Golden Haze
Part Four: The Gaze of a Midnight Sky
by Golden Lady Serenity
*Standard disclaimers still apply. I still don't own Sailormoon. It belongs (or at one time belonged) to Takeuchi Naoko, Toei, DiC (bastards), Cloverway (also bastards), Pioneer (I HAVE the SuperS dubbed movie! How could you make it so cheesy? ~~Sniff~~ Bastards!), and all the other scary people in business attire. But I do lay claim to all the pretty things I've bought!*
She stared about the room, as the shadows of night played along the walls and over her things. It seemed so odd to call them that: her things. Yet they hadn't been hers for very long, not before she'd left everything of her old life (old life indeed, it was only a few weeks since...no, she couldn't dwell on that), not since she'd left every reminder of the past to be sold, along with the house.
Her thoughts traveled forward, to the events of a few hours ago. She'd been to her second family counseling meeting then, watched almost impassively as her mother and father arrived separately, both accompanied by armed guards. She listened as the counselor droned on and on, almost nothing sinking in. Then the yelling had started, the too-familiar shouts and insults, until she'd actually joined in. Everything stopped at that moment, everything. She remembered all the eyes that were on her. She hadn't meant to blame them for what happened, it wasn't their fault. It wasn't. It was that she'd just wanted them to stop. To stop the yelling and fighting, the screams, the nightmares, she wanted it all to just end.
Something tightened in her throat, as a tear slid down the side of her cheek. She gave in to the sobs then, just choked on her sorrow until a rapping sound caught her attention. She quickly wiped the tears away, and--taking a deep breath--called out, "Yes?"
The door swung open to reveal a worried Mizuno Ami. "Mina-chan, are you all right?" A foolish question indeed. She hit the lightswitch and made her way into the room, and settled onto the end of the bed.
"I...I'm all right," the blonde girl lied.
"You know I don't believe that, Minako-chan," Ami said softly. Gently she touched her friend's arm, getting her attention. "Come on, tell me what's upsetting you..."
Minako tried to avoid the genius' gaze, but in the end found it impossible. "I...I yelled at them today. I didn't mean to yell...I didn't. It wasn't their fault, I shouldn't have yelled. It's not their fault and I shouldn't have yelled." Her voice had dropped down to a bare whisper, as she repeated the words over and over. Once more she felt Ami's hand on her arm.
"Maybe it isn't their fault...but who says you shouldn't yell?"
Minako looked up, at the question. "But...but I shouldn't yell. I...I..."
"You what? Have to be a good girl all the time? Even I know to yell when things get bad. Tell me, have you ever yelled at your parents?"
Slowly, Minako shook her head. "N..no, I haven't. Just today..."
"It's not wrong to yell, not if you're hurt."
'"It's not? But when Mama and Papa--"
"It's wrong when it's to hurt...but to make someone stop doing something that's wrong, no, it's not."
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At that moment an incredulous--not to mention horrified--Rubeus stared at the image in front of him. "But, but Lord Saffir! I haven't completed my mission..."
"You have a new one," the midnight-haired lord stated. "You will lead the attack on the Crystal Palace."
Rubeus' thoughts were almost visible on his swarthy face. It was impossible to break through the Soldiers' Barrier, they all knew that. Yet, to be the one that did it, to have that glory. It wasn't feasible, he'd just end up in the same miserable position as he was in right now. But to break that barrier! His power-hungry nature won out. "Very well then." He stepped through the mirror, as Saffir did the same.
Saffir stared at the surroundings of the ship, the dark crystal surfaces reflecting shadow upon shadow. [Petz, Beruche, Karaberas, Cooan! I want to speak with you,] he pathed to the Sisters. Not five minutes had passed before four anxious women stood in front of him.
"Yes, Lord Saffir?" was Cooan's worried query. She wanted to know where Rubeus was, desperately, but kept her mouth shut.
"I've come to replace Rubeus," was Saffir's rather direct response. The Sisters' faces were portraits of shock and worry. Why had Rubeus been replaced, what had gone wrong? Was he all right? "He's to lead the forces against the Crystal Palace. Seemingly impossible, but who knows, that man's determination may actually get us somewhere in that department."
"Umm, Lord Saffir?" Petz spoke up. "Why did you only send him to the future and not us?"
"I need someone here who knows the area," Saffir stated. Indeed, it wouldn't do to be completely uninformed. His explanation seemed to relieve the young woman somehow. "Now, tell me, what headway have you made?"
He was rewarded with meagerly embellished stories of the Sisters' endeavors.
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"Ah, Minako-chan!" Usagi leapt up from her lunch, for once distracted from the meal. "What're you doing here?" It was a school day and Minako's own school was halfway across town...Ami and Makoto simply waited for her response.
"I transfered," the girl whispered softly. Normally she would have shouted the news gleefully, but not now. Not with this reason. She looked up to see three wondering faces staring at her. "I...I couldn't stay at my old school. The rumors...they won't stop. They keep saying...they keep saying..."
Usagi's face took on a rather worried expression. "What? What do they keep saying? Here," as she pulled Minako down to sit next to her. "It's all right, you can tell us."
"They...they said...They--I did it! I was the one that ra...raped...the cop. Then murdered him." Minako, at one point, had fallen into a sobbing heap, but the girls all got the gist.
"My god!" Makoto yelled, furious. "How could they even think that?!" Dark thoughts crossed the brunette's mind, as a deep desire to avenge her friend's honor took hold of her.
"It...it's all right," Minako lied. "I couldn't stay there, though. I'm sorry--" She was abruptly cut off.
The normally calm Ami was shaking mad. "Sorry? You don't have anything to be sorry for! They're the ones that should be sorry, for even entertaining those thoughts! I, for one, am glad you transferred here!" Her vehement words were swiftly seconded by the other two.
Across from them, a rather cruel, gossip-minded girl stared at them. "Hey, rape-girl!" she taunted. After all, hadn't that blonde just admitted it? She grinned maliciously, intent on making this new girl suffer. Suddenly, she recoiled at the glares she received from the other three.
It was a stare of pure fury, in triplicate. It promised things far more dire than the most horrible of burns, the deepest of cuts. The girl backed away in fear. "S...sorry..."
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"WHAT?!" Cooan screamed. She couldn't believe that she hadn't thought of it herself. "That'll never work!" It was, of course, mandatory that she contest the idea to the full extent of her abilities. After ranting, she sat back in her chair, and simply stared at Saffir.
"Thank you," he commented drily. "It will work, since I've seen the reports. Now, execute my commands."
"Yes, Lord Saffir." And with that, four villainous sisters departed.
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As the girls began walking towards their respective homes, a soft beeping sounded: their communicators. "Enemy! At Saku--" Sailor Mars was cut off by a blast, as all that was left of her message became static.
"You think she meant Sakura Warehouse?" It was an old department store in Rei's neighborhood, and big enough that there could already be quite a few casualties. The others nodded at Ami.
Finding a safe place to transform, they all held up their pens, and shouted the words that changed them from simply teenagers in Sailor Senshi:
"Moon Crystal Power, Make-UP!"
"Mercury Star Power, Make-UP!"
"Jupiter Star Power, Make-UP!"
"Venus Star Power, Make-UP!"
Sailors Moon, Mercury and Jupiter all stared at Venus. "Are you sure--?" Mercury asked, worried.
The Soldier of Love nodded. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm a Senshi first." With that she took off running, the others in hot pursuit. Their transformations had given them a speed and agility far beyond mere humans, and in a few minutes, they stood before a massive, reptilian droid.
Not waiting any time, the droid made a swipe of her taloned claw directed at Mercury. The girl swiftly dodged the attack, and countered with a "Shine Aqua Illusion". The monster's body froze, but it wasn't required to be mobile, not for its most deadly attack: its venom.
A stream of the deadly liquid shot forth the snake-like creature's mouth, narrowly missing a slightly distracted Sailor Venus. She looked up as the venom sizzled against the pavement, and, embarrassed at her lack of concentration, let loose an attack of her own.
"Venus Love-Me Chain!" The attack was nearly enough to destroy the droid, as the chain actually cut through the creature's midsection, almost ripping it in half. "Sailor Moon!" she called out, even as the Senshi was calling forth her Cutie Moon Rod.
"Moon Princess Halation!" The attack turned the droid into naught but a pile of dust and a blackened crystal. Sailor Moon looked at the others. "That was easy," she commented. They answered with a worried nod.
"Too easy," Mercury added. "Hmmm...Venus...I don't think you should fight for a while. At least not until you--"
"Until I'm what, Mercury? Better? I won't be better! Not if all I can do is sit around and wait!!" the distraught Senshi cried out.
"Venus, no! Not if you get distracted," Sailor Mercury stated, sensible as always. Unfortunately, sensible didn't matter to Venus, not then.
"I don't care! I have to fight!" Sighing, the blue-haired girl relented, a feeling of dread gnawing at the back of her mind...
'This is a mistake.'
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Midnight blue eyes stared at the woman. "Venus, you say?" The woman nodded gravely, though that effect was just a trifle forced.
"Indeed," Karaberas said. "She didn't even notice the attack until afterwards." Preening with delight at what appeared to be a success of sorts, she added that Petz and Beruche had gone to implement the next stage of the plan.
"Good," was Saffir's comment. 'Venus hmm? The leader of the Senshi in peacetime. I wonder...' It was of no consequence. The Dark Moon Family would know victory, by the end of the day.
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People stared at the slender, pale blue-haired woman as she stirred her coffee. It wasn't uncommon that she drew stares, but the wicked look in her eyes sent the would-be admirers packing. Grinning, she looked over to her companion.
"Petz, my darling sister, what do you think our reward will be, for success?"
"Gold, jewels, maybe? The admiration of all those below us, perhaps?" They laughed as the thought of victory claimed them. Their mirth nearly distracted them from a soft ping that came from their earrings. "It's time."
And to the shock of the one other patron and the waitress, they vanished.
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She'd been staring at the display of sweets when an all-too-familiar voice spoke up. "Droid Ladyfinger, step forward." Turning around, Chibi-Usa saw a grinning Petz alongside a rather...pastry-oriented droid. Fear became adrenaline as the pink-topped child ran, screaming for some assistance.
"SAILOR MOON! SAILOR MOON!! ANYONE! HELP ME!!" Panting, her small legs came to a stop several blocks away. As her lungs took in some much needed air, she saw a shadow above her. "NO!" Ladyfingers was there, of a sudden, making a grab for the child, when an blazing attack hit the droid.
"Burning Mandala!" As Mars' attack hit, the other Senshi appeared near her.
Wasting no time with her speech, Sailor Moon ran to save Chibi-Usa, when a scream interrupted her. She turned just as she reached the child, and to her immense horror, saw a fallen Venus. A third droid? Impossible...Her attention was brought to herself when something very solid hit her cheek, and sent her flying a good many yards. Looking up, she saw a determined Petz scoop Chibi-Usa into her arms and vanish without a word.
"CHIBI-USA!!" she screamed, horrified. A laugh sounded behind her; turning, she noticed a slight spray of red, as a stiletto grazed Sailor Jupiter's arm. The Senshi of Thunder cried out, her focus turned away from Venus. In the confusion, Ladyfingers faded from view, her mission completed. The blue-haired Sister followed suit, in the concealment of the large tree that loomed on the other side of the street...
At that moment another person appeared. Neatly, the dark-haired man picked Venus up, and asked, "What would you give, to have the Rabbit and your friend back, hmmm?" With those words, he disappeared.
"No...Chibi-Usa...Venus..." Four girls sobbed, as night fell upon them...
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Well, thus ends Chapter 1 of The Gaze of a Midnight Sky. Hope you liked it. ^_^ Review please! ^_^
