JUPITER'S GREAT ESCAPE
Azurite lay on her bed deep in the Negaverse. Pain swept through her battered body from the previous day's punishment. She felt tired and lost, afraid and angry. She clenched her fists and raised an opened hand. The third Rainbow Crystal appeared within it and she watched it sparkle in the dim light. Through the yellow glass, she could make out the dark, sleeping form of the Shadow Warrior. A slow smile crept over her face. This one was the fiercest of them all. Surely it will kill one of them. She laughed at their fate and at the reward that would come to her when they were all finally gone.
Deep in the maze of caverns, a pulsing sound echoed. It was weak at first, but it grew stronger with each passing day. It knew that it would be a long time before it would be strong once more. It could also sense that another would be joining it — a kindred spirit whose beat would echo in harmony with its own sound. A pulse of hope in a place otherwise filled with hopelessness.
Lita was hard at work in her kitchen. She stirred her soup for a moment and quickly added diced carrots to the mixture. She paused only for a second to wipe the water from her face before checking the pie she had in the oven. Raye stood by the table, neatly fixing the plates. Amy added fresh flowers as a center piece and the two stood back to admire their work. Lita took her pie from the oven and tasted the soup. Serena was beside her, making sandwiches. She had a pile of ripped bread to her right, and a fresh loaf Lita had just baked to her left. Between, the messy counter showed a small pile of completed sandwiches.
"How's that?" Serena asked, wiping some food from her cheek.
Lita looked critically at the other's work. She made a face at the mess, but when she raised her eyes and saw Serena's proud expression, she knew she had to lie.
"They're perfect, Serena. They can go on the table," Lita approved.
Soon, the four of them were eating the delicious meal. Lita wiped her hands on her apron and smiled at her friends.
"So, what do you think?" she asked.
"Delicious!" Amy exclaimed.
"Wonderful!" Raye added.
"Can I have more soup?" Serena asked through a mouthful of sandwich.
Serena raised her head and noticed the empty plates of her friends. "Hey, why aren't you eating the sandwiches I made?"
Amy smiled. "We're saving room, Serena."
"Besides, you've eaten most of them yourself," Raye added.
Lita carefully poured more soup into Serena's bowl. "Don't fill yourself up, there's still pie for desert!" she warned.
"Great! I love your pie!" Serena said brightly.
The sun was setting as Lita brought out the pie. Amy and Raye each took a small piece and Serena helped herself to the rest.
"Serena! Don't be such a pig! Lita might want some, you know," Raye scolded.
Lita shook her head. "Let Serena eat it. I can easily make another. I'm glad she likes it so much," she said.
Serena stuck her tongue out at Raye and shoveled more pie into her mouth.
Outside the window of Lita's kitchen, Azurite watched them. She knew who they were and what they could become. Rutile knew she knew as well. That was why she had not yet been destroyed. As long as Azurite kept the Sailor Scout's identities to herself, Rutile would keep her around. In her hand, she played with the third crystal.
"I should save this for when they're weaker," she told herself.
Smiling, she disappeared into the night.
The next afternoon, Lita was walking home from school alone. She hummed softly to herself and swung her bag at her side. She heard someone running behind her, and turned to greet them. It was Luna who stopped next to Lita.
"Hi, Luna," she greeted the cat.
"Hello, Lita. Where's Serena?" Luna asked.
"Detention," Lita answered with a smile. "She was late again."
Luna sighed. "I guess I'll go wait for her," she said.
"Amy's sitting outside doing homework. You can talk with her, if you like," Lita told her.
Luna nodded, thanked Lita, and ran off in the direction Lita had come from. When she was out of sight, Lita continued to head home. She rounded a corner and saw Azurite standing there, waiting for her. Lita dropped her school bag to one side and assumed a fighter's stance.
"Come, come, Sailor Jupiter. You can't be that eager to destroy me," Azurite said with a laugh.
"You killed my good friend, and for that, I'm going to kill you!" Lita vowed.
"I didn't kill your friend. The Shadow Warrior did, and don't worry, you'll join her soon," Azurite promised.
Lita yelled in rage and charged at the general. Azurite vanished and reappeared behind the school girl. Lita stumbled to a halt, turned, and faced her enemy again.
"Please, Lita," Azurite said almost pleadingly. "Let's go to a more fitting area."
A portal opened behind Lita. Azurite held up her hand toward Lita and the girl flew backwards into the dark circle. Azurite calmly walked up to it and stepped inside. It closed behind them, leaving the street deserted save for Lita's abandoned school bag.
Lita found herself once again in the caves of the Negaverse. She rose to her feet and looked around. Azurite was no where to be seen. Lita held up her powerstick.
"Jupiter Star Power!" she yelled, transforming into Sailor Jupiter.
Azurite emerged in front of her, laughing softly. Jupiter reassumed her fighter's stance and glared at the general. Azurite made no move, but continued laughing.
"Laugh at this, jerk!" Jupiter shouted. An antennae rose from her tiara and electricity began to gather around her.
"Jupiter Lightning Spark!" she cried.
Azurite dissolved and reemerged in a different spot. Jupiter tried again and failed. Each time it seemed her attack was about to hit, Azurite would disappear and the electricity would strike the stone walls of the cavern.
"Please, this is a peaceful gesture. I want to talk to you," Azurite said.
"I have nothing to say to a lying, cheating, dirty, slimy Nega scum like you!" Sailor Jupiter yelled.
"I am not dirty!" Azurite protested.
She waved her hand and they were moved to a different cavern. In it were many bodies laying on stone beds. Azurite was no where to be seen and Jupiter relaxed slightly. She walked among the many rows, reading the names of the Negaverse rulers who had killed them, or ordered them killed.
She came to Queen Beryl's section and shed a tear for Nephlyte, who Molly had loved. She paused before Queen Serenity as well, and said a prayer for her soul. At last, she came to Sailor Venus. Her friend appeared to be asleep, but Jupiter wept just the same. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she lay her friend's hands on her stomach and arranged her hair nicely, so it framed her face. Lita straightened out Mina's clothes and stepped back. Azurite came between them.
"She is here in a place of honour among our enemies," Azurite whispered softly.
With another wave of her hand, Lita was back on the street where she had been taken from, her heart heavy and her eyes full of tears.
Azurite smiled evilly as Lita walked slowly down the street. Her plan had worked. Sailor Jupiter had become weaker, seeing her best friend's body. Now, Sailor Moon would be next and the Dark Scout would destroy her once and for all.
Serena called her friend later that night.
"Lita, are you all right?" she asked.
"Yeah, I guess. A funny thing happened to me on the way home, that's all," Lita answered gloomily.
Serena waited for a few seconds.
"Well," she said finally, "what happened?"
"Azurite came and took me to see Mina."
There was a shocked silence on the other line. At Serena's house, Luna was being told what Lita just said.
"Ask her if she's hurt," Luna said.
"No, nothing happened. I'm just depressed," Lita answered after Serena repeated the question.
"Do you want me to come over?" Serena asked gently.
"No, I'm gonna make myself a cake to cheer me up," Lita replied.
"A cake! Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Serena said.
Lita laughed for the first time that evening. She could picture Serena's face lighting up at the mention of food. Almost instantaneously, the face of Serena was replaced by the image of Sailor Venus, lying cold and alone in the Negaverse.
"I'll save you a piece and bring it to school tomorrow," Lita promised. Her voice choked and she could feel the tears forming again.
"Great. I'll try to get to school in time for lunch," Serena said.
They both said good bye and hung up. Luna looked at Serena questioningly.
"What do you mean, you'll try to get to school in time for lunch?" Luna demanded.
At school the next day, Lita was eating under her usual tree when Serena and Amy came over. They ate together in silence until Serena coughed politely.
"Uh, Lita?" she said.
Lita handed her the piece of cake.
"Thanks, but that's not what I was going to ask," Serena said.
"Sorry, Serena. I'm just very tired today," Lita apologized.
"What for?" Amy asked.
Lita turned to her friends. "I had a bad dream, that's all," she said.
"We're studying dreams in my psychology class, maybe I can tell you what it means," Amy said.
Serena swallowed a mouthful of cake. "What psychology class? There's no class like that here," she said.
Amy blushed slightly. "I know. I'm taking it at the university," she confessed.
"University? As in, after high school?" Serena gasped.
Amy nodded, her face reddening. Lita rolled her eyes and began.
"Well, it started by reliving when Mina died. I saw her tell us to leave and then watched her be destroyed. She brought down the ceiling of the cavern to crush the monster. Then, the rest of us were back in the Negaverse, fighting again. Amy was lying on the floor and Raye was crouched beside her. I stepped forward and then . . ," Lita said.
"Yes, then what?" Amy asked.
"It ended."
Amy thought about what her friend had just said. Serena ate her lunch and most of Lita's until Amy spoke again.
"I believe that your dream was trying to warn you about the third Shadow Warrior. Perhaps you're going to beat the monster yourself," she said. "Or join Sailor Venus," she added more quietly.
From behind them, someone popped up out of the bushes. Serena cried out in alarm until she realized who it was.
"Hi dee hi everybody! Did I hear someone talking about monsters?" Melvin asked.
"Go away, Melvin, this doesn't concern you," Serena snapped.
"Really? Then I guess you don't want to hear what I know about the missing Sailor Venus," Melvin said, coming out of the bushes and joining the girls uninvited.
"What do you know about her?" Lita asked.
"Well, my sources tell me she quit the Sailor Scouts and moved somewhere else, and do you know what's funny? This new girl Mina at the other school disappeared around the same time! Do you think Sailor Venus kidnapped her?" Melvin said.
Serena, Amy, and Lita exchanged a three way glance.
"Just who are your sources, Melvin?" Amy questioned.
"They're very good. Two of them claim to know the Sailor Scouts real identities!" Melvin bragged.
Serena began to laugh and soon Lita joined her. Amy smiled and looked at the confused boy in front of her.
"Thank you Melvin. Now, we'd appreciate some privacy," Amy said nicely.
Melvin got up and left without saying another word. He was muttering to himself as he walked away in obvious confusion.
As soon as he had gone, Azurite took his place. She appeared from around the tree and waited for them to acknowledge her. The girls got up and stood boldly in front of her, defying them without saying a word. Azurite threw the yellow crystal up into the air and caught it. The sunlight played off of it until the general's hand was firmly around it again.
"You scouts are tricky to find, but now that I've got you, I can get rid of you! Come with me to my home!" Azurite said.
A portal appeared a step behind them and Azurite lured them in. From behind some bushes, Melvin watched. The sparkling of the crystal had attracted his attention, so he had returned to his hiding place to see what was going on. He couldn't hear what was happening, but saw as Azurite and the girls vanished.
In a short time they were in the Negaverse caves. Azurite was no where to be seen but there was another Shadow Warrior waiting for them. It was larger than the previous two and seemed to be made entirely of muscle. It waited patiently for the battle to begin.
"Moon Crisis Transform!" Serena called.
"Jupiter Star Power!" Lita yelled.
"Mercury Star Power!" Amy cried.
They stood together, staring at the newest enemy. Suddenly, from behind them, a voice spoke.
"It sure took you guys long enough to get here."
They turned and saw Sailor Mars, ready for action. She walked to where they stood and together, they faced the oncoming threat.
"Mars Comet Blaze!" Sailor Mars said.
The comets hit their mark, but the creature didn't slow or show any signs of weakness.
"Let's double team this one, Mercury" Jupiter suggested.
Sailor Mercury nodded and crossed her arms. The floor seemed to be getting wet around her as she waited. Suddenly, it rose up like a spiral.
"Mercury Water Splash!" she cried.
The yellow Shadow monster was soaked with water. The spiral continued to hit it as it cried out in surprise.
"Jupiter Lightning Spark!" Sailor Jupiter added.
A single spark of electricity hit the water and flowed to its victim. The Shadow screamed as it was electrocuted. The two scouts held it for as long as their energy allowed.
"Try your moonbeam attack, Sailor Moon," Mars suggested.
"I don't think it'll work without Jenny," she protested.
"Try anyway. That monster doesn't need that much more to turn back into another crystal," Mars urged.
Sailor Moon placed one finger above the jewel on her tiara. She faced the Shadow.
"Moonbeam Attack!" she summoned.
A single, thin beam came and hit the creature. Along with the water and electricity, the shadow gave up and was defeated. Sailor Moon picked up the third crystal.
"Don't celebrate yet," Azurite advised them.
She hovered in mid-air with the fourth crystal in her hand. Without any warning, she dropped it to the floor.
"Green Crystal! Release your captive!" she commanded.
The crystal shattered and out came another Shadow Warrior. It roared and charged the scouts. They jumped clear and were scattered to different parts of the cave. Sailor Jupiter exhaled sharply and passed a hand over her brow.
"Great. I'm too tired to fight this," she said.
The fight didn't go too well for the scouts from that point on. Sailor Mercury was picked up and flung like a rag doll where she hit the rock wall and lay still. Sailor Mars had many cuts and scrapes on her before being hit by a blast of dark energy. She rolled and crouched beside her fallen friend.
This is just like my dream, Jupiter thought.
She felt a new power inside her. Hesitantly, she looked around at her friends. The Shadow was headed for Sailor Moon, who was holding her tiara in one hand. Jupiter's eyebrows knit in determination and she held up her powerstick.
"Jupiter Portal Open!" she cried.
A portal appeared near Mercury and Mars. Sailor Moon ducked under the Shadow's clumsy punch and ran to her friends. Jupiter stood at the portal entrance and ushered her friends through.
"What about you?" Sailor Moon asked.
"I know what I have to do. It's been fun, you guys, and I have no regrets. If I get out of this alive, you'll know. Now go!" she said, pushing all three through.
As the portal closed behind her, she turned back to the monster. Azurite watched from above, curiousity getting the better of her. Sailor Jupiter took a fighter's stance and the antennae rose from her tiara. Azurite's eyes widened in surprise as she realized the scout was drawing her own life power as well as the power from the room. Sailor Jupiter held both hands above her head as a massive ball appeared and she hurled it at the Shadow with all her might.
"Jupiter Energy Charge!" she yelled.
She fell to the ground as her energy sped to the monster. The fourth Shadow Warrior yelled in pain and was destroyed. The green crystal appeared in its place, only to vanish a second later. Beside the fallen sailor scout, a green powerstick fell from a limp hand and disappeared as well.
Serena, Amy and Raye once again found themselves in Amy's apartment where they waited nervously for their friend. Serena paced while the others watched from where they sat on the bed. They knew what could happen, but Lita was stronger than them all. If anyone could return, it would be her.
"She's coming, I know it! We're the good guys, we can't loose!" Serena said, her hands clenched into tight fists and her eyes watering.
Suddenly, they saw a picture of Lita, smiling down at them from a cheerful place.
So long! Give one to Prince Rutile for me! it said to them.
At Serena's feet appeared the green crystal and Jupiter's powerstick. Tears rolled down her cheeks at the sight of them, and she fell to her knees and cried. Serena held the powerstick tightly in her hand.
"I vow to you right now, Lita, that your death and Mina's will be avenged. Prince Rutile will never rule Earth as long as Sailor Moon is here to stop him!" she cried.
"As long as Sailor Mercury is here, they won't go unpunished!" Amy joined.
"Together, we'll protect the innocent!" Raye vowed.
"Scouts Honour!" they said, holding their powersticks high.