A fan-fiction Sailormoon/ X-Men crossover.
BIRD HUNT
Disclaimer : none of the characters in this fan-fiction are mine but
one ( Read note in Chapter 2).
The Sailor Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen, Queen Serenity, Queen Beryl,
Queen Metallia, Luna, Artimis, Chibi-Usa (Chiba Usagi) and Tsukino
Shingo are the copyrighted property of Takeuchi Naoko.
The X-MEN, GENERATION-X, EXCALIBUR, the Starjammers , Shi`ar
Empire, and the Watcher are all copywrited property of Marvel Comics.
NOTE : Just a reminder, this fanfic takes place After a previously-written
fanfic, THE EXECUTION'S DRUM, in which a desperate Usagi attempts
suicide. As you can see, Usagi survived. But the other scouts are
still feeling the effects of it.
________________________________________________
CHAPTER THREE:
SEARCH
________________________________________________
JAL unloaded it's passengers at the terminal of JFK International
in New York City . After a while, the Senshi (in their civilian guises)
made it off the plane. The first off was Sailors Uranus and Neptune,
who served as sentry and guide for the rest. The Inner Senshi- Mercury,
Mars, and Venus- along with Tuxedo Kamen and Tsukino Shingo, and Luna
and Artims (in their human disguises), huddled around Sailor Moon and
Jupiter. Sailors Saturn and Pluto formed a rearguard.
Usagi was walking slowly, steadying Makoto. "We're on the ground, Makoto,
we are all right." Usagi kept whispering to Makoto and massaging her
shoulders and arms, trying to reassure her and bring her back out of her
semi-comatose state. Usagi was regretting the vote to fly to America,
although the time in the air was needed to formulate a plan.
"I hate flying, I hate flying, I hate flying..." Makoto repeated as if
a mantra. Usagi looked to the others.
"You go on to the baggage-claim. We'll catch up to you." Rei was about to
say something when Usagi cut her off. "We'll be fine, Rei !" Usagi said.
The Shinto priestess was about to protest about splitting up in a strange
place when Usagi looked her right in the eyes. "Go" was all Usagi needed
to say.
Usagi walked with Makoto, still in shock, to the restrooms. As soon as they
entered, Makoto's pulse begin to slow to its normal rate and her body began
to loosen- and she fell to the floor crying.
"I'm scared- I'm scared- I'm scared- I'm scared.." Makoto cried over and
over.
"It's OK-It's OK- It's OK..." Usagi kept repeating until Makoto slowly
subsided.
"Usagi !!!" Makoto cried out and embrased her friend. "I was so scared !"
"I know," Usagi said, "but it's over. We're down."
The others looked relieved when Usagi and Makoto made it up to the baggage-
claim area.
"Didn't think we'd make it, huh ?" A few bowed heads and embarrassed flushes
answered Usagi's question. "Oh, ye of little faith ", Usagi softly giggled.
The faces turned to deeper shades of red.
"Well," Ami softly said in defense, "it is a big airport."
As Shingo and Mamoru went to collect the luggage, Rei noticed Makoto.
"Mako-chan ! Are you alright ?"
Minako put it a little more bluntly. "Girl, are you all HERE ??"
"Getting there", was all Mako-chan could weakly say.
Once the men came back with the bags, Minako called to get a taxi. She
returned a couple of minutes later. "Well, THAT was easy !" She continued.
"We'll be in Salem Center in a couple of hours. Then we'll start asking
about the X-Men."
"Ugh ! More travel-time !" Complained Michiru.
"Michiru !" Haruka chastised.
"We could have gotten a shuttle-flight," Minako countered as Makoto
paled, "but I thought that a taxi would be better."
Minako smiled sympathetically at Makoto.
"Haruka ! Would you kindly keep Michiru on a leash ?" Usagi snapped,
suddenly agitated.
The Senshi were stunned into silence.
"I'm sorry ! I.. I.." Usagi started to tremble.
"Don't have to apologize for anything, Usagi." Rei looked deeply into
Usagi's eyes and held her hands as she said this. Rei had watched Usagi
all during the flight. She had seemed to the outside world a calm pillar
of strength. But Rei could sense the strain on that pillar. At least Mako's
fear of flying had given Usagi something to focus on besides the coming
battles. But now that they were on the ground, the dark spirits of war and
death returned to haunt her friend. Rei cried inside for her best friend.
Usagi was not a warrior. She was a lover, a healer. And the shadows of death
were playing havoc with her loving heart.
'How DARE they ?' Thought the priestess, 'How dare they take her again !
Hasn't Usagi suffered enough ???'
Suddenly Rei felt her heart chill as she remembered her grandfathers words
of two years ago. "Even the strongest mountain crumbles to the wind and
waves."
"I won't lose you, Usagi !" Rei whispered.
"They're here", the White Queen noted.
"Who ?" Asked Banshee. "The Senshi? Already?"
The White Queen nodded softly. A with a hint of sadness, the Irishman thought.
"What is it, Emma?"
"Fear, Sean. Fear, and rage. But mostly fear. I was just scanning. One of the
Senshi seems able to pick up psionic wave movements. So, I kept my distance.
So I couldn't tell how adept she is at it."
"A telepath ?" Sean asked.
"I don't know. Maybe." Emma settled back to sip her water and try to calm
herself again. "But the fear I felt- the agitation- is like I've been getting
from Kathryn. She's scared, Sean. Probably scared of dying." The White Queen
started to break down. "I know I am", she whispered.
"We won't be losing anyone, Emma." Sean Cassidy tried to reassure her.
"Can you guarantee that, Saen? Can you?"
Sean Cassidy could only hold Emma softly as she cried.
The taxi-caravan had been relatively uneventful, and Usagi was
thankful it was so. It gave her the opportunity to think over the past few
hours in a strange sort of peace. The impending war - and war is what she was
sickeningly sure it was going to be - made her long once more to climb into
the safe shell of being an ordinary girl. To be able to live as plain old
Tsukino Usagi.
And what was wrong with that ?!!!
The line of villians started forming once again to haunt her : Metallia,
Beryl, the generals, Ail and Ann, Rubeus, the sisters and the rest of the
Blackmoon Kingdom, the Blackmoon Circus, Phaoroh 90, Galaxia and the rest...
And now this. Another fight, another death.
"You'd think you'd be used to dying by now, Tsukino Usagi!" She chided
herself. "After all, you've died before. And come back to die again. So much
death.."
Death was certainly no stranger to the Moon Princess. They were almost of a
first-name basis by now. But she and Death would never be friends. Usagi
could handle the prospect of her own death, although she harbored the thought
in the dark places of her mind that next time the Silver Crystal might not
resurrect her. No. That thought she could go to battle with and die with.
What she had trouble with, as always, was the thought of others dying because
of her. The Senshi.. Tuxedo Kamen.. and now Shingo.
'Oh, Shingo ! Why could you not have stayed in Juuban ?' Usagi choked back
her tears at this thought. 'Mom and Dad deserve one child left in peace!'
That last thought brought memories of Chiba Usagi, the daughter-yet-to-be.
The next-target-in-line to sit upon the throne of a coming Crystal Millenium.
And the tears flowed harder.
"What is wrong ?" Haruka asked, noticing her princess' tears.
"Nothing, Haruka, just thinking." Usagi dried her eyes as best she could.
Haruka and Michiru had sandwiched Usagi between them, as much, though Michiru,
to protect the Princess from herself as from any threats from the outside.
She had never seen Usagi snap at anyone as she had snapped at her at the
airport.
Of course, neither she, nor Haruka, nor Setsuna were really around the Princess
that much. Hotaru was around her the most of any of the Outer Senshi, but even
that wasn't that much. And Hotaru seemed as distant at times as Setsuna.
"I'm sorry... about what I said at the airport", Usagi softly said to Michiru.
"Do not apologize," Michiru softly smiled to Usagi then lowered her eyes and
head, "I deserved it. I was not thinking."
-----------------------------------------
"Usagi is at the abyss," said Rei, "again."
The setting sun along the Hudson could not lift the shroud that had fallen
over the travelers. "Will she be alright ?" asked Ami as she nervously stroked
Luna. Luna would have normally sat with Usagi, but the driver proved allergic
to cats.
"I don't know", sighed Rei. "I don't know."
"It's all my fault !" Makoto choked on her tears. "All my fault !"
"How could it have been your fault, Mako-chan ?" Ami asked. "You have nothing
to do with these Shi'ar !" Ami tried to bring Makoto back to the present. For
she knew too-well the road Makoto was walking.
She had walked that road herself two years ago.
"Don't you see ?" Makoto said. "Can't any of you see? Usagi has to fight
again. A fight she shouldn't have to go through! A fight like.. like..."
Makoto collapsed on her words.
Rei held on to Makoto. " It's NOT like two years ago ! Mako-chan, two years
ago Usagi was fighting for US when WE were too scared to fight for her ! But
now- we are fighting together !"
Ami spoke up, "Rei's right ! We were not watching and listening before. But,
now, we are. Usagi will not be alone. She cannot be !" She said in a lower
tone, "She MUST not be !"
Silently, Rei pondered. Will Usagi be ready for this fight ? Would they be
ready?
-------------------------------------------------
The caravan pulled into Salem Center after sundown and the wearied travelers
checked into the hotel. After unpacking, the Senshi, Mamoru and Shingo
settled down for some welcome rest.
Or, rather, they tried to.
Usagi was the first one up. She had tried to get some sleep as soon as she
unpacked, but as soon as she lost consciousness, the terrors in her dreams
started to attack her. She had awakened once, tossing Luna against the
opposite wall. After apologizing to Luna and checking her over for any cuts
or abrasions (over Luna's persistant replies that she was alright), Usagi
had tried to fall back to sleep. But the demons of her dreams had done their
work too well. Usagi wound up walking the halls and then heading to the hotel's
dining room. With Luna close to her side.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh ?" Minako said from a nearby table. She moved
over. "Make room, Artimis."
"I thought restaurant-folks frowned on animals in the lunchroom?" Usagi asked.
"Oh, they tried to dissuade us", said Artimis.
"And ?" Luna asked.
"Minako offered to give them an introductory lesson in karate", Artemis said.
Minako smiled shyly.
"And what may I get for you, miss ?" a waiter asked.
"I'm not hungry" Usagi said.
There was dead silence at the table.
"You have to eat SOMETHING, Usagi !" A shunned Minako finally blurted out.
"You haven't eaten since we left Tokyo !"
"Not even on the plane ?" a suddenly-anxious Artemis said, having forgotten
where he was.
"Did that cat just TALK ?" asked a very bug-eyed waiter.
"Mrrrrrrrrrrrrreooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" cried Artemis.
"Smoothe move, Artemis !" Luna muttered.
"Hmmm ..." the waiter replied . "Oh, no ..." he said under his breath when
he saw Luna, "not another one !"
"Come ON, Usagi ! Eat SOMETHING !!" Pleaded Minako.
"ASKING Usagi to eat something ?" Makoto asked. "This mission is getting
dangerous ! Come on, Usagi ! Eat something !!"
"Yeah, Usagi !" Rei said worriedly. "We can't have you collapsing on us
when we go to fight the world !" She looked into Usagi's eyes.
"Come on, Usagi! Just a nibble ?" Ami sat down next to Rei, who'd sat next
to Usagi. Makoto had sat next to the cats.
"What's going on ?" Mamoru asked as he and Shingo came into the lunchroom.
"Usagi's withdrawing from us." Ami said as she looked to Shingo and then
Mamoru.
"On, no !" both gasped.
"Come on Usagi !" Shingo pleaded. "You must eat something !"
"Usako! Things will be fine, you will see! Just give yourself a chance!"
Mamoru said.
"OK. I'll have some eggs, scrambled, and some toast, light-brown. And a
large orange juice" Usagi told the waiter.
The waiter took the other orders and disappeared into the kitchen, after
noting the relief on the others' faces when the girl in the strange ponytails
finally ordered something to eat.
Shortly, he came back with the first orders- a hamburger for Minako and
kippers for Artemis, which he gladly shared with Luna.
Shortly, Setsuna came down to the diner with Hotaru, followed by Haruka
and Michiru.
"You guys couldn't sleep, either ?" Rei asked. A chorus of "No"s followed.
Supper was a somber affair.
After the meal was over, and the sun had been down a while, the Senshi,
Tuxedo Kamen, and Shingo stepped outside to begin searching for the X-Men.
Usagi and Luna, after many protests from the others, took one direction,
with Ami and Rei, Mamoru and Shingo, Makoto and Minako and Artemis,
Haruka and Michiru, and Setsuna and Hotaru each taking a different direction.
After the men and Inner Senshi left to start their search, the Outer Senshi
were preparing to start theirs. "Pluto !" Asked Michiru. "Why did the Inner
Senshi protest so much when the Princess decided on our assignments?"
"Because, Neptune," Setsuna replied, "they fear for her life this night."
"What ? !!!" Uranus exclaimed. "The Messiah can defeat any villain !!"
Then, she added, "Can't she?"
"Our Princess can defeat all, Haruka," Saturn said, "save herself."
"'Herself'?" Uranus exclaimed. "What riddle is this, Hotaru ?!!"
"No riddle." The small Senshi then added "Two years ago, The Princess
tried to help those she loved most. After despairing over her apparent
failure, she tried to commit suicide. Her spirit prevailed over her
body. But her body almost won."
With this, the Outer Senshi began their search in earnest.
----------------------------------------
Ami and Rei had been searching for the better part of an hour without
success, when suddenly Rei stopped.
"What is it, Rei ? Is it Usagi ?" Mercury asked. The thought of their
leader- their friend and sister- being alone and who-knew-where weighed
heavily on both of them.
"No, Ami. Not Usagi. Somebody's following us."
"You are looking for us, Sailor Senshi ?" The voice, in a heavy-Russian
accent, startled the two warriors.
"Are you X-Men?" Ami asked as she and Rei turned around.
"The big one is", said the man in the trenchcoat in an obvious English-accent.
"Well," said Rei, recovering from the shock of the abrupt meeting, "We want
to ask you a few questions."
"As do we." The Englishman replied. "First off, why are you hunting us? And
hurting a lady we both respect."
"Hurting ?" Ami asked, the concern in her voice genuine enough for Pete
and Pete. "Who?"
"The Sailior Senshi do NOT harm innocents !" The Priestess shot back angrily.
"Then Explain Kathryn's dreams !" Wisdom said with an edge to his voice.
"Dreams ???" Ami asked. Then she moved to Rei. "Sailor Mars, don't... "
"MARS FIRE SNIPER !!!!"
Suddenly, Flames shot from the young warrior's fingers, as a flame arrow shot
past, scorching and scattering Wisdom and Collosus. Both men were quickly able
to recover.
"So, you like playing with fire ! Then how about a Hot Knife, you little pyro!"
Wisdom tossed half-a-dozen Hot Knives towards Rei.
"This is not going well at all!" Ami thought as Rei frantically dodged the Hot
Knives.
"MERCURY ICESTORM BLAST !!!"
The sleet and hail that followed provided the perfect cover to retreat..
or would have, had Collosus not maneuvered to their backs to wait for them to
make their next move. As they started to run back the way they had come, they
were stopped by an organic steel wall.
Mercury and Mars blacked-out as soon as they hit the young Russian.
"This was not good !" Collosus said slowly. "Not good at all." He and Wisdom
carried the Senshi back home with them.
"Damned pyro!" Wisdom said darkly. "Kate will want my kidneys grilled for this!"
-------------------------------------------------
Mamoru, Shingo, Minako, and Artemis were wandering their section of Salem Center,
as lost as if they had run into a fogbank.
"I womder where we are ?" Mamoru asked.
"You are in serious trouble if you can't explain your presence here. Sir."
Jubilation Lee's voice was amazingly steady, considering how jumpy she'd been
after she'd first heard Kella's tale of the Shi'ar and their battle over the
Moon Kingdom. But, at least, the girl in the Sailor suit was with the Moon
Kingdom.
Besides which, for some reason they did not seem evil of vicious. Then, she
had to take into account the stories told by Pete Wisdom of British Intelligence'
dealing with this sneaky Sailor Venus. Or "Sailor V" as she was then known.
"Who are you? And what do you want with us?" Paige Guthrie asked matter-of-factly.
"Who are you?" Minako asked. "We're here to question the X-Men."
"They're the Upper-Classmen," Everett said. "We're the Freshmen Class."
"Maybe we should speak to your teachers, then." Shingo answered.
"Now THERE'S an idea !" Jubilee said.
"Maybe," said Mamoru, "if we can trust them."
"'If we can..'? Why you smart-alec masked man !" Paige jumped at Tuxedo-Kamen,
spilling him to the ground before he could move.
"Easy, Husk !! I'm sure you misunderstood !" Jubilee marveled that Paige was
not listening to her. She marveled more that she was having to be the calm-headed
referee. Usually that was Paige's job. But that seemed to be yesterday's news as
Paige wrestled with the well-dressed Oriental.
"Watch it, Tuxedo Kamen-Sama! I'm coming!" Venus started wading into the fray.
"I wouldn't do that young lady! You might get hurt!" Everett tried to restrain
Venus' enthusiasm and momentum.
Sailor Venus wasn't impressed. "VENUS METEOR SHOWER !"
Streams of energy surrounded and attacked Everett and he quickly fell.
"Synch!" Jubilee cried out in frustration. "Of all the stupid, idiotic,.."
"Synch!!" Paige charged charge after the gold-fukued Senshi, only to stop as
a single rose slit her arm and then another hit her thigh. Paige Guthrie fell
down screaming in pain.
"That DOES IT !!!" Jubilation Lee cried out. "You psychos are TOAST !!!"
With arms outstretched, Jubilee sparked to life, the pyrotechnic show so
intense as to temporarily blind Tuxedo-Kamen and Sailor Venus. It blinded
them enough for Jubilee to get in the right combination of blows to take
the two fighters down. She then heard a screech and turned just in time to
see Artemis ready himself to jump.
"Don't do it, kitty, or I'll forget I love animals." With a growl and a hiss
Artemis backed down and leaped to Shingo.
"Do you want any of this?" Julibee warned.
"All I want is to help my sister", Shingo said.
"That's the first bit of sanity I've heard tonight. Come on. Let's get everyone
back to the school."
"Hold it !" Makoto cried out. "Nobody's going anywhere ! I don't know what's
happening here, but I will not see my friends scorched ! JUPITER THUNDER DRAGON !!!"
Lightning crackled around the tall Senshi, and combined in the writhing form
of a dragon. The engeries released scattered Julibee and Shingo, and not without
damage. Shingo had moved a little too slowly, and was knocked out cold.
"Shingo !!!" Makoto cried. "What have I done? Oh, Usagi! I'm sorry! What have I
done ?"
"You have done quite enough, women !" Mako looked into the nighttime sky, trying
to guage where the woman's voice had come from.
"If that is how you fight beside your friends, then I shall NOT let you near my
Kitten !!!"
"What's this about a kitten? What are you talking about?" Makoto could just
start to make out a silhouette against a blue-velvet sky. "I don't know who
you are lady, but your friends just fried mine! And you say I can't do anything
about it ?! JUPITER THUNDER DRAGON !!!"
Jupiter's aim was true. And Storm dodged it easily. Then she dispersed the energy
with a small funnel cloud. Storm then turned back to the Senshi.
"You have caused enough trouble tonight."
"Lady, you don't know what trouble is !" Jupiter glared.
A strong wind knocked Jupiter's wind out of her, slamming her against a tree.
"Are you alright, Jubilee ?" Ororo asked.
"I'm OK ! How about the young man over ...?"
"Shingo." He introduced himself. "Tsukino Shingo".
"Jubilation Lee. Everyone calls me Jubilee. So, Shingo, any idea what this is
about ?"
"Trouble." Shingo said glumly. "Galactic trouble."
Jubilee cursed under her panting breath.
------------------------------------------------
Haruka and Michiru were pretty much out of town by the time they made contact.
"Are you the Senshi lookin' f'r Xavier's school ?" Sabretooth spoke up.
"And if we are?" asked Haruka.
"I'm afraid you're heading in the wrong direction, ladies", Mystique replied.
"May we help you ?"
"Yes you can." Michiru said coolly. "You can take us there- then get out of our
way."
"Such manners !" Sabretooth said. "Someone needs to take you over their knee,
Skirt ! And if your 'boy' friend", he thumbed over to Haruka, "won't do it,
looks like it's up to me !"
"Do not touch her, Gaijin!" Haruka warned.
"Hoooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ! It talks !" Sabretooth taunted.
"I do more than talk, Gaijin! URANUS EARTH ... ***woof!!!***"
"Hush it, girlie! A very nice girl I know needs you in one piece !"
"Victor," Mystique said, "you're having too much fun."
"Fun ? FUN ?!!" Michiru screamed. "I'll show you fun."
Before Mystique could grab hold of her, Michiru was ready.
"NEPTUNE AQUA ..."
Sailor Neptune disappeared in a puff of brimstone, to rematerialize seven
stories straight up.
"I'm ... sorry... to do this... Fraulein !" Kurt apologized as he gasped. "But...
they are... the only blood-family ... I ...."
Kurt passed out before he could teleport them safely down.
"Kurt !" Mystique screamed as she saw her son plummet to earth.
Rogue sped to catch her half-brother. "Nights like this'll get us killed" she
thought aloud.
"Mama, Victor, what are you tryin' t' do ?" Rogue asked as she brought
Nightcrawler and Neptune back to earth.
"We were bringing in these two Senshi." Mystique said.
"An' just how did the X-Men ever get saddled with you two, again?" Rogue asked
for what seemed the thousandth time.
"This is our probation." Mystique grinned.
Rogue sighed. "Well, your probation is killin' Kurt an' me."
------------------------------------------------
Gambit was facing down his opponent - as only Gambit would.
"Wha' the hell is dat?"
"It's a glaive", said Sailor Saturn.
"A glaive. An' you are ?"
"Tomoe Hotaru."
"Well, now, Tomoe Hotaru, jis' put down dat glaive an' we can talk."
"Don't make me use this !" Hotaru pleaded.
"I wouldn' t'ink of it. It jis' Gambit never been caught by a Goth-chic before."
Hotaru started to cry.
"I ... am... not... GOTH !!! "
"OK ! OK ! Gambit sorry he call you dat."
"Don't push her, Cajun ", Wolverine advised.
"Don' worry, Wolverine." Gambit cradled Hotaru in his arms. "Gambit push nothin'." Gambit gently held the Senshi. "You sleep mon chere petit."
"What about you Setsuma-san?" Wolverine pointed to Sailor Pluto.
"We are here because of the Shi'ar".
"That we figured", said Wolverine. "I meant Hotaru."
"She's ... a friend, Logan-sama" Setsuna averted her eyes from Wolverine's gaze.
"Yeah", said Wolverine. "You're awfully protective of a friend. You sure it's nothin' more personal ?"
Setsuna turned away.
"Don' push it, mon frer." Gambit said.
"I ain't pushin', Cajun", Wolverine replied. "Let's head home." Wolverine gently
led Setsuna away. Gambit then scooped Sailor Saturn in his arms.
"Hey!" Gambit looked around him. "Where dat glaive? Hah?"
"Do not worry, Remy LeBueax !" Sailor Pluto said. "The glaive will be here when
needed."
--------------------------------------------
"Are you sure this is the right place, Usagi?" Luna asked.
"I'm sure, Luna. I just don't know how." Usagi said. " I just feel like I'm being
drawn here."
"Well- just be careful, Usagi."
"I'll try to be, Luna".
Usagi knocked at the door. And knocked again, and again.
"Maybe it's the wrong place", Luna said.
"Maybe it is, Luna. But I don't think so. I'm not psychic like Rei, but I have a feeling about this place."
"I hope you're right, Usagi. It's a long walk back to the road."
"I know, Luna"
Usagi was about to knock again when the door was opened.
"Hello." The Brunette who answered the door said. " Tsukino Usagi, I presume ?"
"I am, and you are Kathryn Pryde ?"
"I am," said Kathryn, "Come on in. We have much to discuss."