Souls of Fire

by Razorclaw X

Picking up where 'The Geometry of Shattered Souls' and 'The Geometry of Vanished Souls' left off, the Fenril Knights emerge to challenge the authority of Crystal Tokyo. In the wake of the Black Moon War the fifth and final of the Children of Chaos works t

3. Symphony of Fire

Souls of Fire #3: Symphony of Fire

Ranma 1/2 VS Sailor Moon

Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NYChotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/sm/index.html

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and characters belong to
Naoko Takeuchi. Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to
Rumiko Takahashi. Proper licenses belong to respective
properties and characters. The manga has precedence
over material in the anime.

This file can be freely distributed so long as it
appears in its complete form and proper credit. No
part may be reproduced for monetary gain without
permission from the author.

----------------------------------------------------

Inner Sanctum, Crystal Palace

Sleep was not easy to come for Neo Queen Serenity as
she lay on her vast bed, alone in the silence of the
night. She stared upward, toward the ceiling, and
wondered how so many things could go wrong this early
in her rule.

However, the thought was shaken as the reflection she
saw herself in on the crystal ceiling vanished,
transforming into a dark, hooded shape. The queen's
eyes widened immediately when she realized who it was.

"Death Phantom!" she gasped.

"You are Neo Queen Serenity," the shade said, eyes
illuminating under the darkness of the rust-blue hood.
"Excellent."

Serenity puzzled over the odd remark for a moment,
then brushed it off. "What do you want?"

"We will meet again in three nights hence," Death
Phantom said, and Serenity knew well enough that it
was not a request. "In the crystal garden of your very
palace I will wait for you. There is much to discuss."

"Why should we wait for three days?" asked the
queen. "What is your game, Death Phantom?"

"Consider this," he warned. "If any other than
yourself are present in the garden at this same time of
the night as that date, then the lives of your precious
citizens cannot be guaranteed. Bring no weapons nor
allies. I will be waiting in three days."

"Wait!" she cried, just as the shade transformed
back into her own reflection.

---

Rec Room, Mishima Heavy Industries

By the time Shizuka lead Ami into the recreational
room, very few people occupied it, as many drifted off
to their own quarters for the night. Even though it
seemed a bit early to turn in for Ami, she realized,
by glancing at the wall clock, that Shizuka was
actually taking her time in putting away her groceries.

Not that it was totally unenlightening to Ami. The
girl was a priestess of Genbu, she learned, one of the
four factions that made their home in the abandoned
Shrine of the Four Gods. The disguised soldier was
severely tempted to tell Shizuka more about the fate of
her missing friends and comrades, but thought better of
it; although Sailor Mercury knew the answer, Ami
Mizuno did not, and telling Shizuka would likely not
win any favors.

One thing was certain; Ami determined that Suzaku,
the fire god, was the rival of Genbu, the water god,
which probably explained the reason Shizuka readily
attacked Mars at the Hikawa Shrine.

And while Mars seemed to have a little trouble
keeping up with the girl, Shizuka herself admitted she
was a terrible fighter, now that her talisman no longer
function. Ami hardly believed her; anyone walking
around with two swords tied to their belts had to be
at least a little competent.

Near the back end of the rec room Ami spied the one
person occupying the room, her back toward the two
girls, facing the large television set displaying the
late night news. Propped on the seat next to her was
a long naginata, with an equally long thick leather
strap hanging loosely from the head to presumably the
other end of the staff.

The girl tied her hair in a pony tail, tied off with
a green ribbon, contrasting with her violet combat
dress. She wore a brass necklace around her neck,
linked in chains, but Ami could not tell what was
hanging off it.

"Kanna," Shizuka said, "you're still here?"

She turned around, and Ami caught a glimpse of the
large amethyst crystal hanging off the necklace. "Oh,
you brought a friend?"

"This is Ami Mizuno," the priestess introduced.
"Ami, this is Kanna Rajura. Some people call her the
'Crystal Spider.'"

'Crystal Spider,' Ami repeated in her mind. That
name sounds vaguely familiar. "Pleased to meet you."
She held out her hand, and Kanna accepted, shaking
strongly.

"So Ayame actually let you in?" began Kanna. "You
must be of some use to her, then."

"Pardon?"

"Not just anybody gets into the compound," she
elaborated. Kanna shrugged. "Well, I guess we could
use some extra bodies around here."

"Ami's a teacher," Shizuka said, volunteering
information. "Master Higure brought her."

Kanna nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I guess there's
more people to match wits with, then." She turned
toward Ami. "Not a whole lot of geniuses on this boat,
if you catch my drift."

She nodded. "By the way, why do they call you the
'Crystal Spider?'" Ami was starting to get a good idea
where she heard the name from. "It's such an odd
name," she added quickly, realizing that if Kanna was
anywhere near as smart as she claimed to be, she would
pick up on the idea.

But it turned out that Kanna was thinking far from
any past incident. "Well, it's mainly because of this
thing," she answered, holding up her necklace for Ami
to see.

Ami peered closer at the amethyst, and realized
there was a crystallized silk spinner spider encased
within. "That's an interesting piece of art."

"It's belonged to my family for generations," Kanna
continued. "None of us know why it's any special, but
I always wear it. So when I was growing up kids knew
me as the girl with the weird necklace."

She shrugged. "Boys thought it was odd that I wasn't
scared of spiders like most other girls, so they called
me the spider lady, and all kinds of spider names. And
as I got older they got more creative about it, and
eventually 'Crystal Spider' stuck. I kind of like the
sound of it, actually, so that's why it's that."

"Beautiful but dangerous," Shizuka commented.

Kanna gave the priestess a look.

"Hey, I didn't mean it THAT way!"

Ami nodded. There was no doubt in her mind that this
was the same girl that was linked to the house bombing
on the day Death Phantom's presence was detected. The
couple mentioned something about a crystal spider when
they were treated at the hospital, but no one could,
or would, give any information.

And here she was, the criminal responsible for the
destruction. Kanna Rajura must be brought to justice
for her crimes, Ami knew, but she also realized that
now wasn't the time nor the place to bring her to the
court.

"So where's everybody else?" asked Shizuka.

Kanna shrugged. "Well, I wasn't paying attention or
anything... but I heard Kuno was going to try something
tonight. I'd be surprised if he succeeded where
Pantyhose failed."

"'Pantyhose?'" echoed Ami, confused.

"Yeah, that's his name," Kanna replied with a nod.
"The poor bastard... well, maybe he deserves it because
he is a bastard."

All three girls heard a loud hiss. From the ceiling
above the voice of the mercenary Shion said through a
speaker, "Shizuka, would you mind bringing our guest
back to the control center?"

"Well, I guess the tour's over," the priestess of
Genbu declared. Turning toward Kanna she said, "You
can go back to playing the stock market, or whatever
you're doing."

"It was a pleasure to meet you," Kanna said toward
Ami, bowing slightly.

"The same," replied Ami, nodding quickly.

---

Internal Security, Crystal Palace

"Three energy spikes, sir," one of the security
techs said, leaning over his seat.

Sailor Venus approached the man quickly. "Where?"

At the monitor on the security guard's console a map
of the city appeared, with three flashing, red dots at
certain locations. "They're forming a perfect triangle
pattern centering the palace. If I'm not mistaken, it
is likely the enemy is making a move against us."

"It's an invitation," Venus realized. "The three
points are spread too far apart from each other, and
the palace, to harm it directly." She pointed a gloved
finger at one point, near the sea, in the mountainous
region. "That's where I'll be. Ask Mars and Jupiter
to handle the other two."

"What is it?" asked the tech.

"That one in the corner is generating a larger energy
field than the other two," she explained, "so I'm
betting that one is the leader, and the other two are
flunkies."

---

Sea Coast, Northeast of Crystal Tokyo

It took less than half a second for Sailor Venus to
materialize at the coastal region, and she was glad to
learn that her assumption had been correct.

Standing opposite her in a relaxed manner, his back
toward her, was a tall man dressed in a kendo training
uniform, his wooden sword slung at his waist. He
stared upward at the stars, just at the edge of the
cliff that Venus knew fell nearly straight down to the
rocky shoals below. The waves crashed up against the
rocks, creating a strange hypnotic, soothing sound in
the otherwise quiet night.

"Excuse me?" she started, instantly getting a
reaction out of the kendoist.

"Shhh!!" he hissed, turning his head back toward her
angrily. "Do you not hear the calling from beyond the
sea, woman?!"

"It's just the sea...."

"Woven in a sea of beauty," he interrupted, "the song
of the maiden ocean spirits carry to my ears. 'Tis a
rhythm that may soothe the beast, or enlighten the
knowledgable."

He turned around fully, and drew his bokken, gripping
it with both hands, and taking several practice swings
before him. "Would you be the maiden warrior that is
the championed leader of Crystal Tokyo's devoted
defenders?"

"Yeah, I guess that's me," Venus replied with a nod.
"Who are you?"

"I am the one without peer!" he thundered. "The
rising star of the fencing world! The sound of my
voice strikes fear in the hearts of my enemies! My
peers call me the Azure Wind of Tokyo University!
Tatewaki Kuno, age twenty-two."

"O-kay," Venus said, uncertain if she found the right
guy. "So you're challenging me to a duel? I don't
really have a fair sword."

"The weapon is but a deception to the perception of
one's true skill!" Tatewaki replied, holding out his
bokken in a ready stance. "You would do well to
prepare to pay for your crimes!"

Only a fraction of a second passed as Venus realized
that the match had begun, and she was quite unarmed.
The kendoist thrust rapid jabs with his wooden sword
in a blinding speed that it took all of the soldier's
concentration to avoid them all. She knew she was
getting pushed back, and into a wall, but there was
little she could think to do in order to avoid that.

The moment Venus felt the wall behind her she leaped
straight up, forcing Tatewaki to smash his bokken into
the stone cliffside. Pushing herself off the wall she
somersaulted over the kendoist, quickly summoning her
Venus energy sword, and landing on her feet. Turning,
she suppressed surprise when Tatewaki pulled his
bokken out of the cliffside undamaged, leaving several
large holes in the rock.

"Defend yourself, scoundrel!" the kendoist shouted,
committing himself to another fury strike.

This time Venus was ready, as she arced her blade
to parry each blow, but it was as if Tatewaki's
strokes were unaffected, as he pressed on with the same
fury. She dodged to the side, opening Tatewaki's side
for an easy counter blow, and took advantage of it,
driving a well-placed kick in the kendoist's side.
Tatewaki, knocked out of his attack, quickly recovered
from the recoil, and resorted on the more conventional
swings.

Venus took the opportunity to swing the battle in her
favor, making wide cutting arcs and forcing Tatewaki
to parry, as he overcompensated the strikes due to the
light trails from the energy weapon. She was surprised
the bokken remained in working shape despite the
punishment it went through.

But apparently Tatewaki was learning about his
opponent just as fast, if not faster, than Venus was
learning about him. Instead of going for a dedicated
parry as usual, Tatewaki thrust his bokken in quickly
between arcing hits, and Venus moved her head out of
the way in the nick of time. However, even though the
weapon never touched her she felt the attack tear a
cut into her right cheek. As she realized it was
starting to bleed Tatewaki pressed his attack, making
several more dedicated thrusts, this time landing good
hits on her right arm-- her sword arm.

She lost hold over the weapon's existence as the
bruises dominated her mind, and Venus staggered back
defensively, her left arm supporting her injured right
arm. Taking in several desperate breaths, she realized
over the sting of the hurting spots that Tatewaki had
stopped completely, but remained ever-ready to strike
again.

"With defenders as weak as you," Tatewaki said
coldly, "is it a wonder that opponents skilled in the
war arts can beat you so easily?"

"Then you don't know us Sailor Senshi very well, do
you?" Venus countered. "You say you're going to hit me
with that justice of yours, but it's more vengeance
than justice."

"Such shall it be to deceivers as you!" Tatewaki
said angrily. "How dare you interfere with the lives
of my family in such manner as I cannot recognize my
own father? What right have you to dominate the minds
of this Earth with your will, and remove their way of
living?!"

"You're not making sense!" complained the soldier,
stalling for time as she tried to think of a way out of
the mess. "Fighting only creates more problems in the
world! The only way to prevent it is to talk out the
problems, and find a solution both parties can agree
with."

"How naive do you believe I am, woman?!" he roared.
"Though I would hate my father so for the atrocities
he has committed, he is still my father. What you and
your sorceries have done... were they asked for? Were
they necessary?! Why?!"

"Because I'm a soldier of love and justice," she
replied, finalizing her plan. "I fight for the good of
the people, against those who would bring harm to the
Earth, and the rest of the universe. My name is Sailor
Venus!"

She pointed out her right index finger against all
the pain protesting in her mind. "Crescent Beam!"

A ray of energy caught Tatewaki by surprise, and
nothing he could do could deflect a simple attack such
as that. He took the blow squarely in the chest,
throwing the kendoist back and off balance. In the
second of weakness Venus followed-up with the remainder
of her plan.

Quickly she summoned an energy chain into existence,
and flung it at the dazed attacker. The chain
encircled Tatewaki many times, binding him securely,
but he refused to release his grip on the bokken.

Gritting his teeth in anger, Tatewaki charged before
the chain could encircle his legs and feet completely.
Venus rolled to the side quickly, mentally telling
herself, "That was not part of the plan!" and allowing
Tatewaki to continue.

But continue he would not, as the chain finished
binding the kendoist in mid-charge. Tatewaki fought
against the bindings, but fell forward, his bokken
caught on the ground. His momentum carried him
further, however, and the bokken served to fling
Tatewaki into the air.

Venus turned her eyes away as Tatewaki flung to his
death plunge over the edge of the cliff.

---

He had no idea how long he had lay there, with the
sea lapping against his back as Tatewaki lay broken
on the rocky sea coast. Struggling to keep his eyes
open he tried in vain to remember where the black
prism shard had gone, but somehow he remembered it was
hidden in the handle of the bokken.

No matter, it was useless, he thought.

How long ago had it been when he discovered that the
prism crystal that Wiseman gave him served to augment
his already fantastic skills? How long ago had it been
since he and Kodachi left the Kuno estate for the last
time?

How long had Kodachi been standing next to him?

"I... failed," he croaked.

"Please, Brother," she pleaded, "please hang on!"

"Finish it..." he requested, feeling the energy
draining from his body. "Take my... heart...."

For a moment the girl's eyes sobered up from her
sadness. "What... what are you...?"

"In death, my life... serves purpose...." He lost
feeling in his legs, feeling nothing of the rocks they
lay on, nor of the bent bones. For that matter, he
realized, he could not feel himself at all. "Dear
Sister, live on."

Tatewaki Kuno would neither see her reaction, nor
know of what his fateful battle would bring for the
future of the world.

---

Venus picked up the wooden sword, and found it to be
a little heavier than she expected, as the handle end
was weighed down artificially. She had little time to
think of it as she paused to look over the edge, unable
to take her mind off the tragedy she witnessed herself.

Down below, many several meters, she could make out
the prone body of the kendoist Tatewaki, and that of
a second, a girl, apparently. Any speculation as to
her relation to the kendoist disappeared as Venus
realized she was drawing out his heart crystal, black
lightning crackling out of her right palm, sourcing
from a Deathbuster star. The heart crystal glowed with
a high intensity, suggesting it was of a superior
purity.

The girl stared upward, catching a glimpse of Venus
with sadness in her eyes. However, the sadness was
soon replaced with scorn when she realized that the
reason Tatewaki was dead was because of her.

"YOU!!" she screamed, her voice carrying over the
lap of waves against the rocks. "You shall rue the day
you crossed paths with Kuno!"

In a shift of blackness the girl vanished with the
heart crystal, leaving the corpse of her fellow Fenril
Knight alone in the darkness of night.

Venus sighed wearily, and suddenly the sound of the
ocean took on a whole new meaning to her.

"They're never going to stop now," she realized.

---

Ami's Apartment, 10th Street District

Ami collapsed on her bed wearily, holding the black
prism shard in her hand over her.

It was a fragment of the Black Crystal, she had no
doubt about that. If there was a sign that Death
Phantom was involved, this was it.

Each of the Fenril Knights, she learned, carried one
of these shards on their person, in order to travel in
a teleporting fashion similar to the method the
Sailor Senshi used nowadays. Like the standard way,
all one had to do was visualize the location in order
to get there, which was why Higure had to physically
bring her in the first time.

Ami suspected that the shards were also a means of
tracking, therefore it would do her no good to break
her routine now. She guessed that if she went into the
Crystal Palace it would immediately blow her cover.
Still, having the shard should give some kind of
positive benefit on the whole situation.

Realizing the lateness of the hour, Ami nevertheless
set down the shard and produced her communication
mirror out of its hiding place. In a few short moments
she was connected to Neo Queen Serenity's Inner Sanctum
viewscreen, where a tired monarch stood waiting.

"Ami, I am glad you are well," she said, sounding
tired.

"They've invited me to continue visiting them for
the time being," she reported. "So far, I've been able
to determine that a suspect of the bombing a couple
weeks ago is among them. Her name is Kanna Rajura, and
she is called the 'Crystal Spider.' I recommend you
put someone on this."

"I see." The queen nodded. "While you were gone
the others have been rather busy. Two separate
attacks, one this afternoon, and one which concluded a
short time ago. In the first attack a strange young
man with a pantyhose sash attempted to steal a heart
crystal; Mars and Jupiter thwarted him."

"There was talk of someone named 'Pantyhose' in the
Fenril compound," Ami said, nodding.

"Venus handled one of the Fenril Knights, while Mars
and Jupiter disposed of decoy droids," continued
Serenity. "However, during their duel the Fenril
Knight was slain, and his heart crystal taken by
another."

"In other words, they're possibly willing to
sacrifice each other for their mission," noted the
disguised Sailor Senshi. "I've received a shard of the
Black Crystal from them; they use it to teleport at
will. What I find strange is if the Fenril had this
option available, why didn't he retreat?"

Queen Serenity shook her head. "We do not know the
answer, but I will have people search the body for such
a shard." A greater sadness fell in her eyes. "My
dear friend, I continually fear for your safety.
Please do no more than you must, for I have no wish to
lose more people in this struggle, even if it is on
the side of our enemy. The time of war has passed."

Yes, Ami thought, nodding. All everybody wants is
peace and happiness, and while the Fenril Knights were
still running around, with the backing of Death
Phantom, that peace was in jeopardy.

---

Control Center, Mishima Heavy Industries

"Dead," Ayame repeated, still shocked that she would
be announcing this fate on any under her roof. "Dead,
dead, dead...."

Save Shion, the only other occupants of the control
center was Kanna and Shizuka, as Kodachi had long since
locked herself into her quarters. Kanna looked down
toward Shion as she stood next to his seat, a worried
look on her face.

"Face it," Shizuka said, trying to calm down the
leader, "everybody's got to die sometime...."

"Shizuka," Kanna warned, "don't...."

"I mean, it's nothing to look forward to," she
continued, trying to amend her mistake, "but... well,
oh...." She pounded her foot on the ground. "Damn
me."

"Just shut up," Ayame ordered coldly, betraying no
emotion. "Just... shut... up."

"What I want to know is why he didn't come back,"
Shion voiced. "He should've had the prism on him; he
could've avoided his fate."

"Tatewaki's a warrior," Kanna replied, "and he's very
proud. No, he'd never back out of the fight even if
he was losing. Unfortunately, I don't think he's the
only one."

"Then we're just going to have to change that, won't
we?" Ayame said. She eyed the Crystal Spider. "I want
you to use that much-flaunted brain of yours and find
a way to make our attacks more effective. I want to
see some good results tomorrow, before the negative
morale sets in."

"Tomorrow?!" Kanna said, gasping. "That soon?!"

"There's a reason I'm the king and you're the prime
minister, Kanna," the leader replied. "You're supposed
to be the smart one; you figure it out. I want to see
no less than five heart crystals on my desk by this
time tomorrow, or you're going to take the fall for
this problem, understand?"

Remaining silent, she nodded. "I'll see what I can
do, but I'm not promising anything."

"And while you're at it, see if you can fix the
'proud attitude' we've got in our people. I never want
to hear of a blundering mistake like this again.
Ever."

---

Archives, Mishima Heavy Industries
The Next Day

Despite it being a school day, Ami managed to pull
enough strings to get off duty that day, as she wished
to delve more into the Fenril command structure. Now
that the first casualty of war occurred, finding a way
to stop the conflict would be much more difficult.
More than ever they needed to find out what drove the
Fenril to the point where they would sacrifice their
lives for their cause.

Ami needed to find out before the other sixteen
forfeited their lives on whatever plan Death Phantom
set them up for.

Although it was still early in the morning there was
one person up and about, if one could call it that.
Sitting with her head down in her folded arms at one
of the desks was Kanna Rajura, who obviously had not
gone to sleep since Ami last saw her. Within arm's
reach was her polearm, obviously providing her some
sort of comfort by its mere presence.

Unexpectedly she burst full awake as Ami got closer.

"Oh, it's you," the Crystal Spider said with relief,
her hand retracting from her weapon. "Didn't think
you'd be back this soon."

"I have the day off," Ami replied. "You look like
you could use some sleep."

Kanna nodded. "Yeah, I guess so... but things come
up, you know."

Ami pointed to the papers on the desk. "What were
you doing that required you to stay up all night?"

"I just got asked by the boss to figure out a way to
counter a morale problem," she answered with a fake
laugh. "I'm supposed to be a miracle worker or
something." Shrugging, she added, "I guess it was
coming."

"What was?"

"One of my friends died last night, at the hands of
the Sailor Senshi. Not a whole lot of people know
about this yet; we're leaving that up to his sister,
who's holed up in her room. In the meantime, I'm
supposed to get things done by tonight." She stared at
Ami with her tired eyes. "I can't do everything at
once; it's nothing like in the stories."

"Is there any way I can help?" Ami offered.

"I doubt it," answered Kanna. She ran her hand down
her face. "Actually, there is something you can do."
Reaching down to her belt, she produced a business
card. "Order some nice flowers and send them there.
The room number's on the back."

Ami accepted the card, and read the title. "It's
for a friend in the hospital?"

Reluctantly, she nodded. "I wish I could apologize
to them in person... I wish I'd done it sooner. But I
never gave it a second thought, that I could've killed
him. I never realized how much trouble I caused him
until after... my other friend... died...."

"Why aren't you going to see your friend?"

Kanna laughed wearily. "His wife would kill me."

---

No sooner had the two finished their conversation
Kanna gathered her papers and weapon, and walked out,
likely heading for the control center, of which Ami
had no access to without another accompanying her.
Left alone in the archives, she glanced at the card
again, wondering what to do.

Seating herself at a desk, Ami got the impression
that Kanna realized the error of her ways, and was
trying to make up for it. It was a step in the right
direction, but it was still a far cry from changing
her goal, whatever that was.

She mentioned that the man hospitalized in the
bombing was her friend, but implied that his wife was
not. Perhaps one reason the recovering couple refused
to give Kanna's name directly was because of some kind
of old obligation, something that transcended 'just
friends.' It was a wonder that the wife was kept quiet
the entire time.

And still, the flowers had to be ordered. Kanna was
emotionally vulnerable at the moment, and she was
likely not the only one. Perhaps now is the time to
try and sway views, Ami thought. The best way to do
that, however, was to gain their trust. Perhaps the
Crystal Spider was a good start.

She decided to wait to see how Kanna's plan would
pan out, and in the meantime she decided to order those
flowers.

---

Control Center, Mishima Heavy Industries

"So what's this supposed to be?" Shizuka asked as she
rummaged through the equipment laid out on the table
before her. She picked up a large tube-like rifle,
which could have been a water gun if the designer
wished it.

"Oh, that's a new Deathbuster weapon," Shion
answered, leaving his seat to personally handle the
weapon. "We didn't have the model on hand, but we
built it using the specs I found in the computer. I
call it the Fire Buster Mark Three."

"'Mark Three?' What happened to the other two?"

The mercenary shrugged. "Beats me, but this one is
a definite improvement over the other models. While
the original could only extract heart crystals and spew
fire, this one has an ice option on it." He adjusted
the nozzle, and Shizuka heard a distinct click to know
the weapon locked in place. "Observe."

Throwing up a tennis ball-sized iron ball Shion aimed
the fire buster and fired. A jet of clear liquid fired
from the end of the star-shaped nozzle, catching the
ball in its deadly stream and quickly freezing it in
ice. When it landed the ball completely shattered into
a million pieces.

"Damn," Shizuka said in awe. "Remind me why I want
to use the FIRE buster part again?"

"Well, the fire uses up a lot less energy," Shion
explained. "The ice mechanism eats up a lot of energy,
but not nearly as much as the heart extractor. That
one is an energy hog, and unlike the stars it draws on
the same power plant as the rest of the buster."

"Because the star drew upon the user's spirit energy,
of course," she said in understanding.

"The fire buster's power plant also draws upon the
user's spirit energy, but in a much more efficient
manner. The engine is so sophisticated it's a wonder
it's technology made in the Nineties. I swear if I
ever meet this Eudial person, I'll kiss her."

"Don't get your hopes up," Shizuka replied, seizing
the fire buster from the mercenary's hands. "This is
no good replacement for my shotgun, but considering the
firepower the Sailor Senshi are packing, I think I'm
going to need this."

Glancing back at him, she added, "While I'm gone
will you look after Thanatos? I think he's getting
sick."

Before Shion could reply Kanna made her entrance as
the double doors slid before her. She ducked under
slightly allowing the polearm slung on her back to
clear the top of the door. "Well, good morning,
everybody." She raised a cup of coffee in greeting.

"Ayame's still sleeping," Shion informed her. "She
gave me charge of the situation in her absence."

"Don't you ever sleep?"

"I could ask the same about you."

Kanna sighed. "Well, geez.... By the way, Master
Higure's friend, Ami, is here. She's in the archives
for your information."

"Really," Shion said, nodding. "I didn't think she'd
be back so soon. At this rate I could see her much
more often than Hokuto."

"Don't get your hopes up," Shizuka warned.

"Well, anyway," the tactician Kanna said, "I want
you to rouse the following people, so the plan goes
like this...."

---

Pantyhose Taro carefully watched the activity around
the control center, watching those such as the Femme-
boy and more come and go. Not once did the leaders
call him in, considering him still under punishment.

No matter, he thought as he walked down the hall.
I've got ways to make things happen, too.

---

Internal Security, Crystal Palace

"According to Mercury," Mars said, "each one of the
Fenril Knights is likely carrying a Black Crystal shard
with them wherever they go. Since each shard gives off
a negative energy spike all we have to do is look for
those spikes."

"I'm working on it," the technician said, busy
typing away at his console. "I'm cross-referencing the
information the passive scanners picked up during the
Black Moon invasion with our current readings. It
should take a few minutes."

Mars nodded. The numbers of the Sailor Senshi were
dwindling, with Mercury gone and Venus recovering from
her strangely powerful wounds and bruises, all gotten
by a wooden sword. Venus refused to let go of her
opponent's bokken, holding it as in a death grip in her
bruised right hand. All of this left only herself and
Jupiter to fend against the supposed sixteen other
Fenril Knights still running around, and it was looking
to be terrible odds.

She wanted to propose a way to augment their defense
forces, unwilling to make a repeat disaster of the
first Black Moon invasion, but she knew Neo Queen
Serenity would refuse to ask their past selves for aid
again, in fear that doing so would alter their time in
a terrible way.

She wanted to believe fixing the problem in the past
would solve everything, but Mars knew just as well that
even with knowledge of the future they still could not
prevent the Black Moon invasion, nor could they beat
Death Phantom's cunning even if they managed to do so
with their younger forms.

"I've got one," the technician said, breaking her
train of thought. "There's a point in the 10th Street
Market. Wait, there's another one... and another...."

Like stars twinkling into existence as the night
ascended to its zenith negative energy spikes appeared,
one after another, all over Crystal Tokyo. Sailor Mars
balled her fist angrily, realizing that her worst fear
was coming true. There was no way two of them could
beat thirty-plus enemies.

"The bulk of them have to be droids," she realized.
"I'm going out; inform Jupiter and Venus what's going
on!"

---

Nerima District, Crystal Tokyo

Ranma Saotome wished he recognized the place he
walked.

Merchants sold their wares to the early risers that
morning, each all smiles as they made their business
transactions. Wood-framed structures were replaced by
opaque crystal, matching the rest of the crystal
covering Tokyo. Everything appeared bright and cheery
to the martial artist, but it served only to make him
feel all the more unclean.

"'Take a walk,' she said," he grumbled, thinking
about what Kanna told him shortly after he received
news of Kuno's demise. "It shouldn't be bothering me."

However, it did. Ranma never gave Tatewaki Kuno much
thought whenever he made himself known to him, but
there seemed to be an irreplaceable void in his wake.
He thought back to the old days, when Kuno would
challenge Ranma over the most insignificant of things,
even something as ridiculous as his own cursed girl
form. He wondered how the others were handling it.

Kuno was never the best fighter, he thought, but he
was never one to give up. If that's the kind of fate
that awaits us, was it worth fighting over?

---

10th Street Market, 10th Street District

Shizuka thought she would get used to the weight of
the fire buster as she carried it, slung over her
shoulder, through the street. She ignored the stares
she drew from the early risers, completely focusing on
her mission at hand. While she hardly liked the task
set before her Shizuka trusted Kanna knew what she was
doing, if only because Shion trusted her so fully.

She tried to push the thought of her snake out of her
mind; such trivialities could get someone like her
killed. Now certainly wasn't the time to die; Mizuki
would kill her, wherever she was.

In any case, it was better than being useless, like
Ryoga Hibiki was.

The priestess stopped in her tracks, however, when
Sailor Mars appeared further down the street.

"You!" Mars exclaimed.

"Oh, it's the prostitute," Shizuka said insultingly,
unslinging her fire buster. "Figures you'd be the one
I'd meet first."

Mars grimaced. "Didn't think to bring one of your
flunky droids, did you?"

"Hah, she's right!" The priestess adjusted the
nozzle of the fire buster slightly. "I'm getting a
really good reading on that heart crystal of yours!"

Mars leaped out of the way just in time to avoid the
fire attack, and Shizuka cursed her luck. She turned
to adjust her aim, but hesitated for a moment. Taking
advantage of it Mars threw a Burning Mandala in her
direction, and it was all for the priestess to do but
flame the incoming fireballs.

Silently, she cursed Kanna for sticking her in a
market, looking around at the numerous pedestrian
bystanders at each side of the street. "Dammit, Kanna,
why here of all places?" she hissed.

It was one thing to distract the Sailor Senshi by
raining fire on the crowd, but Shizuka was unsure as
to how she could control the flame well enough for
that. Cursing for the fourth straight time, she threw
the fire buster over her shoulder and ran. Behind she
heard Sailor Mars giving chase, and it was a wonder to
Shizuka that she could keep up with heels.

Everywhere her eyes turned there was more people,
staring and watching her and Mars go by, typical of
stupid people. They had no idea of the danger they
were in, and yet they stood there like idiots. Shizuka
wished they knew how much trouble she was going through
just to get them out of the way.

She spied a subway entrance, and despite her best
judgement she jumped in, and people scattered. She
raised her fire buster and shouted, "Everybody scram!
Or I'll blow us all to Hell!!"

Satisfaction settled in as she pushed her way
further into the subway, and bystanders flooded out in
panicked droves, buying her at least a little time to
plan as they got in the way of Sailor Mars's
entrance. Spying a subway car at the stop Shizuka
ran to the control car, and lowered the buster
menacingly.

"Pull out, now!" she ordered, and the driver was
quick to comply.

No sooner did the subway train began its retreat into
the tunnel Sailor Mars pushed her way in. Shizuka
assessed the situation quickly, finding that there were
still people trying to run from the crazy woman with
the gun.

It wasn't nearly enough time to formulate a plan,
she realized angrily.

"Eat buster!" Shizuka yelled, throwing flames with
her fire buster.

A ring of fire burst around Sailor Mars, creating a
blazing wall between Shizuka and her enemy. Mars threw
fireballs of her own, but they served only to fuel the
firewall, and in the meantime it was growing smaller
by the second.

Shizuka rotated the nozzle. "Steaming hot! I do
love boiling roaches alive!"

The liquid ice compound surged from the end of the
buster, and in desperation Mars blew up a hole beneath
her, allowing herself to fall under and avoid both the
closing of the ring and the ice burst. The stream
splashed over one of the crystallized walls, icing it
over with another layer.

"There's nowhere to go!" Mars realized, leaping out
of the hole the moment the fire ring dissipated.

"Like bloody hell!" Shizuka hissed, firing more
bursts of liquid ice.

The soldier of fire ran an arc around Shizuka, and
her shots completely missed and iced over more sections
of wall. She cried, "What're you doing?! You want to
make the whole place collapse on us?"

Snarling in frustration, instead of aiming directly
at her enemy Shizuka sprayed ice on the floor, creating
a quickly spreading sheet. Mars jumped over the spread
as it came her way, and summoned a fire snake to throw
at the priestess. Quickly switching the nozzle back
Shizuka threw flames at the incoming attack, but it
was only a decoy as Mars's foot landed in her face.

As the gun clattered beside her Shizuka felt Mars
standing over her, and, to her dismay, people
applauding her. Didn't they know how... no... forget
it, she thought.

"It's over for you!" the senshi informed her.

"Well, pish-posh," snorted Shizuka. "You don't know
me well enough for that." She smiled maliciously, as
her spiel bought time for her to fish out a set of
steel cards in her left sleeve.

With a quick flick of her wrist, and too late for
Mars to react, Shizuka threw three cards toward the
wall section that was iced over. Each made its mark,
embedding into the wall and creating quickly growing
cracks.

As the rumbling and cracking was underway Mars turned
toward Shizuka with anger in her eyes. "You!! Why?!"

Without giving an answer Shizuka flipped backward
and knocked Mars over, sending her over the priestess's
body. As she grabbed the fire buster sections of wall
and ceiling began to collapse, now that the support was
buckling beneath it. Shizuka had no intention of
being around when it finished, and if Sailor Mars was
smart enough, she would hasten her leave as well.

Shouldering the buster, she reached to grasp the
prism shard tied to her belt, but she saw that there
were still people retreating from the subway-- those
that were blissfully cheering Sailor Mars on earlier.
Cursing her luck Shizuka unshouldered the buster and
adjusted the nozzle, spraying a sticky substance at
a section of the ceiling that was about to collapse
over the entrance, allowing them time to leave.

Amidst the chaos around her Shizuka's eyes caught
two young children huddling in the corner, obviously
separated from their parents during the panicked
evacuation. Realizing Mizuki would berate her for
cursing so much Shizuka rushed to their position.

There was little time to act as the ceiling, breaking
out of the sticky spray, collapsed over her.

---

Control Center, Mishima Heavy Industries

"What just went on there?" Ayame asked as she viewed
the main monitor, which currently displayed an aerial
view of Cyrstal Tokyo and the target points. A large
blinking red circle appeared near one of the points.

"It seems to be some kind of an explosion," Shion
said. "I'll direct one of the watchers over there."

Ayame waited patiently as the small spy robot made
its way to the devastated area. The main viewscreen
opened a small window to the side, displaying the
watcher's viewpoint.

From the looks of it, the street collapsed on itself,
with stone and crystal broken in rather large chunks.
A nearby subway entrance was completely blocked, and
many spectators were surveying the damage.

"Who was there?" she asked.

"Wait, let me check...." Shion ruffled through the
notes Kanna had given him. "It's... oh man, it's
Shizuka."

Ayame cursed silently. Was this part of Kanna's
brilliant plan? Why did the gods decide it didn't have
to be a droid that got busted? "Recall her immediately
or... at least get her to say something!"

Frantically the mercenary pushed aside Kanna's notes
and cleared the prism switchboard. Finding the switch
that controlled Shizuka's prism, he flipped it.

Nothing happened.

Angrily, Shion flipped the switch several more times
in rapid succession, even though he knew it would do
no good. Grinding his teeth he vented his frustration
by pounding the console. "Dammit! These things don't
work when you want them to!"

He jumped out of his seat, pushing back his jacket
sleeves out of habit. "I'm going to get her!"

But Ayame stood in his way. "Shion, forget it."

"Why should I? Doesn't her life mean anything to
you?"

"Of course it does!" she vented angrily. "The fact
is, alive or not, there's nothing you can do to help
her. I need you here. If anyone else knew that you
lost your cool over people dying then I'd lose face,
too. And if that happens, none of us are going to
survive, with people like Pantyhose Taro eating us up
from the inside."

Balling up his fists, Shion wanted nothing more than
to push his way past her, but realized the truth in her
words. Defeated, he returned to his seat. "She'll be
back," he decided, unsure if it was delusion or fact.

---

Front Gates, Crystal Palace

"Who would've thought that just walking out the front
door would be so easy?" Pantyhose Taro said to himself
as he spied the gates of the Crystal Palace. He turned
to the one beside him, his co-conspirator after a
fashion. "All you have to do is enter as part of one
of the tour groups, and do your thing."

Silently, the weary-eyed Ryoga Hibiki nodded. "It's
the only way," he told himself.

Taro nodded. If there was any way to take up the
reigns of leadership from the bat bitch, it was to take
out Neo Queen Serenity in the comfort of her own home.
After all, it wasn't himself that was going to throw
his life away in a suicide attack.

---

Ucchan's Okonomiyaki, Nerima District

Ranma entered the restaurant unconsciously, as he did
every other day for lunch back in the old days. His
eyes brightened when he discovered that some things
never changed at all.

"Ranchan!" Ukyo greeted cheerily, in pleasant
surprise. "What're you doing here?"

"Heya, Ucchan," he said, waving. Curious customers
turned to look, each greeting the martial artist in
their own way, with nods and hellos. Although Ranma
did not know most of them, he figured it was a way to
score points with the chef-- be friendly with her
friends.

None of them were likely aware of the maliciousness
that Ukyo was capable of, and if they did, it was
likely a good thing she was almost always happy. Or,
at least, appeared to be happy; she made it a point to
not display anything but that face to a paying
customer.

"Oh, I've been around," he answered cryptically.
"Off training and all...."

Ukyo put on a more serious face. "But you were
thinking about what the old man said, weren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess," he admitted.

"Truthfully, Ranchan," she said, "even when I'm doing
all this wonderful business, and Konatsu's cooler than
ever...."

"Where is he, anyway?" Ranma interrupted.

"Oh, he's out buying supplies," she answered. "But
that's... well... everything's sort of conflicting with
what the old man said about this place."

"You mean about Crystal Tokyo?"

The chef nodded. "There's no wars, no conflicts, no
disease, no disaster, no... nothing. In fact, I'd say,
excepting what you guys are doing, this place is
perfect. Let someone else handle the saving the world
stuff, if it's even necessary anymore. Actually, I
don't see any way this peace could ever end."

"I had the same thoughts."

"Akane came in here once or twice; she was surprised
to see I was back. She told me about you two breaking
up over this...." She leaned closer and whispered,
"I know I'm the last person you want to hear this from,
but you have to go back."

"Even if I did, things won't be the same as they used
to be," Ranma complained quietly. "Too many things
changed while we were gone. Your way of life is still
here, but I don't have one... if I ever had one."

"Looking for your niche?"

"That, and," he shook his head, "Kuno kicked the
bucket last night."

Ukyo's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

"That's what Ayame's been saying," he continued.
"And Kodachi's not been seen ever since; she's hiding
in her room, doing who-knows-what."

"How are the others taking it?"

"As well as it could be, I guess." Ranma shrugged.
"I'm not sure what to think anymore. Kanna just told
all of us to walk it off and think about it."

"And that's why you're here, eh?" Ukyo tsked. "Not
going to order?"

Ranma snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh, yeah. Get
me the same thing."

In a flash Ukyo began working the magic of her
trade, mixing up a new pitcher. "I don't think there's
a reason to fight, really. I mean, if deaths like
what happened to Kuno mean anything, it's that war and
battle isn't something we should be desiring, is it?"

"Maybe," he considered, "but martial arts is a way of
life. This big threat must be in our imaginations."

---

Inner Sanctum, Crystal Tokyo

Although it seemed an easy task to heal Sailor
Venus's wounds under the light of the Silver Crystal,
it was still physically taxing on Neo Queen Serenity.
As she replaced the artifact on the pedestal she turned
to a nearby mirror, and stared at herself, realizing
for the first time how weary she was.

She imagined it to be just as taxing, if not more,
on the three Sailor Senshi, now that they had to deal
with thirty different targets at once. Jupiter
notified her that many of the negative energy points
on the map were single droids, each just as easy to
beat as the last, and no sign of the Fenril Knights
themselves. However, since it was a three on thirty,
Queen Serenity knew they were getting heart crystals
all the same. It was only a matter of timing that her
senshi caught them and returned the heart crystals
quickly. So far they met success.

On the other hand, she lost complete contact with
Sailor Mars, who disappeared after going after the
first negative point alone. The queen knew there was
the possibility that she was engaging in a heated
battle with a Fenril Knight, and decided to wait it
out.

Most of her worry, however, fell in Mercury's lap.
She disappeared into the heart of darkness early in the
day, and while Serenity knew she had to keep her
communications at rather inconvenient times she wished
she knew what Mercury was doing.

---

Although the general alarm was sounded throughout the
Crystal Palace word had not yet reached Neo Queen
Serenity that an intruder was present. Ryoga Hibiki
easily avoided or bypassed the security guards, as they
were ill-suited for their jobs.

"That's what happens when people get too complacent,"
Ryoga said, shoving aside another guard as he
continued into the halls. He wished they presented
much more of a challenge, and something in the back of
his mind wished someone would stop him.

He had no idea where the inner sanctum was, nor did
he care to know; Ryoga knew he would get there
somehow. Fate had a way of getting him to the wrong
place at the right time.

---

Rec Room, Mishima Heavy Industries

Ami was surprised to see that the rec room was quite
deserted, considering that the day was still young and
everyone had long since gotten up and left.

Seated at one of the tables was Kanna Rajura and
Shion Kagami, with the latter having his head down,
buried in his arms, looking quite asleep, and possibly
drunk, considering the drained glass next to him.
Kanna sat back with her right leg propping up her left,
reading some of her notes in a thin yellow folder.

The only other occupant was Mousse, who was sitting
in front of the television set, playing some sort of
fighting-type video game now that a console was hooked
up to it. He was so engrossed in his game that he
failed to notice Ami's entrance.

Kanna raised her eyes over the folder's level, and
nodded in greeting. "Hey there."

"Would you mind if I join you?" Ami asked, making her
way to the seat opposite Kanna's.

"Go right ahead."

Quickly and quietly she pulled out her seat and sat
down, settling herself in just as Mousse vented his
frustration at the game and threw the controller on
the floor.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked.

"He's trying to practice so he can beat Shizuka when
she comes back," Kanna answered, as Mousse was making
his way to their table.

Ami shook her head, then pointed toward Shion. "No,
I meant him."

"Oh." She closed the folder and set it down on the
table, just as Mousse pulled the seat opposite Shion
backward and leaned over the top, sulking.

"There's no way anyone could be that good," he
muttered.

"Well, some of us are better doing some things than
others," Ami said, trying to cheer him up. "Perhaps
you are better than her at some things."

"Yeah, that's true," he admitted. Mousse peered at
Ami carefully, holding the rim of his glasses out a
little. "Say, do I know you?"

"Mousse, this is Ami Mizuno," introduced Kanna. "And
Ami, this is Mousse."

Ami offered her hand, and Mousse shook it. "A
pleasure to meet you."

"Heh, another girl," the weapons master noted. "Any
other guy would think it'd be Heaven down here in Hell,
don't you think?" He glanced in Shion's direction,
and was disappointed to see that he wasn't paying him
any attention. "Right...."

"You were playing that game a little while ago?"
Ami said.

"Yeah, you play those?" asked Mousse. "Ever notice
how much Dreamcast controllers are unsuited for
fighting games?"

"If you would like, I may be able to help you," she
offered.

"I'd like to see that," Kanna admitted. She glanced
at Shion. "Oh, stop sulking already."

"What's wrong with him?" asked Mousse, repeating
Ami's earlier question. "Lose his stomach?"

The Crystal Spider shook her head. "More like lost
his girl."

"She's not my girlfriend," Shion muttered lazily.

"Cool, an automatic response!" exclaimed Mousse.
"Let me try!"

"Who?" asked Ami.

"Well," Kanna said, leaning toward Ami
conspiratorially, "neither of them like to admit it,
but I think Shion and Shizuka like each other."

"Yeah," agreed Mousse. "We're taking side bets on
how long it'll take before they admit it, much less go
out." He produced a notebook. "So far the bet's
looking in favor of three years."

"Something happened to Shizuka, and we don't know
what yet," Kanna explained. "Ayame's really pissed,
but she won't show it. She wants to believe we think
she's cold, but we know. Shion, on the other hand,
can't work anymore." She shrugged. "Poor guy deserves
a break after working non-stop for two weeks; he needs
to get out more."

"Not to mention it's only hours after Kuno died,"
Mousse added. "We should be taking bets how long it'll
take for Ayame to crack."

Ami nodded. From the brief times she saw Ayame she
appeared too young to carry the reigns of leadership
of something as desperate as the Fenril Knights. In
the short time she knew any of them, for that matter,
they appeared to be pleasant sorts; these were people
from everyday walks of life. She never met this Kuno,
therefore the impact of his demise did not affect her
in a harsh way, while the others seemed to be taking it
well.

Shizuka, on the other hand, Ami knew personally,
having talked to her a great deal only a day earlier.
It was unthinkable that such a naive girl would be the
next to die in what would likely be a long string of
deaths-- seventeen, if history repeated itself.

For that matter, these people did not consider
themselves anything in relation to the ancient
Nemesian civilization; as far as they knew they were
there. Ami wondered if Higure knew more about the
subject, but thought better of it, remembering to not
arouse suspicions.

"I heard Kodachi's got his heart crystal," Mousse
said, instantly jerking Ami's attention back to the
conversation.

"Even if she does, I don't know what she could do
with it," Kanna replied. "I don't have any idea why
Ayame wants those things, anyway."

"Beats me." The weapons master turned toward Ami.
"I'll bet you haven't a clue what we're talking about.
We don't, either."

"Who's Kodachi?" she asked curiously, unwilling to
give them the information she knew.

"Kuno's little sister," answered Mousse. "She's
probably what Ayame's going to turn into if this bad
luck streak keeps going."

---

10th Street Subway Terminal, 10th Street District

Shizuka wished she could blame her problems on the
subway, but knew that everything that fell around her
was her fault.

She sat up in place, and leaned back against the
fallen chunks of stone and crystal, satisfied that,
while the two children, a boy and a girl that appeared
no older than ten, were scared stiff, but unharmed.

That was more than you could say for yourself, she
told herself, rubbing the sore on her back.

"Bloody hell, what a mess," Shizuka noted, her eyes
turning toward the rubble.

"I'm scared," the boy said, the younger of the two
children.

"Hi there," the priestess said, but the girl would
have none of it.

"You're a bad lady," she said, obviously more in
control of the situation than either the boy or Shizuka
had. "You killed Sailor Mars."

"Killed, huh?" She laughed. "I doubt it." Shizuka
pointed further toward the rubble, and sure enough,
Sailor Mars was lying on the ground, face down, looking
as if she'd seen better days.

"You're still here?" Mars said, struggling to get on
her knees and off the ground.

Although bruised, Shizuka was amused to note that
the soldier of fire still had her fiery wit intact.
"I'd say the same to you."

"Now you're in big trouble!" the girl declared,
giving a mean look to the priestess. "C'mon, Sailor
Mars! Beat that bad guy like you did in...."

"What's you're name?" Shizuka asked, interrupting the
fanboyish remark.

"Ai," the girl answered. She pointed to the boy.
"That's my brother, Masa."

Masa shirked away from Shizuka.

"Oh, I see," she realized. "I'm the bad guy. Okay,
I'll play the bad guy, all right." She turned toward
Sailor Mars. "Well, how about finishing it?"

"You've got to be kidding," Mars replied. "Even if
we did continue the resulting battle would bury us
even further, maybe for good. And it's not fair to
these kids, either."

"Exactly." She pulled the fire buster from her back.
Turning the nozzle a bit, she pulled the trigger, and
a small spark burst near the star-shaped hole. "Good,
still works. At least that's one less dressing-down
for the day."

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you," Ai said.

Ignoring the remark, Shizuka turned toward Sailor
Mars. "I don't suppose your teleport-thingy can take
multiple people, can it?"

Mars shook her head. "I'll bet you can't do it,
either."

"So that leaves us at square one; all we have to do
is wait for someone to dig us out."

"Why don't you start digging?"

"Do I look like I do physical labor?" Shizuka shook
her head. "The entire point of being a summoner is to
get other people to do the work for you. Thanks to you
and your queen, I can't even do that anymore."

"So who in the world are you, anyway?" asked Mars.
"If you're a summoner priestess... there haven't been
any of your type around for a thousand years."

"And I wonder who's fault it is."

"Summoners are evil," Ai voiced. "All they do is
send their monsters against people and kill them. They
eat children for breakfast."

"You're not a nice person, you know that?" Shizuka
informed her. "I could send the boogie men after you
so they can eat you at night."

The girl retained her defiant stance nonetheless.

Shizuka turned her attention toward the boy, Masa.
"Hey, little guy...."

"My mommy said not to talk to strangers," he said
defensively.

"Well, that's good advice," she conceded, "but
consider that you'll never meet new friends if you just
keep to yourself. After all, they were strangers
before you met them, too, right?"

She reached to her belt, and pulled up the thin rope
with her prism shard tied to it. Gently she slid the
crystal out of its loop, and held it out for Masa.
"You see this? It's a magic charm."

"That looks nothing like what my mom got me at the
shrine," Ai said.

But this time it was Sailor Mars who hushed her.
"Ai, it's good that you're looking after your little
brother, but you don't have to do it by yourself. I'm
here. I'll protect you and your brother."

And you're probably wondering what I'm getting at.
"Anyway, this protects you from the boogie men. While
you're holding it, you'll become brave and make the
bad things go away."

"But you're... you're a bad person," the boy said.

"Bad people aren't bad because they want to be," she
replied. "Sometimes they're really good people that
others think is bad. Have you studied history? In the
past good doctors went to places less fortunate than
us, and the people there thought they were evil. But
it was not their intention to do evil; they had all
the goodness in their hearts, and the best intentions
to help these people."

She pressed the crystal into his hand. "Hang on to
it, Masa... you'll see that everything isn't so bad."

For a moment the priestess caught a glimmer of hope
in the boy's eyes. She sat back, still under the
watchful gaze of Ai, and sighed. Mars dragged herself
over to Shizuka's side, and leaned back against the
wall.

"That's a shard of the Black Crystal," Sailor Mars
said. "What're you planning?"

"What did it look like?" Shizuka replied. "The kid
needs a confidence boost. Besides, it's useless to me
now that I cracked it."

Mars raised an eyebrow. "You like kids, don't you?
Not a lot of people talk the way you just did."

"Kids are smart, but you need to reason with them on
their level. Can't talk to them like adults until they
become adults. Fascinating, aren't they?"

"You seem different than the last time," Mars said.
"And you still didn't tell me who you are."

"Really? I'm Shizuka, the demon hunter of Genbu. I
used to hunt demons for a living, if you didn't catch
that the first time."

"Demon hunter?" echoed Mars, surprised.

"You're lying," Ai accused.

"You know, kid," Shizuka told her, "that flap of
yours you call a mouth will get you in real trouble
someday. Just want to point that out."

"Yeah," agreed Masa. "Give the lady a chance," he
pleaded with his sister, clutching the cracked prism
tightly.

"I used to live at the Shrine of the Four Gods,
where the Gate of Heaven was," she continued. "But I
guess you already know that."

Mars nodded. "Yeah, we know all about that."

"How unfortunate, that with the Gate sealed the way
it is so are the powers I draw upon." Shizuka shook
her head. "Of course, since you're attached to the
ruling queen your skills still work."

"That's not why they work," the senshi replied.
"Yours aren't working because...."

"Because I'm evil, huh?" finished the priestess.

"That's not what I...."

"No wonder kids like Ai are so judgmental."

"Am not!" said girl complained.

"Are too!" countered Shizuka.

"Am not times two!"

"Are too times infinity!"

"Golly, you're such a kid yourself," Mars decided,
groaning inwardly. Pulling her back to the subject at
hand, she said, "If you're a servant of the people as
you say you are, then why are you fighting us?"

You're so hoping to get as much information out of
me, aren't you? "If I told you, it'd be completely
selfish and self-serving. From what I've seen I have
no place in a world like this; despite what my job
says I'm so self-centered the world implodes around
me because of it. I want my job back."

Mars blinked. "What?"

"You heard me; I want to go back to hunting demons
again. I never made a career out of pulling rabbits
out of my hat because I like hunting."

"There's no need for that...." the senshi of fire
began to say, realizing that Shizuka knew this fact
just as well.

"So what are you doing?" asked Masa.

"Nothing much, really," Shizuka answered. She
reached into her pocket and produced a deck of
playing cards. "Well, while we're waiting, how 'bout
I show you some of my tricks?"

"Street magician, huh," Mars said, sighing. "I
guess it beats doing nothing."

"Diversion, not hobby." She handed the deck to Ai,
who looked as if she refused to touch them. "Look,
kid, it's just a deck of cards." She fanned them out
and held them for the girl to see. "There aren't any
boogie men here; they're just normal cards I got at the
grocery store. All I'm asking is to cut the pile,
okay? Nothing dangerous about it."

Silently, Ai took the deck, and did as instructed,
handing it back without another word. Shizuka sighed,
then turned to Masa as she shuffled the deck. "Now,
Masa, here's how it's going to work...."

---

Inner Sanctum, Crystal Palace

Neo Queen Serenity waited patiently, her head low as
she relaxed herself while standing before the Silver
Crystal. She had little time to wait as the wall to
her left burst into pieces, revealing a large hole and
the one who caused the destruction.

Huffing and puffing, Ryoga stared downward, and while
he could not see her face he knew he was staring upon
the monarch of the world herself.

"You're one of the Fenril Knights," she said, without
turning to face him.

Although he hardly understood what the term meant,
it hardly bothered the martial artist at all. Nothing
else could. "Finally, I've found you. The only way to
make things right is if I kill you." He sounded none
too pleased with the prospect of slaying the world
monarch, but there was no reason to be.

Balling his fists, he spread his legs and braced
himself for final impact. "Shishi... Hoko...."

It was then that Neo Queen Serenity raised her eyes,
but not on the martial artist, but on the Silver
Crystal.

"...DAN!!"

Anyone looking in the direction of the Crystal
Palace could see the telltale red column of frustrating
energy, shattering spires and raining crystal all over
the city. Those who were not paying attention before
had ample reason to stare now as Ryoga Hibiki's
desperation strike launched the grandest ki force the
people had ever seen.

---

Ucchan's Okonomiyaki, Nerima District

Ranma and Ukyo were among those in the Nerima market
area standing in the streets at the spectacle. While
many had no idea what it meant, both of them knew
enough the significance of the blast.

"Shishi Hokodan?!" Ranma gasped. "What the...?!"

"It's coming from the Crystal Palace," Ukyo added.
"You mean Ryoga's there?!"

They watched as the ki burst descended from the sky,
blotting out the afternoon sun completely, bathing
everything in hellish red light. Like a meteor on
final descent debris kicked up everywhere, throwing
more crystal, wood, and stone everywhere. Both Ranma
and Ukyo ran back into the restaurant, and hid behind
the counter, each fervently hoping it would all go
away.

---

Control Center, Mishima Heavy Industries

"What the hell is that?!" Ayame cried when the main
viewscreen picked up the Shishi Hokodan.

Behind her, standing against the wall nearest the
entrance, Pantyhose Taro snorted. If only they knew,
he thought.

---

Inner Sanctum, Crystal Palace

Shielding herself with the magic of the Silver
Crystal, Neo Queen Serenity regretted not having
prepared for the unexpected force of the expected
attack on her. The light of the crystal absorbed much
of the impact of her attacker's ki energy blast, but
not enough that it could cancel it out completely. She
hoped the damage that would surely follow was minimal,
and no one lost their lives.

On the other hand, the attacker, who she was certain
was one of the Fenril Knights, was unaffected; he was
standing there, barely clinging to life, but otherwise
was unharmed by his own attack.

When the attack concluded Neo Queen Serenity, cupping
the Silver Crystal in her hands, lowered the field
around her, and surveyed the damage. With the Fenril
at the epicenter she found herself five meters under
where the floor used to be in the chamber, digging into
the layer of foundation that threatened to eat at the
protective shell over the old Imperial Palace. Already
she saw that the crystal was growing over the newly
revealed foundation stone, preserving the damage as
well as the pristine states. The ceiling, as well as
all the floors above it, were gone, clearing the way
for the afternoon sun.

"How dreadful," she said unconsciously, thinking of
her people.

"It'll only get worse," the attacker said, having no
hint of malice in his voice. Rather, it sounded quite
sad and remorseful.

"May I have your name?" Serenity asked.

"Know that you'll die by the hands of Ryoga Hibiki,
and that you killed him and his happiness as well. It
can't go back to before ever again... I am unworthy of
this existence."

"Why do you say this, Ryoga Hibiki?"

"I found my happiness with my one true love, Akari,"
he continued, his voice cracking at the mention of her
name. "I woke from a long nightmare, being apart from
her for so long, only to find that she was different.
No, she's never different; Akari's always Akari, no
matter what. I changed. I changed, and I was unworthy
of her love, because I'm dirtier than before."

He raised his eyes sadly. "The standard of people
changed during the nightmare. No longer am I simply
messed up, I'm a disease."

"There is no reason you should believe that," Neo
Queen Serenity replied gently. "It is true that the
standard of people has raised with my ascension; I will
not deny it. I believe, however, that no one is
'unworthy' to live on this Earth. If you feel this way
I am truly sorry."

"I don't need your sympathy," Ryoga said quietly.

"I believe what I have done with this planet is true
and correct. For each direction taken, however, some
people are left behind. A difference in opinion is
what divides humanity, and drives conflict. It is
sometimes unavoidable, and unfortunate."

"It was not long ago that we faced this type of
terror. A splinter group of humanity chose to leave
this Earth, and later returned to conquer it. They
were no more evil than the nature of humanity; even as
misguided as they were they were good people, and ones
I regret we could not work together with. Many died
needless deaths, as such comes when humanity comes to
blows."

"Ryoga, please understand that you are a good man,
just as those who came before. My task is to look
after the well-being of my subjects; you are just as
important as they are. If you are truly unsatisfied
with living under my rule...." She trailed off, unsure
if she should consider the alternative option.

"I don't belong in the living world," Ryoga said
simply, gathering up more energy as ki lightning
crackled around his arms. "I'm worthless to the others
as well. The only way to end the fighting is if you
die."

"Why would you come to such a conclusion?" she asked.

"Because Pantyhose Taro said so," answered the
martial artist. "Because this is the only way I can
help."

"Your life is precious, Ryoga," insisted Serenity.
"Your comrade, this 'Pantyhose Taro,' is only trying to
make you guilty enough to throw your life away. Does
it satisfy yourself that you are a tool? No, you are
no tool; you are a human being. You have just as much
right to live as he does."

"It's not... without Akari...."

"Ryoga," she said gently, watching the ki increase
in intensity. She had no doubt the next blast would
cause even more destruction. "Your happiness is
important. Akari's happiness is important. She would
be sad to learn that you died. Is that what you wish
to happen? Do you want to make her sad?"

He shook his head, lowering his eyes to the ground
shamefully. "I want her to be happy."

"Allow me to help you," the queen offered. "If you
would submit to the light of the Silver Crystal, you
would have the chance to make Akari truly happy. If
you love her so, and she loves you so, then there can
be nothing more happier than you two being together.
It is entirely up to you; I am certain you know the
alternative, and the consequences, of your decisions."

Ryoga nodded slowly.

---

Ucchan's Okonomiyaki, Nerima District

Although the shower of crystal ended with destruction
in its wake, Ranma and Ukyo managed to get out of the
smashed restaurant, both glad to have barely missed
the large chunk that demolished the entire front wall
and stopped at the counter.

Up and down the street large shards of the Crystal
Palace demolished the market, and the people began to
filter back into the streets cautiously. Most,
however, were still in fearful hiding, and for good
reason.

"Ryoga did all this," Ranma said.

"Who thought the kid had all this in him?" Ukyo said,
knowing it was a dumb question.

Their attentions, however, were torn from the
devastation to a bursting cloud of lightning down the
street. The two martial artists ran down the street,
dodging chunks of crystal as they went, to get a closer
look.

They made it just in time for Sailor Jupiter, the
soldier of wood and lightning, shatter a droid into a
million pieces.

"Wow," Ukyo whispered in awe.

"Oh my god, Ayame's going to be mad," Ranma said,
noting that the demolished droid was holding a heart
crystal, which Jupiter seized.

The sparkling crystal disappeared in her hand,
quickly flying off behind her to its owner. The
sailor-suited girl wiped her brow, obviously taxed from
her work. She stopped, her attention grabbed, and to
Ranma and Ukyo's surprise, she turned toward them.

"Great, more of you," Jupiter said.

Ranma jumped back in surprise. "Eh... eh... er...
no, it's not like that...."

"What's the big idea?" the okonomiyaki chef shouted.
"I thought you people were supposed to be protecting
us!" She waved her arms around in a wide circle. "You
see what they did to this place? My store's a mess!"

"Finally, the real Fenril Knights," the senshi said
to herself. "Two against one looks about good."

"I'm not here to fight," Ranma insisted, backing away
further.

"What the hell is a 'Fenril Knight,' huh?" demanded
Ukyo. "Why do you keep calling my friends that, you
people?!"

"You guys are definitely giving off negative energy
spikes from the shards of the Black Crystal," Jupiter
informed them. "But you're not getting away, not
after what you guys did to the palace!"

"HEY!!" Ranma shouted angrily. "What the heck are
you doing?"

"Supreme Thunder!" she cried, sending forth a bolt of
lightning from the heavens.

Ranma jumped out of the way, and Ukyo did the same,
but while the martial artist was trying to get away
the okonomiyaki chef was heading toward the senshi,
pulling her combat spatula from over her shoulder.

"Supreme this!" she cried, raising her weapon over
her head.

Jupiter rolled to the side, forcing Ukyo to crash her
spatula's flat against the ground. She pulled her leg
in a roundhouse and swept Ukyo off-balance, but not
off her feet, as she was partially ready for such a
retaliation. Ukyo leaped backward, tossing three
spatula-darts in Jupiter's direction, but she dodged
them easily.

"We're going to need a much larger order for you,"
the chef spat, wishing she had the rest of her combat
equipment handy.

"You're not bad yourself," Jupiter admitted, taking
in deep breaths.

"Hey, you two, cut it out!" Ranma shouted, standing
between the two combatants. "There's no reason we
should be...."

His words were interrupted by a loud rumbling that
shook the earth. Smoke appeared from down the street,
along with the sound of crushed crystal. Three sets of
angry red eyes wheeled into view, each running on a set
of tank treads. Painted jet black, the newcomers were
metal monstrosities, vaguely having the shape of men.
The arms, always pointing forward, were equipped each
with a cannon with utility option, for multiple
usages when it was necessary. Their faces resembled
death's heads, strangely smiling, and their eye sockets
contained red, malevolent eyes.

The lead GAIA wheeled forward before its brethren,
and a voice issued from within its soulless shell.
"Ranma, Ukyo... we're falling back now."

The voice, Ranma knew. "Kanna?"

"So I'm welcome?" Ukyo said, surprised.

"Yeah," answered Kanna. "Forget the senshi; there's
something more important to take care of."

"Right," Ukyo said, nodding, sheathing her combat
spatula. She eyed Jupiter carefully, who was watching
the exchange with a certain fascination. "For a while,
I thought I could live under your rule, but you guys
are no different from thought police. Anyone that
thinks differently from your views are branded as
traitors. My friends... branded the name as the Fenris
wolf that betrayed the gods. They're my friends, and
no matter what, I'll defend them and help them. I
won't forget this."

"Neither will I," Jupiter promised.

"Ukyo..." Ranma said, realizing that Ukyo was
turning away from her life. In that moment, he finally
understood and accepted why he chose to fight.

---

10th Street Subway Terminal, 10th Street District

"There was a farmer that had a dog, and Bingo was
it's name-o," Shizuka, Ai, and Masa sang, forcing Mars
to cover her ears in disgust as the priestess sang off-
key. She was likely doing it on purpose.

She had to admit, however, that Shizuka was doing a
pretty good job keeping the kids' minds off their
perilous situation.

Waiting for them to finish the song, Shizuka huffed
a few breaths, obviously tired from her entertainment
spree. "Whew... that was too much."

"You sure have a way with kids," admitted Sailor
Mars, almost forgetting that the priestess was an
enemy. "There could be a future for...."

"I don't think so," she interrupted. "You still
don't get it, don't you? I...."

A loud rumbling interrupted Shizuka in turn, and the
children started to worry again. From the ground
nearby a drill bit emerged from the ground, and the
priestess recognized the GAIA-underground variant
Mishima machine, URANOS, as it emerged from the hole
it created. Where GAIA had two cannons for arms,
URANOS had drill bits, in addition to the larger one
attached to its back.

"Shizuka!" Kanna's voice exclaimed. "You're alive!"

"Well, duh," Shizuka replied. "What took you so
long?"

"Well, a lot's happened, really, but it'll have to
be explained later. We need you to come back."

"I'm not leaving," Shizuka said. "Not until you dig
the rest of the way out, at least.

"Why?"

She turned toward the two kids. "Call it a favor, or
call it a good turn, whatever. I'd rather see the sun
than crawl in a tunnel."

Sailor Mars had no reason to blink at this. How
could such a basically-good person be so nasty?

"Thank you, lady!" Masa exclaimed.

"You're going to have to thank me some other time,"
Shizuka replied seriously. "Where I'm going, I'm
probably going to end up hurting you."

The boy offered the cracked prism in his hand.
"Lady, this'll help you. I don't need it anymore."

Smiling softly, Shizuka accepted her crystal shard
back graciously. "You look after your sister, too,
eh?"

Ai grimaced. "He's too young."

"So are you!" Masa pointed out.

As URANOS began its work drilling a way to the
surface, Sailor Mars was left to her own thoughts.

---

Control Center, Mishima Heavy Industries

A reason to fight, Kanna thought, was the only one
necessary in a battle of this nature. No doubt, losing
all twenty-six droids and no heart crystals would hurt,
but it was worth the full cooperation of all warriors
under Ayame's command.

It all went so perfectly, and more was yet to come.


----------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes

Stay tuned for more.


--Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NOhotmailSPAM.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/index.html

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