SAILOR MOON X TMNT: TURTLES AND THE HARE

by cyclone99x

Four years have passed since the defeat of Galaxia. Life has returned to normal and the girls are off to college in pursuit of their own dreams. Usagi's plans for a joyous reunion and summer of fun are disrupted when an unexpected announcement changes everything.

6. ACT 6: DARK AWAKENING

Act VI: Dark Awakening

Chapter 138:

"Preparations are now complete. We are now on schedule to proceed with our next strike tomorrow evening." Master Shredder took a knee before his beautiful Queen. His desire for Beryl only increased the more time he spent with her, despite his efforts to quell the increasing attraction. The memories of her rotten corpse rising out of the enchanted tomb were long forgotten, but he knew that getting romantically involved with this woman could pose trouble. The more energy he delivered from the dregs of New York, the more alluring the witch became. Her wild red hair and nails grew longer, her soft skin appeared radiant and youthful. Even her body shape looked more curvaceous. Then he reminded himself that this convenient alliance was about taking revenge on his arch nemesis by killing the ninja turtles. He would have to deal with her once they accomplished this task and conquered the world using that abomination shadowing over them. No way was he sharing his rule, no matter how tempting his Queen may be. That cloud would answer to him and do his bidding, if he had the onyx crystal in his possession.

"Good." Beryl smirked at her Heavenly King and stood from the throne set up in the center of the ruined castle's central hall. The swirling cloud of Metalia spun faster and faster over their heads, still growing in strength from the vast amount of human energy collected during the recent attacks on the ferry and library. Everything was falling into place exactly how she had envisioned. If her puppet was to be successful in their next attack, then Metalia would have enough power to break through this outer-dimensional prison and invade the earth. Victory was within her grasp at long last. The Sailor Senshi and all those who opposed her would face her wrath and she would enjoy every second of it, starting right now. "I have just one favor to ask of you."

"What is it?" Shredder glanced up at his Queen. His eyes found her heels and followed up her form fitting purple dress all the way to her fierce eyes. She strolled past him, giggling seductively as she walked toward the magical barrier containing her two prisoners with her onyx crystal capstone leading her path. He stayed close, taking in her intoxicating perfume through his metal helmet, lusting for both his Queen and the power of her silver staff.

"AMI THE GENIOUS…" Rei's sarcastic voice rang relentlessly within Ami Mizuno's mind, followed by mocks and jeers from various classmates from her troublesome time in high-school. "SHE'S SO STRANGE… WHAT A WEIRDO… DOES SHE EVEN HAVE ANY FRIENDS? USAGI MUST REALLY BE DESPERATE TO IMPROVE HER GRADES…."

"SORRY I'M ON AN EMERGENCY CALL FOR THE WEEKEND AMI, MAKE SURE YOU STUDY WHILE I AM GONE." Her mother slammed the front door shut, leaving her alone in the darkness of their tiny apartment.

"AMI THE GENIOUS! AMI THE GENIOUS! AMI THE GENIOUS! I AM DONE WITH YOU! ITS YOUR FAULT! I'M DONE WITH YOU! I'M DONE WITH YOU!" Rei's visage appeared in her mind's eye with a scowl of anger and vehemence across her face.

Mercury awoke from her nightmare, only to find Queen Beryl glaring down at her inmate with a sinister grin. The pulsating stone resting atop her staff pounded Ami's brain, filling her with more negativity and dark thoughts throughout her captivity. The emotional abuse that the crystal the afflicted upon her was far worse than any of the physical harm she had received at the hands of Shredder and the youma in the library. Beryl was trying to crush her will and spirit with this brainwashing until she agreed to join forces against Sailor Moon, but she refused to break. The ninja turtle Raphael gave her strength and motivation to resist, but she was slowly losing this battle.

She had formed an interesting bond with the mutant during their torment, and they soon relied on one another for strength. Raphael explained everything from their origin to their battle on the Technodrome and how he ended up here trying to find a cure for their ailing master.

"If we escape this place…" Ami vowed to the turtle. "I promise I'll do everything in my power to cure your sensei."

Ami found herself fascinated by the ninja turtles and was eager to learn even more about them. Perhaps even conduct a scientific study and analysis of the creatures, if she was lucky enough to get out of here. The dynamic of the four brothers strangely reminded her of the Sailor Team. They seemed to share a lot of similarities, despite being so vastly different. Happy-go-lucky Minako matched Raphael's description of his party going, pizza loving brother Michelangelo, and she had the same role as Donatello, being the brains of the operation. Makoto would love to learn the art of ninjitsu from their Master Splinter. She would probably spend the rest of the trip in their secluded dojo beneath the city, training with swords and other ninja weapons, only coming back to the surface to watch sports. But what struck her the most was Raphael's description of his friction filled relationship with his brother Leonardo. Leo was the leader of the ninjas and often got into scuffles with his brother over various disagreements regarding their tactics and attack strategy. Ami sensed the regret in Raphael's voice when talking about his disobedience towards his brother, but she assured him that everything would be okay. This strange bond of the two brothers mirrored the relentless bickering between Rei and Usagi over the years. Despite their many squabbles, both parties cared deeply about one another.

Ami trembled as she wiped a cold sweat away from her forehead. Every muscle in her body throbbed in pain from her battle wounds, and now she felt feverish and severely dehydrated. She tried her best to back away from the villainous witch, but Beryl reached through the electrical prison and yanked her out of it. Raphael stirred back to consciousness, but it was too late. Not even he could help Ami now.

"Sailor Mercury." Queen Beryl dumped the senshi on the middle of the faded carpet lining the center of her castle. Ami could feel the cold of the tile beneath her. Her entire body shook as she struggled to push herself onto her knees while her foe continued to lecture. "The crystal has shown you many truths that you cannot deny. I offer you one last chance. Join me and gain revenge by slaying those who have wronged you or prepare to meet your doom!"

"No…" Mercury whimpered; she lifted her chin up to stare down the arrogant Queen in defiance. "I will never… betray… Sailor Moon… and my friends…"

"HAHAHA!" Queen Beryl's maddening laugh echoed throughout the spacious chamber before turning to her armored ally. "Very well, then. Master Shredder, my Heavenly King, please dispose of this weakling!"

"As you wish, my Queen!" the cloaked figure extended the razor-sharp claws on his gauntlets and slowly marched down the carpet over to the prone senshi. Mercury tried to crawl away, but the ninja warlord was soon shrouding over her.

"ARGGHH!" Raphael threw his body up against the magical barrier, sacrificing his well-being, hoping to bust out to save his innocent friend. A jolt of electricity jolted every muscle in the mutant's body, but he forced himself back up and tried again and again. "LET HER GO, WITCH!"

"Another stubborn one who refuses to submit to the onyx crystal's will." Beryl cackled. "Don't worry, you will join her in death next unless you decide to accept my offer and join me!"

"AHHH!" Mercury wailed in as a heavy armored boot thudded into her ribs, knocking her onto her flat back. Her head swam, but when she refocused, her eyes fixated on the villain's pronged fists. He stared down at his foe with no emotion, eager to carry out his Queen's orders by vanquishing one of her foes.

"WAIT!" Beryl turned toward her Heavenly King just before he was about to slice the senshi to pieces. She walked over to Mercury and bent down beside her, caressing her face and running her fingers through her bobbed hair like a loving mother would to a young child. "I am kind… and caring… even more so then that fraud Sailor Moon you value so highly."

"You are… nothing… like… her…" It was a struggle for Mercury to even speak at this point. At least three of her ribs had broken by the Shedder's heavy boot, and each gasp of breath strained her lungs as if the shattered bones of her ribcage were stabbing her insides.

"I will show you some mercy despite all of your false insults." Beryl smiled. "If you can defeat my Heavenly King in battle, I shall grant you and your turtle friend freedom."

Chapter 139:

"YOU CALL THAT MERCY!" Raphael shouted from within his imprisonment. He launched with his shell against the pulsating barrier again, only to bounce right off and fall flat on his face, with streams of electricity coursing through his body. Anger coursed through him as the dormant essence of the crystal awakened within his gut, fueling him with a surge of adrenaline and rage that was starting to feel so familiar. He no longer resisted the dark magic within. Instead he embraced it. "LET ME FIGHT!"

Mercury spat out a gob of blood while she forced herself slowly onto her feet. She remained hunched over with her arms cradling her left side where the mighty kick had landed. She lifted her gaze to meet Shredder, who stood frozen in place a few feet away in the center of the cavernous castle.

The odds were stacked against her, and she knew victory over this intimidating foe was highly unlikely. Beryl's so-called act of mercy was just another ploy to drag out her relentless torment even further. There was little to no chance that she could win a fair fight against this despicable warrior, even if she was fully healthy. The only glimmer of hope was that Shredder wasn't armed with the silver staff he wielded in the library now that it was in the hands of Beryl. Perhaps she could find a weakness and exploit it. Logic would say that he is more vulnerable without the onyx crystal's protection. It was the only sliver of optimism she could cling to.

Mercury had to strive to keep her enemy at a distance and pepper him with senshi attacks, but it would be extremely difficult in her current condition. Maintaining a length of separation was her only advantage. There was no way she could fight him in close quarters. He would cut her down into pieces with those claws, especially in her bruised state. She glanced towards Raphael, who pounded against the barrier with his bare fists. His eyes glowed with the essence of Beryl's crystal, leaving him immune to the electrical energy coursing through the barrier. The sight of the raged Raphael chilled her to the bone. Mercury realized that the angered turtle had inadvertently submitted himself to the crystal's will in his futile attempt to escape, just as Beryl had planned. Even if she won this fight, she doubted the witch would adhere to her promise of granting them freedom.

"Bubble…. SPRAY!" Mercury summoned every sap of strength remaining in her battered body to cast out her spell. Her head swam with vertigo and her lungs ached with every syllable that left her mouth, but her senshi abilities did not fail her just yet, filling the ruined castle with countless white suds and millions upon millions of soapy bubbles of all shapes and sizes.

Beryl's laugh cackled throughout the chamber as the disoriented ninja master slashed away at the pesky bubbles with the blades attached to his gauntlets, clearing a visible path over to the Sailor Senshi's position. Mercury grabbed her side and gasped in pain, navigating her way towards the electrical prison one grueling step at a time. If Raphael escaped, maybe he could defend her against Shredder. It was a foolhardy and desperate plan, but it was her only option at the moment.

The bright glow of the magical confinement acted as a beacon guiding her towards it. Mercury spotted the mutant pounding against his barrier with both fists. Raphael was overtaken with fury, his eyes were dark with the crystal's hatred and his mouth was scrunched with pure anger. She reached out to the barrier with her gloved hand, but something within Raphael's face changed suddenly. He stopped striking the barrier and instead pointed behind the senshi in dire warning. She instinctively turned her head, only to see Shredder's claws come down upon her in a flash. Six blades of razor sharp steel slashed across her belly, tearing through her white sailor suit and biting deep into her flesh. Mercury collapsed to her knees, eyeing the mutant turtle before slumping onto her back. She palmed her lacerated stomach in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding, only to find her white gloves saturated with her crimson blood and innards.

Shredder proudly lurked over his victim, watching her slowly bleed to death while his Queen chortled uncontrollably, lauding their victory in the shadow of her crystal's light. Mercury stared past him and into the ceiling of the chamber, watching her countless bubbles float higher and higher until they popped near the Supreme Evil hanging over them. She closed her eyes as the last of the bubbles burst, knowing her own life would soon slip away, just like them.

"Sailor... Moon..." Mercury muttered her genuine friend's name for a last time. Death was always a possibility for senshi when defending the world against malicious foes like Beryl, but now she would not be able to protect the moon princess in her time of need. She closed her eyes and silently prayed that Usagi and the rest could defeat Supreme Evil without her.

Chapter 140:

"Pizza!" Sailor Venus shouted with delight once the vigilante screeched his motorcycle to a halt in front of an Italian eatery still open despite the late hour. This truly was the city that never sleeps. "What a fantastic idea for our first date! Pizza after midnight? I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm absolutely starving! You totally get me! I knew we had an instant connection!"

She convinced the masked man to help her out, focused entirely on her duties as sailor senshi, but the exhilarating ride on the speedy motorcycle reinvigorated her infatuation with the rugged fighter. Venus kept her arms tightly wrapped around his waist while they zoomed through the city streets, enjoying every second of the wild ride. Her long blonde hair fluttered out of the helmet he let her borrow until they reached their destination. It smelled of cheap cologne mixed with a jock's sweat. Disgusting yet intoxicating at the same time. There was no doubt this was the man she was destined to be with. The parallels between the masked Casey Jones and Usagi's Tuxedo Mask were no mere coincidence. She had found true love at long last.

"Relax girly, this isn't a date." Casey sighed after stepping off the bike. He pushed past his obsessive companion and entered the pizzeria, with Venus trailing closely at his side. She tried to cling onto his arms, but he dismissed her by pushing through the restaurant's cheap looking door. "If you want to earn the ninja turtles' trust, you need to bring them their favorite food."

"Picking up the special order?" A bell sounded when the two entered the pizza place, catching the attention of the lone worker on duty. The mustached cook behind the counter paid no mind to the masked figure and the woman standing next to him, dressed in a sailor suit with an orange skirt and matching heels. Nothing unusual seemed to surprise the New Yorkers.

"Yup, four pies." Casey retrieved his wallet out of his pants pocket and slammed a few bills on top of the counter. "Keep the change."

"Thank you." the chef collected the money and placed the currency into his cash register before finally giving the vigilante an odd look. "Enjoy those toppings..."

"Allow me to help you with that!" Venus snatched the pizza boxes off the shelf before her companion could do so himself. The warmth of the food and the piping steam emanating out of the corners of the cardboard put a smile on her face. "This smells delicious!"

"I already told you, it's not for us!" Casey grunted after storming out of the restaurant. Venus chased him down an alleyway behind the restaurant, where he bent beside a metal grate. Casey ripped it off its hinges, exposing a stairwell that descended into the dark sewers below. "Follow me."

"Are you sure about this?" Venus paused at the foot of the entrance with the stack of pizza boxes in tow. The sewers looked like a dark and scary place, not to mention smelly and disgusting. "That doesn't look like the most romantic place for us to eat pizza. Can't we just go back to your apartment? Light some candles and maybe get a bottle of wine?"

"You wanted to my help to find the turtles, right?" an irritable Casey asked. The young woman had begged and pleaded with him after their encounter with the thugs, rambling on about an apocalyptic entity that threatened to extinguish all of humanity. It took a lot of relentless nagging about the danger her enemies posed before he finally caved and gave in to her wishes and agreed to escort Venus to their hideout to seek their help.

"That's right." Sailor Venus said with a hint of hesitation in her voice. "But perhaps we should wait till morning? Maybe we can get to know each other a little better?"

"What about that Super Evil thing you mentioned and Queen Benadryl or whatever you said her name was?" The vigilante shook his head in aggravation. Venus was clearly trying his patience. The poor girl couldn't take a hint that he wasn't interested, no matter how obvious he made it. Sure, she was strikingly beautiful, but his heart already belonged to another. He wouldn't give up on April, even though she probably despised him at the moment after forgetting about their anniversary date. She would cool off and answer his calls again in time."Besides, I got to hit the gym tomorrow before the rubber match between the Mets and Yanks. If you want to see the turtles, it's now or never!"

"Let's do this then." Venus nodded in determination. The mention of the subway series game reminded her of Makoto. It was her dream to go to a stadium and watch a live baseball game on this trip. She had promised to accompany her, only to get distracted by her obsessive boy hunting. It was her fault Makoto went running off in the first place. Her duties as senshi were paramount. She would find the turtles and unite the Senshi! No more distractions and daydreaming about the muscular hunk now matter how difficult it was to focus in his presence!

Chapter 141:

"Can't I just have one quick slice?" Venus asked before reaching the bottom of the hidden stairwell. She kept close to her masked hero as they made their way along an elevated platform running parallel to a river of murky water. The smell was horrific, but lucky enough for her, the steaming pizza was enough to ward off the worst of it. She kept her nose pressed against the top of the stacked pies, whiffing in the yummy cheese and tomato sauce while her stomach growled.

"I don't know why I ever agreed to this." Casey Jones muttered under his breath. In a few quick minutes, his escort mission would be complete, and he would finally rid himself of the bothersome blonde. She would be the turtles' problem from here on out. He carried a hockey stick in both hands, ready to fight in case a member of the foot clan or something worse dared to attack. The sewers were always unpredictable.

"Hey, what's that?" Venus peeked over her pizza boxes and into the flowing river. "I thought I saw something move in the water."

"Probably just an alligator or a dead body." Casey kept on marching, leaving the Sailor Senshi behind. "Ignore it! We are almost there."

Curiosity got the best of Venus. She took a step towards the edge of the platform, where she spotted a large object floating just beneath the surface of the river. A faint, yet distinguishable groaning sound gurgled from within the depths, and bubbles of air pockets floated around it. A living creature swam towards her and its size was absolutely massive. What could it possibly be? She inched forward to get a better look.

"Get back!" Casey Jones shouted as an alien-like creature emerged from the disgusting waters. He had seen these monsters before in these parts of the sewer, but not for quite some time. They had obviously not gone extinct yet, as Donatello had surmised. The wonderful scent of the pizza must have drawn it's attention, bringing it out of hiding in search of food.

"AHH!" Venus backpedalled on her heels at the sight of the most hideous creature she had ever witnessed in all her days as a sailor senshi. It was a slimy humanoid, stretching over ten feet tall with slimy yellow skin and thick white scaled that protected its chest and thighs. Its cone shaped head was nearly the same length of her entire body, and the terrifying creature possessed a maw of jagged teeth and razor-sharp claws along with a long swooping tail. It emerged from the waters and hovered in mid-air, preparing to feast on its fresh meal.

Venus nearly dropped the pizza boxes as the beast descended upon her with its mouth stretched as wide as its appetite. This was a scene taken straight out of a scary science fiction movie. The beautiful girls always escaped in the cheesy films, but unfortunately for her this was real life! Venus was caught so off guard that the monster would devour her whole before she could defend herself with Senshi abilities. Casey Jones jumped in front of her, cracking the shaft of a wooden hockey stick against the creature's thick skull. The fiend let out a high-pitched hiss as it splashed back into the running water from the impact of the vigilante's melee strike.

"RUN!" Casey Jones hastily urged his companion. He took a baseball bat out of his golf bag and sprinted alongside the girl, who did her best to keep up in her heeled shoes while carrying four heavy pizza boxes. "Ditch the pizza!"

"No, I need it!" Venus huffed in between breaths. The pizza was her best chance for a peace offering to the turtles, and she hoped they would allow her to have at least one slice. She could not let her friends down at all costs and would do anything to atone for her past mistakes that led her into this dire situation.

A blistering screech made the pair glance behind them. The so-called pizza monster was hovering above the water once again, tracking their every movement. In addition, two more aliens seemed to join the fray, swimming in the murky waters alongside their levitating leader. One of them leapt out of the river and rolled through the air like a cannonball until it landed on its clawed feet ahead of them to prevent their escape. Jones jumped back just in time to avoid the beast's gaping maw. He fended the beast off with his bat, but the creature munched down on the wooden barrel, splintering the baseball bat to the handle.

Venus dropped the pizza boxes onto the grimy floor. Her masked hero was getting pushed back by the alien, who viciously slashed with its claws and snapped with its mouth. It was only a matter of seconds before the fighter ended up in the alien's belly. She flipped open one of the cardboard covers and snatched the hot pie into her gloved hands. It was terrible to waste such delicious food like this, but it had to be done to save her one true love. She charged forward with the pie and flung it at the creature, hoping her aim was accurate. The steamy pizza flopped through the dank sewer before the melted cheese and sauce smacked right into the monster's hideous face. The blinded alien swung its claws wildly, but Casey took advantage of the distraction and counterattacked. He reached for his heavy cricket paddle and bashed the flat end of his weapon into the creature's skull. Sauce, cheese, and green ichor flew everywhere as the pizza monster collapsed into the murky waters with a splash.

"VENUS! LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!" There was no time for Venus to admire the vigilante's brave heroics. She immediately summoned a golden heart into her open arms and spun it into the chest of another monster that threatened to claw up the unsuspecting Jones from behind. Her magical energy slammed into the slimy creature, obliterating it with an explosion that sent green life fluids everywhere.

Her victory was short-lived. Five more of the towering aliens soared out of the waters and plopped onto the sewer platform, surrounding the two fighters. The terrifying predators had their prey exactly where they wanted them. They hissed and exposed their razor-sharp teeth as they inched closer, waiting for the proper moment to strike.

"Why do you always get into trouble?" Casey Jones asked after retrieving another golf club from his bag. It was the last weapon he had left in his arsenal, a cheap metal putter that would not pose much of a threat to their enemies. "I'm going to charge them. Get out of here while you still can."

Chapter 141:

"No, absolutely not!" Venus clutched onto her hero's muscular bicep. Her face blushed at the notion that the masked vigilante would sacrifice himself to save her life despite hardly knowing her. How romantic and brave this masked man is! He was falling for her, just like she knew he would. It was inevitable with her good looks and charming personality. She would not allow the hunk to perish before she got to see the handsome face lying under that hockey mask and reward him with a passionate kiss. "I think I might have a plan!"

Venus retrieved two of the pizza boxes and flung them out onto the middle of the brick platform. The lean aliens immediately pounced upon their meal, fighting with one another as their jaws clashed, each one desperate to tear away at the cardboard to get to the cheesy crust within, even if it meant harming their own kind.

"VENUS LOVE ME CHAIN!" She summoned her golden whip of heart-shaped links and wrapped it around all five of the alien creatures combating over her bait, pulling them into a tight knot like a cowboy lassoing a bull. The magical links trapped the monsters into a tout bundle of slimy flesh and scales. Their tails flailed about while their claws scratched away to break loose of the glowing shackles. Her trick had worked, but it was only a matter of time before the angry aliens escaped and hunted the humans down for their next snack. Venus scooped up the remaining pizza box off the floor and made a mad dash down the brick platform. She could not afford to lose this last one.

Hissing and screeching filled the sewers once the pizza monsters finally broke free of her enchanted chain. They sprinted down the grimy floor, gasping for a breath of the sewage reeking air as they put distance between themselves and the vile pizza monsters. The devilish creatures made up the lost ground in no time. Venus could feel the disgusting breath of the lanky alien's snout on her long blonde hair as the beast snapped its maw, tearing a piece of fabric off the bow on the back of her skirt.

"Owwie! That was a close one!" Venus tripped to the floor, clinging to the pizza box as a jagged tooth scratched her lower back. Casey turned around, guarding the magical girl as the monster slashed at him with its claws. He braced for a deadly impact while retaliating with his pitiful putter. The beast would tear him to shreds, but he would not go down without taking the alien to hell with him. Venus clutched onto her hero's ripped pants as tears poured down her eyes. This was not how it was supposed to end between them, although she always feared her love life would finish in epic tragedy.

"MOON TIARA ACTION!"

Venus perked up when her friend's high-pitched squeal echoed throughout sewers. A blinding flash of white light enveloped the alien right before its jaw tore into Casey's neck. The creature exploded, bursting into a million chunks of yellow flesh and clumps of black and pink organs. Before she could even wipe her face free of the nasty life fluids, Venus spotted one of the ninja turtles somersaulting through the air with his katana held out, slicing through a fiend with expert precision despite having a wailing Sailor Moon hanging onto his shell for dear life.

"YAHHHHHHHH!" the moon princess cried out as her rider cut through the beasts to free help free the sailor senshi and masked vigilante. The very sight of Usagi's pigtails soaring through the sewers put a smile on her face and made her chuckle uncontrollably. How on earth did Sailor Moon end up down here in the smelly sewers? Now was not that the time for such questions. It was time for some payback. Venus hopped back to her feet, eager to get back into the fight, when two more aliens threatened to rip her limb from limb. Another mutant leapt from a surfboard floating in the river and landed on the creature's back.

"COWABUNGA!" the ninja turtle shouted as he bashed his nunchucks into the alien's cononical head. The pizza monster thrashed back and forth like a mechanical bull, desperate to free itself from its rider. It eventually snatched the turtle off its body and slammed his shell into the ceiling, busting through rusty metal piping and paved bricks. The beast opened its jaw and snapped at the stunned turtle, lusting for a quick dinner as bricks and debris rained down upon them.

"CRESCENT BEAM!" Venus kept hold of her pizza box and pointed her free hand at maniacal beast, summoning a golden laser from her extended fingertips. The radiant ray of light burst a hole through the alien's chest like a gunshot. The turtle slipped from the creature's sharp claws and immediately smacked his nunchaku across the monster's face once freed, knocking the beast back into the water.

"BEHIND YOU!" Sailor Moon cried out from atop her turtle. Leonardo skillfully slashed and cut his way through the remaining aliens, but there was one more lurking behind the susceptible Venus, and they were too far away to help her. Venus gasped as the beast's claws lashed at her chest, closing her eyes in anticipation of an imminent death.

"FIRE SOUL!" Mars bellowed her attack from atop a mechanized surfboard. A blazing ball of flame raced out of her outstretched hands and engulfed the creature's slimy flesh before he claimed his prize. The alien hissed and cried in agony as his flesh charred away, piece by piece, from the burning flames. Despite this, the monster turned its attention to Mars, eyeing the red skirted senshi in fury. The flaming alien pounced toward the vulnerable senshi, desperate to take her out before he perished from the searing heat. A burdened Leonardo leapt through the air and struck true with his sword, slicing through the creature's neck with expert precision. The alien's flaming head wobbled on the platform until it finally slipping into the water, where it sank like a rock to the bottom of the river.

Chapter 142

Sailor Mars grabbed Michelangelo's green hand, welcoming his assistance onto solid ground. The surfboarding was fun and all, but she did not want to go swimming or even look at a body of water for a very long time. She took in the countless alien corpses that littered the elevated platform, pooling on the grimy surface with their nasty life fluids. New York was proving to be a strange place between the homeless Rat King and these demonic creatures. She silently prayed that there would be no more surprises awaiting her beneath this city.

"MARS!" Venus deserted the pizza box and embraced her fellow guardian before she could get her bearings, saturating her already dirty sailor suit with alien blood and guts. "I knew you would fight alongside us again!"

"I'm sorry for what everything I said. I know I've been a big jerk to everyone since we boarded that plane." Mars apologized, returning the hug despite being covered in filth. "But you know I'd never give up on being a Sailor Senshi, no matter how angry I get!"

"Of course! I didn't doubt it for a second." Venus nodded warmly until her mind filled with guilt. She was partly responsible for a lot of the trouble Rei had gotten into since they arrived here. To make matters worse, Burne Thompson blackmailed her into accepting an internship with Channel 6. She would have to break the news at some point. Rei's wrath scared her far more than the alien creatures they just faced. Her blatant betrayal may just push Rei over the edge. In her gut, she knew this would not end well.

"YAY! GROUP HUG!" Sailor Moon hopped off the turtle's shell and hurried over to join them, squeezing both of her friends closely together. Nothing made her happier than seeing members of the team reunited at last after this incredibly long day. It warmed her heart that Minako and Rei had patched things up rather quickly, but she still ached for her missing companions and hoped they were okay. There was a chance they could defeat Queen Beryl once again, but it would take the entire Sailor Team to do it.

"I don't want to crash this party." Leonardo interrupted after sheathing his swords behind his shell. "But our hideout is straight ahead. If you girls want to be our allies, then we need to discuss our next move against the Shredder. Time is not exactly on our side right now, and you'll soon see why."

"WHOA, YOU BROUGHT PIZZA!" Michelangelo jumped in delight after spotting the surviving pizza box on the grimy floor. "I knew these dudettes were totally awesome!"

"Yes!" Minako bubbled with excitement. The sight of the pizza had made the crazy turtle with the orange mask very happy, just like the handsome vigilante told her it would. "We bought four pies, but that was the only one I saved from those creepy aliens."

"Bummer!" Michelangelo grimaced as he opened the box so that steam rose out of its sides. "I'm totally famished. I could eat ten pies, but I guess I'll have to settle for the one."

"That pizza is reserved for April and our special guests." Leonardo ordered, slamming the cardboard lid shut and snatching the box away from his hungry brother. "You can have whatever is left after they finished eating."

"Aww man!" Mikey groaned in disappointment. "Come on, bro! Cut me some slack!"

"My duty here is done." Casey entered the conversation after ditching his bent putter by casting it into the river. Once hearing April O'Neil's name mentioned, he knew he had to get out of there. His ex-girlfriend would not be happy to see him and still probably needed more time to cool off after their fight. It would take time to win her back, but he would sweep her off her feet once again. "Stay out of trouble, blondie!"

"Wait, don't go!" Venus chased after her knight in shining armor. "I don't even have your number!"

"Don't you have a world to save?" Casey found a ladder and climbed up the metal rungs to the manhole cover high above the ceiling but got halted in his tracks when the pesky senshi grabbed his boot to prevent his ascent.

"Of course, but we could sure use a strong and handsome guy like you in our fight!" Venus tugged on the shoe, nearly pulling it off his foot. "Plus, we make such a cute team!"

"Sorry girlie…" Casey took another few steps up the ladder, but Venus was bound and determined to prevent his escape, following him up the rungs as she continued to yank on the combat boot with both hands. The worn boot eventually slipped off, and Venus fell to the sewer floor clutching the shoe to chest like she had just won a stuffed animal at a county fair.

Chapter 143

"Ami..." Sailor Jupiter muttered her friend's name after awaking from a long slumber. She lay atop a cot in a dank underground chamber with a ratty blanket draped over her exhausted body. Every muscle in her body throbbed, and her forehead pounded with an intense migraine. It proved to be a struggle just to push herself up enough to sit on the edge of her bed to gather her wits.

Memories of the battle in the public library returned, and the lasting image of Sailor Mercury being carried off into a portal by some armored figure impervious to their senshi attacks plagued her mind. She had tried her best to save her fellow guardian, but had failed and passed out from exhaustion. Jupiter put her face in her gloved palms, holding back tears at the return of such awful memories. She cursed herself for not getting to the library sooner. A few minutes may have made all the difference. If only she could have been there to protect Mercury, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Either way, it was her fault for allowing Ami to study all alone by herself. What kind of friend was she to abandon her after Rei's crude insults this morning? Even though Ami was introverted and liked quiet time to study, they should never have let her isolate herself after Rei's crude insults. What kind of friends were they? Ami must have been absolutely crushed after that debacle in the hotel, despite her best attempts to hide her emotions, yet they let her go off on her own for their selfish reasons.

Makoto wasn't nearly as sensitive as Ami, but knew all too well how it felt to be an outcast amongst her peers. Kids in school often avoided her because she had a reputation of being too tough and tomboyish. They were intimidated by her height and athletic ability, making no effort to get to know her true personality. She was into baking, cooking and boy bands just like the other girls her age, but because she was also interested in martial arts and sports, her classmates would make fun of her and whisper behind her back. Unlike Ami, she had the courage to stand up to these mean bullies and confront them. This led to fist fights which landed her in all sorts of trouble and only worsened her reputation.

The guys at school were no better. They wouldn't socialize with her because she'd beat them in whatever sport or activity they competed in, often embarrassing them with her skills. It was impossible for her to find a boyfriend, because most guys she liked labeled her as just a friend they could work out or train with. None of them had any romantic interest in her because they didn't think she was girly enough. In reality, she was a hopeless romantic and had her heart broken several times, with no friend to talk about her struggles or confide in. That was until she transferred to Usagi's school. Usagi was the first one to ignore these stereotypes and false rumors and truly get to know her. She had finally found a place to belong with the Sailor Team, just like Ami had.

The girls drifted down separate paths once they went off to college, even though they still kept in contact. It was uncharacteristic of Ami to go on a spontaneous trip with no planning, but now she understood why she had done it. Both Usagi and Ami had seen the writing on the wall. With no enemies left to fight, it was all but certain that they would stop talking all together at some point because of their busy lives. Rei taking this internship in New York must have been a reminder of how dangerously close this inevitable reality was. They all wanted life to return to the simpler days of highschool, but it was not possible.

Her sadness quickly turned to anger at the thought of the other senshi. Things would never be the same after this. Even if she saved Sailor Mercury, she could never forgive Rei for her harsh words. Yes, she had failed to protect Mercury, but the blame lied solely on Rei for her egregious behavior. Usagi and Minako were not completely innocent, however. If only they had left that stupid ferry boat and come with her. Instead, Usagi had been moping around and Minako was too busy chasing after boys to care about their fellow guardian. It was totally despicable and selfish of them. Maybe Rei was right to quit this stupid team. It was dead anyway, and she no longer wanted to be a part of it, even though a new enemy had emerged. The only thing she would use her powers for was to find Ami, but how would she even start her search?

Chapter 144

Makoto tightened her hands into fists, overwhelmed by mixed emotions of grief, anger, and frustration. Electricity coursed through her body and illuminated the dank chamber with its blinding aura of pulsating currents. The room that held her was no prison. Instead, it looked much like a teenager's messy hideout, with empty pizza boxes piled on a table, a disheveled couch and an antique television set just to name a few of the items. Makoto groaned as she forced herself off the bed and walked around the room, taking in the various weaponry and Japanese scrolls adorning the walls. What a strange place, she thought. Where on earth was she? A wheezing sound caught her attention, leading her over to another cot on the opposite side of the room, where she beheld an ailing rat-like humanoid snoring underneath a blanket. The shocking sight of the creature made her gasp.

"Excuse me, miss!" A strange voice called from behind, forcing Makoto to turn away from the raspy rat only to come face to face with the bo staff wielding turtle she had encountered in the library. "I'm glad to see that you've recovered from your loss of consciousness, but you sustained several additional injuries in battle. I highly recommend that you lie down and get some more rest until my brothers return to our lair. Perhaps I could brew you some herbal tea in the meantime?"

"YOU!" Jupiter ignored the turtle's request and gave him a hard shove into his yellow chest. Donatello stumbled backward into the couch, knocking the cheap piece of furniture over onto its side with his bulky shell. Jupiter kicked the pillows and seat cushions off of the turtle and hovered over him. Electricity coursed through her hands, ready to fry her mutant captor. "What did you do with my friend?"

"Me?"Donatello was taken aback by the sudden accusation. He stared back up at the warrior in confusion from his spot on the sewer floor. "I... did nothing to her. She was fighting bravely alongside us until our arch-nemesis, the Shredder, kidnapped her. I am deeply sorry..."

"Where can I find this Shredder?" Jupiter interrupted the pathetic apology and bent down alongside the turtle. She grabbed his green shoulders so that she could stare directly into his eyes.

"We don't know. Tin-head appears to be hiding in an alternate dimension that I cannot gain access too despite all of my efforts trying to locate it in my advanced astrophysical programs." Donatello could see the anguish within the green skirted fighter's soul at the loss of her friend. The kind hearted Ami had not only helped him get the turtle van running, but she also saved both him and his brother Michelangelo from Shredder and those two demonic lions he summoned. He would do anything in his power to help rescue the girl in blue, but getting his guest to calm down might prove just as challenging."We were hoping you would have more information regarding Shredder's new ally or the onyx crystal."

"You freaks failed to protect Sailor Mercury, so you can forget about my help!" Jupiter turned away from the turtle with a scowl on her face. She limped over towards a pipe leading out of this strange encampment. "I have nothing left to say to you!"

"Donatello, what's going on in here? I heard a scream. Is she awake yet? This is going to be my best story ever!" A woman wearing a yellow jumpsuit and holding a handheld camcorder came through the tunnel and paused at the site of Sailor Jupiter. The excited woman immediately powered on her device and started recording.

"I don't think..." Donatello tried to warn the reporter that their guest was a little riled up at the moment, but April continued talking.

"I am April O'Neil, reporter for Channel 6 News. Two female warriors just like you prevented the Staten Island Ferry from crashing into Battery Park earlier today, saving hundreds if not thousands of innocent lives!"

"April?" Makoto muttered the reporter's name. It overshadowed her mentioning of sailor senshi fighting on the ferry. She no longer cared what happened to Usagi or Minako. But the name April rang a bell. That was Rei's mentor. "Channel 6 News?

"Yes!" April nodded, but kept the camera focused on the senshi while she continued her interview. "You and another girl were also spotted in the public library. Many in the media are questioning your allegiance. Some say you are in league with the foot clan. Others, such as myself, are calling you heroes! What is your answer to that?"

"ERRRRA!" Jupiter swung her electrically charged fist, knocking the camera out of April's hands. The device smacked against the brick floor, scattering pieces of chipped plastic from the impact. She grabbed the collar of April's jumpsuit and pulled her close. "CHANNEL 6...THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THAT STUPID INTERNSHIP! MERCURY GOT KIDNAPPED BECAUSE OF YOU AND REI!"

"Rei?" April gasped. Her jaw dropped in shock at the mention of her intern as the robust girl pushed her against the brick wall and raised her fist, eager to bash it into her nose.

"Let her go!" Donatello swooped low with his bo staff at the senshi's long legs, sweeping the surprised Sailor Jupiter to the floor. He raced over to April and stood guard in front of her while the aching senshi climbed to her feet. The girl's face was filled with the anger and rage that he normally saw on Raphael. He tried his best to calm her down, but knew it was hopeless, just like arguing with own brother. "Wait! Don't do this!

"SUPREME..." Jupiter called out her spell, channeling her senshi powers. She would destroy this turtle and his female friend, punishing them for their part in Mercury's disappearance. She would make them all pay, including Usagi and Minako. But the one she really wanted was Rei. The so-called shrine maiden could not escape once she caught up to her. This was just a warmup, a test run to the beat down she would soon get.

"We have to get out of here, now!" Donny pushed April through the tunnel, using his protective shell to provide cover, knowing fully well what was coming next after the magical girl called out the words. He had witnessed the awesome power up close and personal not too long ago.

"THUNDER!" Jupiter released her energy into the cylinder. The electrical current lit up the entire hideout as a blast of lightning zoomed down the tunnel. Jupiter collapsed to her knees, fighting to remain conscious. Using her powers still left her weak and vulnerable. She peered down the exit, hoping to find a wounded mutant and reporter, but they were nowhere to be found. Her strike had missed. She pushed herself up to her feet, channeling electricity into her hands as she limped through the tunnel in pursuit of her enemies. She would avenge mercury, starting with them.

Chapter 145:

"Do you know exactly what happened at the public library earlier today?" Sailor Mars asked the more serious turtle in blue, breaking up the awkward silence. They continued in single file down the narrow platform, running alongside a stream of sewer water while the turtles led them deeper into the dark tunnels towards their hidden lair.

"Yo, I was there!" Michelangelo chimed in. "Shredder kicked our shells by turning these lion statues into these mondo demonic kitty cats."

"Youma..." Venus shuddered at the thought of it. The villain had summoned the Sea Troll to attack her and Usagi on the ferry, but they had vanquished it just in time to stop the ferry from crashing into the pier. It troubled her that the more Shredder got accustomed to his abilities, the deadlier the youma he called forth would become. Things would only get more dangerous from here on out. She wished her masked hero was there to hold her safely against his broad chest.

"One of our companions may have been there." Mars continued to pester the happy-go-lucky mutant for answers. "Did you encounter any additional Sailor Senshi?"

"Yeah, dudette! Two of 'em in fact! They were totally bad ass just like you guys!" Mikey paused, glancing at his leader. "But..."

"I'm afraid that I have both good and bad news to tell you." Leonardo sighed. He paused for a moment and turned towards the pigtailed girl called Sailor Moon. She would not be too happy with what he was about to tell her. "Which would you like me to begin with?"

"Please start with the good!" Sailor Moon squealed at the turtle. She could tell simply by looking at the mutant's face that something was wrong, but it was important for her to remain positive no matter how dire the situation became around her. She fought back tears and glanced over at Mars, who gazed down at her red heels in shame to avoid Usagi's watery eyes. The sight of Ami's backpack littering the library's grand hall emblazoned in her mind.

"One of your companions was taken to our hideout after the battle by my brother Donatello." Leonardo led them along the pathway leading to their hideout. The over emotional girl would need to sit down for what he was about to tell her next. Sailor Moon grabbed his elbow pad and looked up at the mutant with an uneasy sadness, dreading his bad news. It would not be a simple task to explain that the Shredder had kidnapped one of their own. "As for the other..."

Bolts of electricity suddenly fluttered out of a pipe, whizzing into the ceiling and surrounding walls until the surge fizzled. Leonardo drew his swords from behind his shell after hearing a loud shriek escape from the tunnel up ahead. The hideout must be under attack! April and Donatello were in grave danger.

"JUPITER!" Sailor Moon shrieked.

Chapter 146:

April O'Neil snuck into Donatello's room and crawled along the floor, desperately seeking for a place to hide from the electrically charged Sailor Senshi. Her high hopes of filming a groundbreaking interview with the mystical fighter had turned into a complete and utter disaster. The mutant turtle pulled her underneath a metal desk housing one of his gigantic computer towers and hushed her to silence before she could give away their position. His cluttered dwelling was jam-packed with many noisy inventions and buzzing machines. Strange gadgets and gizmos lit up the room with various blinking lights, providing them with enough distractions to elude the madwoman's wrath for the time being. If only they could hold out until help arrived.

"Come out and face me, cowards!" a brooding Jupiter snapped after entering the chaotic dwelling with no trace of her two targets. There was a mishmosh of miscellaneous car parts, computer hardware, blueprints, microscopes, robotics and countless test beakers filled with strange fluids lined up neatly in careful arrangement inside protective cabinets. Ami would have found this place fascinating, but she did not give a damn about any of this techno-crap. Makoto grit her teeth in anger and started flipping tables and knocking over the drawers, smashing various mechanical items in the room with her gloved fists out of pure rage. Glass shattered, monitors cracked, and computer parts exploded into a million pieces littering the once pristine floor with broken equipment. "I know you are in here!"

"We are not your enemy!" Donatello finally emerged out of hiding and cast aside his bo staff. He could not help but wince at the destruction wrought by the Sailor Senshi. The furious girl had already ruined several research projects that he had labored many painstaking hours on, but that could all be replaced once this was over, unlike the warrior's missing friend. He understood her anger and did not wish to engage her in combat if he could prevent it. The statistical odds of a peaceful resolution, however, were dwindling. "I fought alongside Ami... Please allow me to..."

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" the very mention of Mercury's name sent her into a frenzy. An intense surge of electrical energy pulsated from her golden tiara, frying the surrounding circuit boards and hardware like a nuclear shock-wave. The blinking lights burst, and the buzzing computer towers and servers crashed, revealing Sailor Jupiter in the center of the chamber with an aura of fully charged electricity at her disposal. She glared at the ninja turtle, preparing to unleash her celestial fury upon him. A fitting punishment for his failure to protect Mercury in the library.

"JUPITER, NO!" Sailor Moon yelped at the top of her lungs. She entered the laboratory with another mutant wielding two swords right beside her. Sailor Moon held out her hand to prevent him from charging at the green skirted Senshi and slicing her like a ribbon. The turtle hesitated for the moment and sheathed his weapons, but she had to act quickly to save this potential alliance. "THE TURTLES ARE OUR FRIENDS! WE NEED THEIR HELP!"

"Friends, huh?" Jupiter chortled and turned to face Sailor Moon with a sinister frown. She immediately noticed that Venus, Mars and the goofy-looking turtle in orange were standing alongside the pigtailed senshi. Their sailor suits saturated and stained with a horrid mixture of a blood and ichor. The accompanying smell was even far worse, nearly making her gag in revulsion. They each looked like they had been through a war, but it didn't matter what they had gone through. Her immense anger far outweighed any concern she had for her fellow guardians. "Some noble friend you turned out to be! Sailor Mercury was kidnapped and taken away from us, all because of your childish behavior! She could be dead for all we know! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SHE NEEDED YOU THE MOST?"

"You are right..." Sailor Moon's heart sank at the mentioning of Ami's confirmed disappearance. If only she had listened to Makoto and gotten off the ferryboat when she had asked instead of carrying on over her nasty breakup with Mamoru. Tears streamed down her eyes like a waterfall at the unknown whereabouts of their companion. What if she truly was dead? Beryl could easily slay her prisoner as an act of revenge. The anxious fear of the unknown left her feeling completely hopeless. They could not defeat Metalia without Mercury's support. It would take the forces of the sailor senshi and the teenage mutant ninja turtles to take down this unholy alliance. She should have considered Ami's feelings more than her own. Now it was too late. Everyone she loved was slipping away and soon she would be all alone… If the world didn't end in the meantime. "It's all my fault... I wasn't there for her. I let her down."

"Don't blame Usagi... or anyone else for that matter." Mars stepped towards Jupiter and noticed April O'Neil sheltering under a desk in the corner. The bewildered reporter clearly recognized her identity. There was no use hiding it anymore. The cat was out of the bag. She would have some explaining to do later, but for now she had to get Jupiter to calm down. In all their time as friends, she had never seen Makoto act so upset, and understandably so. "I can't take back what I said this morning or expect you to forgive me. But your fight isn't with Usagi or the turtles. It's with me. I'm responsible for what happened to Ami, so if you want to take it out on anyone, I'm right here. I will accept any punishment you deem worthy for my atrocities… even if it means my death!"

"I'M GOING TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED BACK IN THE HOTEL!" Jupiter extended her hands, channeling a high-voltage orb that swelled into the size of a basketball. "YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN AWAY FROM ME THIS TIME!"

"We all share part of the blame!" Venus came running to the support of Mars and clasped her hand into her own, hoping against hope that Jupiter would not dare strike to her down with lightning. "It may not be too late for us to fix things. It's always darkest before the yawn and I won't sleep until we get Mercury back safe and sound!"

"I've had enough of your botched wisdom." Jupiter palmed her ball of lightning and prepared to launch it at the two girls like a closer in the bottom of the ninth.

"Wait…Please, Jupiter..." a teary-eyed Sailor Moon grabbed Mars' remaining hand, forming a senshi chain link. "Venus and I found it in our hearts to forgive Rei, and I know you can do the same! So, if you want to shock Sailor Mars you are going to have to electrocute us too!"

"Usagi…" Mars tried to break free of her stubborn friend, but Sailor Moon tightened her grip and refused to let go. It infuriated her that Usagi would put herself at risk for her sake, but she couldn't help but feel touched that despite the harsh and terrible things she said, Usagi's loyalty and trust in her never wavered.

Chapter 147:

"NO, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE HER!" Jupiter hesitated for a moment to consider Usagi's desperate plea, but ultimately launched her orb at the three senshi. How dare they forgive Rei so easily? Even after learning about Ami's disappearance, they were still willing to let her off the hook. The Sailor Team was dead without Ami. She would never fight alongside Mars again for as long as she lived.

"You are making a big mistake!" the split-second flinch provided enough time to allow the stealthy Leonardo to leap out of the shadows and tackle the unsuspecting senshi just as the orb slipped from her fingers.

"AHH!" the sailors screamed in unison, ducking for cover as the charged sphere slammed into a humming tower of blinking computer parts behind them. The machine exploded with a burst of fiery sparks and smoke, but luckily the girls were unharmed. April O'Neil ushered them to safety under the desk while the turtle in blue tussled with the raging senshi. The reporter continued to stare at Rei in disbelief that one of the magical girls was right under her nose this entire time, but she said nothing as a fierce battle unfolded.

Leonardo and Jupiter rolled through more of Donatello's contraptions, breaking whatever was left untouched by the senshi's rage. The turtle tried to pin her to the brick floor, but the girl's knowledge of martial arts surprised him. Jupiter eluded his grappling technique and reversed it, planting her booted foot into the turtle's chest and flipping him over her prone body with the aid of her muscular biceps. Leonardo somersaulted out of the throw and landed safely, avoiding the brick wall and all the hazards in between it. The mutant spun around only to meet Sailor Jupiter with her electrically charged fists held under her chin, ready and eager to engage in hand to hand combat.

"Our master is dying." Leonardo signaled for his two brothers not to interfere, stopping them dead in their tracks. Part of this feud between the girls struck him close to home, reminding the mutant of his own personal failures. It was his duty to fix this situation and repair the bonds of the team using Splinter's teachings that he had failed to adhere to earlier. "My brother and I had our own disagreements and turned on one another. Now he's kidnapped by Shredder as well. I regret my actions. Don't let the enemy win by fighting your own friends."

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR MASTER OR YOUR BROTHERS!" Jupiter threw a jab and right cross punch combination at the mutant's face. The dexterous Leonardo dipped his head into his shell to avoid the strike, but still felt the shocking buzz of the girl's gloves graze against his tough skin on the top of his bald skull. He did not counter, remaining defensive while the long-legged senshi attacked him with everything she had. A flurry of roundhouse kicks and punches came his way with lightning speed. "WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ME?"

The senshi was amazingly fast, but the mutant was even faster, blocking and parrying her relentless strikes with ease. Jupiter kept on the offensive,attacking with all her might, but her techniques became wild and sloppy the longer she fought. Leonardo could have easily ended the fight, but he allowed the senshi to chase after him like a cat trying to catch a feisty mouse. Jupiter grit her teeth in rage as her fists flew and legs soared, hell bent on destroying the ninja turtle. She took to the air with a ferocious kick, eager to the take the turtle out with one final kamikaze blow. Leonardo dodged her long legs just before her green combat boots caved in his face. Jupiter gasped at the misfire and crashed into one of the remaining tables, smashing the cheap wooden structure to pieces. She tried to scramble away, but the stealthy mutant was already right on top of her.

"Enough of this!" Leonardo offered the senshi his hand. "I'll stop at nothing to get my brother back and I know you'll do the same for your friend! Let's save them together!"

"He's right!" Sailor Moon burst out from under the desk to support her new ally. Mars and Venus tried to stop her, but she refused to keep hiding. "PLEASE STOP! Ask yourself, is this what Mercury would want?"

"No… I can't… I won't…. not after what SHE did!" Jupiter swatted away the turtle's outstretched arm and rolled away to create distance. Electricity coursed through her tiara at the thought of Rei's betrayal while she made it back to her feet. Makoto would allow no one to prevent her from getting revenge on Mars for her blatant betrayal, whether it be a ninja turtle or even Sailor Moon herself. They would all suffer! "SUPREME THUNDER DRAGON!"

Sailor Moon gasped, bracing herself as the energy surrounding Makoto manifested into an ethereal serpent with dark purple eyes of pure malice. The beast came hurtling toward her with a vicious maw of electrically charged teeth opened wide. Mars and Venus raced to her defense, but there was no way they could make it in time. They could not save her, even if they countered with their own senshi attacks. Leonardo drew his katana from its scabbard and arced his blade vertically before she could even blink. Usagi heard the sharp blade whir through the air until steel somehow cut into the mythical beast's ghastly form as if it comprised actual flesh. The dragon let out a deafening roar as bolts of lightning oozed out of its wound, filling the chamber with blinding flashes of light that flickered on and off like a strobe in a crowded disco. It wobbled through the air, bouncing off the walls of Donatello's laboratory until it finally crashed into its creator.

"AHHH!" The reeling leviathan slammed into the center of Jupiter's chest and shocked her to the core as it transferred its essence back into her. The electrical energy comprising the beast was too great for her body to absorb. Jolts of voltage spread to every single muscle in her body, locking her limbs in place. Leonardo leapt through the air, avoiding charged bolts as he swept her with his leg, taking the stunned senshi out from behind. Jupiter was completely airborne for a split second before crashing to the brick floor. The electricity surrounding the senshi fizzled out, leaving everyone in total darkness amongst the remnants of Donnie's lab.

Chapter 148:

"What... have I... done?" Jupiter muttered under her breath, struggling mightily to remain conscious. Sharp jolts of pain swam through every inch of her electrified body until the last of the tingly currents faded away. Summoning the ethereal dragon in her weakened condition was a grave mistake, but how could she possibly turn on Sailor Moon after all they've been through? It was almost as if a dark force had taken control over her actions, filling her with hatred and malevolence directed at the turtles and even her best friends. She felt free of those sinister thoughts for the moment, but they were replaced with guilt and regret. Using her celestial abilities on her fellow senshi was more unforgivable than Rei's nasty remarks at the hotel room. Usagi could've died if the shelled mutant did not intervene and put an end to her violent outburst.

"JUPITER!" Sailor Moon raced to her guardian's side. She bent down beside the athletic warrior and pulled her into a tight hug. "Are you hurt?"

The sudden jerk caused Makoto to wince in agony, but she gladly accepted the warm embrace while the others surrounded her. Leonardo kept his katana held at the ready, fully prepared to strike in case the senshi wished to resume their fight.

"I'm so sorry." Jupiter shook her head in shame while avoiding Usagi's worrisome blue eyes. The pigtailed girl worried about her well-being, even after she had just tried to tear her apart with an electrical serpent. She truly was selfless and possessed an inner strength that she could never match."I don't know what got into me."

"That's because it wasn't you." Leonardo stepped forward and sheathed both of his swords behind his shell. He offered his hand back down to the brunette, and this time she accepted it after Usagi reluctantly released her hug. "It's the corruption of the onyx crystal."

"Huh? " a confused Jupiter asked after standing upright. "What do you mean?"

"The dragon's eyes were radiating a purple haze of pure evil." the blue masked turtle continued. "I've seen those same eyes before… in my brother Raphael, when he was trying to kill me in our dojo."

"What exactly is this onyx crystal?" a puzzled Sailor Moon asked. She had never heard of such a gemstone before. Could it be more powerful than the silver crystal in her possession? She hoped not.

"I was hoping you'd be able to tell us." Leonardo grimaced. "Shredder was harnessing the strange crystal to power up a laser cannon in the techno drome while we were on a mission to rescue our master. We defeated him in battle and kicked tin-head through a portal, but he took the shard with him. The gemstone possesses the magic to heal wounds, but also corrupts those who touch it, or get exposed to its light, especially those who are susceptible to anger and negative thoughts."

"Like me... I remember... an armored man wielding a staff with a shimmering capstone... It flashed into my eyes before I passed out." Jupiter sighed. "Once Ami got kidnapped... I... I... lost it..."

"Shredder must have wound up in the dark kingdom." Sailor Venus joined the conversation with upbeat enthusiasm. "And used his crystal to resurrect Queen Beryl! That would explain his ability to create youma!"

"Dark Kingdom?" Donatello asked. "I've never come across such an empire in all of my historical research."

"It's too much to get into right now." Mars interrupted before Venus could start explaining the whole backstory of the dark kingdom and the origin of the Sailor Team. "All that matters now is that Queen Beryl has returned, and we must defeat her before its too late."

"What exactly is she planning?" Leonardo asked. "You've defeated her once before?"

"It appears that she is having that scary Shredder gather energy so that she can call forth the Supreme Evil... Queen Metalia once again." Sailor Moon answered, clearly concerned over the current predicament. She tried her best to remain calm, but could not stop thinking about Ami. It would be impossible to seal Beryl away without her help.

"Energy?" April O'Neil pulled a notepad out of her pocket and scribbled down notes. This story completely fascinated her. "What do you mean by that exactly?"

"Metalia feeds off the essence and soul within all living beings." Sailor Venus answered. "That is why the foot clan attacked in crowded places like the ferry and public library. They will drain the life force out of the mass public and return it to the dark kingdom where Beryl can harness it to grow Metalia into an unstoppable force."

"I see. That would explain why there were no deaths reported during both incidents." April nodded as she scrolled through the live newsfeed on her cellphone. "They reported countless victims to be lethargic and sickly, some too weak to even walk on their own accords. It is as if their very soul has been sucked out of their bodies."

"They will remain feeble and helpless." Mars awkwardly added to her mentor. "Unless we can put an end to Queen Beryl's plan."

"What will happen if Beryl is successful in summoning this Metalia?" Leonardo questioned the red clad senshi. The swordsman wore a very serious expression on his green mug, clearly concerned about their dire predicament.

"The Supreme Evil will invade this city and we will all die." Mars said. She closed her eyes and shuddered, remembering the terrifying vision she experienced the night before leaving Japan as she spoke. "It will roll through the sky, blanketing the moon and stars with its massive presence until all of New York City is swallowed under its control. An army of youma will attack the populace, reducing the entire population to mindless slaves. Metalia will absorb all of their energy and grow strong enough to spread around the entire world."

"Total Bummer!" the expressive Michelangelo exclaimed. "I bet all the pizzerias in town would get closed down if that happens!"

"Beryl will rule over the lethargic masses once the earth has succumbed to Metalia's will and there will be no one strong enough left to resist her once we are disposed of." Mars ignored the goofy turtle's remarks and continued with her dire warning. "I fear it is already too late for us to stop her momentum. I've seen all these events unfold in a vision the night before I traveled here. I should not have ignored the warning signs."

"No, we have not lost just yet! If Beryl collected enough energy, the invasion would have begun already!" a desperate Sailor Moon shrieked. "The vision can't come true! Maybe it was just a bad dream! That's all!"

"I believe the Shredder is planning another attack for tomorrow." Donatello proclaimed. "If what you are saying is true, then I predict that his next target will be on a much larger scale. A place that is packed and condensed with a great number of people so that he can effectively deploy his footsoldiers and their weaponry once again. The only question is, where will he strike?"

"I think I know." Jupiter spoke up, snaring everyone's attention.

Chapter 149:

"Tomorrow evening is the last game of the subway series between the Mets and Yankees at Citifield." Sailor Jupiter started. "I'm sure there will be a sell-out crowd at the stadium, with raucous fans ready to cheer on their favorite team. It is the perfect setting for Shredder and Beryl to strike."

"That's an astute observation." Donatello agreed. "There's a high probability that you might be onto something."

"I agree." A dour Mars nodded. "A baseball stadium packed with unsuspecting New Yorkers is an ideal target for our enemies. If they are successful, Beryl will have more than enough energy to call forth the Supreme Evil and bring forth the destruction of this planet."

"I won't let that happen because we will defeat Queen Beryl's wicked plan and seal her away for good this time!" Sailor Moon shook off her guardian's negativity and clasped her hands together in hopefulness as if she was praying for such a positive outcome. "I promise you… that if we work together, we will save Ami and Raphael and bring them both home where they belong!"

"We will do our best, but it will not be easy. There are no guarantees that we will succeed." Sailor Mars cautioned. Lasting images of her prophetic vision flashed inside her mind's eye once again. Vicious Youma rampaged over the ruins of New York City… a wounded Sailor Moon slowly bleeding to death at the hands of an unknown giant… Queen Beryl ending her own life… She would die a failure… unable to protect her princess in her time of need. "You must be careful and not act so recklessly like you did against the Rat King. Things are very different this time around, Sailor Moon! Shredder is a formidable opponent and for as long as he possesses that crystal…"

"And when this is over." Usagi ignored her friend's warning and continued to rant about her high hopes and dreams. "I'm going to take the first flight back to New York to beg my Mamoru for forgiveness. I know in my heart that he will accept my apology. It is still my destiny to marry him and celebrate that special day with Ami and the rest of you!"

"I guess we will get to see a baseball game, afterall!" Venus smiled with excitement as she wrapped an arm around Jupiter's shoulders. She had full confidence in Sailor Moon's lofty expectations and knew that they could accomplish their goals, even if Rei remained pessimistic about their chances. The mention of Mamoru only reminded her of her hero, Casey Jones. There was no doubt in her mind that she would encounter him again during this adventure, but she wished she had more control over it. Instead, she would have to rely on fate and chance once again."If only I had my Masked Man's phone number. I would totally invite him to join us!"

"Who are you talking about?" a perplexed Jupiter asked.

"Oh, I was saved, not once but TWICE by my one true love!" Venus' heart pounded in her chest at the very thought of the vigilante. Her smile stretched even wider, and she laughed uncontrollably throughout her speech. "I told you I'd find a boyfriend on this trip! I can't wait for you to meet him, Mako! He is so obsessed with sports and has such a ripped bod! But I saw him first! He's mine! ALL MINE! HAHAHA!"

"Wait, a second…" April muttered in confusion. Could this ditzy girl in the orange skirt possibly be referring to Casey Jones? The very thought of her ex-boyfriend repulsed her. He was a self-centered, egotistical slob who only cared about beating up gangsters and his favorite sport teams. Then she realized that she had seen this girl's face somewhere before. This appeared to be the same one from the viral video taken earlier today at the docks! The same girl that Vern and Thompson were gushing over, making Rei get visibly jealous.

"Okay, so here is the plan." Leonardo interrupted the banter. "Donatello, Michelangelo and I will patrol the skys above the city in the turtle blimp. We will keep a lookout for Shredder's reappearance and be prepared to counter should the foot clan decide to choose another target."

"What about us?" Sailor Moon asked. "We want to help too, you know! Can't we please ride the blimp with you? PLEASE! It sounds like so much fun!"

"No." Leonardo shook his head in annoyance as he picked up a shell-shaped device from amongst the electronics scattered on the floor. He flipped it open to make sure the device was operational before tossing it over to the immature girl. "I suggest you get some tickets for the big game. We will stay in contact with the turtle-comm I just gave you throughout the day. If Shredder strikes, call us and we will be there to assist you in no time."

"No fair!" Sailor Moon grumbled in dismay. "I want to fly in the blimp!"

"Leonardo is right." Mars argued, trying her best to ignore Usagi's persistent whining. "We will prepare to fight at the stadium, but the turtles can respond anywhere in the city in case our guess is wrong. This covers all angles. It's a sound strategy."

"Once we engage the enemy, my brothers and I will target Shredder and attempt to disarm him." Leonardo commanded with authority to all the guests in the room. "Our goal must be to strip him from of that Onyx Crystal before he can gather the energy he needs to satisfy his Queen. If we are successful, Donny can examine the crystal here in the lab and try to locate this unknown dimension. Then we can devise a rescue mission."

Mars could tell that he was a wise tactician by his commanding voice. The mutant's skills as both a swordsman and leader would be a tremendous asset to their plan. Usagi was right to seek an alliance with the turtles. Maybe there was a way they could survive this mess and avert her nightmare.

"Sailor Moon, you and your team will be responsible to provide us with as much cover as possible." Leonardo ordered. "Shredder will come armed to the teeth with the foot clan and the rest of his minions. Be prepared for anything… Including more of those demons."

"You can count on us!" Sailor Moon put her hand out and beckoned for her teammates to join her in a bonding moment of unity. Venus jumped in immediately and placed her glove on top of Usagi's followed shortly by Mars, but Jupiter hesitated, eyeing the raven-haired girl with disdain.

"This isn't over between us." Jupiter glared at Mars with a scowl of anger across her face. "I will never forgive you for what you said. Your words tore through Ami like a dagger to the heart. Things will never be the same."

"Jupiter, don't say that!" Sailor Moon shrieked. The last thing she wanted was to see another fight break out between the two guardians. "We will find Ami, and everything will be okay, I promise! Please, just make up! Please!"

"I will fight alongside you for one last time until we finally go our separate ways." Jupiter reluctantly placed her hand on top of Sailor Mars' glove and squeezed her wrist with her firm hands, giving the red clad senshi a stern glance. She could never forgive Rei, no matter how much Usagi wished it to happen. "Stay out of my way and don't bother helping me. I'm only doing this… for Ami."

Chapter 150:

"You girls are all welcome to rest up in our hideout for the night." Leonardo offered, breaking up the tense situation developing between his new allies before it could escalate any further. "We need to gather our strength for what lies ahead. It won't be easy. Shredder is tough and merciless! He will stop at nothing to conquer the world!"

"Hey, do any of you gals want some PIZZA?" Michelangelo retrieved the lone box that Venus had saved from the monsters and carried it to the center of the room with a bounce to his step. The pizza loving turtle was willing to share with his guests as his staunch brother had demanded, but was hoping there would be enough of the delicious pie leftover.

"PIZZA!" Usagi and Minako exclaimed in unison. The hungry pair of blondes rushed over to the mutant and flipped over the white lid, eager to dig into a delicious cheese pizza. However, the sight and smell of the pie that greeted their eyes was not appealing at all. Both girls covered their mouths as their faces turned green, gagging at the bizarre contents within the cardboard box.

"Whats the matter, dudettes?" a confused Michelangelo asked as he ripped off the cover. A look of delight immediately crossed his face, and he could not stop himself from grabbing a juicy slice and shoving it into his mouth, devouring it in a single gulp. "HOW'D YOU KNOW TO ORDER THE MIKEY SPECIAL? PEPPERONI, ONIONS AND MARSHMALLOWS DROWNED IN A CLAM SAUCE WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND EXTRA ANCHOVI HEADS! ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT ANY?"

"NO, THANK YOU!" Usagi took one more peak at the pizza loaded with the array of stray toppings and backed away from the revolting mess. Her stomach had still not fully settled after her drinking binge from the previous night. It seemed so long ago, but the memory of her drunken stupor and the night spent huddled over a toilet bowl was fresh in her mind. She'd rather starve than take a chance on eating that crazy concoction and risk getting sick again.

"AWW, COME ON!" Michelangelo shoved another fully loaded slice into his mouth before offering the box to the rest of their guests. "ANY TAKERS? LAST CHANCE BEFORE I MAKE THIS BOMBASTIC PIE DISAPPEAR!"

"I suppose I'll try one!" Venus bravely approached the box and grabbed the smallest piece available. "I went through hell to save this silly pizza after all."

"AWESOME!" Michelangelo tore another slice for himself and held it up as if making a toast. A couple of fish heads fell to the floor, and marshmallow clam sauce dripped down his hand as the turtle grinned. "Uggh… Heres' to the color orange, our totally tubular favorite!"

"TO ORANGE!" Venus giggled before taking a small bite.

"I CAN'T LOOK!" Usagi covered her eyes with her gloves, unable to watch her companion take a taste of the turtle's specialty pie.

It's not bad actually!" Venus raised her eyebrows and took a larger bite with no hesitation. "The marshmallows and chocolate chips really compliment the clam sauce! Have a bite Usagi, you won't even taste the anchovy heads!"

"You can take a whole slice if you want it, rice-ball head!" Mikey offered her another piece, but Usagi backed away from it. Instead, it was Minako who snatched the pizza out of the turtle's hand and chomped into, savoring every bit of the unusual toppings.

"HEY, don't call me that!" Usagi yelled at the mutant but could not believe that Venus had already finished eating her first slice and was hungry for more. The unlikely pair devoured the rest of the pie, going slice for slice until all that remained in the box were a couple pieces of crust and an anchovy head jutting out of a marshmallow.

Chapter 151:

"That was absolutely delicious!" Sailor Venus exclaimed, licking the rest of the clam sauce off her lips to get one last taste of her unlikely treat. The combination of bizarre toppings left her craving for more. "Whoever invented this is a genius!"

"You're a bodacious babe! I knew you'd like it!" Michelangelo chuckled. "I'm kinda like an expert when it comes to the art of the crust! My brother Donny may be great with machines and all, but nobody can light a candle to my pizza crafting ability."

"I may have to bring this back to Japan with me!" Sailor Venus jumped. "Maybe I'll open my own pizzeria someday and specialize in whacky pies like this after I get married. I can see it now Minako and Masked Man's Maniacal pizza!"

"I wouldn't give up on your dream of becoming a star idol just yet!" Sailor Moon loved pizza and wanted her friend to succeed in whatever she dreamed, but even she knew that this idea was a disaster in the making.

"AWESOME IDEA, CHICA! I've come up with plenty of more pies just like that, lets see here…" Mikey grabbed his chin, recalling more of his delectable inventions. "There's peanut butter and avocado with extra pickles… Granola and licorice with extra garlic and chocolate fudge, ohhhh I know… shredded coconut with jellybeans… Strawberries and tuna… and popcorn with banana and chili peppers… OHH your going to love this next one…"

"Excuse me for a moment…" an antsy Sailor Venus clutched her rumbling stomach and made a mad dash out of the laboratory. The strange mixture of toppings did not seem to agree with her any longer, and the talk of all these crazy pies only made her stomach churn. There did not appear to be any working bathroom in the turtle's lair as she rushed in and out of the various tunnels in the hideout, looking for a place to relieve herself. She would have to figure something out in the sewers, and fast! "I'll be right back!"

Chapter 152:

Usagi chased after her guardian and tripped over a tangled set of cables and multi-colored wires on her way out of the cluttered laboratory. The klutz bumped into the tech-savvy turtle who sorted through the piles of his damaged equipment and computer hardware, trying to separate what he could salvage amongst the mess Jupiter had made of his tactical operations room. Donatello fumbled the switchboard in his hands and watched it crack against the floor as the pigtailed girl bounced off his shell and hit the ground just as hard as the ruined electronic device.

"I'm so sorry!" Sailor Moon scrambled over to the broken piece of equipment and scooped up all the various parts that had fallen off the hardware and handed them back over to the turtle in a jumbled clump of metal parts. "And I apologize for my guardian Sailor Jupiter and what she did to your lab. Please forgive her."

"It's alright." Donatello sighed as he dumped the broken components into a wastebasket. He was going to have a busy night between cleaning out his chamber and getting at least a few of his computers back into an operational capacity. If only he could be carefree like his brother Mikey, who continued to lick the remaining sauce left behind on the pizza box as he carried it out of the laboratory."It's the onyx crystal that made your companion snap and I hold no ill will towards her I assure you. Besides, I failed to defeat Shredder and allowed him to kidnap Mercury."

"Please don't blame yourself." Sailor Moon comforted the anguished turtle by rubbing the top of his shell with a gloved hand. "I should have been there to protect her as well."

"Mercury is highly intelligent in addition to her impressive combat abilities." Donatello commented after noting that the pigtailed girl looked very sad at the thought of her missing companion. "She even helped me troubleshoot the turtle van's engine and make a repair that I had overlooked for months!"

"Oh, really? That's Ami for you!" the news made her smile once again. Ami would always go out of her way to help those in need, despite her shyness."She is studying to become a doctor and has a love for computers and all sorts of scientific stuff just like you! I'm sure she'd love to help you rebuild your lab."

"I look forward to it." Donatello nodded after sweeping up more debris into a pile. "Mercury is resourceful and will find a way to hang on until we rescue her from Shred-head and that vile witch!"

Chapter 153:

"Sailor Moon..." the stoic Leonardo interrupted. Usagi could not help but remain intimidated by the serious swordsman. "Let Donny get back to work. Come with me, I want to introduce you to someone."

"Okay." She quietly followed the turtle into the hideout's main chamber that looked like a fun place to hangout. They lived in an abandoned subway station from the distant past renovated into a cluttered encampment, complete with modern amenities such as an old television set playing the latest live report from Channel 6 News station and a ratty couch. Illuminated with a mixture of antique lamps and strings of multi-colored Christmas tree lights draped over pipes dangling below the ceiling. There was a cheap folding table stacked with empty pizza boxes, a pool table, chess-set, skateboards, an outdated boom-box, dart board, arcade machines, stacks of comic books, video games, DVDS and other junk scattered about on the floor like traffic cones and rusted street signs. The space looked like a typical teenage boy's paradise, except for the intricate Japanese scrolls adorning the walls,bonsai trees, and an array of teapots, whisks and cups usually associated with traditional tea ceremony stacked neatly on shelves of a wooden cupboard. Who did these more intricate items belong to?

The turtle escorted her over to a cot where a hairy figure wheezed under a patchy blanket. When she got a closer look, it took all her restraint not to scream and run away from the ugly mutant. His master was a humanoid rat in pretty rough shape from the severe beating he took at the hands of the Shredder and his foot clan. The thought that Mercury was now his prisoner made her shudder in fear. She prayed that her dear friend was still alive.

"This is our master, Splinter." Leonardo knelt beside his sensei and closed his eyes in sorrow. The sight of the ailing rat devastated him. "He raised us, gave us a home and taught us the art of ninjitsu. My brothers and I wouldn't be the warriors we are today if it wasn't for his tutelage. He doesn't have much time left."

"You said you had to rescue him in a place called the Technodrome." a puzzled Usagi recalled. "Why would that meanie Shredder want to harm this poor old rat for? And what is this Technodrome?"

"Our war goes back many years..." Leonardo told his new ally about the ninja turtles' origin. Detailing the rivalry between Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki... the death of his wife Tang Shen and their newborn daughter in a tragic fire... the strange ooze that turned Splinter into a rat and mutated the turtles... their years spent training the art of ninjitsu in the sewers... their countless battles with Shredder... the Technodrome... Krang... and others...leading up to their most recent encounter... the onyx crystal... and the disappearance of Raphael.

"I'm so sorry to hear how you've all suffered at the hands of this evil man." Sailor Moon hesitated at the sight of the freakish rat, but found the courage to pet his furry cheek. Tears rolled down her cheeks after learning about the fate of the rat's family when he was still human. He had suffered in his life. A senseless act of jealously and hatred ruined a union of true love that forever altered his life. It was such a tragedy, but in that loss, he had gained a family in the four ninja turtles. They all loved him in their own way, especially Leonardo, who seemed to value his teachings and wisdom the most."It's truly unforgivable. I'll help you defeat Shredder in any way that I can, I swear it!"

Chapter 154:

"Now that you know about us..." Leonardo did not take his eyes off his sickly master. "Who... or what are the Sailor Senshi exactly?"

Sailor Moon informed Leonardo about the complex origins of the Sailor Team... their former lives as guardians from a long-forgotten past... Beryl's jealousy and infatuation with Prince Endymion of earth and her anger over his betrothal to the moon princess which led to a terrible war... Metalia's ancient destruction over the Moon Kingdom and murder of the moon princess and all of her guardians.

"Beryl was sealed away by my ancient mother, Queen Serenity who sacrificed her life to save me and my guardians... casting the very essence of our souls to the future in a time of peace where we could live our lives anew as her final act of love... her final wish was that I could one day be with my destined prince and achieve our destiny of marrying one another." Sailor Moon continued talking to the intrigued turtle. The thought of Mamoru, her prince, made her heart ache. "Queen Beryl was reincarnated into our time and attacked Japan. I met a talking cat named Luna, who awoke me to my powers and revealed my past self. She helped me locate and rally my lost guardians."

"A talking cat?" a perplexed Leonardo commented. "Better keep her away from Splinter."

"Together, we defeated Beryl with the silver crystal entrusted to me." Sailor Moon showcased her moon stick, with her prized gem seated inside a yellow crescent moon on top of a pink handle.

"It is ironic that both of our enemies have resorted to violence after being spurned by their desired love." Leonardo surmised. "I think that this will garnish distrust between them at some point. One is bound to betray the other. It's only a matter of time. We can use this to our advantage."

"Beryl has manipulated many men in the past." Sailor Moon continued. "She seduces her servants and declares them to be her Heavenly King, promising them wealth, power, love or whatever else they may desire."

"Shredder has most likely fallen into the witch's trap." Leonardo confirmed. "That explains his devotion to her cause. He's using his army of foot clan to gather energy to fulfill her wishes, but I'm sure he has no intention of sharing his rule, should they be successful."

The longer she talked to the turtle, the more trust she placed in him. His presence gave her a glimmer of hope that they could indeed stop Beryl before it was too late. Although she tried to remain optimistic in front of her fellow guardians, she was terrified about the upcoming battle. What if something terrible happened to Ami? Would Jupiter and Mars be able to put aside their differences and work together? All she wanted was for the team to be at full strength… All she wanted was for them to be together again, have an innocent night of fun at a pizzeria… or sing karaoke with them. Why did all of this have to happen? Would their friendships ever return to normal? Or did Jupiter really mean it when she said nothing would ever be the same again. And what about her relationship with Mamoru? None of that would matter if Mars' vision of their deaths became a reality. The turtles were her best hope to make this all go away.

"Master Splinter would be proud of you." Leonardo lifted her chin with a green finger, as if he had sensed her inner sadness. "The way you saved the ferry from crashing and the mercy you showed to the Rat King are the makings of an honorable ninja warrior."

"Ninja? No way! I'm just a klutz and a scatterbrain!" She chuckled. "Fighting isn't really my thing. I hate it!"

Chapter 155:

"Rei?" April O'Neil asked once they were finally alone in Donatello's ruined laboratory. Her eyes widened in stunned disbelief that her stoic intern was standing before her in sailor senshi suit with red high heels and a golden tiara resting atop her crown of raven hair. She looked like a fantastic superhero taken straight out of a Japanese manga. "Is that really you?"

"Yes." she nodded awkwardly to her mentor. "Sailor Mars, guardian of fire, war and justice."

"And I assume those are the girls that caused all the problems back at the Sunset Inn?" the yellow clad reporter palmed her forehead. "I never would have guessed that you were a team of magical guardians of the solar system. Are you aliens or something?"

"I sincerely apologize for all the trouble we've caused you. Their behavior is no excuse for my incompetence." Mars sighed. "And no, we are not aliens!"

"Then what are you apologizing for?" April laughed. "Those two blondes seem like a lot of fun and they saved so many lives on the ferry today! Your other friend kinda scares me though, I must admit."

"Sailor Jupiter is angry because I flipped out on everyone this morning at the hotel once I realized I was going to be late to work again." Mars confessed. "The truth is, I didn't want them to follow me here to New York. All I wanted was to spend my summer learning how to be an amazing reporter like you. Reading about your famous background and daring style of journalism inspired me. I worked so tirelessly this semester to enroll in this internship, but everything has gone wrong ever since I told my friends I was coming here."

"Glad to see at least someone appreciated my efforts." April muttered under her breath, still annoyed with her boss. She worried that she may have overreacted in quitting the company, but there was no turning back now.

"I suppressed my feelings and put up with their antics until I finally couldn't take it anymore. Now Ami got kidnapped and its all because of my selfishness. Jupiter is right about me. I don't deserve any of their forgiveness. I'm not even worthy to fight alongside them in this upcoming battle. I even renounced myself as Sailor Senshi in total disgrace."

"Come on,you can't give up just like that!" April encouraged. "I've only known you a few short days, but I can already tell that you are way too hard on yourself. Redeem your honor by defeating Shredder alongside the turtles and rescue your friend."

"You are right." Mars nodded solemnly. But she did not think things would be so simple and easy. Her vision of a ruined New York and slain Sailor Moon was still at the forefront of her mind. Tomorrow may be their last chance to stop Beryl's wicked plans. Hopefully Jupiter's guess proves to be correct. "I wish had your resolve. You thrive at Channel 6 despite having a despicable boss and a sleazy coworker that tries to one-up you at every chance he gets. You won't allow them to deter your passion for broadcasting."

"Actually…" April hesitated slightly as a bead of sweat dripped down her head. She knew her next words were going to be difficult for her protegee to digest and she was ashamed that she didn't take her intern's fate into consideration. Thomspon would fire Rei now, and if he didn't, he'd make her life a living hell. "I kind of quit my job today."

"WHAT!" Mars gaped; her jaw dropped to the floor. "WHY? Why on earth would you do that? You are the standard of Channel 6 News!"

"Well to be honest, it was because of you." a nervous April confessed. "When you stormed out of that conference room I…"

"I didn't mean for this to happen." Mars shook her head in grief. She remembered seeing those fools Fenwick and Thompson gawking over Minako when the CEO brought her viral video up on the screen. Her jealousy returned to the surface, and she had left work without their permission to do so in a fit of rage. Those immature actions must have fallen squarely on Ms. O'Neil. It was most likely her third strike, and April had fallen on the sword with her. "I was insubordinate… unruly… I couldn't get out of my own way… Now I've ruined your reputation as well as my own."

"No, don't feel bad, Rei!" April smiled. "I think you misunderstood what I meant. I quit because I saw that you, a college intern from Japan, had the guts to stand up to those no-good bums Thompson and Vern! I let those two pinheads push me around for far too long. It was totally unacceptable that they made you clean the men's room. It was about time that I showed them who really runs that station, so I exploded on them for their abusive treatment towards us. I even gave Fenwick a smack right across his face!"

"That must have felt good." Rei smirked ever so slightly. "Did it leave a mark?"

"One as red as your skirt!" the reporter chuckled at the sight of her intern lightening up just a bit.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Mars asked. Her shame and embarrassment had turned to pride at the fact that she could have such a tremendous impact on her own mentor. She was happy to see April put her foot down, but did not want to see it come at the cost of her successful career. Maybe there was a way that April could get her job back and humble those arrogant men at the same time.

"I'm thinking about going to the station in the morning and securing some press-passes and a top-notch camera crew for the big game tomorrow." April grinned. Rei could tell that her mentor had a plan up her yellow sleeves. "Something tells me it's going to be wild, and I want to have my intern there with me to cover it live and in person. Are you with me?"

"Of course!"

Chapter 156:

Leonardo finished talking for the evening and wished to spend the rest of the night alongside his sickly master, caring for him in what might be his last moments on this earth. Michelangelo provided the Sailor Senshi with a spare room so that they could spend the rest of the night here in the hideout before joining his two brothers. It was almost 3 A.M. so there was no point in returning to the Sunset Inn at this late hour. Sailor Moon was eager to get to bed. Today had been an endless day, and there would be a final showdown against their enemies in less than twenty-four hours. The anticipation of fighting again made her so nervous and scared. It would be impossible to get any sleep knowing that Ami was still missing. She missed her so much.

Sailor Moon started walking away, but paused for a moment to turn towards the depressed turtles hovering over their dying master. The sight of the mutants still startled her, but she felt the raw emotion of the pupils and their sensei. It deeply saddened her heart to see them so upset. They truly were a family, mourning the loss of not only their fourth brother but their beloved master as well. She could not go to bed without comforting the turtles after hearing how they suffered at the hands of Shredder for so many years. They have already proven to be an invaluable help and she could not sit idly by.

"My friend Ami can cure him!" Sailor Moon approached the ninja turtles kneeling at their master's bedside to offer them a glimmer of hope. "She is not a doctor yet, but…"

"What we need is a top ranked veterinarian who specializes in highly mutated rodents. But perhaps she can help me run some tests and produce an anti-dote if she concludes a diagnosis." A hopeful Donatello commented.

"There's not enough time for your experiments, Donatello." a barely coherent Leonardo choked up, waving the senshi away. "I fear he will not make it through the night in his current condition. Please leave and allow us to say our last goodbyes."

"If only Raph coulda snagged that danged rock." the usually happy-go-lucky Mikey lamented. His comment only seemed to further irritate the dour swordsman, for it reminded him of his failed attempts to rescue their lost sibling from the dark kingdom. Why couldn't they have stuck together and found a better way to help improve Splinter's condition instead of fighting amongst themselves.

"Don't say that! Have faith!" Sailor Moon's long pigtails fluttered about as she shook her head wildly. Tears flooded out of her eyes like a waterfall. "Sailor Mercury can heal your master! If anyone can save him, its her!"

"Well, she's not here." a frustrated Leonardo snapped. "And neither is Raph with that cursed crystal."

"Are there any more of you Sailor Senshi out there that can help us?" a desperate Donatello asked. "Do the planets Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto also have sailor guardians? "

"Yes, they exist, too. But I don't think we can count on them in this fight."

It had been some time since she had last heard from the outer senshi. She had tried to remain in contact with them after the defeat of Galaxia, but they had slipped out of her life. There has been no word from any of them since she had started her first year of college almost a year ago. This loss contributed to her secret fears that Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus would eventually follow suit and drift down their own separate paths.

"Where…is… Raphael?" Splinter opened his eyes, snaring their attention.

Chapter 157:

A swarm of rage, anger, hatred and fury unlike anything he had ever experienced fueled Raphael's body after helplessly witnessing Shredder cut down Sailor Mercury before his very eyes in the center of the ruined castle. The essence of the onyx crystal surged throughout his entire body, filling his muscular arms and legs with immense power. The growing entity of Metalia swirled faster and faster overhead, as if it was feeding off his fierce reaction. Instead of resisting the evil anomaly's control, he succumbed to the force, allowing it to grant him even more strength beyond his imagination. He pounded against the electrical barrier encasing him with the thirst for blood and vengeance and found that he was no longer harmed by the currents. The sudden surge left him hungry for bloodshed. Shredder and that vile witch would pay for what they've done!

The pulsating energy around him weakened from his relentless strikes and the electrically charged dome itself cracked until it finally shattered like a broken glass window. Raphael pushed through the barrier, his arms stretched outward, ready to strangle his archenemy to death. Shredder stood arrogantly over Mercury's corpse, with fresh blood still dripping from his claws. He beckoned for his mutated adversary to challenge him, eager to finish him once and for all.

"Foolish turtle." Queen Beryl swung her silver staff, flashing the darkness of her onyx crystal at the possessed Raphael. The wicked magic drew him away from Shredder like a magnet, bending him to the crystal's will. Raphael collapsed at her feet, unable to move an inch. "You fell right into my trap just as expected!"

"When will you allow me to slay that retched reptile once and for all?" Shredder asked his Queen. He brandished his claws, still drenched with Sailor Senshi blood. "My patience is wearing thin. I've had enough of your games!"

"Oh, my Heavenly King our revenge will be so sweet, I assure you." The demonic witch stepped over the restrained mutant and over to the prone Sailor Mercury, lying motionless in a puddle of her own blood. She pushed aside the metal mask covering his scarred cheek and leaned forward for a kiss, but pulled her plump lips back at the last moment to tease the intimidating warlord. "If everything goes according to plan tomorrow, I'll see to it that you are handsomely rewarded. Anything you desire shall be yours, my Heavenly King. Revenge on the turtles, domination over New York...and most importantly... this precious body of mine I know you covet... hahaha!"

"Very well." Shredder took a knee and bowed his helmeted head low to honor the Queen of the Dark Kingdom. Beryl's radiant beauty and soft voice left him fully entranced. He forgot about the vulnerable turtle for the moment, consumed by the prospect of their imminent victory. Not only would he slay the pesky turtles and get rid of them for good, but he would conquer the entire planet and have the most beautiful sorceress in the Universe at his side! But there was one more thing he wanted to that she did not mention... the onyx crystal. Surely it was his by right as her King. If she refused to relinquish it to him permanently, then he would be forced to bring her to heel.

Chapter 158:

Raphael realized Beryl had played him as a fool. His rage forced him to give in to the onyx crystal. The wicked essence within his body granted him the immeasurable power to escape his confines, but his freedom had been short-lived. His eyes had vanished, replaced once again by the evil residing within, only this time he was incapable of resisting its spread. The nasty parasite had taken hold over its host, conquering everything from his muscles and bones to his mind itself.

"This wretched freak is under our full control." Berly glowered down at the stunned mutant. She nudged him onto his yellow chest with her staff and placed a spiked heel on top of his shell to pin him against the cold marble floor to show her dominance. "The inner anger and hatred dwelling within allowed him to surrender to my precious crystal at long last. Metalia has devoured both his body and soul. Now he is a pawn for our use."

"Our enemies deserve nothing but pain and torment for their insolence, but I want the turtle dead, just like that weakling!" Shredder insisted while pointing at the still Mercury. He did not like the idea of fighting alongside Splinter's student, even if he was being controlled by the Supreme Evil.

"Its such a pity. This one could've joined our cause, but instead she resisted me until the bitter end, preferring death then bowing before her rightful Queen." Beryl bent down aside Sailor Mercury and caressed her cheek with the back of her soft hand, brushing aside her blue hair to expose more of her youthful face. "A true monarch must show mercy, compassion and forgiveness to the ignorant masses. I believe I will allow this one a second chance to atone for her crimes."

"Mercy is for the weak!" an aghast Shredder spun back to his feet only to find Beryl waving her staff over the prone senshi while muttering words in an ancient tongue that he did not understand. Sailor Mercury levitated off the floor and floated towards the hole in the ceiling, past the few remaining bubbles, until the red storm cloud enveloped her lifeless form. Lightning flashed overhead, followed by deafening booms of thunder drowned out by the maddening laugh of Beryl. The storm intensified, its wind swirling down into the ruins of the castle to where the armored warrior had trouble maintaining his footing on the tile.

Beryl had no trouble standing tall in the fierce wind. She stretched both hands overhead, pointing her staff at the Supreme Evil, hoping Metalia was indeed strong enough to grant her this wish. Her fiery red hair whipped about in the wind as Mercury emerged from the storm and descended in an aura of darkness. Shredder noticed that something about the young woman had changed. Her torn Sailor Suit was no longer ripped and stained with blood. The baby-blue bow adorning her chest was now black, as were her knee-high boots. Her plain and boring face had also changed somewhat upon closer inspection. Metalia had apparently given her a makeover, painting her lips and lining her eyes with an intense black. The Senshi also held a weapon in one of her gloved hands. A magical sword, composed entirely of ice that chilled the very air around them.

"Welcome, Dark Mercury!" Queen Beryl grinned once the transformed Senshi landed on the floor. The aura around the revived fighter dissipated and the swirling storm returned to its place above the castle, leaving the four individuals alone in the quiet chamber. Ice spread around the Sailor Senshi's boots, covering the marble with a thin layer of frost.

Mercury had believed herself dead, drifting towards a bright light until a darkness seized hold over her sprit and offered the gift of rebirth, promising revenge against those who had wronged her. Ami still refused, eager for the peace and warmth of the light at the end of the tunnel, but a foul entity tugged her away from it. She flailed her arms, desperate to reach the goodness ahead, but could not overcome the grip that had taken hold over her spirit. The light diminished into a lone speck until it vanished entirely and everything went black.

Now here she was alive once again, standing before the sadistic Queen Beryl and her Heavenly King, armed with a deadly new weapon. She glanced towards the blade in her hands and found herself empowered by its very presence. With this ice-sword she could slay all those who stood in her way, starting with her ancient enemy.

"DIE!" Dark Mercury screeched. She slashed with her sword, gritting her teeth with the desire to sever the Queen's head clean off her body in one swoop.

"Metalia has granted you abilities far greater than any other sailor senshi and this is the thanks I get?" The queen blocked the strike with her staff and grinned, allowing her crystal to pulsate into the senshi's mind. "Do not turn your sword on your lovely Queen. You know exactly whose death you must seek within your dark heart. Those who have betrayed you all these years, search within for the answer!"

Dark Mercury clutched the black bow on her chest with her free hand as the onyx crystal pierced into her brain. She felt its presence within her and the influence it provided. Images of Usagi, Rei, Minako, and Makoto flashed across her mind's eye. They laughed and giggled, pointing at her while whispering secrets about her into each other's ears. She found that the sight of her former friends repulsed her. They never respected her abilities as senshi or truly valued her as a friend, only using her for her supreme level of knowledge and intelligence. Beryl was right. She never truly fit in with them. The Sailor Team had abandoned her, leaving her to die alone in the library. Sailor Moon had not come to save her. Instead, it was the Supreme Evil that brought her back into this dimension, preventing her passage into the afterlife. The essence of Metalia fueled her with negative energy directed towards her old companions, especially the one who had hurt her the most... the arrogant and conceited Rei Hino.

"DESTROY THEM ALL..." a dark voice within thundered within, rattling her brain to its core. "AMI THE GENIOUS!"

Chapter 159:

Leonardo bowed low to his sickly master, hanging his head while explaining all that had transpired since their victory on the Technodrome. The grim ninja turtle detailed his dispute with Raphael in their dojo and his eventual capture through a portal in Casey's apartment. He described Shredder's recent attacks on the Staten Island Ferry and Public Library, including his method of draining the energy out of civilians with the foot clan's laser guns and onyx crystal staff in his possession.

"Shredder has made an alliance with our ancient enemy, Queen Beryl. She is attempting to call forth the Supreme Evil Metalia into this world using the energy she has stolen from the public. We cannot allow her to succeed!" Sailor Moon clasped her gloved hands together. "They have captured one of my guardians as well."

"Exactly who are these young ladies?" Splinter extended his furry hand over to the four female strangers in the room, clad in their sailor suits with various colored skirts and bows. He eyed the pigtailed girl with reverence and bowed before her."What is your name?"

"They are the Sailor Senshi." Leonardo explained before the energetic Usagi cut him off with a dramatic introduction. She hopped in front of Splinter and shouted in her unusually high-pitched voice.

"I am the pretty guardian of love and Justice, Sailor Moon!" the pigtailed girl squealed loudly before striking a pose. "In the name of the Moon, I shall punish that meanie Shredder and Queen Beryl! Together we will rescue our companions and bring them back safe and sound!"

"Righteous, babe!" Michelangelo pumped his fist. "Then we can celebrate with some PIZZA!"

"Can we just get a plain pie for our victory party?" Sailor Venus cradled her bloated belly with both hands. "I don't think my stomach can handle another Mikey special."

"Aww, come on!"

Chapter 160:

"Hmm... Sailor Senshi...that sounds oddly familiar." Splinter grabbed his chin in thought despite the ongoing banter between the two troublemakers clad in orange. "I believe that I remember hearing legends of such warriors when I was a boy living in my native Japan."

"Oh? How interesting! TheSailorSenshiareactuallyvisitors from Japan." April O'Neil jumped into the conversation after hearing the unique connection. She wondered what else the ninja master might know about them. "Do you remember when I told you about my Japanese intern? Well, she turned out to be one of these badass women. I'm so glad I can introduce you to her."

"The shrine maiden?" Splinterasked. He spotted the black hairedgirl standing beside April and sensed an unusual aura around her. This one clearly had knowledge of secretive Japanese arts that were rarely practiced in the modern world.

"Yep, that's her!" April nodded with enthusiasm. "What was the name of your Shrine again, Rei?"

"Hikawa." Mars gazed towards the mutated rat who eyed her intently.

"Ahh, I am quite familiar with that temple in fact." Splinter's eyes widened. He knew the girl's face looked somewhat familiar. "I believe one of the ninjain my clan was once a priest there. A short and stout bald man with the family name Hino."

"My name is Rei Hino." Mars could not believe the rat's words, but knew they were true. The sly old man was able to outwit the apprentice Yuuichirou despite being three times his age. She always wondered how he invented these absurd yet grueling training methods to torture her love-struck admirer, pushing his mind, body and spirit to the breaking point. "The man you are describing sounds just like my grandfather. He iscurrentlythe temple's highpriest."

"Hino was a spry little devil, lightning fast with a bo-staff.I could never quite match his speed." Splinter grinned as he recalled fond memories of training from his youth. "And a bit of a skirt chaser too, if I remember correctly."

"Grandpa Hino hasn't change much it seems!" Sailor Venus giggled.

"He never told me anything about being a ninja." Rei folded her arms in annoyance, but not at her friend's jests. She couldn't help but feel a little insulted that her caretaker had never provided her with any such hidden knowledge. Ninja skills would have come in handy while fighting against youma and their countless enemies over the years.

"That is likely because you never asked him." Splinter grinned. "Besides, I feel you have more familiarity with the way of the ninja then you think. Ninjutsu is much more than just stealth and combat disciplines. I sense that you have experience in more esoteric practices that most of my students, save for Leonardo, tend to resist and lack the patience and required dedication to pursue."

"I've had visions of the future." a perplexed Rei admitted. She never realized her grandfather had been secretly training her in these arts over the years, but now it all made sense. The long hours spent meditating and staring into the flames. It was all by design. He had been helping her develop her sixth sense without even knowing it."I've seen the destruction of New York City. Metalia enveloping the skyscrapers with her never ending storm. An army of youma marching down the streets, draining the lives out of those who could not get away... And Sailor Moon... "

"Stop." Splinter held up his furry hand. He could tell that the unsettling images troubled the young woman and he wanted to help put her at ease. "The future is not yet set in stone until it becomes the present. Let these visions serve as mere warnings as to what may happen if we do not take appropriate action. There is still time for us all to avoid such a calamity, but if you dwell on the negavity then it will manifest into reality. Do you understand, Ms. Hino?"

"Yes..." Sailor Mars appreciated the rat's advice, but could still not get the image of Sailor Moon slain at the hands of an armored giant out of her head. It felt too real for her just to be a mere vision. Everything would hinge on tomorrow's epic battle. They needed to stop Shredder and Beryl at the baseball game or wherever they attacked next. It was tough to remain optimistic in these die circumstances. Ami was most likely dead, and they could not seal Beryl away without Ami lending her strength. Sailor Moon knew this as well but clung to the hope that they could still rescue her.

"Enough small talk." Splinter bowed before his guests. "Please, go and get some rest. Your ninja training will commense at dawn, ladies. Sleep well."

"NINJA TRAINING?" Sailor Moon gasped in shock. She was beyond tired and all she wanted to do was sleep late, even if it was inside a dank and smelly sewer. The very thought of more physical activity left her exasperated, especially with the looming battle.

"Hai..." the wise Splinter nodded solemnly. "I believe you asked for my support,correct? Prepare for a crash course on ninjutsu before you engage the enemy."

Chapter 160:

"I am responsible for Raphael's recklessness. He would still be here if it wasn't for my poor leadership." an agonized Leonardo prostrated himself before his sensei on the brick floor, begging for his forgiveness once they could finally speak in private. "I wascompletelylost without your guidance."

"That is not true, Leonardo." Splinter advised his diligent pupil. "You have found formiddiblealliesthat will aid you in the war to come."

"I resisted their help initially." Leonardo shook his head in disgrace. "I've used poor judgment and made rash decisions. My lack of discipline is no different then Raphael. You could've succumbed to the poison had I not stumbled upon the Sailor Senshiagain in the sewers after I rejected their help."

"It takes a true humble warrior to admit when he is wrong." Splinter advised. "We must learn and grow from our mistakes but make certain not to repeat them."

"I don't know how we can win this battle, sensei." Leonardo spoke honestly. "Shredder is in possession of a staff that nulifies the Sailor Senshi'scelestialmagic. What if my plan fails and that girl's vision comes to pass?"

"Find a way to stop him, Leonardo. I cannot provide you with all the answers."Splinter advised his pupil. "Some things you must discover on your own."

"I'm not fit to lead." he shook his head in grief. "What happened to Raphael proves it."

"You are a masterswordsman, Leonardo." Splinter continued. "But the mind can be a dangerous enemy capable of over coming the sharpest katana if we let such thoughts of doubt creep in."

"What should I do, sensei?" the turtle pressed for advice.

"The girl who revived me, Sailor Moon...I sense great anguish and pain dwelling beneath that girl's cheerful smile. There is more heartache disrupting her in addition to her missing companion. She is carrying an invisible boulder of worry and uncertainty on her shoulders, just as you are."

"I did not know this."

"That is because she is masking it to the best of her ability." Splinter continued. "I sense great determination and resolve within her. She may not have the looks of a fierce warrior, but I believe that she will never give up and fight to the bitter end. If she can carry her burdenous boulder into battle, then so can you. You must crush it into the size of a tiny pebble so that it no longer weighs you down."

"I understand, sensei." The turtle nodded. "I will put aside these distractions and fight with honor until my very last breath. No matter the outcome."

"Remember that it is always darkest before the dawn, my son." Splinter put a reassuring hand on his pupil's shell. "Please look after this Sailor Moon. There is much you can learn from one another. Guide her with your strength."

Chapter 161:

A groggy Usagi awoke only to find herself completely alone in the messy spare room set aside for them by the turtles. She glanced around the vacant chamber with her glazed eyes for a moment, wondering what happened to her friends before plopping her head back onto her fluffy pillow, eager to get back to sleep. The foul smell, leaky pipes and strange rattling sounds did little to distract her from falling back into a blissful dream where she was back home with Mamorou, holding his hand while enjoying a vanilla icecream cone. If only it was real!

"Rise and shine, MEATBALL HEAD!" the sudden voice of Michelangelo brought her back to reality in the dank sewer. Gone was the tasty icecream and the visage of her handsome boyfriend only to be replaced by a mutant turtle devouring another slice of pizza from the cardboard box in his hand.

"HEY!" Usagi grumbled from under the covers. The bleary girl grabbed more blankets and burrowed herself into them like a cocoon while covering up both of her ears to drown out the pestering turtle. "I told you not to call me that!"

"It is well past dawn and you are late for your training." The stern Leonardo spoke as he entered. He did not appear to be in the mood for her antics this morning. His swords were already sheathed behind his shell, ready for action. "Master Splinter is waiting for you."

"Tell him I'll be right there." Usagi mumbled from underneath the covers. Yesterday had proven to be quite a hectic day, leaving her physically and emotionally drained. She wanted nothing more then to sleep so that she could escape this grim situation she was facing. The thought of facing Queen Beryl truly terrified her. Would she be able to defeat her this time around? Was Ami okay? She couldn't do it without the rest of the team to support her. "I just want to sleep for another hour or so and have some breakfast first!"

"I can order another Mikey special!" the mutant laughed. "You still haven't tried it yet!"

"NO MIKEY SPECIAL!" she shrieked from under the covers. The very thought of the strange array of topics made her stomach churn. "LET ME SLEEP!"

"Sorry, but we don't have the time for this." Leonardo scooped the sluggish girl into his arms and slung her over his shell like a human burrito. "Donny is getting the blimp ready for our patrol."

"NO FAIR, I WANTED TO RIDE THE BLIMP TOO!" Usagi squealed, kicking with her legs to break free. "PUT ME DOWN NOW!"

Leonardo dropped the bundle of blankets onto the center of the dojo mat. He bowed before his sensei and raced out of the training hall to join up with his brothers. The blimp was ready for deployment and they could begin to patrol the skies of New York, scouring the city for any sight of the Shredder or his minions.

"Good luck my son…" Splinter badefarewell to his pupil. "Remember your training."

Chapter 162:

A frantic Usagi scrambedout of the blankets only to find Makoto pounding her fists into a punching bag dangling on a chain suspended from the ceiling. The turtle had deposited her into a very traditional martial arts dojo that looked like it had been taken right out of her homeland and transported into the sewers below the bustling New York City Streets.

"Your late as always." Makoto wiped the sweat off her forehead after spotting her companion emerge from the bundle of sheets. Her knuckles were red from relentless strikes into the heavy bag. "I'm glad one of us could get some sleep."

"Where is everyone?" a perplexed Usagi asked. She stretched her arms over her head and let out an exaggerated yawn.

"April and Rei left for the news station early this morning." Makoto spat at the very mention of their friend. She still held Rei largely responsible for Ami's disappearance and would not forgive her, even if they managed to save their companion. She envisioned Rei's snooty face on the punching bag and began to wail on it once again with a flurry of punches and kicks. The heavy canvas wobbled from its chain as the athletic girl gave it her all.

"And Minako?" Usagi sensed the brewing tension. The two girls had forged a temporary true for the upcoming battle, but how long was that going to last? They would not win if the Sailor Team could not work together, even with the help of the ninja turtles.

"I caught that boy crazy bimbo sneaking out of the sewers." Makoto scoffed in disgust.

"Ugh I'm so jealous!" Usagi threw up her arms with a frown. She missed Minako and wished she was here but could understand perfectly why she'd want to skip out of Splinter's only she had woken up earlier or convinced the turtles to let her stay in bed.

"This is just typical Minako." Makoto grunted after roundhouse kicking the battered bag with her right leg with the intent of breaking it in half. "She gave me the excuse that she is searching for her masked man to help our cause tonight, but I'm no fool. I know that's not the real reason. She doesn't take her duty as senshi seriously anymore. All she cares about is finding a boyfriend! Its up to the two of us to save Ami. We can't rely on either of them anymore."

"That's not true!" Usagi whimpered.

"Get a grip, Usagi!" Makoto turned from the punching bag to face her friend with an intense stare. "We aren't in highschool anymore. Things have changed between us no matter how much you want to deny it!"

"Mako..." Usagi muttered her friend's name in shock.

"Rei was right about one thing." Makoto slammed a fist into the bag as hard as she could. "The Sailor Team is dead. An enemy appeared and they only care about themselves."

"Ladies..." Master Splinter approached the punching bag and steadied it with his wooden staff. "It is time to begin your training."

Chapter 163:

Minakoscurried up a rusty ladder and pushed aside a heavy manhole cover until there was enough room to squeeze her skinny frame through the opening and back into civilization. The sun was just rising, filtering warm rays of light between the towering skyscrapers of Times Square with an orange hue that eradicated the darkness of took a deep breath of fresh air and enjoyed the brisk morning wind that blew back her long blonde hair. It felt wonderful to be back outside, but she was not going to be able to enjoy this beautiful day.

The happy-go-lucky blonde thought she was the first one to wake up in the morning. Her plan was to get out quickly before anyone would notice her absence, tiptoeing past the snoring Usagi and slumbering turtles to make a clear escape. She nearly succeeded,until Makoto caught her by surprise at the foot of the ladder.

"Just where do you think you are going?" Makoto emerged from the turtle's training hall, dripping with sweat from an intense workout her arms folded across her chest in disgust.

"Umm…" Minako paused to think of a valid excuse. She explained that she was searching for the Masked Man to enlist his help but ensured that she would catch up with them at the game later regardless of the outcome. Telling her the truth would only complicate things further.

"Fine, just go!" Makoto was not at all pleased by her unsurprising response and made no attempt to argue, allowing Minako to leave without saying another word to her. Minako felt guilty, but that little white lie was the least of her problems.

The truth was that she had to be at Channel 6 News for her first day on the internship. If she did not show up, Rei could potentially be fired. It was inevitable that she would run into her new colleague at some point, but she had to do her best to avoid it today especially with the looming battle. How would she be able to explain herself without damaging their friendship or hurting Rei's feelings with the truth? It was a very difficult predicament to be in.

Minako found her way back to the Sunset Inn and skipped past the nerdy receptionist and up the stairs to their tiny room. She picked out a fashionable outfit from her suitcase and brought it into the bathroom before taking a steamy shower. There was plenty of time left for her to brush her hair and apply some makeup to make herself look presentable.

She felt anxious with a bit of excitement and dread over starting her first day at the news station. Maybe this was the fresh beginning and opportunity she was looking for after her disastrous freshman year at the University. Or it could end up being an utter disaster like this trip turned out to be thus far. Whatever the outcome,today was going to be an eventful day to say the least.