Rise of the Sacred Moon This chapter has taken forever to write, and I personally fear it may sound a little corny or something. Please tell me if you like it or not, 'kay, everyone?
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Rise of the Sacred Moon
by Ratha
Part Five: In the Enemy's Lair

The sound of booted footsteps echoed through the rocky tunnel as Onyx walked down it. He sighed wearily, running a hand through his thick black hair. He did not look forward to making his report to Lord Incubus. He had failed to capture any of the Moon Kingdom's survivors or get any information. The Lady Cobra would enjoy his failure.

"No luck, Onyx?" asked a light tenor voice.

Onyx glanced over to see his red-haired friend, Jasper. Jasper was taller than himself, with pale green eyes and long red hair in a ponytail. Jasper's ever-present Walkman was off for once, so Onyx knew Jasper had something important to tell him. "What is it, Jas?"

Jasper fell into step with Onyx. "Roger and Kalla are getting agitated about something," he said quietly. "I'm not sure what it is, but Kalla mentioned something about an Eternal Silver Crystal."

"The twin to the Imperium Silver Crystal," Onyx murmured. "That's supposed to be the one that Sailor Silver Moon has. Supposedly when the two Crystals are put together, the power emitted can destroy the entire universe and more."

"Yikes. Roger can't get it. Our Prince would be in terrible danger." Jasper chewed nervously on his pinkie's nail.

"Right. We have to do something. But we can't let Lord Incubus know that we're free. If only King Lupus was on our side."

"I agree. But he's not, so we're in a fix. What can we do?"

Onyx frowned slightly. "I have an idea. I'm not gonna tell you because you might blab. No offense."

"None taken. Good luck."

"I'll need it." Onyx vanished, leaving Jasper alone in the tunnel.

Jasper put his headphones on, pressed "play", and started humming along to the music as he sauntered down the tunnel.

***
Andrea looked up from the paper she was working on when she heard a soft scratching on her office door. "Yes? Come in."

Raion nosed open the door and padded in. "I think I might have found a clue to one of the other Sacreds' whereabouts, Tora," he rumbled.

Andrea leaned on her elbows on her desk. "Indeed? Explain."

The winged lion sat down and began grooming a paw. "I saw Bastet."

Immediately she was on her feet and leaning over her desk eagerly. "Really? Are you sure it was Bastet?"

"I'm very sure it was her. There's no mistaking that walking ball of vanity. Plus, she had the silver moon mark like I do."

Andrea smiled happily. "Sailor Silver Moon must be nearby!" She abruptly calmed down. "But it can wait until morning. How're the others sleeping?"

Raion snorted. "Bunny ended up with a room all to herself. Rei claims Bunny's snoring can wake the dead. Rei and Jace are sleeping on a cot in the den, Mina and Kenneth are on the floor near them, Darien's on the couch, Ami and Lita are in the guest room, Zachary's on one of the chairs in there."

"And Nate?"

"He's out on the balcony stargazing. He claims he can't sleep." The enormous feline looked at her slyly. "I think he's waiting for you."

Andrea snorted. "Yeah, right. He told me he wanted to see if he could still call upon the power of the stars."

"Without much luck," Nathan sighed as he walked into the room, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. "Oy, I've never felt so drained after attempting that."

"Well, you haven't done it in almost two years." She smiled at him as he flopped wearily into a chair. "You-" She stopped and looked around, frowning slightly. "Something's not right. Something...Oh no! Onyx is here!" She dashed out of the room and toward where she'd sensed the dark aura.

"What?!" Nathan jumped to his feet and followed her.

They both froze when they saw the dark-haired General standing on a balcony and holding a terrified Lita.

"Lita!" Andrea cried. "Onyx, let her go! What are you doing?!"

Onyx sneered in contempt. "I'm borrowing her for a while. Lord Incubus wants some information about the Sailor Senshi. Ciao!" He vanished, taking Lita with him.

Andrea stared at the spot he'd just vacated, too shocked at first to do anything. Then she turned to Nathan and started crying into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "I've failed again!" she sobbed. "I couldn't even stop him again!"

"We'll get her back, Tora," Nathan whispered, trying to comfort the distraught woman. "I don't think Onyx will hurt her, considering their history together."

Andrea didn't share his confidence. "Nate, he has no memories of Silver Millennium. What's to stop him?"

***
"Lita was kidnapped?!" Bunny shrieked when Andrea gave them the news.

Andrea sighed and began massaging her temples. "Don't scream, Bunny. I have enough of a headache as it is. And Puu has assured me Lita is safe for the time being. Trust me, this was supposed to happen."

Raion rumbled softly from the floor at her feet. "Don't forget the rest of the news, Princess."

Andrea smiled down at the enormous lion. "Of course not. Girls, Raion brought in some good news! He's found a clue to Sailor Silver Moon's whereabouts! Right here in Tokyo!"

"What?!"

"Really?!"

"Where is she?!"

Raion stood up, wings rustling with the movement. "I did not see the younger Moon Princess herself, but I did see her guardian cat, Bastet. Luna, I would suggest you attempt to contact Bastet since she is your sister."

"Sister?" Bunny said, looking at her guardian cat in surprise. "You have a sister?"

Luna snorted and began licking a paw to hide her discomfort. "Don't remind me. Bastet was a stuck-up, spoiled brat who was so vain about her appearance that you would know if there was the slightest speck of dirt on her fur, because you could hear her screaming all the way to Pluto."

Artemis snorted. "Just like you, Luna."

"Say what?!" Luna snarled, rounding on him furiously.

"Ack! I didn't mean it that way!" Artemis yelped and bolted behind Mina while everyone else laughed.

"Raion's right, Luna. You are the head cat guardian." Andrea picked up Luna and began soothing the black cat's ruffled fur. "You're the only one who can convince her. Please, Luna?"

Luna calmed down considerably and began grooming a paw. "Well, since you put it that way, Andrea. I suppose I could try talking to Bastet. When do you want me to go?"

"Would now be too soon, Luna? If it wouldn't be any trouble, that is."

"Oh no trouble at all, Andrea. Wish me luck." Luna hopped off of Andrea's lap and out the open window to the fire escape.

Bunny turned to stare at Andrea in shock. "How'd you do that?"

Andrea grinned. "I just reminded her of her duty to help protect the Moon Princess, that's all."

***
Luna followed Raion's trail to where he said he'd seen Bastet. And it was with no little shock that she found herself in front of the house next door to the Tsukino household. "What? If they were this close, why didn't they ever run into each other before?"

"What's this I hear?" a voice suddenly said from a tree above her. "Could it possibly be poor little Luna?" A smirking Siamese cat leapt down to land in front of Luna, the silver reversed-crescent moon in plain sight.

Luna winced mentally, but kept her outward appearance calm. "Hello, Bastet. It is good to see you again," she said stiffly.

Bastet snorted and began licking a paw. "Liar. You hate me." She smirked at her sister. "Let me guess. You're here to see Ratha. (AN: No, this isn't a self-insertion!) Well, she's not here."

"What?!" Luna yelped in dismay. "But we need her! She has the Eternal Silver Crystal!"

Bastet sniffed primly and turned away. "I know that, idiot. She isn't here. I've been searching for her forever. When I heard you and Princess Serenity were in the house next door, I came here, hoping you might have some clue as to her whereabouts. I suppose I shouldn't have been so stupid. You never did know anything."

Luna glared daggers at the other cat's back. "You're just as stuck up and vain as you were during Silver Millennium! You haven't changed a bit, you snotty little brat!"

Bastet was silent for a long time, then glared over her shoulder at Luna. "If you are quite finished preaching, Luna, you may leave at once. Your presence bores me."

Luna was about ready to spit nails, until something unexpected caught her attention. Bastet's fur was a filthy mess, full of tangles and burs and covered with unidentifiable stains. "Bastet, are you alright?" Luna asked softly in concern.

Bastet winced, but didn't face her. "I'm fine," she growled. "Leave me alone."

"Now who's lying? I will not leave you alone and you are not fine. You are coming back with me right now. Do you understand?" Luna said sternly.

Bastet didn't answer, but she silently stood and followed Luna back to where the others were waiting.

***
Bunny grumbled sleepily as something kept poking her nose, waking her up from a deep sleep. She opened her eyes groggily to see a pair of familiar red eyes right in front of her.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rini winced and covered her ears at Bunny's ear-piercing scream. "Nice to see you, too, meatball head," she grumbled as everyone dashed into the room to see who was murdering Bunny.

"It's Rini!" Ami and Rei cried.

"Who?" Jace asked blankly. "Why's she look like Princess Serenity?"

"It's a long story, blockhead," Andrea replied drily. "What brings you back to the past, Small Lady?"

Rini looked up at her solemnly. "Mama sent me back to help. And she said to give you this." She handed Andrea an envelope.

The red-haired woman nodded and put the envelope in her pocket, then turned to Nathan. "Why don't you go get breakfast for everyone?" she asked sweetly.

"What? It's Ken's turn! I did it last time!" he protested.

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, Mina and Kenneth haven't returned yet. So it falls to you. Please?" Andrea batted her eyes and smiled pleadingly.

Several snickers were quickly muffled as Nathan sighed in defeat and left.

Rei frowned suddenly. "Wait a minute. Mina and Kenneth haven't come back yet? Aren't you worried about them at all?"

"Ken took the cell phone with him, Rei. I won't be worried until-"

"Andrea!" Luna's panicked cry caught everyone's attention as she and Bastet raced into the room, Bastet holding the shattered remains of a cell phone and Luna holding a tattered orange ribbon. Luna dropped the ribbon and looked up at Andrea wildly. "Bastet and I were on our way back here when we went through the park and came across the scene of a battle. We found these along with bloodstains and Mina's henshin wand."

Bastet silently produced the shattered orange wand amid horrified gasps. "The stench of a cobra was all over the place. The Lady Cobra had been there, along with one of her youma. We believe Princess Venus and Lord Kunzite were captured by the enemy."

***
"Oy, I've got a pounding headache," Kenneth groaned as he regained consciousness. He looked around groggily, one hand going to his head. "Aw shit. The Negaverse dungeon." He suddenly remembered Mina and looked around for her. "Mina-chan!" He gasped when he saw her laying unconscious a short distance away, her long blonde hair matted with blood. "Mina! Oh God, please be alright, Mina..."

She was breathing evenly and he let out a relieved breath. After making sure she had no further injuries, he picked her up and held her close.

"Psst!" a voice hissed. "Kenneth!"

He looked up to see a youma that looked normal, save for a large fan of peacock feathers behind it. He scowled darkly. "What do you want?" he snapped.

"Geez, Kenneth! Bite my head off, why don't you?" the youma grumbled and began to shimmer. A moment later, Lita stood in its place, grinning broadly at his shock. "Hi! Fancy meeting you here!"

"Lita?" he asked incredulously.

"In the flesh!" Lita replied, flashing a peace sign, then she grew serious. "Is Mina okay?"

"Yes, except for a large gash on her head. What happened? Why are you here and disguised as Gaia?"

Lita grinned. "It was Jasper's idea. He's been reading too many 007 novels." She turned to someone behind her. "Come on." She pulled a reluctant youma into the cell. "My friend needs your help, Poyzon!"

The scaly youma bowed awkwardly. "F-forgive the rough treatment, Lord Kunzite. L-Lady Cobra never-"

"Stop stuttering and help this girl!" Kenneth snapped in his familiar rough voice and the youma jumped to obey.

Lita made a face. "Sheesh! Be nice, Kenneth!" She glanced over her shoulder and her image shimmered to be replaced by her youma disguise. "Poyzon, hurry! Someone's coming!" she hissed.

"Finished," Poyzon whispered, then she grabbed Lita's arm and they vanished.

Kenneth looked up as a strange woman entered the cell. She had long black hair that reached to the ground and glowing red eyes. She wore a tight black leather outfit that left nothing to the imagination. On her right shoulder was a tattoo of a black cobra and on her left shoulder was a skull tattoo. An aura of complete evil that was almost visible to the naked eye surrounded her and ruined any ideas that she might be beautiful.

"Finally awake, I see," she purred, leaning against the wall in front of the door.

"Who are you?" Kenneth demanded, holding the still-unconscious Mina protectively.

The woman laughed harshly. "I am Kalla, the Cobra. Some call me the Killer of Souls because I feed on the souls of the dead. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that I did not see the souls of you and your three friends, Kunzite. Now I know why. That meddler Sailor Nebula captured them before you reached me. What a pity, ne?" She laughed again at his confusion. "I see she didn't tell you about me, did she? No matter. Lord Incubus will be by soon to take care of you and you little sister. What a stroke of genius it was to capture King Lupus and Beryl and make them his slaves. And, of course, Princess Tranquility will never be found by the senshi, so the Eternal Silver Crystal is as good as ours! I'm sure I'm boring you, so I'll just leave you to chew on that for a while."

"Wait! How do you know Princess Tranquility won't be found by the senshi?"

Kalla paused and looked at him consideringly a moment, then smiled cruelly. "Nice try, but I won't tell you while the risk of your being rescued is so great. Know only this-the younger of the two Lunarian princesses is in the land of eternal death in a sleeping death. An apt place, don't you think, since she is the true senshi of death? Bye now!" She laughed harshly and vanished in a flash of dark energy.

Lita and Poyzon reappeared as soon as Kalla was gone.

Lita shivered visibly. "Is it just me or was it colder in here when that witch was here? Thanks for trying to get information out of her, Kenneth. Poyzon, do you think it's safe enough to get them out of here yet?"

Poyzon shook her head. "Wait until Lord Onyx gives the signal, Princess Jupiter."

"Fine. You stay here and keep an eye on him and Princess Venus while I go report to the other senshi."

Again Poyzon shook her head. "Not yet, Princess Jupiter. It is still too dangerous to risk revealing yourself now. Please understand, the Lady Cobra will sense your energy when you teleport. Use your communicator to contact your friends. It will be much safer."

"She has a point, Lita," Kenneth said.

"Okay, okay. But I hate this place! It's so dull and oppressive!" Lita pouted. "Come on, Poyzon, we'd better go before we're seen. Try not to get into more trouble, 'kay, Kenneth?"

The platinum-haired man snorted. "As if I had any choice!"

***
Rei sighed softly as she swept the temple courtyard, glancing up briefly to smile at Phobos and Deimos who flapped overhead. Then she smiled down at the cameo pin on her robe. I remember now how sweet Jadeite used to be during Silver Millennium, she thought to herself. He was always surprising me with flowers and special little gifts that he'd made...

Abruptly a pair of hands covered her eyes from behind, startling her. "Guess who," a warm voice chuckled by her ear.

She shrieked and spun around, swinging her broom at her attacker.

Jace laughed and ducked. "Geez! Lighten up, Rei! You're too tense."

Rei scowled and turned her back on him, sniffing primly as she returned to her sweeping. "What do you want?"

He laughed nervously and placed a hand behind his head. "Andy sent me to tell you we got a message from Lita."

"Really?" Rei spun to face him in surprise. "Is she alright? Does she know about Mina and Kenneth? Where is she? What-"

Jace laughed again. "Slow down, flame girl! Yes, she's okay. Yes, she knows about Mina and Kenneth. She's in the Dark Kingdom. Apparently, we have some unexpected allies there-Jasper and Onyx! Jasper disguised her as a youma so the enemy won't know who she really is. Anyway, Lita called in and said she heard a clue about where Sailor Silver Moon is. Something about the land of eternal death."

Rei frowned thoughtfully. "The land of eternal death? What does that mean-" She abruptly spun around as she sensed danger.

"Grrr..." A large silver wolf stalked out of the bushes, gold eyes glowing murderously.

"King Lupus!"