girls my age. She thought as she finally reached the long set of stairs to Hikawa Shrine; her family home.
She jogged up the stairs, idly noting how the daily trek up and down the stairs was great on her legs.
As she made it to the top she immediately noticed people scattered around, visiting and making purchases of amulets and fortunes that they sold, and was relieved. Despite the attacks the shrine really was not being too effected.
She hurried inside her house, to her bedroom, and dropped off her school bag and changed into her red and white priestess robes. Then she hurried back outside, greeting her grandfather on her way, and began her daily duties.
The rest of the day passed by quietly, aside from the visitors, and the day was now at an end for the shrine.
The shrine priestess was finishing sweeping up the leaves, already thinking about her homework, when she saw Jed at a slight distance. He was a new worker, and was working out well so far.
She paused her sweeping and waved, and wished him a goodnight. He returned the gestured said goodnight before he continued walking toward the stairs to leave the shrine.
The priestess finished sweeping up the leaves around the shrine, and stored the broom away and began to head toward her home. She hoped nothing bad happened that night. The shrine didn't need any more negative attention after the last few days.
A pair of girls sat on a bench at the bus stop near the Hikawa Shrine chatting quietly when they saw a handsome guy walking toward them.
He was tall with short gray hair just pass his ears, gray eyes, wearing a black skin tight body suit that looked like it was painted on since it showed no way to get into it, and a black cape draped around his body.
He made eye contact with one girl, and she sighed. He grinned softly, and his eyes began to flicker to red and began to glow.
The girl slowly stood and moved toward him. He reached a pale hand out and caressed her face as he reached her before he slipped his hand back behind her head. He quickly brought his mouth to her neck and bit into her, her body beginning to glow a soft blue as he drained her energy.
The other girl screamed and leapt to her feet. His eyes snapped to her and glowed fiercely, stopping her in her tracks and quieting her, his mouth never leaving the girl's neck.
Once the girl he was draining went limp he dropped her to the ground, and moved toward the other girl and repeated the action.
When she too was drained he dropped her as well, and continued on his way; looking for more prey to gather energy from for his master.
N&F
Ami was sitting at her desk finishing up her homework when her minicomputer began to beep. She picked it up quickly from where it sat on a small pile of books. She opened it and typed on the small keyboard, and saw that there were spikes of dark energy in the area around a shrine.
She looked to the feline in her company and told her.
"Are there a lot of spikes or a few?" Luna asked.
Ami typed some more and watched as the screen shifted and showed a sky view of the area and the exact points where the spikes were.
"There are almost ten spikes, which likely means there are just as many attacks." She said.
Ami hummed as she set the minicomputer down and began to type on her desktop computer. She quickly opened a browser and began to search online for the shrine in question; the Hikawa Shrine.
Immediately she pulled up articles describing attacks happening and people being found unconscious with bite marks on their neck like a vampire had attacked them. Only instead of being low on blood they were low on energy.
"The youma is likely gone from the area by now since judging by the articles its targets are young people. It's late and getting later, and people won't be out; especially in that area." Luna said. "We should wait until tomorrow to check it out."
Ami nodded. "We can go right after I get out of school." She said.
The next day after school Luna met Ami a block away from her school, and they caught the bus to the shrine where the attacks were happening. When they arrived they immediately saw that despite the rumors and articles there were a lot of people there, mostly junior and high school age girls.
As they walked around, looking at the grounds and the people, Ami noticed a priestess. She pulled out her minicomputer and subtly scanned her, and saw that her energy was similar to hers.
Ami recalled Luna's description of Sailor Mars; that she was known for her fire, passion, psychic ability, and spiritual powers. She thought this priestess fit one of the descriptions right off the bat.
"The priestess has an energy signature similar to mine." Ami said quietly, and Luna looked toward the girl in question, taking in her long dark hair and priestess clothes, and nodded.
She can very well be the senshi of Mars from what Ami has figured out. She thought.
"I want to get closer to her and see if I can sense anything." Luna said, and Ami nodded.
"I'll find somewhere to sit and wait for you." She said.
Luna nodded, and Ami watched her dash toward the priestess, carefully moving around people so as to not be noticed or stepped on. She then turned and walked around until she found a bench and sat down. She began to type in her minicomputer, hoping she might be able to find the youma in the area. If it was she could deal with it right away, so no one else would get hurt.
A few minutes later Luna leapt up onto the bench at her side.
"I sensed that the priestess is in fact a senshi." She said, and Ami nodded.
"How are we going to tell her?" She asked quietly.
"Well, I would prefer to have the priestess be awakened as a senshi before the youma is dealt with so you will have help." Luna said.
Ami hummed thoughtfully as she looked around. "There's nothing we can do at this point since the priestess is busy, and there are too many people around." She said.
"Yes. We should return later in the evening to see if we can see and prevent an attack, and maybe approach the priestess." Luna said
Ami agreed and she put her minicomputer away, and picked Luna up and began to leave with a last glance back at the priestess.
N&F
It was early evening and the sun was setting as the last few people wanting charms began to leave the shrine. The shrine priestess said a silent prayer to keep them safe since it was possible they would be attacked by whatever was assaulting people in the area.
She sighed as she thought about the attacks that had happened the night before. It was shocking, but not unexpected considering what had been happening.
But she was worried that more would happen tonight. That was the last thing she wanted. She didn't want any attacks to be happening centered around her shrine at all, but the police hadn't figured out who was behind it or how to stop them.
Common sense meant that people should stay away from the area as the evening approached, but she supposed there were the disbelievers that were going to come to the shrine late thinking nothing would happen to them.
She herself lived on the grounds and she had taken the precaution of finishing up her chores so she could be indoors at that time of day.
Speaking of which she went and grabbed the broom, and began to sweep up the leaves scattered around the grounds. It was her last chore of the day, and once it was finished she could go inside and start on her homework.
Minutes passed and eventually half an hour passed as she swept the dried leaves, the sky gradually darkening all the while. She heard footsteps and looked up to see a girl her age wearing a school uniform that she had seen before walking toward her.
She was also carrying a cat, which was a bit strange in her opinion, but who was she to say what was strange since she fed the pair of crows that hung around the shrine.
She stopped sweeping and watched the girl approach, taking in her short blue hair and blue eyes.
"Hi." The girl said as she stopped near her. "I'm Ami, and this is Luna." She said as she gestured to the cat in her arms. "I know it's getting late and that it's strange that I'm coming up to you like this, but it's important that I speak to you."
The shrine priestess was confused but nodded anyway.
"I'm Rei." She introduced herself. "How can I help you?"
Ami took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I'm not sure how to start this conversation." She said, and then paused with a frown. "Have you heard of Sailor V?" She asked.
What? Rei thought as she frowned in confusion, but nodded.
"I've heard the same information everyone else has." She said, and Ami nodded.
"I recently became Sailor Mercury," She revealed. "and I'm telling you this because you're just like me and Sailor V."
Before Ami could continue with more details her minicomputer started to beep. Her eyes widened and she gestured with her hand and it appeared, much to Rei's surprise who was further surprised when the cat jumped down to the ground.
Ami opened it and began to type in it. "An attack is happening right now." She said as she stared at the screen.
Before Rei could open her mouth and try to speak around her surprise and confusion they heard loud screaming.
Ami put her computer away in her subspace pocket and pulled her transformation pen out of her pocket. She looked to Rei, she needed to hurry and transform, and she figured this would be proof to her that she was telling the truth.
"Mercury Power, Make Up!" She said as she held her pen up, and instantly she was surrounded by water and blue light. The light flashed after a few moments, and when it cleared she stood as Sailor Mercury.
"Luna will tell you the rest." She told Rei before she ran off toward where the sound of the scream had been.
Rei was shocked and confused. Luna? She thought blankly as she stared after the altered girl she had just met then looked down to the black cat standing calmly looking after her as well.
Luna turned and looked to Rei before she sat down.
"You, priestess Rei, have been chosen to be a senshi; you are Sailor Mars." She said seriously.
"What?" Rei said as she stared incredulously at the feline. It can talk?! She thought, and then shook her head, clearly that had been what Ami meant by Luna telling her the rest.
"I've heard of Sailor V and obviously just saw Ami, Sailor Mercury, run off toward the sound of that scream, but what is a senshi exactly?" She asked.
"A senshi is a female soldier that is part of a group known as the Sailor Senshi. Their duty is to protect the Moon Princess." Luna said. "Right now there are dark beings attacking the citizens of the city, which I'm sure you're aware of with what has been happening around your shrine."
"Those dark beings are a threat to the princess since she too is a citizen. Your duty as one of the Sailor Senshi is to find your fellow senshi and the princess, and protect the heiress by fighting those dark beings and keeping her away from them." She explained.
Rei stared down at the cat, apparently known as Luna, in surprise. A senshi was supposed to protect some princess and fight "dark beings" because they were a danger to this unknown princess. Ami was apparently a senshi, Sailor V was possibly one, and now she was being told that she was one as well. This was crazy and incredible.
"How many senshi are there in the group?" She asked.
"There are five guardian senshi total." Luna answered. "Ami is one, you are one, and although we have not met her we suspect Sailor V to be one."
Rei sighed heavily and ran the fingers of one hand through her hair.
"Why should I get involved in this? In any of this?" She asked with a frown. "Why should I fight dangerous dark beings, and protect some princess? There isn't even any life on the Moon, so what is this supposed royal supposed to be ruling over?"
"There was life on the Moon in the past. In fact, there was life on all the planets in the solar system in the past, and in said past you had the same role as the senshi of Mars." Luna said. "Now your fellow senshi and the princess need you; without you the princess' guardians will not be complete and she will forever be in danger."
"Ami needs your help. She cannot do it alone; she cannot fight the dark beings, find your fellow senshi, and find the Moon Princess alone." She said imploringly.
Rei sighed heavily again, and wondered what she should do. Should she actually accept this? She wanted to call it nonsense, but she had already seen proof. It was real, and if she agreed she would become part of it.
She heard the sound of blasting in the distance, and decided to agree. She was all for helping people, and this way seemed like it would allow her to help many people.
"Okay. I'll do this. I'll become a senshi, but how am I supposed to do that?" Rei asked.
Instead of answering Luna leapt into the air and did a flip, and when she landed back on the ground a pen landed in front of her.
"With this." She said as she pointed her paw at the pen. "With this all you have to do is hold it up, and say Mars Power, Make Up and you will become Sailor Mars."
Rei knelt down and grasped the pen in her hand, and saw that it was red on the bottom half and gold on the top half with the Mars planetary symbol engraved at the top within a circle. She heard another blast and stood up quickly.
"Mars Power, Make Up!" She said as she held up the pen just above her head.
Luna looked on in satisfaction as the symbol for Mars appeared on Rei's forehead as soon the words were out of her mouth.
Two down, three to go. She thought as she watched the new senshi.
A stream of red fire burst from the top of the transformation pen and swirled widely around Rei before tightening into fiery rings around her upper body, lower arms, and her feet. Red light flashed from her body moments later, and when it cleared she stood transformed.
She wore a white sailor fuku with white shoulder pads, a short red skirt, a red collar with three white stripes, and a red bow on her lower back and a purple bow on her chest. White gloves with red elbow fittings covered her arms and red high heel shoes rested on her feet.
She wore a red choker around her neck, red stud earrings with five point stars attached in each ear, and a gold tiara with a red gem on her forehead.
"Wow." Rei said as she looked down at herself. I look really good in this. She thought as she stretched arms out slightly in front of her, but another blast sound had her looking over in that direction.
"Quickly! Help Sailor Mercury!" Luna said urgently.
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?" Rei asked.
"Follow your instincts, and you will know." Luna replied assuringly.
Rei nodded hesitantly, but took off running in the direction Ami had gone in.
As Sailor Mercury ran she lifted her hand and pressed the large stud earring in her right ear and blinked as her blue transparent visor appeared over her eyes. She wanted to be prepared right off for whatever she was about to face.
She ran down the long shrine stairs and turned left at that the bottom and continued to run. She could see something on the sidewalk. Her visor was telling her there were three beings standing there, but not much more since she was too far away.
As she ran she looked up at the rapidly darkening sky and wondered if it being dark out would make it harder to fight. It had been dark inside the jewelry store but that was inside a building and not outside on a sidewalk.
She saw one of the figures fall to the ground, and then one of the standing figures walked to the other and was in their arms within a moment.
If she hadn't seen one fall to the ground, and remain there, she might have thought this was some kind of lover's moment. However, she did see, and she definitely remembered the scream.
As she got closer her visor began to inform her that the figure on the ground was female and was unconscious with low energy levels. One of the other two standing figures was female and her energy level was dropping rapidly, and the other figure was undetermined.
She wondered if the figure was like the previous youmas she had faced, and her visor automatically did a quick comparison and showed that it was in fact exactly like the other two youmas.
"Let her go!" Sailor Mercury called out.
The youma looked at her but didn't stop what he was doing, and continued to hold the girl until he had all the energy he could get from her. He then pulled his fangs from her neck and dropped her to the ground.
"There; happy now." He said; his voice silky as he stepped over the girl and began to step toward her, his black cape swaying around him.
Sailor Mercury could admit the youma had an attractive voice, but her visor was telling her that it had a hypnotic ability to it so she quickly pushed it out of her mind. She needed to get the youma away from the unconscious girls, so they wouldn't be in the line of fire.
"Double Aqua Pressure!" She said as she lifted her hands, sending a high pressure stream of blue water shooting from each hand toward the youma.
The youma quickly moved to the side and raised a hand, and shot a beam of red black energy at her. She moved just as quickly as the youma had, and once again launched her Double Aqua Pressure attack.
The youma once again moved out of the way and into the empty street; something that she was glad about since it got it away from the girls.
However, her visor began to flash a warning at her indicating that the youma was about to act, and she watched as the youma lifted its hand and sent another beam of red black energy in her direction.
Mercury ducked as she moved closer to the girls along the sidewalk, the beam slamming into the high wall behind her, and she lifted her hands toward the youma.
"Double Aqua Pressure!" She said as she launched her attack. The twin streams of high pressure water once again went shooting toward the youma, but once again the youma dodged and returned fire.
The red black energy beam was dodged as Mercury moved even closer to the girls and listened to the beam smash against the high wall. She lifted her hands and decided to try something else.
"Sabão Spray Freezing!" She called out and sent quickly forming misty fog streaming toward the fanged youma.
The youma smirked and seemed to wait until the last minute before practically blurring out of the range of the cold approaching fog.
Mercury frowned as that let her know the youma was incredibly fast, and would likely be harder to hit than it already had proven to be.
This time the youma lifted both hands and launched two beams of red black energy at the woman facing him, and watched in amusement as she practically dove into the street to get away from his attack.
The two energy beams slammed into a parked car behind where Mercury had been, and she rolled into a crouch and quickly glanced behind her to make sure there weren't any cars coming since she was now in the street.
"Double Aqua Pressure!" She said as she stood up sending her attack at the youma as she stared at it, and then blinked as her visor alerted her to incoming company. As she read the information she held back a smile as she realized who was coming.
"Akuryo Taisan!" A new feminine voice called out just as the youma was about to dodge, but before he could react beyond registering the sound of the voice he suddenly froze. His eyes widened as he realized he couldn't move, and there was an attack coming right at him.
The youma panted and struggled as two streams of water came shoot closer and closer to him, and yelled in pain as they slammed into him and sent him flying back.
Sailor Mars slowed her run as she saw Sailor Mercury fighting a tall gray haired guy dressed in black and wearing a black cape. She guessed he was one of the "dark beings" that Luna had been talking about, likely the one that had been attacking people around the shrine, and instinctively pulled out an ofuda from nowhere and threw it at the guys back immobilizing him.
She nodded as Mercury's attack hit him, but decided more was needed, and there was no reason she couldn't attack while the guy was down.
She lifted her hand, unsure exactly what she was going to do even though she knew she planned to attack, and found herself launching an attack.
"Burning Spiral Beam!" She called out, and watched a red beam of fire come streaming out of her hand in a spiral and streak toward the downed bad guy.
The youma hit the ground and skidded along the asphalt painfully, but still managed to see the stream of fire headed for him. He quickly got to his feet and moved out of the way of the fire attack, and looked at who he was now facing.
There was the woman in white and blue that could use water, and now there was a woman in white and red that could use fire.
Regardless of his speed he needed reinforcements. He focused on the energy he had collected, and connected to what was left in his victims. His red eyes glowed as he willed them to rise and do his bidding; to fight the woman in white and blue.
The two senshi watched the youma as it stood there with its eyes glowing wondering what was going to happen next. Suddenly Mars saw movement in her peripheral vision, and she looked over to see two girls standing up their eyes glowing red.
Almost at the same time Mercury's visor alerted her to movement to her right, and she looked over to see the formerly unconscious girls standing with their eyes glowing red. She looked back to the youma and its glowing red eyes and back to their girls with their glowing red eyes, and concluded grimly that it was controlling the girls.
Why have all of my fights with youmas so far had people being controlled? Mercury wondered. She hoped it wasn't something all of them would do, and something she would be dealing with from now on.
The girls started slowly walking toward her, and she slowly began to step back to put distance between her and the youma. The last thing she wanted was to have to deal with these girls and the youma at the same time.
Mars frowned as she saw what was going on with Mercury, and turned her eyes back to the guy as he turned his attention to her. It seemed she was going to be facing this bad guy alone instead of helping Mercury as she had thought.
The guy lifted his hand and she tensed slight before a red black energy beam came shooting toward her. She quickly dodged and lifted her hand to return fire.
"Burning Spiral Beam!" She said as she launched her attack.
The streaming beam of fire spiraled toward the guy, but he seemed to easily move out of the way and returned fire. The same red black energy beam came streaking toward her, and she ducked down under it and knelt as she clasped her hands together as she aimed them toward the guy.
"Fire Dragon Blast!" She called out, and watched as a red fire dragon the size of an adult bike came launching out of her clasped hands and flew toward the gray haired guy.
The youma's eyes widened and he used his sped to dodge the large fire dragon before he launched a beam of red black energy at her again from the side.
Mars twisted away as she stood up and raised a hand toward the guy and launched herattack.
"Burning Spiral Beam!" She said, sending a red beam of fire spiraling toward him.
The youma moved away and then blurred forward, using his speed to approach the woman, while the attack was still spiraling toward where he had been. He slammed into her and tried to sink his fangs into her to take her energy, but cried out in pain as she managed to somehow direct her spiral attack into his stomach.
Mars panted, her heart racing, as the guy released her and stumbled back, and seemed to blur and move away further.
That was close. She thought as she took a step back, and stared at the guy as he patted himself to try and put out the fire. She hadn't known he could move that fast, but decided to try and use that against him when he did it again; hoping he couldn't change direction when he was moving so fast.
She decided to try another attack while the guy was distracted. She took a steadying breath and drew a large circle of red fire as tall as she was in front of her, and watched it shift into eight small rings of fire.
She stretched her arms and held her hands out in front of her, and watched as the fire seemed to be sucked back into her hands.
"Burning Mandala!" She said as she looked to the guy, and launched the fire back out as burning hoops of fire at him.
The youma looked up and frowned at the fire hoops before he blurred away, and launched his red black beam of energy at her.
Mars rushed off to the side and out of the way, so she stood with her back to the fight Mercury was having with the controlled girls. He launched another energy beam at her and she moved out of the way, but as she was moving she saw him blur in her direction.
She sucked in a sharp breath and pulled out an ofuda out of nowhere and threw it at the guy just as his blur reached her.
"Akuryo Taisan!" She cried out, and watched him stop in his tracks only a foot away from her much to his surprise.
She looked into his red eyes and watched his mouth shift into a snarl, his fangs on display as she clasped her hands together.
"Fire Dragon Blast!" She said as she launched her attack.
A bike sized red dragon of fire shot out of her hands, and flew the short distance to the guy and engulfed him since he was so close to her.
He screamed and after a few long moments the sound stopped, and she saw his figure crumble to ash as her fire disappeared.
Mars huffed and looked around to make sure the coast was clear before she turned around. Mercury was looking at the now unconscious girls and she jogged over to her.
"Are they okay?" She asked as she reached her.
"Yes they're fine; just unconscious, and thankfully their energy levels are back to normal." Mercury answered, and she nodded.
"Let's get them out of the street." Mars said.
They each picked up a girl and carried her to the sidewalk, and gently placed them on the flat concrete.
Mercury sighed. "How about we get back to your place, and we can talk more and answer any questions you have." She suggested.
"Right." Mars said, and they took off running back toward the shrine.