Sailor Moon-Violence and Corruption
Part 3: "Former Friends"
By Bill K.
Rated R
Luna's internal clock told her it was time to make her first attempt at
waking Usagi up. Most people would think it a chore, but Luna actually looked
forward to the task. It gave her an excuse to inflict some payback torment on
Usagi for all of the torment Usagi gave her.
Rising from the dresser top, Luna leaped over to the bed, her target the
pillow. If she aimed correctly, she'd land feet first right between Usagi's
shoulder blades (or her chest if she was sleeping on her back). But the cat
landed on an empty mattress. Startled, she looked around the unmade bed and the
disheveled room - - no Usagi.
"Usagi?" called Luna. No reply.
She leaped to the floor and padded to the top of the stairs just in time
to see Usagi disappear out the door, satchel in hand. The cat raced down the
stairs and out the door after her. She managed to catch the speeding blonde at
the end of the block.
"Ohh!" yawned Usagi. "Why does school have to start so early?"
"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that," grinned Luna. "I was about to
check to see if you'd been possessed."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're going to be on time for school. That's hardly like you."
"I can't be late anymore, Luna," Usagi replied. "Not if I want to
graduate. I have no intention of being a comfort girl on the Ginza."
Luna almost choked. "A WHAT? Gracious, where did you ever get an idea
like that?!"
"Minako."
"Well, that follows."
"She said that's where girls who don't graduate end up."
"Usagi, Minako is so full of hot air she could float!"
"Well," Usagi wavered, "I still need to graduate."
"True enough. And you're showing admirable resolve. Do keep it up. I'll
see you tonight. We can work on your English again."
"OK, Luna. Bye!"
"In English," requested Luna.
"Um . . ." Usagi hesitated. ["Good night?"]
["No. 'Good-bye'."]
Usagi walked down the street repeating the word to herself.
"Unbelievable," Luna thought. "This whole job thing has certainly gotten
her attention. I hope it lasts. She's a completely different person."
"Hey, Odango Atama!" yelled one of Usagi's schoolmates, a loutish boy.
"Why you talking to that cat?"
"Because it beats talking to an ugly, brain dead loser like you!" bellowed
Usagi. She followed that by pulling her eyelid down and sticking out her tongue.
"Still, one can't expect a full transformation overnight, can one," Luna
thought, a look of disgust on her feline face.
* * * *
It was another unsettling morning for Usagi's teacher. Usagi Tsukino
being there before him was startling, but it was a pleasant surprise. The shock
was seeing Ami Mizuno's seat empty. She never missed school; often it was hard
to get her to leave. Her absence was not lost on the rest of the class, either,
and it spawned waves of gossip.
"Quiet, class," he said sternly and the gossip died down. Then he noticed
Usagi staring absently at something to her left. "Miss Tsukino."
"Yes, sir!" Usagi cried, springing to her feet amid amused titters.
"Congratulations for finally learning when class starts," he said, barely
suppressing a smirk himself. "I hope this exemplary behavior will continue."
"I'll try, sir," she blushed, returning to her seat.
Lost on everyone except Usagi was the fact that Makoto and Minako were
missing, too. Worried thoughts seized her brain and Usagi fretted about their
whereabouts for several moments, stopping only when she realized the teacher had
started his lecture. Concentrating was a strain for the rest of the day.
The moment school was out, Usagi made a bee-line for the Hikawa Shrine.
She flew up the steps and rapped on the door. Rei's grandpa greeted her.
"Sir," she bowed, "can I talk to Rei?" Grandpa grew grim.
"No one's seen Rei for two days," he told her. "She hasn't been here and
no one's seen her at school. And obviously you know nothing about where she is."
"Have you asked Yuuichiro?"
"He's gone as well. He's been missing as long as she has. At first I
thought they'd run off together, until I remembered who I was talking about."
Usagi wasn't really listening. She was too busy being in shock.
"If you see her," pleaded Grandpa, "ask her to call me. She doesn't have
to explain anything. I just want to know that she's all right."
Usagi nodded and blindly walked to the steps. At that point, her strength
deserted her and she sat on the top step, wondering what had happened to her
friends and fearing the worst. Just then her communicator watch buzzed.
"Usagi," Luna asked over the communicator, "was Minako in school today?"
"No," Usagi said quickly. "Have you heard from her?"
"Artemis called me. He says she went to help Ami last night and never
returned. He's quite upset. I tried to call Ami, but I can't raise her."
"They weren't in school," Usagi told her. "Mako-chan wasn't, either! I'm
at the temple and they say Rei hasn't been seen in two days!" Tears welled up
in Usagi's eyes. "Luna, what's happening?"
"I don't know, but I don't like it. Come home, Usagi. Artemis is meeting
us here. Perhaps we can puzzle this out."
* * * *
Beneath the Earth, Talon Umbra sat on her throne and watched a holographic
picture of Usagi racing down the temple steps. She smiled in satisfaction as
Tygos stood beside her.
"Just as I predicted," Talon Umbra commented. "Already her resolve begins
to crumble. Bereft of her support, this young waif cannot stand up to the
coming storm."
"Speak the word, Mistress," Tygos said, "and I will strike her down in
your name."
"No, Tygos. This is not your fight."
"She is weakened - - an easy target!"
"And she will fall," Talon Umbra said, "but not at your hand."
"Mistress. . ."
"The wise one keeps her best weapon in reserve, anticipating misfortune. I
foresee her defeat, but I do not dismiss the possibility she will triumph over
your sister. You must act only should that happen. She will not stand against
you both."
* * * *
Usagi tore down the street on her way home, dodging in and out of
pedestrian traffic. Her legs were aching by now and her lungs burning, but she
didn't want to slow up. The sooner she got home, the sooner they could solve
where her friends were.
Already the prospect of them not being in her life was haunting the girl.
The prospect of not seeing Ami's gentle smile or hearing her kind encouragement;
not experiencing Makoto's easy-going optimism or her passion about love in all
it's splendor; not being dragged along by Minako's energy or her askew point of
view on life; not feeling her heart beat faster because of Rei, whether it was
from the heat of an argument or the thrill of seeing the girl's enthusiasm over
something she cared deeply about. If they weren't in her world, it was a world
she didn't want to be in. Tears began stinging at her eyes, even as
over-exertion began stinging her lungs. Usagi felt herself faltering. She
jammed her eyes shut to push back the tears and pulled her head down to summon
up the reserves of her flagging strength.
And promptly ran into someone. Sprawling awkwardly on the cement sidewalk,
Usagi skidded to a stop. She took a moment to let her brain stop bouncing
within her skull, then forced herself to her feet.
"Please forgive me," Usagi said, bowing to the person she ran into. "I
wasn't watching where I was going, and I was in a hurry besides. It's totally
my fault."
"It's all right, Usagi," Cooan smiled. "I think you got the brunt of the
impact anyway. Are you all right?"
"Cooan!" Usagi gasped, looking at her for the first time. Cooan looked
well. She was wearing a tight blue skirt and a knit beige blouse with a blue
bolero jacket over it, a look that seemed as stylish as someone on a budget
could be. Her thick dark hair still tumbled down her shoulders and was still
done up in its distinctive "cat's ears" style. "I didn't know it was you!"
"Same old Usagi," Cooan said playfully. "You've gotten bigger, but you
haven't gotten any better at concentration. But on you, it's still cute."
Usagi shifted. She desperately wanted to leave, but she didn't know how
without being rude to Cooan, and that was something she never wanted to be.
"What's wrong?" Cooan asked, sensing Usagi's anxiety. "You seem really
upset about something. Am I keeping you from a crisis?"
"Well," Usagi murmured, "I don't know. You remember my friends, don't
you?"
"Very well. Especially Rei."
"They seem to have," Usagi said, then hesitated for a long time on the
final word, "disappeared. You haven't seen them, have you?"
"No, not for at least a year now. Do you think something's happened to
them?"
"I don't know," Usagi replied, struggling to maintain her composure.
"That's why I was running. I wanted to get home and try to look for them."
"Then please, don't let me keep you. Good fortune in finding them, Usagi.
And if there's anything I or my sisters can do to help, please let us know. Do
you still have our number?"
Usagi nodded. "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, Usagi. I'm happy to offer. My sisters and I
are still deeply in your debt. The minute you need anything from us, please ask.
We will do it."
A hesitant smile spread on Usagi's woeful face. She nodded again, then
turned and sprinted off. Cooan watched her disappear into the crowd. Even
though she was human, she still had the instincts from her time as a minion of
the Dark Moon Nemesis. There were forces swirling around Usagi and they raised
the hackles on Cooan.
* * * *
Luna and Artemis were up in Usagi's bedroom, when she got home. Artemis
was working on the laptop computer Luna had hidden there. They turned to Usagi
when they heard her enter and saw the desperation on the girl's face.
"Anything?" she squeaked.
"I'm not picking up their communicator beacons," Artemis replied.
"Does that mean they're not in Tokyo?" gasped Usagi.
"It means the beacons aren't transmitting."
"Is it possible the program is malfunctioning?" asked Luna.
"No. I picked up Usagi's beacon just fine."
"Could the signals be blocked or shielded?"
"Maybe they've been taken to the future by some evil thing from space and
disintegrated into nothing but their star seeds!" cried Usagi.
"It's more likely that the beacons got broken," scowled Artemis.
"You wouldn't be so quick to sneer if you'd seen Galaxia in action,"
whispered Usagi.
"But all four broken?" questioned Luna. "That would indicate intent."
"It wouldn't surprise me," Artemis replied. Usagi whimpered.
"Usagi!" called Usagi's mom from downstairs. "Come on, Honey! Dinner
time!"
Usagi looked at the cats, reluctant to go.
"Go ahead, Usagi," Luna said. "If you don't go, your family will start
asking questions. We're going to go search."
"Luna," Usagi whimpered fearfully. "Don't, please. Can't you look for
them here?"
"No, we can't," Artemis snapped. "Usagi, Minako is very important to me.
I am not going to rest until I find her and bring her back. If that means
searching every inch of Tokyo or braving the very mouth of Hell itself, I intend
to do it! So stop whimpering!"
"But," she stammered, "I'm afraid I'm going to lose you both, too."
"Usagi," smiled Luna sympathetically. "We'll come back. Don't you worry.
We're tougher than you think we are. Besides, somebody has to teach you English,
remember? Now please be brave during this situation."
"I hate it when people tell me that," Usagi said sadly. "It always means
something's going to happen that I'm not going to like."
"What if I call you every hour on your communicator?" Luna offered.
"Every half hour?" bargained Usagi.
"Every half hour."
"Fifteen minutes?"
"Don't press your luck, Usagi," Luna smirked.
Usagi left looking like a condemned prisoner.
Twenty minutes later the cats were silently padding down the hall of the
apartment building the Mizunos lived in. They approached the penthouse door.
"Do you know what we're looking for?" Luna whispered.
"No," admitted Artemis. "I just know this is where Minako was headed last
night. It seemed like as good a place as any to start. I couldn't search
earlier because I couldn't get past the doorman." He sniffed along the carpet
in front of the door. "I can smell Minako's scent here. It's recent, too.
Maybe a day old."
"Yes," Luna agreed, sniffing. "And Ami, too. . .and another one. Rei?"
"Yeah. That means three of them were here as late as last night."
Artemis began following the scent along the hallway. "Good thing this is a low
traffic area. The scent's still strong enough to follow." He followed the
trail to the back stairwell. "Hmm. Why take the stairs and not the elevator?"
"Perhaps they were chasing something?" Luna offered.
"Or were being chased. But I can't come up with another clear scent.
Let's see if this leads outside."
The cats descended the stairs all the way to the ground floor. They
managed to get the side door open and found themselves in the alley behind the
building. When no course suggested itself, the pair began looking the alley
over.
"Artemis," Luna said. "Look at these marks." She pointed to black marks
on the pavement. "Do they look like scorch marks to you?"
"Yeah. Mars?"
"She was here last night. And look at the impact damage on those walls
and that dumpster over there."
"Like the energy waves from Minako's 'Love And Beauty Shock' attack.
There was a battle here last night. But who were they fighting? I'm still not
getting a scent of anyone or anything strange."
"We were wondering how long it would take you to figure it out."
The cats whirled and saw Sailor Mercury walking up.
"Mercury!" gasped Luna. "Where have you girls been?"
"Around," Mercury replied with an uncharacteristic smug evasiveness.
"Were you worried?" and the cats turned to find Venus behind them.
"Of course we were. . ." Artemis began, but he stopped and stared at
Venus. He knew Minako almost as well as he knew himself. This wasn't the Venus
he knew. The scent was right, but the body language was all wrong. "On your
toes, Luna," he whispered.
"Figure it out yet?" Jupiter asked, coming up on their left. Artemis
glanced to his right and saw Mars there. They were surrounded.
"Not all of it," Artemis said warily. "Want to enlighten us?"
"Not really," Jupiter replied with ill-concealed contempt. "You're not
the one we want."
"Fire Soul!" they heard Mars scream. Their reflexes barely took them out
of the path of the fireball.
* * * *
Usagi paced back and forth in her bedroom, her satchel untouched on her
desk. She had homework to do, but there was no way she could concentrate on it.
Her father had asked about why she seemed distracted and distant at dinner.
What could she tell him? And now she waited for Luna to call, her fears growing
every second. She wasn't sure how close to the half-hour appointment she was,
as she'd forgotten to note the time the two cats left, but with every second
that passed she was more certain they were in trouble.
Just then her communicator watch buzzed. Usagi flipped it open.
"Luna? Are you all right?" she gasped. "Did you find them?"
"Stay away, Usagi!" she heard Luna scream through the communicator.
"They're not. . .rrrawwwwrrr!"
"Luna? Luna!"
Usagi tore down the steps, pausing barely long enough to activate the
homing tracer on her watch. She pushed past Shingo, raced out the door and
through the front gate, the calls of her father echoing behind her.
Explanations would have to wait for later. Her friends were in trouble. She
got to a secluded part of the block and stopped, tearing the transformation
brooch from her blouse and thrusting it into the air.
"Moon Eternal Make Up!" she called out. Seconds later, Eternal Sailor
Moon was racing down the street.
As she neared the homing beacon she was tracing, Sailor Moon realized that
she was approaching Ami's apartment building. A fleeting hope sprang up in her
breast that this confrontation she was racing to would lead to the recovery of
her friends. However, nothing could prepare her for the sight that greeted her
when she reached the service alley behind the building.
It was Sailor Jupiter launching a bolt of electricity. The energy lanced
out and knocked a battered Luna back to the pavement, bouncing the cat once from
the strength of the impact. To Jupiter's left, Sailor Venus was using her Love
Me Chain to strangle Artemis. Mercury and Mars were in the background, their
beautiful faces twisted with a sick enjoyment of what was going on. Sailor Moon
could only stare in shock and horror for a few moments.
"Stop!" she cried, drawing everyone's attention to her.
The four renegade senshi forgot about their victims and advanced slowly on
Sailor Moon. The respite allowed Artemis to stagger to his feet and over to
Luna. The black cat was twitching from the electrical shock, but still
breathing.
"Well look who's here," Jupiter said, her stony-faced stare boring a hole
through Sailor Moon.
"Why were you hurting them?" Sailor Moon asked, her voice stunned to a
whisper. She stared incredulously at the malicious expressions on the faces of
her friends, but couldn't bring herself to believe they were different.
"How else do we draw you out of hiding?" smiled Venus mirthlessly. "If
you want Sailor Moon, you attack those close to her. I ought to know. I've got
the scars."
"What? Mina-chan. . ."
"You're not going to start crying, are you?" taunted Mars. "At least show
some backbone once in your life."
"I don't understand," gasped Sailor Moon. "You act like you hate me? What
happened?"
"What happened?" Mercury said, her eyebrow arched. "We finally reached
our limit." Sailor Moon only stared, unable or unwilling to comprehend. "Fine,
I'll try to use one syllable words. We've decided you're not worth following."
"That you're a false prophet," spat Mars.
"That you're not worth the sacrifices," snarled Jupiter.
"That you're not worth dying for," hissed Venus.
"I never. . ." said Sailor Moon, shaking her head.
"Do you know what it felt like?" Venus continued. "Dying in pain in some
frozen wasteland just so you could continue? Do you know?"
"And then to have it happen again!" Jupiter added. "Those energy scythes
that Galaxia had weren't exactly pleasant, and it was a picnic compared to having
your star seed jerked out of you and feeling your body dissolve into mist! I'm
sick of dying for you, Sailor Moon!"
"I'm sorry," sobbed Sailor Moon. "I didn't want . . .I never wanted that
to happen!"
"Well it did!" snapped Mercury. "And it seems to happen over and over
again. "What do you think we were going through outside that force bubble while
you were inside of it surrendering the Earth to Mistress 9? Did you even care?"
"Of course! Ami-chan, you're my friend! You're all my friends!"
"No, they're not!" yelled Artemis. "Open your eyes, Sailor Moon! Would
your friends act like that?"
"Burning Mandala!" roared Mars. Artemis pushed himself away from Luna to
try to draw the fire away. But he was too battered to avoid the fire rings and
one clipped his hind leg, sending him skidding to a stop on the pavement.
"Stop!" screamed Sailor Moon. "Don't hurt him, please!"
"Oh, shut up, Princess Crybaby!" growled Mars. "You make me want to
vomit! How many times? How many times have we thrown everything we can at an
enemy, only to have you cave in just when we need you the most? You start
bawling and sink down to your knees and humiliate yourself, begging your enemy
to stop when you should be fighting!"
"It's embarrassing!" Jupiter added. "It humiliates us!"
"I'm sorry," whimpered Sailor Moon.
"You're sorry," mocked Jupiter. "Say it again! I like hearing it!"
"Sailor Moon, get away!" pleaded Luna weakly. "They're possessed!
They're not the senshi anymore!"
"Please," begged Sailor Moon. "I don't know what I've done to make you
hate me so much, but whatever it is I'm sorry for it. I am! We can talk this
out! Please don't resort to this! Please don't give in to violence and hatred!
It's not like you all! You're all better than that!"
Jupiter responded by shoving Sailor Moon to the ground. She landed
awkwardly on her back with a small squeal of pain. Looking up, Sailor Moon
found the four senshi towering over her, the light of a crescent moon behind
them in the sky. Backlit, the senshi took on a spectral aura, almost indigo
with glowing white eyes.
"Get up," Jupiter said pitilessly. "Fight back. Show me you have at
least one ounce of courage in that body of yours, little girl."
"No," Sailor Moon said with almost regal resignation. "I won't fight.
Not you; not any of you. You're my friends and I love you all, and I will not
lift a hand against you."
"Then die," Venus replied.
From out of nowhere, Artemis landed on the back of Sailor Venus' head. He
dug his claws deep into her scalp. Moments later Luna landed on Mars with the
same ploy. The two senshi fell away, clutching at their heads.
"Run, Sailor Moon!" gasped Luna with what sounded like her last bit of
strength. "Please!"
"Get off, you filthy rat-bag!" Mercury hissed, seizing Luna by the scruff
of the neck. She ripped the cat off of Mars and flung her away. Luna landed
with a sickening thud and didn't get up.
"Luna!" wailed Sailor Moon, pushing to her feet and lunging forward.
"Please, stop it! Please!" She was restrained by Jupiter and shoved back.
"Help them!" spat Jupiter. "Save them! You've got the power! You just
don't have the will! You're afraid to use it, you coward!"
"Why are you doing this?" Sailor Moon pleaded tearfully. Jupiter remained
unfazed.
"Are they going to have to die before you act?" Jupiter persisted. "How
many have to die before you act? Is there a set number? All of Tokyo died at
Galaxia's hand before you acted! How can you live with yourself? With those
memories?"
"I-I can't," Sailor Moon squeaked, her eyes cast down and her fists to her
mouth.
"Then stop us."
"Not your way," she said, shaking her head. "The way of peace - - it has
to be right."
"Well we're sick of being martyrs for your cause," Mercury said. "You're
so pathetic. Jupiter, put her out of our misery."
"Gladly," Jupiter said, her hands sparking. "Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
The electric bolt lanced out at Sailor Moon. She barely managed to evade
it, stumbling to a stop several paces to her right. There was little time to
rest, though, as Jupiter launched another bolt at her. That bolt was even
closer.
"Look at her! She wants to entertain us!" cackled Venus, Artemis lying
motionless at her feet. "Dance, Moon Princess!"
"Maybe we'll give you a standing ovation before we kill you!" laughed
Mars.
Bolt after bolt fired at Sailor Moon. She ducked and dodged, something
she was almost legendary at, narrowly evading the deadly electricity while the
senshi laughed and jeered. All through the ordeal, the same thought pounded at
her mind: why? What had she done? Despite the words of both Luna and Artemis,
Sailor Moon couldn't escape the belief that it was somehow her fault they were
this way.
Finally ducking a bolt threw her off balance and she skidded to a stop on
her knees. Her chest heaving, her long trails of blonde hair frazzled and
fallen askew around her, propped up by her hands on the pavement, Sailor Moon
stopped running.
"Is the show over so soon?" taunted Mars.
"Please," whispered Sailor Moon, radiating an eerie calm and tranquillity
despite her ordeal. "You don't have to like me. If you can't forgive me, I
understand. I won't hold it against you. But please stop being cruel."
The four stood over her silently. She looked up at them in supplication.
"It doesn't suit you," she continued. "Any of you. You dishonor
yourselves. Please - - for your sakes - - please stop."
For a fluttering moment there was silence, an unnatural silence like is
heard before some great natural disaster. Sailor Moon waited for their
response.
"Who wants the honors?" asked Venus raising her hand to strike.
"I think we should all strike simultaneously," Mercury replied, doing the
same. "For the sake of internal harmony."
"Works for me," said Jupiter, her hand going up as well.
"Then it's unanimous," Mars said, her hand raising to strike as well.
Sailor Moon stared up at them, believing unwaveringly that her friends
would not harm her.
And, beneath the Earth, watching it all transpire from her throne, Talon
Umbra smiled.
Continued in part 4.
Part 3: "Former Friends"
By Bill K.
Rated R
Luna's internal clock told her it was time to make her first attempt at
waking Usagi up. Most people would think it a chore, but Luna actually looked
forward to the task. It gave her an excuse to inflict some payback torment on
Usagi for all of the torment Usagi gave her.
Rising from the dresser top, Luna leaped over to the bed, her target the
pillow. If she aimed correctly, she'd land feet first right between Usagi's
shoulder blades (or her chest if she was sleeping on her back). But the cat
landed on an empty mattress. Startled, she looked around the unmade bed and the
disheveled room - - no Usagi.
"Usagi?" called Luna. No reply.
She leaped to the floor and padded to the top of the stairs just in time
to see Usagi disappear out the door, satchel in hand. The cat raced down the
stairs and out the door after her. She managed to catch the speeding blonde at
the end of the block.
"Ohh!" yawned Usagi. "Why does school have to start so early?"
"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that," grinned Luna. "I was about to
check to see if you'd been possessed."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're going to be on time for school. That's hardly like you."
"I can't be late anymore, Luna," Usagi replied. "Not if I want to
graduate. I have no intention of being a comfort girl on the Ginza."
Luna almost choked. "A WHAT? Gracious, where did you ever get an idea
like that?!"
"Minako."
"Well, that follows."
"She said that's where girls who don't graduate end up."
"Usagi, Minako is so full of hot air she could float!"
"Well," Usagi wavered, "I still need to graduate."
"True enough. And you're showing admirable resolve. Do keep it up. I'll
see you tonight. We can work on your English again."
"OK, Luna. Bye!"
"In English," requested Luna.
"Um . . ." Usagi hesitated. ["Good night?"]
["No. 'Good-bye'."]
Usagi walked down the street repeating the word to herself.
"Unbelievable," Luna thought. "This whole job thing has certainly gotten
her attention. I hope it lasts. She's a completely different person."
"Hey, Odango Atama!" yelled one of Usagi's schoolmates, a loutish boy.
"Why you talking to that cat?"
"Because it beats talking to an ugly, brain dead loser like you!" bellowed
Usagi. She followed that by pulling her eyelid down and sticking out her tongue.
"Still, one can't expect a full transformation overnight, can one," Luna
thought, a look of disgust on her feline face.
* * * *
It was another unsettling morning for Usagi's teacher. Usagi Tsukino
being there before him was startling, but it was a pleasant surprise. The shock
was seeing Ami Mizuno's seat empty. She never missed school; often it was hard
to get her to leave. Her absence was not lost on the rest of the class, either,
and it spawned waves of gossip.
"Quiet, class," he said sternly and the gossip died down. Then he noticed
Usagi staring absently at something to her left. "Miss Tsukino."
"Yes, sir!" Usagi cried, springing to her feet amid amused titters.
"Congratulations for finally learning when class starts," he said, barely
suppressing a smirk himself. "I hope this exemplary behavior will continue."
"I'll try, sir," she blushed, returning to her seat.
Lost on everyone except Usagi was the fact that Makoto and Minako were
missing, too. Worried thoughts seized her brain and Usagi fretted about their
whereabouts for several moments, stopping only when she realized the teacher had
started his lecture. Concentrating was a strain for the rest of the day.
The moment school was out, Usagi made a bee-line for the Hikawa Shrine.
She flew up the steps and rapped on the door. Rei's grandpa greeted her.
"Sir," she bowed, "can I talk to Rei?" Grandpa grew grim.
"No one's seen Rei for two days," he told her. "She hasn't been here and
no one's seen her at school. And obviously you know nothing about where she is."
"Have you asked Yuuichiro?"
"He's gone as well. He's been missing as long as she has. At first I
thought they'd run off together, until I remembered who I was talking about."
Usagi wasn't really listening. She was too busy being in shock.
"If you see her," pleaded Grandpa, "ask her to call me. She doesn't have
to explain anything. I just want to know that she's all right."
Usagi nodded and blindly walked to the steps. At that point, her strength
deserted her and she sat on the top step, wondering what had happened to her
friends and fearing the worst. Just then her communicator watch buzzed.
"Usagi," Luna asked over the communicator, "was Minako in school today?"
"No," Usagi said quickly. "Have you heard from her?"
"Artemis called me. He says she went to help Ami last night and never
returned. He's quite upset. I tried to call Ami, but I can't raise her."
"They weren't in school," Usagi told her. "Mako-chan wasn't, either! I'm
at the temple and they say Rei hasn't been seen in two days!" Tears welled up
in Usagi's eyes. "Luna, what's happening?"
"I don't know, but I don't like it. Come home, Usagi. Artemis is meeting
us here. Perhaps we can puzzle this out."
* * * *
Beneath the Earth, Talon Umbra sat on her throne and watched a holographic
picture of Usagi racing down the temple steps. She smiled in satisfaction as
Tygos stood beside her.
"Just as I predicted," Talon Umbra commented. "Already her resolve begins
to crumble. Bereft of her support, this young waif cannot stand up to the
coming storm."
"Speak the word, Mistress," Tygos said, "and I will strike her down in
your name."
"No, Tygos. This is not your fight."
"She is weakened - - an easy target!"
"And she will fall," Talon Umbra said, "but not at your hand."
"Mistress. . ."
"The wise one keeps her best weapon in reserve, anticipating misfortune. I
foresee her defeat, but I do not dismiss the possibility she will triumph over
your sister. You must act only should that happen. She will not stand against
you both."
* * * *
Usagi tore down the street on her way home, dodging in and out of
pedestrian traffic. Her legs were aching by now and her lungs burning, but she
didn't want to slow up. The sooner she got home, the sooner they could solve
where her friends were.
Already the prospect of them not being in her life was haunting the girl.
The prospect of not seeing Ami's gentle smile or hearing her kind encouragement;
not experiencing Makoto's easy-going optimism or her passion about love in all
it's splendor; not being dragged along by Minako's energy or her askew point of
view on life; not feeling her heart beat faster because of Rei, whether it was
from the heat of an argument or the thrill of seeing the girl's enthusiasm over
something she cared deeply about. If they weren't in her world, it was a world
she didn't want to be in. Tears began stinging at her eyes, even as
over-exertion began stinging her lungs. Usagi felt herself faltering. She
jammed her eyes shut to push back the tears and pulled her head down to summon
up the reserves of her flagging strength.
And promptly ran into someone. Sprawling awkwardly on the cement sidewalk,
Usagi skidded to a stop. She took a moment to let her brain stop bouncing
within her skull, then forced herself to her feet.
"Please forgive me," Usagi said, bowing to the person she ran into. "I
wasn't watching where I was going, and I was in a hurry besides. It's totally
my fault."
"It's all right, Usagi," Cooan smiled. "I think you got the brunt of the
impact anyway. Are you all right?"
"Cooan!" Usagi gasped, looking at her for the first time. Cooan looked
well. She was wearing a tight blue skirt and a knit beige blouse with a blue
bolero jacket over it, a look that seemed as stylish as someone on a budget
could be. Her thick dark hair still tumbled down her shoulders and was still
done up in its distinctive "cat's ears" style. "I didn't know it was you!"
"Same old Usagi," Cooan said playfully. "You've gotten bigger, but you
haven't gotten any better at concentration. But on you, it's still cute."
Usagi shifted. She desperately wanted to leave, but she didn't know how
without being rude to Cooan, and that was something she never wanted to be.
"What's wrong?" Cooan asked, sensing Usagi's anxiety. "You seem really
upset about something. Am I keeping you from a crisis?"
"Well," Usagi murmured, "I don't know. You remember my friends, don't
you?"
"Very well. Especially Rei."
"They seem to have," Usagi said, then hesitated for a long time on the
final word, "disappeared. You haven't seen them, have you?"
"No, not for at least a year now. Do you think something's happened to
them?"
"I don't know," Usagi replied, struggling to maintain her composure.
"That's why I was running. I wanted to get home and try to look for them."
"Then please, don't let me keep you. Good fortune in finding them, Usagi.
And if there's anything I or my sisters can do to help, please let us know. Do
you still have our number?"
Usagi nodded. "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, Usagi. I'm happy to offer. My sisters and I
are still deeply in your debt. The minute you need anything from us, please ask.
We will do it."
A hesitant smile spread on Usagi's woeful face. She nodded again, then
turned and sprinted off. Cooan watched her disappear into the crowd. Even
though she was human, she still had the instincts from her time as a minion of
the Dark Moon Nemesis. There were forces swirling around Usagi and they raised
the hackles on Cooan.
* * * *
Luna and Artemis were up in Usagi's bedroom, when she got home. Artemis
was working on the laptop computer Luna had hidden there. They turned to Usagi
when they heard her enter and saw the desperation on the girl's face.
"Anything?" she squeaked.
"I'm not picking up their communicator beacons," Artemis replied.
"Does that mean they're not in Tokyo?" gasped Usagi.
"It means the beacons aren't transmitting."
"Is it possible the program is malfunctioning?" asked Luna.
"No. I picked up Usagi's beacon just fine."
"Could the signals be blocked or shielded?"
"Maybe they've been taken to the future by some evil thing from space and
disintegrated into nothing but their star seeds!" cried Usagi.
"It's more likely that the beacons got broken," scowled Artemis.
"You wouldn't be so quick to sneer if you'd seen Galaxia in action,"
whispered Usagi.
"But all four broken?" questioned Luna. "That would indicate intent."
"It wouldn't surprise me," Artemis replied. Usagi whimpered.
"Usagi!" called Usagi's mom from downstairs. "Come on, Honey! Dinner
time!"
Usagi looked at the cats, reluctant to go.
"Go ahead, Usagi," Luna said. "If you don't go, your family will start
asking questions. We're going to go search."
"Luna," Usagi whimpered fearfully. "Don't, please. Can't you look for
them here?"
"No, we can't," Artemis snapped. "Usagi, Minako is very important to me.
I am not going to rest until I find her and bring her back. If that means
searching every inch of Tokyo or braving the very mouth of Hell itself, I intend
to do it! So stop whimpering!"
"But," she stammered, "I'm afraid I'm going to lose you both, too."
"Usagi," smiled Luna sympathetically. "We'll come back. Don't you worry.
We're tougher than you think we are. Besides, somebody has to teach you English,
remember? Now please be brave during this situation."
"I hate it when people tell me that," Usagi said sadly. "It always means
something's going to happen that I'm not going to like."
"What if I call you every hour on your communicator?" Luna offered.
"Every half hour?" bargained Usagi.
"Every half hour."
"Fifteen minutes?"
"Don't press your luck, Usagi," Luna smirked.
Usagi left looking like a condemned prisoner.
Twenty minutes later the cats were silently padding down the hall of the
apartment building the Mizunos lived in. They approached the penthouse door.
"Do you know what we're looking for?" Luna whispered.
"No," admitted Artemis. "I just know this is where Minako was headed last
night. It seemed like as good a place as any to start. I couldn't search
earlier because I couldn't get past the doorman." He sniffed along the carpet
in front of the door. "I can smell Minako's scent here. It's recent, too.
Maybe a day old."
"Yes," Luna agreed, sniffing. "And Ami, too. . .and another one. Rei?"
"Yeah. That means three of them were here as late as last night."
Artemis began following the scent along the hallway. "Good thing this is a low
traffic area. The scent's still strong enough to follow." He followed the
trail to the back stairwell. "Hmm. Why take the stairs and not the elevator?"
"Perhaps they were chasing something?" Luna offered.
"Or were being chased. But I can't come up with another clear scent.
Let's see if this leads outside."
The cats descended the stairs all the way to the ground floor. They
managed to get the side door open and found themselves in the alley behind the
building. When no course suggested itself, the pair began looking the alley
over.
"Artemis," Luna said. "Look at these marks." She pointed to black marks
on the pavement. "Do they look like scorch marks to you?"
"Yeah. Mars?"
"She was here last night. And look at the impact damage on those walls
and that dumpster over there."
"Like the energy waves from Minako's 'Love And Beauty Shock' attack.
There was a battle here last night. But who were they fighting? I'm still not
getting a scent of anyone or anything strange."
"We were wondering how long it would take you to figure it out."
The cats whirled and saw Sailor Mercury walking up.
"Mercury!" gasped Luna. "Where have you girls been?"
"Around," Mercury replied with an uncharacteristic smug evasiveness.
"Were you worried?" and the cats turned to find Venus behind them.
"Of course we were. . ." Artemis began, but he stopped and stared at
Venus. He knew Minako almost as well as he knew himself. This wasn't the Venus
he knew. The scent was right, but the body language was all wrong. "On your
toes, Luna," he whispered.
"Figure it out yet?" Jupiter asked, coming up on their left. Artemis
glanced to his right and saw Mars there. They were surrounded.
"Not all of it," Artemis said warily. "Want to enlighten us?"
"Not really," Jupiter replied with ill-concealed contempt. "You're not
the one we want."
"Fire Soul!" they heard Mars scream. Their reflexes barely took them out
of the path of the fireball.
* * * *
Usagi paced back and forth in her bedroom, her satchel untouched on her
desk. She had homework to do, but there was no way she could concentrate on it.
Her father had asked about why she seemed distracted and distant at dinner.
What could she tell him? And now she waited for Luna to call, her fears growing
every second. She wasn't sure how close to the half-hour appointment she was,
as she'd forgotten to note the time the two cats left, but with every second
that passed she was more certain they were in trouble.
Just then her communicator watch buzzed. Usagi flipped it open.
"Luna? Are you all right?" she gasped. "Did you find them?"
"Stay away, Usagi!" she heard Luna scream through the communicator.
"They're not. . .rrrawwwwrrr!"
"Luna? Luna!"
Usagi tore down the steps, pausing barely long enough to activate the
homing tracer on her watch. She pushed past Shingo, raced out the door and
through the front gate, the calls of her father echoing behind her.
Explanations would have to wait for later. Her friends were in trouble. She
got to a secluded part of the block and stopped, tearing the transformation
brooch from her blouse and thrusting it into the air.
"Moon Eternal Make Up!" she called out. Seconds later, Eternal Sailor
Moon was racing down the street.
As she neared the homing beacon she was tracing, Sailor Moon realized that
she was approaching Ami's apartment building. A fleeting hope sprang up in her
breast that this confrontation she was racing to would lead to the recovery of
her friends. However, nothing could prepare her for the sight that greeted her
when she reached the service alley behind the building.
It was Sailor Jupiter launching a bolt of electricity. The energy lanced
out and knocked a battered Luna back to the pavement, bouncing the cat once from
the strength of the impact. To Jupiter's left, Sailor Venus was using her Love
Me Chain to strangle Artemis. Mercury and Mars were in the background, their
beautiful faces twisted with a sick enjoyment of what was going on. Sailor Moon
could only stare in shock and horror for a few moments.
"Stop!" she cried, drawing everyone's attention to her.
The four renegade senshi forgot about their victims and advanced slowly on
Sailor Moon. The respite allowed Artemis to stagger to his feet and over to
Luna. The black cat was twitching from the electrical shock, but still
breathing.
"Well look who's here," Jupiter said, her stony-faced stare boring a hole
through Sailor Moon.
"Why were you hurting them?" Sailor Moon asked, her voice stunned to a
whisper. She stared incredulously at the malicious expressions on the faces of
her friends, but couldn't bring herself to believe they were different.
"How else do we draw you out of hiding?" smiled Venus mirthlessly. "If
you want Sailor Moon, you attack those close to her. I ought to know. I've got
the scars."
"What? Mina-chan. . ."
"You're not going to start crying, are you?" taunted Mars. "At least show
some backbone once in your life."
"I don't understand," gasped Sailor Moon. "You act like you hate me? What
happened?"
"What happened?" Mercury said, her eyebrow arched. "We finally reached
our limit." Sailor Moon only stared, unable or unwilling to comprehend. "Fine,
I'll try to use one syllable words. We've decided you're not worth following."
"That you're a false prophet," spat Mars.
"That you're not worth the sacrifices," snarled Jupiter.
"That you're not worth dying for," hissed Venus.
"I never. . ." said Sailor Moon, shaking her head.
"Do you know what it felt like?" Venus continued. "Dying in pain in some
frozen wasteland just so you could continue? Do you know?"
"And then to have it happen again!" Jupiter added. "Those energy scythes
that Galaxia had weren't exactly pleasant, and it was a picnic compared to having
your star seed jerked out of you and feeling your body dissolve into mist! I'm
sick of dying for you, Sailor Moon!"
"I'm sorry," sobbed Sailor Moon. "I didn't want . . .I never wanted that
to happen!"
"Well it did!" snapped Mercury. "And it seems to happen over and over
again. "What do you think we were going through outside that force bubble while
you were inside of it surrendering the Earth to Mistress 9? Did you even care?"
"Of course! Ami-chan, you're my friend! You're all my friends!"
"No, they're not!" yelled Artemis. "Open your eyes, Sailor Moon! Would
your friends act like that?"
"Burning Mandala!" roared Mars. Artemis pushed himself away from Luna to
try to draw the fire away. But he was too battered to avoid the fire rings and
one clipped his hind leg, sending him skidding to a stop on the pavement.
"Stop!" screamed Sailor Moon. "Don't hurt him, please!"
"Oh, shut up, Princess Crybaby!" growled Mars. "You make me want to
vomit! How many times? How many times have we thrown everything we can at an
enemy, only to have you cave in just when we need you the most? You start
bawling and sink down to your knees and humiliate yourself, begging your enemy
to stop when you should be fighting!"
"It's embarrassing!" Jupiter added. "It humiliates us!"
"I'm sorry," whimpered Sailor Moon.
"You're sorry," mocked Jupiter. "Say it again! I like hearing it!"
"Sailor Moon, get away!" pleaded Luna weakly. "They're possessed!
They're not the senshi anymore!"
"Please," begged Sailor Moon. "I don't know what I've done to make you
hate me so much, but whatever it is I'm sorry for it. I am! We can talk this
out! Please don't resort to this! Please don't give in to violence and hatred!
It's not like you all! You're all better than that!"
Jupiter responded by shoving Sailor Moon to the ground. She landed
awkwardly on her back with a small squeal of pain. Looking up, Sailor Moon
found the four senshi towering over her, the light of a crescent moon behind
them in the sky. Backlit, the senshi took on a spectral aura, almost indigo
with glowing white eyes.
"Get up," Jupiter said pitilessly. "Fight back. Show me you have at
least one ounce of courage in that body of yours, little girl."
"No," Sailor Moon said with almost regal resignation. "I won't fight.
Not you; not any of you. You're my friends and I love you all, and I will not
lift a hand against you."
"Then die," Venus replied.
From out of nowhere, Artemis landed on the back of Sailor Venus' head. He
dug his claws deep into her scalp. Moments later Luna landed on Mars with the
same ploy. The two senshi fell away, clutching at their heads.
"Run, Sailor Moon!" gasped Luna with what sounded like her last bit of
strength. "Please!"
"Get off, you filthy rat-bag!" Mercury hissed, seizing Luna by the scruff
of the neck. She ripped the cat off of Mars and flung her away. Luna landed
with a sickening thud and didn't get up.
"Luna!" wailed Sailor Moon, pushing to her feet and lunging forward.
"Please, stop it! Please!" She was restrained by Jupiter and shoved back.
"Help them!" spat Jupiter. "Save them! You've got the power! You just
don't have the will! You're afraid to use it, you coward!"
"Why are you doing this?" Sailor Moon pleaded tearfully. Jupiter remained
unfazed.
"Are they going to have to die before you act?" Jupiter persisted. "How
many have to die before you act? Is there a set number? All of Tokyo died at
Galaxia's hand before you acted! How can you live with yourself? With those
memories?"
"I-I can't," Sailor Moon squeaked, her eyes cast down and her fists to her
mouth.
"Then stop us."
"Not your way," she said, shaking her head. "The way of peace - - it has
to be right."
"Well we're sick of being martyrs for your cause," Mercury said. "You're
so pathetic. Jupiter, put her out of our misery."
"Gladly," Jupiter said, her hands sparking. "Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
The electric bolt lanced out at Sailor Moon. She barely managed to evade
it, stumbling to a stop several paces to her right. There was little time to
rest, though, as Jupiter launched another bolt at her. That bolt was even
closer.
"Look at her! She wants to entertain us!" cackled Venus, Artemis lying
motionless at her feet. "Dance, Moon Princess!"
"Maybe we'll give you a standing ovation before we kill you!" laughed
Mars.
Bolt after bolt fired at Sailor Moon. She ducked and dodged, something
she was almost legendary at, narrowly evading the deadly electricity while the
senshi laughed and jeered. All through the ordeal, the same thought pounded at
her mind: why? What had she done? Despite the words of both Luna and Artemis,
Sailor Moon couldn't escape the belief that it was somehow her fault they were
this way.
Finally ducking a bolt threw her off balance and she skidded to a stop on
her knees. Her chest heaving, her long trails of blonde hair frazzled and
fallen askew around her, propped up by her hands on the pavement, Sailor Moon
stopped running.
"Is the show over so soon?" taunted Mars.
"Please," whispered Sailor Moon, radiating an eerie calm and tranquillity
despite her ordeal. "You don't have to like me. If you can't forgive me, I
understand. I won't hold it against you. But please stop being cruel."
The four stood over her silently. She looked up at them in supplication.
"It doesn't suit you," she continued. "Any of you. You dishonor
yourselves. Please - - for your sakes - - please stop."
For a fluttering moment there was silence, an unnatural silence like is
heard before some great natural disaster. Sailor Moon waited for their
response.
"Who wants the honors?" asked Venus raising her hand to strike.
"I think we should all strike simultaneously," Mercury replied, doing the
same. "For the sake of internal harmony."
"Works for me," said Jupiter, her hand going up as well.
"Then it's unanimous," Mars said, her hand raising to strike as well.
Sailor Moon stared up at them, believing unwaveringly that her friends
would not harm her.
And, beneath the Earth, watching it all transpire from her throne, Talon
Umbra smiled.
Continued in part 4.