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BAD MOON ARISING
Usagi stood between Haruka and Michiru and the girl who had just entered. Rei stood dumbstruck beside the open door, and the other scouts remained where they were, equally shocked.
The girl had shoulder length wavy brown hair and large brown eyes. Her skin was slightly pale and she wore a silver ring on her right hand. She was dressed in the uniform of Usagi, Ami, and Lita's school.
"Haruka-san, Michiru-san!" Usagi cried. "What are you doing?"
"It's her," Haruka hissed.
The girl at the doorway looked around fearfully, one hand tightening. Rei broke out of her shock and put her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"This is Kami, a friend of ours," Rei introduced. "She recently moved here from North America after her parents divorced."
Kami smiled weakly and raised a hand in greeting. Haruka and Michiru relaxed, but remained standing.
"Kami, this is Haruka and Michiru," Rei said to the girl.
Kami bowed respectfully. Michiru returned the greeting, but Haruka only stared with cold eyes. Kami bit her lower lip nervously. Haruka turned to Usagi.
"We'll talk again soon," she said.
Haruka and Michiru exited through the back door that lead into the courtyard rather than passing Kami and going through the household door. The inner scouts and the newcomer watched them go.
"Haruka-san, Michiru-san!" Usagi yelled, running after them. "Wait!"
"Was it something I did?" Kami asked the others.
Ami smiled at her and Minako and Makoto only shrugged.
Usagi caught the two older scouts as they were about to drive away in Haruka's yellow sports car. They looked out at Usagi as she ran out of breath toward them.
"Wait," Usagi puffed. "I need to explain to you about Kami."
The elder scouts exchanged a look between them. Haruka gave a half smile to Usagi.
"Climb in," she invited. "We'll take a little drive while you explain."
Usagi returned the grin gratefully and got into the car.
"And then, when Kami came back, her sun ring was gone and she had no memory of ever being Sailor Sun, the Dark Scout, or friends with us," Usagi finished.
"But I saw the ring on her finger," Michiru said.
"It's not the same ring that gave her power," Usagi replied. "The force was destroyed, I hope, and with it, Sailor Sun. See? Kami can't possibly be the evil queen you met."
Haruka remained doubtful. "She looks exactly like her."
Michiru said nothing. Haruka stopped the car outside Rei's Shrine and looked back at Usagi. The yellow haired girl had a hopeful smile on her face, her eyes large and trusting.
Too trusting, Haruka had to remind herself. She gave the Sacred Cup away to Mistress Nine. She trusted her enemy because she wanted to believe so much!
However, even Haruka was forced to admit that it all worked out in the end. She smiled at Usagi.
"Just be careful, Dumpling," Haruka said.
Usagi nodded and got out of the car. She waved once as she ran back up the steps to Rei's house. Haruka started the car and started the long drive home. They sped along in silence for several minutes before Haruka began to laugh. Michiru looked at her companion curiously.
"What?" Michiru asked.
Haruka's smile increased. "I was just thinking about something."
"What?" Michiru repeated, more insistent this time.
"Only about how much Kami looks like you."
Michiru opened her mouth in shock. "I don't look anything like her," she protested. "Especially if she's the dark queen we met."
Haruka took Michiru's hand and lifted it to her mouth. She kissed it tenderly and looked at her.
"I think you're much more beautiful," Haruka said.
Michiru smiled. "Good. I don't want you falling for the destroyer of Earth."
Haruka laughed again as the car sped to the distant setting sun.
Usagi and Kami walked home together as the sun began to set on the horizon. After several uncomfortable minutes as Usagi tried to explain Haruka and Michiru's actions they settled down to work. Kami, having lived in North America for most of her life, helped all the scouts with their English work while Ami and Rei tutored Kami on her Japanese. They had stopped once, briefly, for cakes and tea, which Usagi quickly devoured, before completing their work as the sun began to descend. Now, as they walked together in the fading light, Usagi thought about how nice it was to spend time with Kami without having her transform into the Dark Scout and disappear.
"A penny for your thoughts," Kami said suddenly.
Usagi blinked in surprise. "A what?"
Kami giggled. "A penny. Remember? We were talking about English expressions?"
Usagi laughed nervously and smiled. "Oh yeah, English. You know, I didn't have a clue what was going on."
Kami sighed. "Obviously. What's on your mind?"
Usagi sobered up at once. "Um, nothing. I was just thinking about . . . things."
"Like what?"
"Nothing important."
They reached Kami's apartment building and she opened the door to go inside. A sudden breeze picked up and Usagi shivered.
"Cold?" Kami asked.
Usagi nodded. "A little."
"Don't worry," Kami said as she disappeared into the building. "I'm sure things will warm up tonight."
Michiru lay beside the pool in partial darkness, the only light coming from the city below since the sun had long since set. She was enjoying a brief moment of relaxation before the dawn of the new sun — a new day, a new battle. She stretched in the pool chair where she lay, listening to the gentle lapping of the water. The normally quiet water was being disturbed from some external source — a drip from the tall diving board, or maybe even a breeze from somewhere in the building. Michiru thought about how life had been after the end of the Silence, when she and Haruka had finally been at peace with themselves, with Usagi, and with the world. That brief time had been happy and Michiru wished more than anything to get them back.
Haruka stood in the doorway, silently watching Michiru. The aquamarine haired girl had taken longer than usual with her evening swim, and Haruka had begun to wonder where her companion had disappeared to. Haruka's eyes wandered down Michiru's still form, taking in every detail of her partner's body as if it would be the last chance she'd ever have of seeing it. Haruka's mouth twisted into a smile that only she could understand, and she turned to leave Michiru alone. It was important for them to enjoy the peace while it lasted.
A startled gasp made Haruka turn around even before she was able to leave the doorway. Michiru was sitting up, eyes wide and her towel clutched to her chest. In five easy strides, Haruka was at her side, one arm comfortingly placed around her shoulders.
"What is it?" Haruka asked.
Michiru's fear filled eyes turned to Haruka. The blond girl could see the tears starting to form in them.
"Fire," Michiru replied.
"Where?" Haruka demanded.
Without answering, Michiru pointed behind her, out the window, to where a single column of black smoke rose from the city.
Cano, Lord of Fire, stood in front of the Shrine smiling approvingly at the damage being caused. The majority of the shrine was already in flames, large orange and yellow waves flying into the sky. Cano could see his minions at work, encouraging the fire and spreading it to the rest of the shrine.
"I admire your trap, Lord Cano," a voice said from the shadows.
Cano turned, his orange hair billowing behind his head like the smoke rising from the shrine. His eyes widened in surprise and he bowed quickly to the voice.
"Majesty," he said. "How can we be sure the scouts will come?"
The dark queen's eyes were the only thing visible in the dark, despite the light emanating from the fire. They narrowed as she smiled and Cano licked his lips nervously.
"They will come, Lord Cano. I know more about them than they suspect. They will come, and they will fight. That is where your minions come in," she said confidently.
Cano bowed again. "Yes, Majesty."
"Don't disappoint me," the queen added.
As Cano rose from his bow, he saw the queen was gone. With a sigh of relief, he turned back to his trap, awaiting the vermin to take the bait.
Rei woke up with a gasp that quickly became a cough. Her entire room was flooded with smoke, so much that it was difficult to breath. Her eyes stung and she slid out of bed to the floor and crawled into the hallway.
Flames surrounded her, left and right. She didn't know what had caused the sudden blaze, or why she had slept so long, but she knew she had to escape.
Grandpa!
Trying to ignore the smoke and intense heat, Rei crawled down the hall to the small bedroom where her grandfather slept. She kicked the thin wooden door down with one kick and nearly passed out from lack of oxygen. Through the haze of smoke she saw her grandfather unconscious on his bed. Behind her, support beams from the ceiling fell in a flaming mass, blocking the way she had come. Their only exit now lay out the small window that faced the woods behind the shrine. Picking up her grandfather effortlessly, Rei smashed the window open and began to scramble through. She heard the rest of the roof collapse as she carried her grandfather to safety, coughing and gratefully inhaling the cool night air.
Head spinning, Rei lowered her grandfather onto the cool grass and collapsed beside him. She waited several moment before she tried to move again, and then she looked back at the burning shrine. Through the broken wall, she thought she saw a yellow figure laugh and run down the hall. Rei blinked, but the figure appeared again. Her eyes narrowed and she reached into her pocket to find her transformation wand ready. It seemed as if the meeting between the scout of fire and the Lord of fire wouldn't be as far away as she had thought.
"Deep Submerge!" Sailor Neptune called.
The fire around the shrine diminished slightly, but the blaze continued. The flames roared suddenly as part of the roof collapsed and added new fuel to the fire, forcing Neptune to step back. She wiped her brow as Uranus appeared beside her.
"No sign of Rei," she reported. "Or Lord Cano."
"Do you think Sailor Moon got our message?" Neptune asked.
Uranus smiled. "Doesn't matter. We haven't found an enemy yet. The fire department can handle this mess."
From within the shrine, something laughed. Neptune blinked in surprise, thinking she was hearing things when the giggle sounded again. This time there were more than one.
"Uranus," Neptune whispered.
"I heard it," the other scout replied.
From within the flames Lord Cano emerged. He brushed some soot off his uniform and smiled at the two scouts. Behind him numerous eyes could be seen from inside the fire.
"Nice to see you again," Cano said. "It seems her Majesty was right."
Neptune and Uranus crouched, ready to fight. Cano's smile grew larger.
"Not yet," he said. "We need to wait for the others to arrive. I haven't gone to this much trouble only to catch two of you."
"Hold it right there!" a new voice said.
"Perfect timing," Cano muttered.
Silhouetted by the fire were four figures. Neptune and Uranus knew who they were without even turning around to see.
"I can't forgive you burning down a place where wishes come true," Sailor Moon said. "Agent of love and justice, Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
The sailor scouts left the shadows to join Uranus and Neptune. Sailors Mercury and Moon on one side, Sailors Venus and Jupiter on the other. Sailor Mars was nowhere to be seen. From the burning shrine, the laughter intensified.
"Excellent. Now that we're all together, I would like to formally introduce myself," Cano said with a bow. "I am Cano, Lord of Fire, and these are my associates."
He gestured widely behind him to the flames. The laughter died down and four identical figures emerged. They had yellow skin and no hair and seemed to be made of fire as they flowed in and out of the burning shrine. Only their black eyes and smiling mouths separated them from the flames.
"Fire Imps, spring the trap!" Cano ordered as he disappeared.
The four figures leapt forward.
"Deep Submerge!" Neptune called.
The closest imp was struck by the attack and thrown back into the fire. Seconds later, it was back, larger than it had been before.
"Crescent Beam!" Venus said, aiming at another imp.
It too was thrown back into the fire only to emerge stronger. Sailor Mercury blinked in surprise and made a few calculations with her VR visor and computer.
"Keep them away from the fire!" Mercury called. "It's where the get their strength!"
Sailor Neptune exchanged a look with Sailor Uranus and the two scouts leapt over the four imps to place themselves between the enemies and the burning shrine. The imps looked at each other in alarm.
"Deep Submerge!" Neptune called.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury added.
The two attacks converged as one, eliminating the imps.
Lord Cano turned away in disgust. He had watched the entire battle from behind the shrine. His imps had been defeated too easily. He was mad at himself for underestimating the Sailor Scouts. Next battle he knew he would get them.
Cano turned to leave but was stopped by a figure standing in the forest. He squinted in the darkness and saw it was another scout.
"Leaving so soon?" Mars asked.
Lord Cano smiled to himself. The fire sailor scout was soot covered and burned. He finally realized why his queen had chosen the remote shrine as her first target. Sailor Mars took a fighting stance.
"Do you think fire can harm me?" Can asked incredulously. "I control fire. I am the Lord and Master of flame!"
Mars stared at him. "We'll see about that."
"Burning Mandala!"
Lord Cano held up his hand and the circles of fire disappeared. Sailor Mars stared in disbelief.
"Shall I fight fire with fire?" Cano asked.
He stretched his hand forward, palm facing Sailor Mars, and she was consumed in flames. Mars crossed her arms over her face, shielding herself from the flames as her skirt and hair ignited.
"Fire Soul!" Mars shouted.
Her fire leapt through Cano's wall and struck him in the chest. He stepped backwards, more shocked than injured. His face contorted in anger and he intensified the fire around Mars.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!"
The fire was extinguished as Sailor Mercury appeared. Sailor Moon was behind her.
"Mars!" Sailor Moon cried.
"Now, Sailor Moon," Mercury reminded her.
Sailor Moon drew out her scepter. "Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" she called.
Lord Cano vanished before the attack could hit him. Sailor Mars sank to her knees and the others ran to help her. They brought her carefully to where the others waited and Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus went to find Rei's grandfather to make sure he was all right.
Sailor Neptune's head suddenly twirled around to stare into the dark forest. Sailor Uranus followed her partner's gaze, knowing better than to doubt Neptune's intuition.
"What is it?" Uranus asked.
Sailor Moon looked up in curiousity. Neptune's eyes lingered on the forest for a few more seconds before she turned to the others and smiled.
"Nothing," she said. "I thought I saw something."
Sailor Moon smiled, but Uranus gave her a penetrating look. Neptune gestured minutely with her head back to the forest, and Uranus looked. Her face grew grim when she saw what had captured Neptune's attention.
From the darkness of the forest, Kami disappeared.
In the early morning light, the flames finally died down. Rei and her grandfather stood in front of the blackened shell that had once been their home. The roof had collapsed, walls had fallen down, and nothing remained behind. A tear slid down Rei's cheek.
"We'll just have to rebuild," her grandfather said.
Rei nodded wordlessly, still shocked over the loss of her home. Her grandfather turned to look up at her.
"Why don't you stay at your friend's house for a while?" he suggested. "Concentrate on your school work and leave me to oversee the construction."
Rei returned his look. "I can't do that, Grandfather. The shrine is as much my home as yours. I want to help."
Her grandfather smiled. "You will help, Rei, but your school is important too. I would feel better knowing that your life wasn't completely shattered by this."
Rei's mouth curled into a slight smile. "You're right, Grandfather. I talked with Ami a few minutes ago and she offered to take me in. I refused, but I think I'll see if the offer is still open."
Her grandfather smiled back. "Good girl, Rei. Don't worry — you'll be back at the shrine in no time, when it's built bigger and better than before."
Rei's smile turned sad and she was left alone with her thoughts of her home, Cano, and the mysterious evil queen who wanted her world destroyed.