SO LONG, SAILOR SUN?
"Moon Tiara Magic," Sailor Moon cried.
The flying discus soared towards the monster. Terrified, it turned and fled.
"Mars Firebird Strike," Sailor Mars called from the other side of the creature.
It stopped dead in its tracks as the Firebird and the tiara both struck at the same time. Crying out in pain and anger, the monster melted into a pile of dust.
"Got'em," Sailor Moon said.
Sailor Mercury got up from where the monster had left her. She shook her head to clear her mind and leaned against the wall.
"Why did the monster come here? It's just an abandoned factory," Sailor Mars asked to no one in particular.
"Hey guys, can you help me down now?" a voice from directly above them called.
Sailors Moon, Mars and Mercury looked up and saw Sailor Sun hanging from a beam on the ceiling. She was tied by a rope around one arm, just above the elbow and was kicking her feet in the air.
"Oh yeah, sorry," Sailor Moon said, throwing her tiara up again.
The rope broke and Sailor Sun fell heavily into a large pile of old boxes. The other three scouts went over to help her up.
"Thanks for the soft landing," Sailor Sun said sarcastically.
Sailor Moon shrugged.
"So, what happened last night?" Lita asked.
The girls sat around their usual tree eating lunch after a hard morning of classes. Serena had just arrived an hour ago and was already complaining about her day.
"It was an abandoned factory," Amy said, voicing Raye's complaint of the previous night. "I can't understand why we were lured there."
Lita nodded. "I know what you mean. Mina, Luna, Artemis, and I ended up just outside of town where no one lives."
"Guys," Serena wailed, "what am I going to do about my test?"
"Study?" Jenny suggested calmly.
Serena stuck out her tongue at her friend. Jenny giggled and tried to return her attention to Amy and Lita's conversation. She scratched her arm absently.
"Maybe they were distracting us so they could steal something," Jenny suggested.
"That's not really the Negaverse's style," Lita replied. "They don't normally waste energy brining monsters to life unless it was for something important."
Jenny scratched her arm again. Amy blinked in surprise.
"Jenny, what's wrong with your arm?" she asked.
"Huh?" Jenny said, obviously caught off guard. "Oh, nothing. Just an itch."
She moved away her sleeve to show Amy there was nothing to worry about. On her arm, above her elbow, was an outline of a circle.
"Isn't that the arm you were hanging from?" Serena asked quietly.
"Yeah," Jenny said. "It's just an irritation. Rope burn or something. Don't worry about it."
Serena shrugged and returned to her lunch. Amy did the same, but kept looking at the newest scout with worry in her eyes. Amy suspected the mark was more than it appeared to be.
"Come on!" Sailor Jupiter shouted.
The other scouts hurried to catch up with their energetic friend. The monster they were chasing had taken to the rooftops, and Sailors Jupiter, Venus, and Sun were following it while the others ran along the streets.
Sailor Sun hopped to another rooftop and nearly ran into Sailor Venus as the girl stopped dead. The monster had also stopped its flight and turned to face them. The creature resembled a cat, with feline features and long, pointed ears. It hissed angrily and stretched out its arms. The Sailor Scouts were forced to jump away as long, sharp claws sprang from its fingertips.
"Day-Star Solar Ray Charge!" Sailor Sun shouted.
The cat creature was struck and partially immobilized.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" Sailor Moon cried.
The monster dissolved into dust. As it faded, Sailors Jupiter, Venus, and Sun could see Sailors Moon, Mercury, and Mars standing on the other side of the roof.
"Great job!" Sailor Venus exclaimed.
"Not so fast," a voice said from nowhere.
The scouts looked around in confusion. Suddenly, a dark portal opened up on the roof and a man stepped out. He was tall, with pale white skin, jet black hair, and intense blue eyes. He wore a gray uniform typical of Negaverse generals that had a black stripe across the shoulders. Stepping toward the scouts, he mock-applauded them, clapping his gloved hands together.
"Well done Sailor Scouts," he said, "but I'm afraid you haven't even begun to face my power."
"Who are you?" Sailor Moon asked.
"I am Granite, disciple of the Master of the Negaverse," the stranger introduced himself with a slight bow. "It my sworn duty to destroy you."
"I'm afraid we're not that easy to get rid of," Sailor Jupiter said.
Granite smiled and Sailor Sun felt a chill go down her spine. His eyes leveled with hers as he spoke. "I don't think I have to worry about that."
Sailor Sun scratched her arm as the mark from the day before started to burn. Granite's smile broadened.
"You've defeated my monster, so I won't trouble you anymore tonight," Granite said. "But believe me, we will meet again. Nega-Away!"
Granite vanished with a flash of dark energy. The Sailor Scouts turned to face one another.
"So, he's our new enemy," Sailor Jupiter remarked conversationally. "He doesn't look that tough."
"He's the one I met in the alley that night," Sailor Sun said quietly. "The one who told me his Master wanted to see me."
Sailor Moon looked at her friend with worry in her eyes. "Don't worry, Jenny," she said. "The Negaverse will never get you as long as we're around."
The other scouts nodded in agreement. Sailor Sun managed a weak smile, but didn't feel as confident as her friends.
"Granite you continue to disappoint me," Prince Rutile, Ruler of the Negaverse, said. "You should have had it by now."
He sat on the throne once occupied by Queen Beryl and stared down at his general with hard, green eyes. His red hair lay unbound on his shoulders and his jewel incrusted crown perched atop his head. He wore a pale purple uniform resembling that of a colonel in the army and a flowing black cape lined with gold.
"I am sorry, my Master, but these girls are powerful enemies," Granite apologized.
"They are children, fool! Take advantage of one of their weakest points and trap them!" Prince Rutile yelled.
"Yes, my Master. You have given me a great plan. I will not fail again," Granite promised.
"I hope not Granite, for your sake. You are easily replaceable and my dear departed sister has given me many ideas," Rutile warned.
"Yes, my Master," Granite said.
He bowed and disappeared from the Prince's throne room.
"Halite! Albite! Come forward," Rutile called.
Two identical twin generals stepped from the shadows. They both had white hair and red, evil eyes. They were tall and muscular and often finished each other's sentences.
"Yes, my Master?" they said in unison.
"You two shall succeed Granite when he has failed. I want you to keep a close eye on him," Rutile ordered.
"It shall be . . ," Halite began.
" . . . as you command, Master," Albite finished.
"Good. Now, go!" Rutile said as the twins vanished.
Jenny, Serena, Mina, and Molly headed to the mall. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and, much to Luna's despair, the girls had decided to spend in indoors. Molly had read about a new shop that was offering fifty percent off nearly everything in the store and the girls had decided to check it out.
Jenny felt haunted by the piercing gaze of Granite as he told her friends he would not be the one to destroy them. Something in that look had made Jenny very nervous about her next meeting with the Negaverse general. She thought she saw him all over the place, waiting for her to be alone so he could strike. She absently scratched her arm as she looked around.
"There it is," Serena said triumphantly.
At the base of a slight hill was the Crossroads Mall. It seemed full of life as cars drove by and people filtered in and out of the doors. Jenny smiled and her paranoia almost disappeared as she thought of what fun she often had while shopping. Serena grabbed her arm and pulled her the rest of the way.
They walked for a while, taking in the sights of the place. Serena found a store that offered free food samples and nearly got them all kicked out of the mall, and Molly bought a CD she had been searching for. As they shopped, a strange sensation swept over Jenny.
"Are you okay?" Mina asked after a while.
Jenny fought off a wave of dizziness and moved to a nearby bench. "Yeah," she replied. "I just need to sit down for a minute."
"I'll meet you in that jewelry store," Molly said. "Come on, Serena."
The two girls left and Mina sat beside Jenny.
"I feel like something is pulling at me from the inside," Jenny said, putting her head in her hands. "I don't know what it is."
Mina said nothing, but smiled supportively.
"Ever since that meeting with Granite, I've felt strange," Jenny continued. "Its almost like he knows something about me that I don't."
Jenny rubbed her arm and Mina noticed the mark was beginning to glow. Suddenly, Serena came running out of the store.
"Amy just called me," she said softly. "We have Negaverse trouble in the park. I told Molly we had to leave."
Mina and Jenny nodded and the three girls left.
When Sailors Moon, Venus, and Sun arrived in the park, they found Sailors Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter already there, but no monster was anywhere to be found. Luna and Artemis were prowling the area, apparently searching for something.
"Did you dust it before we got here?" Sailor Moon asked hopefully.
Sailor Mars shook her head. "The Great Fire told us there was a monster here, sucking the energy out of a group of people. I saw it clearly."
"Maybe you were mistaken," Sailor Venus said.
"I saw it clearly," Mars repeated, pronouncing each word slowly and angrily. "Luna and Artemis are trying to track it."
Sailor Sun walked around the area where they stood. She hugged her arms to herself, but the mark where the rope had burned her glowed visibly. An evil laugh echoed through the park and a large, black cloud covered the sky.
"Uh oh," Sailor Jupiter said, looking up at the sky. "I think the monster is about to find us."
"Sailor Sun!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
The newest scout had fallen to one knee and was clutching her arm tightly. Her face was a mask of pain. Sailor Moon rushed over to where her friend knelt and put a hand on her shoulder. Instantly, Sailor Moon jerked her hand away, as if she had been burned. The laugh echoed again.
"Sailor Mercury!" Sailor Moon cried.
Mercury had her visor in place and was scanning the area. "Strong readings, guys," she remarked. "Most of them are focused on, or around, Sailor Sun."
"Get ready girls," Luna said. "This is going to be big!"
The dark cloud parted and a man appeared as a ray of dark light streamed from the sky. He brushed his uniform off casually and smiled at the girls.
"Granite!" they all gasped at once.
Granite bowed his head in acknowledgement and walked to where Sailor Sun knelt. She was struggling to stand, but any movement brought her quickly to both knees. Granite stood in front of her and looked down.
"Mars Firebird Strike!" Sailor Mars shouted.
As the firebird streaked towards Granite, the Negaverse general held out a hand. A ball of dark energy engulfed the fiery attack and extinguished it.
"Jupiter Thunder Dragon!" Sailor Jupiter yelled.
Again, Granite repelled the attack. Sailor Sun had managed to rise to her feet, but was doubled over in pain, one hand still clenching her glowing arm.
"Now, Sunchild," Granite said in a calm voice, "I believe you have something that belongs to my master."
Sailor Sun blinked in confusion and Granite took a step away from her. The other scouts could only watch as the Negaverse general stretched out a hand, forming another dark ball of energy.
"Nega-Remove!" he called.
The energy flew towards Sailor Sun and struck her full force in the chest. She screamed in pain as the dark energy was absorbed into her and fell to her knees. Sailor Moon tried to run to her, but the other scouts held her back.
Suddenly, Sailor Sun arched backwards until her head was nearly touching the ground behind her. Light shone around her, both light and dark, and her mouth was open in a silent scream. Granite watched and a look of frustration passed over his face. Slowly, a shadow of dark energy began to separate itself from Sailor Sun. The light energy quickly repulsed it, pushing it back into the girl's body. The two forces struggled with each other back and forth for what seemed like an eternity before they both exploded in a blinding light that forced everyone to look away.
When the Sailor Scouts and Granite turned back, Sailor Sun was gone and Jenny lay on the ground, unconscious.
"Jenny!" Sailor Moon cried.
She ran to where her friend lay, but Granite shot balls of black energy at her. Sailor Moon stumbled backwards, but continued to try and reach her friend.
"Venus Love-chain Encircle!" Sailor Venus cried, pointing to Granite.
As the Negaverse general struggled to rid himself of the heart chain, Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury reached Jenny. They crouched down next to her.
"She's alive," Mercury said with a smile, "barely."
"We have to get her out of here," Sailor Moon said.
"Not so fast," Granite's voice came from above them. "She still has something my Master needs. If she won't give it up willingly, I'm afraid I'll have to take her with me."
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury stood up. "You'll have to get through us first."
"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Sailor Mercury called.
Granite brushed them off with no apparent effort.
"Moon Scepter Elimination!" Sailor Moon cried, pointing her scepter at him.
Granite was thrown backwards, but he only rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and laughed.
"Nega-Transport!" he shouted.
The still form of Jenny slowly began to sink into a dark portal. Sailor Moon frantically tried to grab her friend, but it was no use. Still laughing, Granite snapped his fingers and vanished as well.
Sailor Moon sank to the ground, staring at the place where Jenny once was. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held her scepter in her lap.
"We'll get her back," Sailor Mars said.
The park seemed unusually quiet as the five scouts mourned the loss of their friend.
Jenny woke up with a groan. Every muscle in her body seemed to ache as she slowly rose to her feet. She blinked in surprise as she realized she was no longer in the park. Instead she was in a dark, dismal cave and was looking through the bars of a cage. Sitting in front of her cage at a small table, was Granite.
"Where am I?" Jenny asked.
"The Negaverse," Granite replied. He stood and opened his arms to indicate the cave. "Do you like it?"
Jenny shook her head. "What do you want from me?"
"You possess a certain . . . something that my Master finds most interesting," Granite answered. "I tried to take it from you, but since you wouldn't cooperate, I'm afraid we're going to have to keep you here until we can figure out how to get it."
"You'll never get away with this!" she yelled at Granite.
Granite laughed and sat back down. "Really? It appears I already have."
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