Drat, I accidentally put chapter 16 up twice. That's the second time I've done that! Sorry to anyone momentarily confused. Here's the real chapter 17.
Chapter 17
"Darien!" Serena embraced the cloaked figure, who returned the hug. "We have to stop meeting like this or I'm going to have a heart attack."
"The outers have already gone to the subway," Darien said, skipping the usual pleasantries.
"Is that where Rini and the others are? She called and said they were in trouble, I was just going after them." With that said, Serena began to run again, letting that same feeling of danger guide her. Darien fell into step quickly.
"Too bad the buildings are so high, otherwise we could jump. It would be faster." Darien glanced up in regret. Fifteen minutes later, they stood arm in arm outside the subway tunnel. Without hesitation, they hurried down into the darkness.
"It's too quiet down here," Amara commented in concern, "Shouldn't we have been attacked by now if this is the enemy's base?"
"Don't complain," Michele answered her dryly, "Or else you'll get what you asked for." Hotaru froze beside them.
"Too late!" A blast of energy whizzed by, and without warning the four outer senshi were surrounded. Sailor's Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto were thrown into a battle where the enemy came from everywhere and was invisible in the dark tunnel. Fortunately, the youma had just as much trouble seeing and occasionally killed each other. Still, after twenty minutes and no end in sight, they were beginning to wonder if the point of the exercise weren't just to tire them out.
"We're being pushed further into the tunnel!" Amara yelled, pulling her sword out of another creature.
"Well what do you propose we do about it?!" a worn-out and frustrated Michele yelled back sarcastically.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!!!" Flying pigtails took out two more monsters. The tunnel was temporarily lit up, enough to reveal Sailor Moon in her crouched position after her attack, being supported by Tuxedo Mask to add extra energy. A heart the size of a large semi spread out to shatter any creature that it touched before dispersing into nothingness.
"Sailor Moon!" called four surprised soldiers, with a few belated, "Tuxedo Mask!"
"We have to hurry," Serena urged the group after a quick hug.
"First, we must be able to see," put in the ever-rational Sailor Pluto. She snatched up a large stick she'd seen when Sailor Moon attacked and set it on fire with a weak "Pluto Deadly Scream."
"I'll hold it. The rest of you might set your hair on fire," Amara joked as she took the torch. Sailor Uranus took the lead. The group naturally formed a protective circle around Serena.
"How far do you think we have to go before –" Sailor Moon's question was cut short by the sound of evil laughter. "Never mind…"