Chapter 17 Sailor games (part 1) and the tale of how most of everyone on earth was moved to Alpha Senshi.

Despite the fact Sailor Pluto had isolated her self, the rest of the team decided unilaterally that the only way to get beyond it was to continue as if nothing had happened. They all understood, of course, that eventually they would have to address it, but they were guests essentially at a party, and it would have been poor manners to shut themselves inside for days.

"Besides," Sailor Corruption said. "We could all use some tension relief."

So the Sailor Scouts separated that afternoon, and went to their respective areas of expertise to sign up for competition. Sailor Corruption and Cale went to the track and signed up to run and even signed up for the melee competition. Sailor Neptune signed up for a music competition. The instruments were alien to her, but Sailor Polaris, who studied Earth culture a little in her years as librarian of Alpha Senshi, fixed the problem by creating a violin for her out of one of those solid light generators. Sailor Torrent was dubious, but to her astonishment it actually worked. ... Cye went to the lake and signed up for the swimming Competion.
Sailor Strata and Rowen signed up for the gaming competition. Sailor illusion and Dais got into a tournament of Space Cards, which was a contest based on psychic awareness and sensitivity. It was a bit like Tarot Cards, only there were winners and losers based on the types of "futures" they drew from the deck.

The Sailor Scouts and Ronin warriors signed up for the team melee fighting competitions. Some individuals, SailorWildfire , Sailor Halo, Sailor Corruption, and I signed up for singles competition. Sailor wild fire and I were goaded into it by Sailor Halo, but she was still very nervous about the whole thing. we vowed not to miss it in any case.
When the games got under way that evening, the crowds at each event were huge. The princess and her court attended the battle rounds, as did a lot of others. Of all the Senshi games, fighting was the most popular. That was why it was in the arena. It was the building that could hold the most people at one time. ..we peeked out of her box and spotted Kakyuu sitting up in the royal seating at the center of the fighting square, on the right side. Galaxia was present as well, and there was an intent look in her eye.

Round one was beginning, and Sailor Corruption was selected to be the first combatant to step out of the back area. The curtains parted on the other end of the square, and out stepped a Senshi dressed in orange and black. The announcer identified her as Sailor Trine. Just what her abilities were would soon be revealed. ...
The princess rose and raised her arms for silence. A hush filled the chamber. amber and I held our pocket translators to our ear to hear what she had to say.

"Welcome, all!" the princess announced. "The fighting rounds of the Senshi games are about to begin. Let all combatants know there are three rules: No flying, no attacking when the opponent is down, and no finishing moves! We are here to win, not to kill or cripple! Is that understood?!"

The last question was aimed at the fighters. Sailor Trine and Sailor Corruption bowed in response, then turned to face one another. Somewhere in the arena a giant gong was struck, and the battle began. ...
Sailor Trine moved in first and shouted something amber and I couldn't quite make out over the roar of the audience. The air rippled with energy, and an electrical triangle surrounded Sailor Corruption. Corruption tried too late to block it, and was thrown back heavily against the steel wall from the blast. The crowd reacted to the first hit like they'd been the ones who got it. Sailor Corruption decided to return the favor. She held up her arm with her fist clenched like she was holding some thing and before everyone's eyes a black curved scimitar appeared in her hand. Corruption Lighting Saber she cried. (see chapter twelve this is the attack she acquired when her powers crossed with Cale's powers.) Sailor Trine, restricted from flying to avoid the attack, had no choice but to brace herself and take the hit. Amber and I watched, however, as Trine erected a force field (again in the shape of a triangle) and shook off the bulk of the blow.
Sailor Trine began to chant again, but Sailor Corruption wasn't going to give her the time. She picked up a chunk of rock from the floor and chucked it sidearm at Trine. The rock hit the opponent in the stomach, and her chanting broke off in surprise. Corruption moved in for close combat, making power usage useless.

Sailor Trine was good, there was no doubting it. She took some heavy hits, but did an admiral job of keeping most of the attacks at bay. Corruption went from high, to low, back to high again in as many combinations as possible. Trine countered the bulk of them and greatly minimized the damage.
Inevitably, an opening occurred, and Trine went for it. The momentum shifted, and Corruption was now on the defensive. She made some good blocks, but was hammered by a set of kicks at one time, and stumbled backward in a daze. Trine began to back her up against the steel barricade, but Corruption wasn't going to be trapped. She waited for Trine to extend a fist, then reached out and grabbed it. She went underneath the arm and twisted it over, wrapping it behind Trine's back.

Trine yelped in pain, but before her other arm was grabbed, she took off at a dead run and kicked off the wall. Corruption not only lost her grip, but was now in front of her instead of behind. She turned and received a boot to her mouth for her trouble. Corruption rubbed away a small amount of blood on her lip, and set to defending again. Trine hit with another combo that ended with Corruption clutching her knee and gritting her teeth in agony. Trine hit a nerve, and Corruption couldn't stand on her leg.

Sailor Trine moved in for the win, but Corruption let her leg fold beneath her and she bent backward. Trine overextended accidentally as she had not expected the move. Corruption reared back and kicked with both legs as hard as she could. Trine was lifted up off her feet and slammed back first into the wall twenty feet away.

Sailor Corruption clutched her knee again, but struggled to her feet anyway. She did another Corruption Lighting Saber , and Trine fell to her knees, unable to call up her protection in time. With another blast aimed at her head, Trine was turned head over heel, and lay motionless on her backside. The gong was rung, and Sailor Corruption was pronounced the winner. She raised her arms in celebration, and the crowd went wild.

Corruption had a smile on her face as she limped back to the doorway.

"Are you alright, Amara?" Sailor wildfire and I asked, looking at our friend's leg.

"Don't worry about it," Corruption waved our concern away. "It's just a little numb. It'll be fine by the next match."

I had been dazzled by the fighting out there. I looked out as the next match began and wondered if amber and I would be up to the challenge.

"Don't doubt yourself, Jenny," Amara said, reading her mind. "Just say to yourself 'I beat I can do anything I put my mind to, and you shouldn't have any trouble with confidence."

The compliment did little to calm my nerves, but it was better than nothing. I was not so much worried about getting hurt as she was getting humiliated in front of Galaxia and the princess.

Three matches later, it was amber's and my turn to fight. our opponent was someone named Sailor Crystal Mirror, and we soon found out why. The Sailor, who was dressed in pink and neon blue, charged in right away. I raised her fist to block the punch, but I went right through it.

There was a blow to my back, and I sprawled on all fours. I turned and saw the real Crystal Illusion standing there with a smirk on her face. This was going to be a bit of a problem.

"I hear you're pretty hot stuff on the planet you come from," Crystal said, taunting us. "Let's see how good you are against your superiors." The air rippled, and suddenly I was surrounded by literally a hundred images of her opponent.
I scrambled to her feet, but was knocked down from behind again. I spun and saw her target in front of her. I dove, but went through it. It was only an illusion. The copies all laughed, and when I got up again I was tripped. This went on for quite a while, and I was getting pretty battered. The crowd had no sympathy, they roared and a few laughed at the comedy before them. The princess looked concerned. Galaxia's face was set in stone, but behind the eyes there was something that looked a little like disappointment.

Disappointment. we realized how much of a fool amber and I must be looking like right now. we remembered what Galaxia had told us a few days ago: "You girls may be inexperienced, but your heart is pure, and your power is limited only by your imagination." we imagined we was letting her down right now. All that faith in us. we had to live up to it. we had to give everyone a reason to respect us ! we had to show them we weren't weak little babies! Not now! Not ever!!
My tiara jewel glowed a brilliant Yellow amber's glowed a brilliant red and the arena was bathed in an eerie glow. "I call upon the power of the Moon and the powers of Cruelty!" I said. amber then spoke I call upon the power of the Moon and the powers of wildfires we didn't even think, the words just came to our lips unbidden. "Help us see the truth! Show us she who seeks to do harm!" The glowed increased ten fold, and the lights pierced the illusions like tiny knives. They all disappeared except for one. The true Sailor Crystal Illusion stood exposed. Her smile was long gone from her face.

we concentrated, and a wave of pure energy tore through Crystal like a tsunami, and knocked her so hard into the opposite wall, that she fell flat on her face and didn't move. She was out cold.

The crowd was silent for a heartbeat, then they all got to their feet and roared louder than they had all day. amber and I came to the embarrassed realization that we were the one they had all come to see. we had, in their eyes, just passed a major test, and we had risen to the occasion. we looked over and saw Galaxia and the princess smiling broadly. The Starlights gave us two thumbs up each. A chant went through the arena. "Sailor Wildfire and Sailor Cruelty! Sailor Wildfire and Sailor Cruelty!!
Amber and I stumbled back to the dressing rooms in disbelief. She was met by Lita and Amara, who both embraced us. "You and did it, Jenny!" Lita exclaimed. "They love you out there!"

I didn't reply. I simply disengaged, took a few steps, then fell over. Amara caught me and lowered me gently to the ground.

"She's fainted," Uranus said.

"She'll be fine," Lita laughed. "She just can't believe she and her sister actually won yet. When she wakes up she'll feel like a million bucks."
Raye began to sweat as the cards were dealt to her again. She had won nine hands in a row, and had advanced to the final match of the first round. Her opponent, Sailor Esuna, looked stonily calm, and the girl who was Sailor Illusion felt like a child. She could hardly contain her excitement, or her nervousness.

Space Cards was a little like Tarot, except it was made into a competitive game on this world. The four suits were Grails, Scepters, Pens, and Lockets; Sailor Illusion noted that the four suits were based on what every Sailor Scout used to transform into Senshi guise. Like Earth Tarot, there were emperors and empresses, and numbers from ten on down, and so forth. There were four elemental cards, Sun, Moon, Planet, healers, and fools, and there was even a Death and Life card.
The game was fairly straight forward. The winner was the person who drew the best possible future. Each player was dealt fifteen cards, and they were to remain face down. Next, without looking, or concentrating their mental powers, the players had to call out what their "side" was going to be. The choices were Good or Evil. The final tally of the future readings were based on that call. Under this rule, it was generally thought to be a good idea to call the same "side" as the opponent did to minimize the risk of losing. However, that tactic was double edged, and Sailor Illusion had won better than half of her games using the Good side. She decided to call light once again.

Esuna narrowed her eyes, and Sailor Illusion felt the slight probing of her mind. Perhaps sensing her nervousness, Esuna called Evil.

Next, the players had to arrange the cards in a certain pattern. Some were better in certain sides than others, but that order changed from game to game, making it completely random. It was up to the player to decide which one felt just right deep down inside.
Raye swallowed her nerves and concentrated. Star pattern had helped her win a few, as did the Imbic one or two times. Cross was a simple set up, but Sailor Illusion didn't feel anything from that area. She tried to force down the desire to clench her muscles as she searched the psychic plane for an answer. She felt the subtle touch from what felt the most likely to help her, and she arranged them with her eyes closed, as was the rule.

When she opened them again, she saw Sailor Esuna sitting behind a cross pattern. Sailor Illusion had hers set up in Glyphic configuration. It was quite intricate and complex, and worked only with the best hands. Mixed with her excitement were equal parts fear. There was always the probability that her psychic powers had misled her. Even the most experienced psyche had incorrect hunches. She simply needed to have faith.
"Turn the cards," came the mechanical command from the computer terminal next to their table. Sailor Illusion was only slightly aware that they had drawn a crowd. From their mental murmurs, she sensed that Sailor Esuna was a defending champion and almost never lost. She felt a lump form in her throat.
Sailor Esuna turned her cards over and scanned them satisfactorily. She had a Ten of Pens, an Emperor of Grails; an Emperor of Scepters; a Tower; a Six of Pens; a seven of Lockets; a four of Lockets; a Fool of Scepters; a Death card; a Six of Scepters; a four of Pens; an element of Ice card; a Random outlook; a ten of Lockets; and an Empress of Grails. Sailor Illusion let out a breath of defeat. That set of cards was almost perfect for the Evil side. The only flaw was that the cross pattern took away from its effectiveness. She would need a damn fantastic Good side to beat her. The odds of that were pretty slim. It was her turn to flip the cards over. She revealed them all, then let out a cry of shock mixed with joy. She had an Empress of Lockets; an Emperor of Lockets; a Life card; a one of Scepters; a ten of Grails; a nine of Grails; a five of Pens; an Air elemental card; a Fire elemental card (her own planet power, which gave it extra weight); a Good Fortune card; a one of Pens; a four of Scepters; a healer of love; an Empress of Pens; and a Sun card. It was an absolutely perfect set for Good and for the Glyph configuration. Sailor Esuna knew it too, and slammed her fist down on the table. Glowering at Sailor Illusion, she stood up and left the chamber. The crowd patted her on the back and complimented her psychic skills. Deep down inside, Raye had to wonder just how much of it was psychic skill, and how much of it was pure luck.

"Wow, Raye! You did it!" Dais embraced Sailor Illusion roughly. Dais was the only one of them not signed up for anything, so she tagged along to watch the card game. "You out-psyched that Sailor!"
"I just operated on my sixth sense the whole time," Sailor Illusion blushed. "This whole game operates on who is more in tune with the psychic plane. Simple, yet ingenious."

"I'd say your good with your mental stuff," Dais replied. "You've won ten games in a row, and you're going to be the talk of the town after beating that Esuna girl. Someone told me she was a defending champion of this game."

Sailor Illusion didn't reply. She was simply lost in amazement. I only need to have faith in my powers, she thought to herself.

Meanwhile Amy and Rowen were having fun at the contests for intelligence Amy and Rowen had won ten games and they were beginning the eleventh. Game and Amy was in panic zone. Rowen was calm and cool. This game was a lot like earth's game of Miniature golf with only two differences. You had to stragtigise the best way to get the ball to go into the hole and 2. You were divided into groups of two. Amy and Rowen had been grouped together every time. The two of them continued to win so far the games were all too easy.

The contests that Mina and Kento had entered were right next to each other. Mina had entered a fashion contest while Kento was in a contest of strength. Kento had beaten every challenger. And Mina had only recently been proclaimed the Scout with the most Fashion sense which had at one time been the title held by Sailor Scorpious. This sailor was the one Mina had beaten. The Scout/Ronin that Kento had beaten was named Louis of the armor of Adventure.

Cye and Michelle had both entered a team swimming contest. All the teams were in groups of two. Both Cye and Michelle continued to beat all their competitors. It was a lot of fun and when Cye and Michelle were announced the winners even they were amazed. They were also embarrassed. But the day was a lot of fun. The rest of the contests were going to be saved for the next day. So as night drew near everyone found their way back to their rooms.

That night Princess Kakyuu gathered us all into one room and told the us all that more problems were on the horizon for earth. (to Anubis, me, Ryo, and Amber this came as no surprise. We knew that aunt beryl was nothing but trouble. Then almost like she could read our minds she told us that we should go home back to earth and pack everything that belonged to us and that we should gather all our family, friends, and many of those loyal to my sister and Ryo. Then move to Alpha Senshi permanently or until we felt we finally destroyed aunt beryl. Amber and I looked at trista not wanting to make another grievous error like we probably did by coming here in the first place we decided to see what trista wanted to do. Then trista said something that amber and I never thought we would hear coming from her mouth. she said that maybe she had been wrong in allowing her past to make her bitter when she had been part of the problem. and that maybe Sailor Rainbow prism had been right when she said that judging the feelings of all Alpha Senshians on what sailor nebula felt was wrong. Then she told amber and me that it would be wise to accept Princess Kakyuu's offer. Since the Idea Kakyuu had suggested had been the same one we had decided on before we had ever come to Alpha Senshi. After that it was agreed to. Kakyuu wanted us to leave as soon as possible but we told her we would prefer to wait till after the celebration was completely over. Kakyuu then came up with an Idea she told us that she would post pone the rest of the celebration until we came back. Finally we had to agree with her. So come the next day Kakyuu made an announcement that there was trouble on earth and that our two teams were going home to retrieve our friends and family and those loyal to Queen amber and king Ryo. She also told them that the rest of the celebration was postponed until we returned. Everyone told us good luck and made us promise to be careful and told us they would hope for our safe return. One group of scouts and ronins offered to allow us to use their star ship. Since Galaxia was not up to taking us home and then bringing us back we agreed to the offer. We boarded the space ship and headed home. confident of getting nearly all the people of earth back to Alpha Senshi. amber and I had left our children in the care of the Gundam pilots and we knew that all our friends would not like living under aunt beryl's rule. When we returned we found things worse then we had anticipated. Duo and the other Gundam Pilots were there to meet us and filled us in on what had happened. They told us that while they had managed to keep our children safe as well as a good number of our friends and parts of our families that many of our subject were now under aunt beryl control. So we then told the Gundam pilots that everything would be fine we then herded them on to the star ship and told them and Ryo, Anubis and the other sailor scouts and Ronin warriors to stay in there until we had returned. They did as they were told but Heero was not too happy about being inside a strange contraption. Mean while amber and I were out gathering what was left of our good side of our family and all of our friends and what ever remained of amber and Ryo's loyal subjects. We then returned to the starship and opened the hatch that led inside and herded all those whom amber and I had found into the star ship and again started the long trek back to Alpha Senshi. We found the warp hole that would take us there but the hard part was keeping everyone comfortable till we arrived finally after two days of traveling we soon saw the planet of Alpha Senshi once more. We then decelerated the engines and slowly decended towards the planet. Amber told the gundam pilots to go to their windows for a good look at their new home they were just as in awe as we had been the first time we had seen it. For them and the rest of those we had brought with us Alpha Senshi was a new and some what scary place. but for amber, me ,Anubis, Ryo, and the rest of the sailor scouts and Ronin warriors it was part of us it was our true home this was where we belonged. But our grandfather (the ancient also felt like he belonged here because his great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather had been one of those who had gone with the first Queen Serenity. Amy had wired a head to let Kakyuu know we were on our way back.
So As we left the world of natural wonders be hind and arrived back in the city limits we saw Kakyuu waiting for us with the Sailor Starlights at her side. We landed and everyone exited the star ship we also took our belongings of the ship. Then Kakyuu motioned for us to follow her. But she insisted that amber and I and our husbands stay close to her. so we did. But Kakyuu had also rounded up some transport units so that those in our party who were not sailor scouts or Ronin warriors could keep up with everyone.
Amber, Ryo, and Serena and Anubis, I, and Rini and the other Sailor Scout and ronin Warriors were back in our hotel rooms the rest of our family was put into hotel rooms as well it was a swell day but it was not time to go to bed. The celebration would start up again the next day.