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by
Neohowler
Chapter 4
"NAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY-HEH-HEH-HEH!!"
BOOOOMM!
A wave of vibration rippled throughout the park. The loud horse-like roar punched around and through the ear. Mamoru and, surprisingly, Hotaru instinctively threw themselves infront of Usagi as if they were expecting an assassin to pop out to take their princess. Syaoran, though noted both the action of Mamoru and Hotaru, ignored the act. Being more experienced in dealing with the abnormal forces of magic and huge falling man made objects that may pass for the reason of that vibration, Syaoran simply stretched out his PMS(please refer to chapter 2 for the explanation). Stretching it as much as he can to assure both accuracy and certainty that magic was the work of the incident and not just another contruction site accident.
Yea right, Syaoran said to himself as he continued to scan the areas of the park that was within eye sight of him. If that was an accident, then I'm going to marry Meilin. There was definetly something not right here. Syaoran felt it in every bone in his body. It was old, ancient. But strangely, familiar for some reason. As if he had faced it before.
Too the right! Syaoran turned his head just in time to see a several people running and screaming coming their way. However, their screams were smothered by an earth shattering boom and a loud roar-like neigh. The source of the neigh slid into sight on the concrete path of the park. It was a huge stone horse. The size of a mini-van. Its stone mane fluttered to the breeze in the air as it kicked of the ground with it's front legs and let out another roaring scale neigh. It's red eyes glowed with an unnatural light as drool oozed from it's like water from a fountain.
Wait a minute, Syaoran thought as he took another glance at the drool that fell freely from the gigantic stone horse's mouth. It was too clear to be drool. Also, drool didn't flow out as smoothely as it did from stone horse. It only took less then a second for Syaoran to piece the puzzle into his head. It is just water!
The Stone horse only needed to gaze at the four for a moment before it totally went berserk. As if something in it's mind suddenly clicked and set the thing on kill. The red eyes now gave off misty trail of light. The water/drool suddenly stopped flowing out of its mouth as the stone horse come-to-life threw it's head up then threw it back down. Leveling it's gauge to where Hotaru and Mamoru stood protectively infront of Usagi, it did something that neither of them predicted. The stone horse's mouth opened and out came a blast of water, targeted straight for the three reincarnated royalties of the Silver Millinium.
Acting on an instinct that Mamoru had done so many times in the past, he reached to grabbed Usagi and pulled her aside as he leapt away from the blast. However, Mamoru forgot all about Hotaru, who was frozen in fear of the sight both the stone horse and the water blast. The water blast that struck her with the force of a tackling human right in the the middle of her chest. Hotaru flew back from the all too painful blow to only have her body flip in mid-air and her front slammed into the concrete. Fortunately for Hotaru, the pain only lasted for a brief moment before she blacked out from the pain of both blows. Unfortunately, that left her unconscious and immobilize of getting herself to safety from the now charging horse that was heading straight for her laying form. And the stone monstrousity come to life have no intention of letting her get up anytime soon.
This was bad. Syaoran stood to the side as a water spout slammed into Hotaru and knocked her out. He knew he had to do something. But Syaoran couldn't decide what. He couldn't use his magic in public because that would ruin his entire cover. Whoever was causing all this had atleast a considerable amount of magic if they could give a 'fasle-soul' to an inanimate object. He had to keep himself undercover until he knew what he was facing. But if he couldn't use magic, he didn't stand much of a chance against the over grown stone colt.
Syaoran felt the Earth shook violently. The horse was rushing straight to Hotaru's unconscious form. Shaking and cracking the concrete beneath it as it stampeded towards the helpless girl that was straight infront of it. She'll be trampled! Deciding that the decision was already made for him, Syaoran darted for Hotaru. Forgetting his own safety. He had to get her away from it. Faster, faster, faster.... Speed, running, sprinting, jogging. Those were the words use to describe what Syaoran was doing. All of them may mean different things, but they all relate to the same motion.
The stone sculptured runner raced onwards, paying no heed of the fast approaching boy that was speeding from the side of its unconscious victim. It would trample them both. There was no way that the child could get both of them away in time before they meet the bottom of its stoney hooves. It was almost there. It was right over them now. Both human children. Just one more gallop then it will feel the softness of flattened human flesh under it's hooves. Now they die-
However, it didn't feel the soft flattened flesh of the human children beneath its hooves. Only hard concrete.
Syaoran scooped up Hotaru's body into his arms. The stone horse was right over them now. Its eyes burning with the passion and desire of killing. All it needed was one more step with its stone rough tree trunk legs. Syaoran had to move and FAST. He couldn't run out of the way, not with Hotaru in his arms. He would have to make a gamble. Syaoran had noticed the huge gaps in between and underneath the horse's legs. It was all Syaoran would have to work with. He had to make a leap in between the legs. Those were his and Hotaru's only chance.
Pulling Hotaru closer to him, to make them both as small as possible, Syaoran pivet his feet to right where the horse was coming from. Coiling his legs, Syaoran stared at the horse's stoney underneath. Then he pushed himself away from where he and Hotaru were, keeping as low as possible but high enough not to touch the ground beneath. With large plate size hooves slamming to the ground on both side of him, kicking up dirt and shattered concrete, Syaoran pulled Hotaru even closer. When he felt that he'd reached the climax of the small arc of their leap of luck (:cough: double meaning :cough:), Syaoran curled his body around Hotaru and felt the smooth and rough 'skin' of horse's underneath graze the back of his head.
Then Syaoran felt the odd, but familiar, sensation of his body somersaulted through the air. Underneath and past the huge crushing pillers of the stone horse's legs. Landing on his back with Hotaru laying across his stomach Syaoran let out a breath of relief as he realize that he hadn't been squished. But the moment of relief was short lived when Syaoran's mind screamed for him to get both him and Hotaru out of the way of the Horse's slow turning form.
Mamoru had to hand it Syaoran. If nothing else, the kid got guts. The stunt Syaoran pulled was next to crazy. Mamoru wasn't even sure he was willing to attempt such a crazy stunt like that. Even if he'd somehow did, Mamoru wasn't even sure if he could pull it off without getting stumped in a human pancake. Not that he wouldn't try if Usagi's life was on the line, but if he had been in Syaoran's situation, he would've most likely tried to shield her with his body.
"Syaoran!" Mamoru shouted, catching the running Syaoran's attention. "Get Hotaru away from here NOW! Me and Usagi will take care of ourselves!"
Syaoran nodded and then dashed off with Hotaru.
Usagi however, didn't think it was brave. She thought that it was just ALL TOO ROMANTIC! Hotaru, unconscious and helpless, is wisk off to safety by her true love. That was how Usagi viewed the entire situation. Of course, she was probably going to chew Syaoran's head off for pulling off such a crazy thing later. Also, if Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna ever find out what Syaoran did, he would be killed. But for now, it was definetly one of the bravest thing she'd ever seen.
Then, remembering that stone horses going on a rampage wasn't a normal thing Usagi pushed herself out of the arms of Mamoru. "Moon Cosmic Power!"
It smiled as it watched the blond transformed into a senshi. All was going according to its plan. The Dark Crsytal floated and glowed brightly in between the palms of its hand. The Dark Crsytal was absorbing the energy of the senshi. She may not know it now, but the more she transformed, the more powerful the Dark Crystal was going to gain. It ordered the Stone creation to not kill the senshi right away. It would first drained away all of the senshi's energy. It would send the stone horse to attack and hurt the senshi though. After all, if the senshi was injured, she need to use up more of her powers to heal herself. That would mean more power to drain!
"Hold it right there!" Eternal Sailormoon(from now on will be refered to as just plain Sailormoon) said. "Parks are a place where people come to paint, exercise, and go on double dates. It isn't for creatures of evil like you to destroy. I am Sailormoon, Champion of Love and Justice" The blond Senshi does an assortment of crazy movemens with her arms then goes into her usual pose. "And in the name of the moon, I will punish-AHHHH!"
Sailormoon had to jump out of the way as the stone horse suddenly charged at it. "Hey no fair!" Sailormoon shouted as she got back on her feet and turned to face the turning horse. "I didn't even get to finish my speech!"
The stone horse didn't care for speeches. It had recieved its orders from the Master. It was to fight this puny human. Hurt it. Scare it. But not kill. Those were the Master's orders. It would obey. It slammed it's feet into the concrete, hard! The ground shook and cracked. The force of the stomp was so strong that there was visible wave vibration rippling outward from the where the horse stood. Sailormoon, already being naturally clumsy on her own two feet, was no match for the Ritcher scale wave as it shook the ground beneath her. Seeing that the puny human was down at the moment, the stone horse decided to make sure the she wouldn't be moving for a whlie.
Sailormoon fought to get up. She had to get up and kick this giant horse's butt. Not only did it ruin her double date with Mamoru, Hotaru, and Syaoran. But it had also interupted her special Sailormoon speech. That wasn't suppose happen. It was transform, speech, then fight the monster. This thing was going down. But first, she had to recovered from the painful water blast that had just punched her right in her mid-section. Knocking all the wind and air out of her lungs and throwing her back several feet.
Now that the puny mortal was down, it would hurt her. And hurt her bad. That would please the master very much. It would start first by trampling and breaking her legs. That would stop her from getting away. If it could laugh, it would've. It would make the puny human suffer to please its master. It will praise the Master with the human scream. The stone horse charges forward to the down and dazed Sailormoon. Going at neck breaking speed, the stone horse quickly lessened the distance between it and the 'puny human.' Determined to please its master, this time, it will feel crushed flesh underneath its hooves. It would smell blood.
Mamoru finished transforming into Tuxedo Mask just in time to see Sailormoon get punched off her own feet by the stone horse's water blast attack. "Sailormoon!" Tuxedo Mask had to hurry to her side. He had to protect her. The rocky hide steamroller with legs charged for his love. Tuxedo Mask knew that there was only one way to save his love. He would have to use the old routine leap out of nowhere and carry her off to safety routine. A routine that Sailormoon, for some odd reason, never seem to get tired off.
Pushing of the soles of his shoes Tuxedo Mask darted towards the now wailing Sailormoon. He didn't have time for quick chitchats, the stone monstrousity was only a few feet away from both of them now. And Mamoru had no intentions of dying so young. Besides, he had a daughter to have, raise, and a planet to help rule over in few hundred years. He wasn't just about to give up those chances right now just because some over grown horse statue decided that it was going to break some public properties today. The moment he felt Sailormoon in the hold of his strong arms, Tuxedo Mask jumped and increased the distance between them and the water drooling stone horse.
Syaoran wasn't sure how far he was from the scene of the attack. All he knew was that he'd been running for almost three minutes now, with an unconscious girl being carried in his arms. Who, by the way, was surprisingly heavier then she appeared to be. But not by much and better toned then she appeared to be. Behind him, Syaoran could hear the sounds of the horse's giant and heavy hooves stomping the ground. Infact, he can faintly feel the vibration from all the stomping.
Stopping for a rest when he was certain that Hotaru would be safe, Syaoran eased her down slowly against the trunk of a tree. Taking this time to do two different things. One, he was scanning and healing whatever minor scrapes and bruises that Hotaru had recieved from the water spout. Second, he was undoing his Read spell. Syaoran carefully placed his right hand against the side of Hotaru's face and started to undo the spell. Mean while, sending his magic throughout her veins, healing the little damaged that the attacked had caused. Though there wasn't much in that. The only really major damaged that Hotaru recieved was a bruise to the right side of her cheek. Which Syaoran easily healed with his limited healing ability.
After he had finished with both magical chores and made sure that Hotaru was in a comfterable position, Syaoran started to head back the way he came. Going to see if there was anybody else back there that may need help. Or if there was a way that he could stop this. However, rather the taking the ground route of which Syaoran had carried Hotaru, he decided that he should get a much better view of the area. Leaping onto the first branch that he saw that was strong enough to support his weight, Syaoran started to hop from one branch to another. Reaching out and grasping then swinging on branches when he could not find a branch strong enough to hop too. Syaoran had long ago been taught how to 'tree walk.' It really didn't require any magic, just timing and a good eye. Though to normal people, it might as well be magic. Because though to Syaoran, he may be barely able to stumbled around onto one tree branch to the next, to others who possess no knowledge of this ability, were given the illusion of a man gracefully gliding on one tree limb to the next.
Hotaru awoke to find herself leaning against something hard and rigid. The last thing she remember was the ground rushing right at her. Her clothes were wet, but she recalled the water attacked from the stone horse. The stone horse! Hotaru quickly realized that Mamoru and Usagi were no where in sight. Nor was Syaoran. Did they leave her there? Were they okay? Were they hurt? She didn't know. What she knew was that there was a monster on the loose and though the outers rarely fought along side the inners, she was going to take this thing down and protect her princess from harm.
"Satarun Star Power!" The moment she uttered those words, she felt the transformation from Tomoe Hotaru to Sailor Saturn initiate. It started with at the tip of her fingers as she felt power tingle from them. Then, her transformation pen materialized into her hand. Grasping onto the pen with her hand, she started to feel her cloth slowly melting away as a glitterying light emitted from her skin. A circle drew itself at her the base of her ankles and ribbons of all colors shot out of the circle. They encircled her and wrapped themselves around her body. Quickly materializing to her white senshi outfit with a dark violet skirt that seemed just a little too short. A wicked polearm faded comfterably into the palm of her hands as her lips was quickly covered in a lovely shade of pink.
Tomoe Hotaru was no longer there anymore. There was only Sailor Saturn. The senshi of life and death. The bringer of silence and the most feared senshi of all. Holding powers both great and terrible. She plan to use those powers to protect her future queen.
Saturn didn't have to run back to the scene of the attack. She just teleported. And not a moment too soon as well. Tuxedo Mask and Sailormoon were both up against a tree. The concrete itself had probably seen better days. It looked as if a wrecking ball had been dropped several times onto the poor thing. With cracks, holes, roses, and eroded earth thrown all over the place. Several trees were knocked down and there were several puddles of water spread throughout the entire battle scene.
Tuxedo Mask was holding a wailing Sailormoon in his arms while using his cape to shield them both from the horse's relentless water blast. Saturn knew that Tuxedo Mask cape would give sooner or later. Cloth was still cloth no matter what kind of magic you may have on it. Simple as paper, scissor, rock. Where Paper loses to scissor. Or fire. Or even water.
"Silence Wall," Saturn said in a voice that was void of pratically all emotions, except concern. That was Saturn. She was still Hotaru and she can choose to show her emotions. But she was now Sailor Saturn, the bringer of Silence. She had a professional image to maintain.
A transparent white dome suddenly appeared around the area of where Tuxedo and Sailormon stood. The horse's water blast stopped short in front of its face, where the edge of the Silence wall was. Deciding it was time to make her presence known to them all, Saturn walked out from behind the shadows of the trees, an area that was inside the Silence Wall, with the Silence Glaive held and leveled at the stone horse. "I am Sailor Saturn and in the name of Saturn, I will punish you!"
"Sailor Saturn!" Sailormoon exclaimed, a little surprise. It had been a while since Sailormoon had had the pleasure of meeting the most powerful senshi of them all. And even though Hotaru was with them when they were attacked, Sailormoon didn't expect Hotaru to make such a quick recovery. Healing powers and all. "How...what're you doing here? You're hurt! Aren't you?"
"I'm fine Sailormoon," Saturn smiled at Sailormoon. "Thank you for asking. Now to take care of this thing."
It couldn't be anymore happier then it was at the moment. Not just one, but two senshi. And their little formally dress savior as well. The Crsytal had immediately started to drain the new senshi the moment she appeared. It was already draining from the blond senshi. The process was slow but sure.
It needed to find a way to break through the force field though. It was interfering with with the Crystal's 'rejuvenation' process.
Destroy the force field! It told its creation. The stone horse quickly followed order, hoping to please the Master. It started to bang against the force field with its front legs. Ramming into, hoping to weakened the damn thing so that it may hurt the new puny thing that had appeared as well. The Master would be please if it was to hurt all three of them.
Use your water blast! The figured referred to as the Master told its creation. Remembering a trick that Clow had taught it a long time ago; that no matter how strong a shield may be, all one needed to do was strike a spot hard enough for a certain number of times to destroy it. And strike the point several times.
The creature, eager ever so to please its master, unleashed several hard blast of water at the silence shield. After the third blast, the shield gave and the stone horse rushed into the area that the Silence Wall had protected. Sailor Saturn, a little shock from the fact that her shield had fell so easily, wasn't able to avoid be rammed into by the stone horse. Saturn felt that air squeezed out of her lungs and her ribs pushed to the point of nearly shattering. Had she not transformed, that attacked would've killed her. Which didn't seem like a bad idea at the moment, considering the crushing pain that her chest was in. She felt herself release the Silence Glaive from her hand. The ground disappeared beneath her feet as her body folded and flew back. The next thing she felt was her back slamming into something incredible hard, which was followed by an ear piercing 'SNAP!'
"Sailor Saturn!" Sailormoon screamed as Saturn flew right past her and Tuxedo Mask. Forgetting the danger for the moment, Sailormoon ran to the form of Sailor Saturn, which was sliding off of a tree that had snapped back from the force of the blow. Kneeling beside her fallen friend, Sailormoon takes Saturn's limp hand into hers. "Sailor Saturn are you okay?"
Before Saturn could answer, Sailormoon's eardrums were occupied by Tuxedo Mask shouting, "Sailormoon look out!"
Syaoran arrived at the scene of the battle surprise to find two of the senshi and a man dressed in a tuxedo with a cape fighting against the stone monstrousity. Using the shadows of the leaves and branches as cover, Syaoran began to mentally take in the situation. From his perch, he had a better perseption of how the battle was going. It was pretty much one sided so far. The horse was winning. Observing the senshi more closely, Syaoran couldn't help but think that hey look oddly familair. It was like he knew them but he didn't know them. Kind of like trying to remember a certain smell. You know you've smelt it before, but you can't remember where, when, and what it was.
Concentrate on how to get rid of the horse Syaoran, he reminded himelf. Concentrate on the horse. Search for its weakness. Syaoran switched to his mage sight(basically a kinda of special sense that helps a magician find magical energy a lot easier then just scaning for it. Kind of like what night vision goggles are to us) to studied the horse more carefully. There was an aura of complexity surrounding the horse. Several complicated matrices and webs were lined throughout its entire body. To add to the problems, the pattern of magic was fluxing and changing patterns constantly. So which means he couldn't undo the spell. However, there was something else in the complicated web maze of magic that may help. It was faint, and barely visible to his mage sight, but Syaoran could make out a small trail of magic leading from the horse into some bushes on the opposite side.
Attack the archers, not the arrows. Syaoran lectured himself. If he couldn't stop the horse, maybe he can figure out a way on how to at least stop catch the castor. Syaoran withdrew back into the thickets of the trees and started to make his way around the battle to the opposite side. Stepping over one branch to another and silently gliding threw the tree tops like a ghost through air. With only the movements of his shadow that may appear every now and then due to the tiny wash hole of lights that escaped capture from the leaves betrayed Syaoran's position. While he tree walked, Syaoran pulled of his necklace and focused his magic into the piece of green jade that was tied to it with a thin red string. A moment later, Syaoran held in his hand a sharp double-side blade, with his necklace attached at the bottom of the hilt.
Syaoran was getting closer to the source of the magic. He could feel it now and he didn't like it one bit. It made him queasy and nauseous in the stomach. It wasn't just that the magic was dark magic. Syaoran had no qualms against dark magic, he's mother's element is darkness. No, this magic transcended beyond the boundraries of darkness. This magic was filled with negative energy.
In front of him. That was what his senses told him. In front, beneath him, and to the side. He could make out a silhouette of a person, but that was just it. It had a tall, scrawny male frame. However, the face and most of the body was cloaked in the shadows of the trees. Syaoran felt the raw negative energy that the figure radiated. Dark, strong, cold, solid. It formed an extremely sour taste in the back of Syaoran mouth. That was proof enough that whatever energy this thing was weilding, it wasn't safe. Syaoran fastened the grip he had on his sword as he leapt down from the tree tops and down to where he felt the negative energy. "Kiiiyaaaahhh!!"
Sailormoon turned to see Tuxedo Mask tackled, or attempted to tackle, the standing stone horse from the side. Tuxedo Mask didn't know what came over him. Then again, he never does when Sailormoon's life was at stake. All he knew was that he had to do whatever he could to protect her and Sailor Saturn. So as the horse reared itself, he rushed at it from the side and managed to get a good grip around the stone creature's neck. However, he knew he couldn't get that thing into submission, much less stop gravity from working and bringing the hooves of the creature down on Sailormoon and Sailor Saturn. Remembering a trick he saw in an old samurai movie, Tuxedo Mask reached into his blazer and pulled out his cane. Still keeping his grip on the damn thing's neck, which was more rigid and sandy then it seemed, he leveled his cane and aimed the bottom half at a nearby tree. When Tuxedo Mask was certain that the cane would hit the tree, he extended the cane by mental will.
The extended cane reached and pushed against the tree, upsetting the reared up horse's center of gravity and pushed it back. Unfortunately though, unlike in movie, the horse didn't fall flat on its back. Instead, it twisted its body to the side and reset all four of its legs onto the concrete ground beneath it. The sudden twist of its body also managed to swing Tuxedo Mask body over and saddled him right onto the back of the horse.
It reared itself up onto its hind legs and neighed in rebellion to the rider on its back. Tuxedo Mask, now only concerned with how he's going to survive this, grabbed a hand full of the horse's mane. Which was strangely soft to the touch compared to the sandy roughness of the rest of its body. Tuxedo Mask held on for dear life as the stone horse started to kick up and down with its body. Trying to toss off the unwanted rider. Twisting and turning its neck as it tried to loosened the grip that Tuxedo Mask had on its mane.
Tuxedo Mask could only grunt silently in pain as his body was rocked violently back and forth. Left and right. Up and down. The stone horse not giving up its attempts to off the uninvited rider. Tuxedo Mask grasping the mane of the stone horse as his body was momentarily tossed into the air then back down again onto the back of the horse only to have the process repeat itself all over again. And again. And again. And again. Needless to say, Mamoru butt, was really suffering. As his body continued to banged itself up against the sandy hide of the stone horse.
Everything seemed to be taking itself in slow motion to Tuxedo Mask. Even the movements of the horse's attempts to throw him off. Sailormoon's wailing and screaming was unheard by him because all he can hear was the sound of his own yelling and the loud booms that the horse's hooves made everytime it struck the ground. His hand instinctively gripping even tighter onto the horse's mane as he tried to pull himself closer to the horse. Hoping that by doing this, his chances of falling off wouldn't increase. All the while, the crazed stone horse rocked away like a bull at a rodeo.
The horse reared itself higher then it normally did, to the point where it started to lean backwards. But just when it seemed as if it was going to fall backwards, it threw it's balance and weight forward. The incredible switch in weight and balanced caused the horse's stone hooves to chizeled into the concrete earth almost two feet. It also sent out a huge shock wave that even lifted both Sailormoon and Saturn three feet into the air before bringing them both down. Tuxedo Mask wasn't as lucky. Due to the horse's sudden forward jerk downward, his body was still in mid-tossed when the horse's hooves hammered the earth. Before Tuxedo Mask could recover, the horse threw its head back and the back of the stoney gallaper's head slammed into Tuxedo Mask face. The suddenly blast of pain blinded and stunned Tuxedo Mask for a moment. However, a moment was enough for him to loosen his grip on the horse's mane. The minute the stone horse felt Tuxedo Mask's grip loosened, it threw its head back down, flipping Tuxedo Mask over its head and slamming him into the concrete.
It stood triumphantly over the unconscious prince of Earth's form. It would hurt, it would attack. For the Master, it would do anything. It raised one of its hooves directly over Tuxedo Mask's, who wasn't masked at the minute, head. It would finally feel the pleasure of flattened flesh under its hooves. It would finally be able to please the Master. It ignored the pleads from the other puny mortal. Their turn will come soon enough, at the moment, it was going to do what it will to the one underneath it. For the Master.
Sailormoon watched in agony as the stone horse brought down its ten ton hoove on Tuxedo Mask. She was helpless to do nothing. She couldn't even called upon her power fast enough to stop it from attacking. It was her fault that Tuxedo Mask had jumped onto the stone horse in the first place. If she had been paying more attention rather then just going off without thinking, Tuxedo Mask wouldn't even be in this predicament. It was all her fault. Her fault.
The leg was brought down. Five hundred pounds of carved stone went down towards Mamoru's face. All Sailormoon could do, was watch.
Down, down, down. With each passing moment the horse's hooves dropped closer to the unconscious Tuxedo Mask. Then...then the horse's descending hooves paused. Stopping by just a hair's width from Mamoru's nose. Sailormoon, well, Sailormoon past out from relief.
Something was wrong. That was all the stone horse thought at the moment. It had frozed in its attempt to squish the human scum. It couldn't feel the Master. It couldn't feel the Master any longer. Where was the Master?! Where was the Master??!! What was it suppose to do? Hurt, scare, destroy! Those were the Master's last command. That is what it'll just have do. It will please the Master. It will prove that it is worthy of the Master's attention.
"Kiiiyaaaahhh!!"
It saw a flicker of light dropped down from the lush greenery of the trees. A blade. It had been around long enough to know how a conceal blade looked like. It leapt out of the way of the blade's course. It was no fool to search for a glory. Not now, it was too occupied to deal with fighting. Also, it can recognize a seasoned warrior when it sees one. And this figure before it was one. It couldn't make out the face or any other feature though. Not even the scent. They managed to sneak up on it silently without it knowing. That itself is a feat that was hard enough to succeed at. The face was unnaturally wrapped in shadows and the scent was mixed with hundreds of other scent that was in the air. It wasn't even sure if the outlined of the figured before it was their true form. Whoever or whatever this person or thing was, they were strong.
"Who are you?" It ask the form. "What quarrels do I have with you?"
The figure's only response was to lash out with its swords again. It barely dodged out of the way. Putting some more distance between it and the figure, it summoned upon the newly collected power of the Dark Crystal. It reached out with it's magic, grasping onto the nodes and leylines of magical energy that emitted from the Dark Crystal. Holding onto them and pulling them into it. Adding their power to its own. However, it still wasn't enough. Not enough. It had enough energy to hold off the attacker, however, it couldn't afford to use that power on something so trivial as this. It was smarter then that. Also, it had no idea how much power the Crystal had accumulated from the battle. For all it know, it could've used up all the energy that the Crystal had sapped up from the battle. It couldn't afford to gamble with a chance like this right now. So it made the most logical choice there was. Drop everything and retreat.
Syaoran had managed to catch the castor off guard. However, Syaoran didn't count on it being so fast. His opponent had managed to evade two attacks from Syaoran and had put atleast fifteen feet of space between them. Syaoran then noticed a floating jewelry that hummed with power off to the side. Syaoran could feel the considerable amount of dark magic that rolled off from the jet black jewel. It was almost dripping with negative energy. The more Syaoran stared at it, the stronger the sourness in the back of his mouth got. Syaoran felt the hairs on his neck stand on end from the enormous amount of power it was radiating. It was strong and it seemed to be getting stronger with every moment. Syaoran couldn't let it. It was dangerous enough as it is, he would have to destroy.
Several tendrils of dark energy shot out from the red aura that surrounded the crystal. Syaoran didn't have to be told what that was. Something was drawing power from the crystal. Syaoran traced the barely visible strings of light wormed their way through the air and into the shadow clad figure. The surrounding area suddenly grew a little darker and dimmer. Light was being distorted all around the figure. It was collecting light energy. That much Syaoran knew, because he can see the 'bend' in the air around the figure. Space bent inwards, distorting the form of the figure even more until it tarted to whirl around.
What is he doing- Before Syaoran could contemplate more about the spell being cast though, a blinding flash exploded from the figure. Syaoran instintively brought his arms over his eyes and looked away. A Light Flare! Damn, I should've known! Catching on to its plan, Syaoran leapt over to where he last saw the figure stand. Slashing his sword wildly as he cut through the air. The flash didn't last too long. The flash explosion probably lasted only three secounds. But it seems that those precious second were all it needed to get away. It took a moment for Syaoran to gather his thoughts. Syaoran was reluctant to admit that using a simple such as a Light Flare to distract him was clever. Drawing in power from the crystal and tricking Syaoran that it was going to cast a bigger much more dangerous spell.
That Gem! Syaoran's memory finally recalled the floating jewelry and the incredibly dark force it radiated. Syaoran turned to the area of where the crystal was a moment ago, only to find nothing but empty space. Extending his PMS outward as far as he can, Syaoran tried to search for it. He know the presence that the gem gave off and tried to homed into that certain presence. Only to find no trace of it anywhere within two blocks. Dammit! They both got away! Arrrggh! This is bad. Real BAD!
"WAAHHHHH!!!!"
"NAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY-HEH-HEH-HEH-HEH!"
KRACK! BOOM!
What in the world is going on out there?! Syaoran swore as he was interupted from his self berating thoughts. Putting aside the two new factors for the moment, Syaoran leapt onto a nearby branch and looked out into the fight scene. Tuxedo Mask was unconscious, so was Sailor Saturn, and Sailormoon was trying to avoid being turned into road kill. Keyword was trying. Sailormoon was not immuned to Usagi's clumsiness and klutzy foot work. So though she managed to evade a charge from the stone horse, she ended up tripping over her own foot and falling down on her bottom.
The stone horse, seeing a perfect chance to finally achieve in its mission quickly galloped at the down Sailormoon. Neighing in truimph as it stampeded onward. Causing giant fissures along the already chapped ground as it slammed its hooves on the concrete.
These are the famous Sailor Senshi? Syaoran sweatdropped as he listened to Sailormoon's wailings of negotiations, all being ignored by the fast incoming stone horse. It became rather clear to Syaoran now that the senshi, who Syaoran recognize as Sailormoon from the descriptions that he'd been briefed on, didn't have anything special planned. Syaoran also became less and less sure that the other senshi would suddenly popped out of the bushes any minute now and attacked the stone horse. Guess I have to help...
Calling one of his wards from his little reserve in a sub-space pocket, Syaoran closed his eyes started to concentrated on the sound of stone horse's repetitive movements. Memorizing the patterned movements carefully in his mind and silently repeating it the rhythm outloud. Testing his timing and synchronizing the pattern in his mind with the movements of the horse. "Right front forward, left back foward, left front back, right back back, head bobbing forward, head bobbing back......NOW!"
Syaoran frizbee throw the ward straight infront of the horse's pass. It spun and wheeled about as it saucered flatly right under the horse's heavy front right hoove as it begun to plant it against the cracked concrete. The spinning ward caused a slight shift in the horse's rhythmic movements. It had pushed the right front leg a little more to the left, where the raised front left leg was starting descend. Only to be tripped over its own leg. The stone horse fell face forward and slammed into the concrete, throwing up dust as it began to slide foward. The stone body of the horse soon followed as it slammed against the ground adding more dirt and dust to the air. Unfortunately, though the horse was no longer running, it was still wasn't stop either. It was sliding along on the concrete on its side. Sparks flying from where the rough stoney hide of the sculptured horse banged against the friction of the concrete.
I hope that thing is more horse then it is stone, Syaoran prayed as the wall of dust and dirt started to clear. Or else, the world is going to be one senshi short.
Sailormoon was down, again...sigh. And as usuaul, it was due to her own clumsiness. And now she was going to die. No wait, she wasn't going to die. She was going to be trambled, stomped, drooled over, and then she'll die. "WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! I can't die! I never got a chance to get married! I'm never going to get to star on my own sitcom! I still haven't beaten the latest game of Sailor V! This ISN'T fair!"
Backing up as fast as she can, which was surprisingly fast, Sailormoon tried to reason with it. "Can't we talk about this Mr. Stone Horse. I mean I'm sure we can work out something. How about I get you a nice big stone carrot and you let me destroy okay?" Of course, Sailormoon was just as good as a negotiator as Usagi was a matchmaker. Meaning, there was zero talent, if any at all, in that area.
The stone horse was at full speed now and heading straight for Sailormoon, who had just backed up against a tree. This...this is it! But I can't give up, I'm Sailormoon! I'm suppose to become Neo-Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo...it can't end like this. It just can't! However, her little mind whine did nothing to change the situation. The horse was only several yards from her now And unless she was able to suddenly cover thirty feet within a two seconds, she was a goner. If she'd ran, the stone feudal war horse stature would've just change course heading straight for her. No matter what she did, she was still going to get flattened. She didn't have the ability to create a force field like Sailor Saturn...or if she could, she didn't know how to yet. She lacked Tuxedo Mask's precise judgements and reflexes, so she could try riding this thing. She was going to become Sailor-Trampled-Moon!
Or she would've have not a yellowish blur shot out from the top of the trees and struck the horse's front ankle, or to Sailormoon it looked that way. Sailormoon watched, feeling a bit hopeful and a lot scared, as the stone horse lost its balanced and collapsed into the ground. Kicking a cloud of dust as it started to slide on its side. However, just because the horse was no longer running didn't mean that it had stop. It was skidding on its side, still going at neck breaking speed as it sped towards Sailormoon.
As it slid against the ground, it could feel its skin burned against the friction of the earth. It was still moving, moving towards its target. It will prove itself worthy yet! It will succeed! It will ram the pesky human with it's entire body! However, before it can do anything else, its body started to rotate. It turned slowly at first. Changing from head first to skidding with its back first heading straight for Sailormoon. Then its body spun again, this time, it belly was now leading it.
Despite the popular belief that monsters were monsters and that was that. This one just happened to be a horse. It may be a stone horse, originally created to be nothing by an unmoving rock spouting out water out of its mouth. However, it still was a horse. That means that its basic instincts were similar to that of a real horse. And in times of panic, it would react physically and mentally as any horse would. And at the moment, the horse within the stone creation come to life was telling it to kick its legs, neigh, and fight against the turn of its body. So that was just what it started to do. It started to kick all four of its leg wildly as if it was running. Neighing out loud in panic and trying to fight against the direction that its body was spinning. Of coures, this all resulted in it turning every faster and more out of control.
Sailormoon lucked out, as usual, when the horse started to spin on its side as it skidded off course from her. Sliding and spinning out of control, the stone horse's journey ended with several loud and thunderous booms as it rammed through trees and rocks. Or what could be assumed to be trees and rocks since no one could really see through the thick cloud of dust that the horse had kicked up while sliding helplessly.
When the cloud of dust finally settled, it revealed a struggling and still neighing stone horse trapped underneath several brokened and splintered trees.
"W-wow!" Sailormoon said as she as she observe the site of detruction before her. "This is going to cost the city a lot of money to fix...hope I don't have pay for it."
Remembering that she was suppose to take care of the monster, Sailormoon quickly refocused her attention to the trapped horse of rock. "For the crimes against this beautiful park and the forces of justice, I Sailormoon will punish you!" Closing her eyes to summon the power within her, Sailormoon started to glow. She felt a part of her change, mature a little. She no longer felt ditzy and naive. Instead, she felt confident and very very humbled. Using a voice that sugar sweet and smooth as milk, Sailormoon chanted softly, "Moon...beautiful...meditation." (Okay, I'm not sure about this attack, since I haven't read any of the Eternal Sailormoon Manga...so feel free to correct me on her Eternal Sailormoon finish move).
A crescent moon spun out from Sailormoon's hands and stuck the stone horse in between the eyes. As the attack decipated into glittery dust against the horse's snout after impact, nothing happened. Fearing the worse, Sailormoon took a surprised step back. She'd rarely meet youmas, daimonds, and androids that could withstand her attacks. Especially her Eternal Moon powers. However, there have been cases in the past where she had meet opponents strong enough to withstand her attacks. It seemed that this was one of them, and this time there wasn't any immediate back up to save her.
The stone horse started to struggle to get out from underneath all the fallen timber. It would please its master soon. Several of the trees that had bound it started to budge. Then they fell and were moved out of the way by the horse. Until soon after, it was back on its feet again. IT will prove itself worth of the Master yet.
It neighed in its victory over Sailormoon's attack and lunged forward at Sailormoon. Too stun to move Sailormoon stood there. All her confidence in defeating the thing had plunged as it escaped the wooden chamber that held it down. And now, it was free again. Rushing straight for her. Stepping back in fear, Sailormoon started to turn around and run when her foot tripped over a pebble.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Sailormoon screamed as she started to crawl away as fast as she could. But it was too late to get away now, the huge horse was right over her now. It's front hooves now descending down onto her. There would be nothing to save her this time. However, just before the hooves reached her, the horse was suddenly bubbled in by a life size glowing sphere. It engulfed the stone horse in a blue light, as tendrils of light trails spun from it. Veiling the horse in a bright and blinding light until not even a dark silhoutte of the stone horse could be made out. The last thing to be seen before the horse was totally hiddened within the sphere of light was a dark outline of a huge horse rearing up. Followed by a weak and distant neigh can be heard from within the sphere of light and then it was carried away by the breeze to echoed throughout the park. Soon after that, the sphere of light vanished to reveal a stone horse reared on its hind legs as points its head towards the heavens. And the stone horse now nothing but just a stone horse.
Remembering that she did not fight the battle alone, Sailormoon stood up onto her feet and rushed to the sides of her closest friends. "Tuxedo Mask! Sailor Saturn!" Her sweet and mature voice had vanished now. Along with the feelings of confidence and humbleness that had filled her moments ago. Sailormoon was back to being a hormone driven, crime fighting(though I don't think the correct trem would be crime) teenager. "Tuxedo Mask! Sailor Saturn! Are you two okay."
Sailor Saturn awoke at the call of her princess's voice. Sailor Saturn had already healed from her injuries that she had recieved earlier. "Sailormoon," came a weak and half dazed voice. But the smile couldn't be hidden. "Are you okay?" Of course, Saturn, like all the other senshi, held her princess's well being above all else. "Where's that stone horse? What happened?"
"Sailor Saturn, you're okay!" Shouted a frantic Sailormoon as she glomped onto the senshi of life and death. "Iwassoworriedwhenyouwerehit.ThenTuxedoMasktriedtohelp,butheendedup gettingknockedoutthenthethingwasgoingtosquishhimwhenitstopdandwhencrazy.ThenitattackedmeandIalmostgotkilledbutsomethinghappenedanditcrashed.ThenIdefeateditbyturningitbacktoits orginalform!ThenIrememberthatyouandTuxedoMaskwerehurtsoIranovertoyouandyougotupandIjustsohappy!"
Sailormoon finally paused for a breather when she finally realized that her head was getting little light. Sailor Saturn just stared at her princess in shock. Saturn knew that Sailormoon could fast talk when she wanted to. However, she had no idea that Sailormoon could recap an entire battle in one breath. One of these days, she was going to learn how Sailormoon does that. Recalling what Sailormoon said about Tuxedo Mask, Saturn gently forced herself away from Sailormoon's crushing hug and made her way to the motionless form of Tuxedo Mask, save for the slow rise and fall of his chest.
His mask had fallen off, so Saturn decided to fix that first by 'remasking' him before some curious reporter arrive. Then Saturn went to work healing her fallen future king. He wasn't too badly hurt. Just a few minor scrapes and a few bruises. A small cut just above his right eyebrow and a large bruise on the back of his head. Other then that, there wasn't anything too bad. Saturn only healed the wounds that would seemed to painful or take long periods of time to heal. She left the wounds that she figured probably wouldn't hinder him is his daily activities. After all, she couldn't let the dashing young prince become too accustomed to having her heal up every scrapes and cuts he gets. What was Usagi's job.
Tuxedo Mask regained consciousness just as Sailor Saturn finished healing him. "Welcome back Tuxedo mask," the senshi of life and death smiled playfully to him. "I see you'll live after all."
Sailormoon glomped onto Tuxedo Mask wailing and crying. Reapeating the samething she had said to Saturn talking at the same speed as well. Saturn just shook her head and sigh as she decided to leave the two alone for now. Walking over to where she dropped her Silence Glaive, Saturn noticed four colorful figures rush towards them. It was the inners, each donning their senshi costume and fancying their own seperate colors. Jupiter, the tallest and probably most athletic of the group, approached the area. Her beautifully combed brown hair brought out the colors of her emerald eyes and waved steadily with the breeze. Her dark forest green kercheif and skirt followed suit with her hair. There was an obvious look of shock across her face as she approached the scene before her.
Next to arrive was Sailor Venus, self proclaimed senshi of love and probably the most experienced senshi. Her light blue eyes glittering with a deep sad secret that was masked by her bright face and smile. Her waist-length blond hair, slightly lighter then Sailormoon's, waved and fluttered playfully in the winds. Her orange and milk white senshi fuku seemed to repel all the dirt and dust away from her. Saturn had to admit, out of all the senshi, both outers and inners, it was the senshi of love that made her feel physically conscious most of all. Minako/Sailor Venus had a natural beauty about her that seemed almost unnatural. Sometimes Hotaru wonder if Minako actually attempts more NOT to have a boyfriend.
Arriving together in thrid place were the resepectable Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury. Sailor Mars, like Venus, had waist-long hair, only her's were ebony black. Almost silky to the eyes. And like Venus's, Mars's hair too fluttered with the breeze. However, unlike the Senshi of Love, Sailor Mars's hair didn't waved teasingly in the air. Rather, it was more together. Intimidating and full of vitality rather then fun. Her dark red skirt remained unaffected as if there was no breeze at all. She was the only senshi in the group that intimidated Saturn most. Even though Hotaru knew that Rei had a good heart, she also has a temper to match.
Mercury, the brains of the entire team. Probably even smarter, in the ways of science, then even Setsuna. Unlike the rest of the senshi, Mercury's hair was short. Shorter then Saturn's even. Almost similar to Haruka's. Her faced mirrored the exact look on Jupiter's face, only there was a hint of curiousity within them.
"Sailormoon, Sailor Saturn, Tuxedo Mask!" Shouted Jupiter as she and the other senshis joined their friends. "Wha...what happened here. We heard of a news report about a monster in the park so we hurried over here. What happened!?"
"Its taken care of," Saturn replied pointing over to a horse statue. "Sailormoon was able to defeat it on her own."
"WHAT!" the whole team, saved Mercury, shouted. "Sailormoon defeating a monster on her own! No way! You have to mean that you guys and Sailormoon right?"
"Not this time girls," Tuxedo Mask cut in weakly, Sailormoon still glomped. "This time, Sailormoon really did take it down all on her own."
The girls' jaws dropped, to Sailormoon's chagrin. "What!? Its not as if it's that hard to believe!" Sailormoon said. "After all, I've beaten other monsters before this one."
"That may be true," Jupiter added. "But you're usually Princess Serenity when that happens...and I...WE know that you didn't transform into princess serenity or we'd felt it."
There were nods of agreement from the group as Jupiter finished. "Are you certain you didn't have any kind of outside help?" Sailor Mars decided to pry. After all, she wasn't ready for the world to end just yet. "Are you sure that nothing else happened? Banana peels, hurricane, nuclear explosion? Nothing?"
"Well...." Sailormoon, though slightly insulted and angry at Mar's suggetions of 'natural' occurrences, remembered that she may have had a little help. "There was this yellow thing that shot out of the trees, but I finished off the monster."
All the inners let out a long sigh of relief. Their world was spared from a horrible death.
Seeing that the Stone horse was now defeated, Syaoran figure he should return to Hotaru. Tree walking around the battle scene, Syaoran made his way back to where he layed Hotaru's body down. After while of hopping and running from tree to tree, Syaoran reached his destination. Syaoran remembered to return his sword back its false form then he leapt down from the trees to where he left Hotaru. Only to find nothing when he returned to the area where he'd left her unconscious form. "Where did she go?" Syaoran said, with a pinch of panic in his voice, as he turned his head left and right trying to see if he can find any kind of clue or hint showing that Hotaru may have staggered off somewhere.
A horrible thought crawled up from the back Syaoran's mind as he tried to keep himself from panicking. What if she headed off back towards the fight scene?! Fearing the worse, Syaoran spun his body around and made a bee line straight to the fight scene. Cutting through the bushes and green of the park, Syaoran ran as fast as he could to where that attack had settled. There was still some unsettled dirt and dust wavering in the air, causing Syaoran a little minor seeing problem, but he kept going. It was his job to proctect Hotaru, it was his job to have gotten her to safety. And what did he do, he failed. Like the failure he was, he failed.Bakaryou! Stupid stupid stupid idiot. She was hurt, she was unconscious, she could've been delirious! And you left her alone to fend for herself?! If she's hurt, it'll all your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault!
Syaoran rushed through a wall of leaves, the final veil of green before Syaoran reached his new destination. Emerging from the cocoon of leaves and branches, Syaoran entered the concrete terrain. For the first time, Syaoran saw up close how much punishment the fight had been on the poor park. Huge pot holes seemed to be a repeated patterned design. The place was filled with eroded and cracked earth. Mixed with crags of brought up concrete and dirt.
However, before Syaoran could react to the scene before him, he had to react to avoid a headslash from gnarled blade. Syaoran almost didn't see the blade, it had been so thin and flat, that all Syaoran saw was a thin while string. Or what would've past as a string. Only the light reflecting off from the incredibly sharp blade gave Syaoran a warning of the attack.
Saturn didn't know what was happening. All she knew what to do was to react to a danger. She and the senshi were discussing the events of the battle when she heard some disturbance in the bushes behind her. None of the senshi seemed to have taken notice or just didn't care about it. However, Saturn, the part of her that was Saturn, wasn't going to be as careless. Saturn knew well that just because the battle had been won doesn't mean that the danger was over. There is always a price to pay for victory and she wasn't going to let that price go up any higher then it already has.
So when something emerged from the bushes and straight at her, Saturn reacted on reflex. Gripping her Silence Glaive, Saturn back slashed with her polearm to where Saturn assumed what was its neck. The imaged quickly blurred and the blade of the Silence Glaive cut through nothing but air. Fortunately, Saturn's reflexes weren't just based on making one fatal attack. It was based on multiple self defense actions that would immediately repeat itself until Saturn starts to consciously take over.
Curving the Silence Glaive, Sailor Saturn twisted the deadly polearm back and slashed downward at angle to where she assumed the knees of the possible threat were. Sailor Saturn's eyes met and ran across a face. A human face. Saturn's blood froze and drained from her face as she realize who the face belongs too. However, it was too late to stop now. Even if she could've, she couldn't have stopped the Silence Glaive from bringing Syaoran down a feet or two, literally.
The blade of the Silence Glaive swished through nothing but empty air. Saturn brought the Silence Glaive to a stop across her body. Afraid that the polearm had sliced through Syaoran like a sharp sword would through a twig. Fearing the worse, yet hoping for the best, Sailor Saturn tried to fight back the tears that was now fighting to blind her.
What have I done...? She thought as she shut her eyes, trying to force back the tears. This is no time for crying...not right now. First see if he's all right...then you can cry... Listening to her advice, Hotaru, Sailor Saturn, reopened her eyes. Preparing herself for a scene of gore and blood, only to be presented with an untouched Syaoran. Crouched form several feet away, off to the side, and out of the range of the Silence Glaive. Saturn was both stunned and visibly relieved that her friend was safe.
The senshi and Tuxedo Mask were more in awe then they were stun. They had all turned around too when they caught glimpse of something leaping from the bushes behind them. Their initial reactions were to throw their planetary attacks right at it, only to be beaten to it by Saturn. Wielding her wicked polearm dangerous, they watched in fear as the conveyor of silence slashed at the figured. When they all realized that the figure was a human, and that Saturn was about to attack again with her Silence Glaive, their fears rose even higher.
Then, the figured did something none of the senshi had expected. It dodged the blow. Faster then lightning, the figured ducked under the first slashed, meant for the head. Then side flipped over the lower slash and flipped away again when the figure landed. Putting quite some distance between itself and the polearm.
Syaoran was anything but happy at the moment. Nearly being beheaded then nearly 'beleg-ed' was not two things he'd plan on doing today. You've made the same mistake before as well, Syaoran told himself, trying to reach a reason why one of the senshi had tried to sishcabob him. Her adrenaline is probably still pretty high and she's still on fight mode, so just keep your distance and wait until she gets a good look at you. Getting up from his crouching position, Syaoran slowly stood up. Making sure both his hands were visible to the eyes of the senshi so they wouldn't think he was reaching for a weapon.
When Syaoran had fully erected himself up, he calmly said, "I'm looking for someone."
Venus was the first of the senshi to snap out of her state of awe. "This isn't a place to be fooling around in kid. Its dangerous, whoever you're looking for, I'm sure they'd probably ran to a safer place by now." Despite her calm speech, Sailor Venus just barely able to keep her libido in check. I wonder if he has a older brother?
"Yea kid," came Jupitor, the second to recover. Who was just as interested in the young boy as Sailor Venus was. The way he dodged those attacks were so cool, Jupiter thought to herself as she gauged the boy with an apraising eye. And the way he stood up, it was like watching some fallen hero from an anime movie...he looks just like my old boyfriend when he was his age...
However, it was Mercury who kept a level mind and asked who the boy was looking for. "Just who're are you looking for, perhaps we might have passed them on our way here." Which was true. The senshi had to get through a mob of people to get into the park. "Or maybe we can help you search for them."
Syaoran eyed each of the girls and Tuxedo Mask with a careful eye. Should he trust them or not? They may be the defender of truth and justice and all the other things that they claim to defend, however, they were, in appearance, still teenagers. Barely older then him now that thought about it. In all honesty, Syaoran was rather disappointed in meeting the Sailor senshi. He'd been expecting to meet seasoned veteran warriors, not hormoned drivened teenaged girls.
It wouldn't hurt if you told them who're you're looking for, Syaoran said to himself then relented. "I'm searching for a girl. She was hurt during all the chaos so I carried her off. I set her down against a tree when I figured that she would be safe and I came back to see if there was anybody else who may have been hurt. When I returned to where I left her, she was gone. I think she may have wandered back here."
Saturn was the first senshi to step up and respond. "If you're referring to an unconsious girl who was leaned up against a tree," she started. Hotaru hated to lie, especially to a friend, which she have very few off. She had grew up being taught that lying to people wasn't a nice thing to do. However, it was necessary to in order to keep her identity a secret. "I healed her and I told her to run out of the park. You should probably try to look for her outside of the park."
Syaoran's turned to eye the violet skirt senshi. Not a lecherous lust stare or of fear. But with cat curiousity. There was something extremely familiar about her. But Syaoran's mind still refused to acknowledge it. It was like chasing a peace of cloud. Just when you've only reached it, your hands slips right through it. Syaoran could sense a magical flux around each and everyone of the senshi. He couldn't measure their abilities, power, or even sense their emotions with his empathic gifts. Whoever designed their shieldings had to have had A LOT of power and resource.
Deciding that he probably wasn't going to get anymore information then he already had from the senshi, Syaoran nodded and left calmly towards the exit of the parks. His mind boggled with the events that had just occured to today. Especially the new character whom Syaoran had the pleasure of meeting today. I need sometime to sort all this out...
"I wonder if he has an older brother," Venus asked as soon as Syaoran's form disappeared from sight.
"I wonder if he's single," Jupiter replied. "I mean, did you see how he dodged those attacks? He's definitely a martial artist and probably pretty good too."
"Isn't he a little young for you," the Spiritual believer of the senshi said. "Besides, we have bigger things to think about. Like who sent this attack and why? There wasn't any energy draining or heart snatching. And we didn't even sense it until we saw it on the news."
"Yea guys," Sailormoon said, catching the attention of all the senshi. "Stop thinking about that boy and concentrate on whats going on-Hey! What're you doing Jupiter?"
"Do you have a fever Sailormoon?" asked Jupiter as she placed her hand on Sailmoon's forehead. Sailormoon, the ultimate postergirl for klutz-ville and the most boy crazy out of the group, even with Mamoru as her boy friend, telling the senshi not to think about cute boys! The senshi can only draw up one of two conclusions from this. Either Sailormoon had been replaced by some evil being, or she wasn't feeling very well. "Did you hit your head when you were attacked?"
"Hey I'm fine Jupiter," Sailormoon shouted. "I can think of anything else other than cute boys you know. I haven't thought about cute boys since I meet Mamo-chan. Besides, I said not to think about that particular boy. He's Hotaru's boyfriend."
"WHAT!" Venus, Mars, and Jupiter's jaw hit the ground. It was incredulous! Hotaru, having a boyfriend! Not that that they didn't think that Hotaru was capable of getting a boyfriend. After all, it was one of the rules that all senshi be extremely beautiful. They just never expected a boy who just happened to be Hotaru's boyfriend to be so...physically fit. They had all imagine the type of guy Hotaru would end up dating, if they were a guy, would be a lot less athletic and looked more nerdish.
The three awe strickened senshi turned to a blushing Saturn. "Is this true Saturn?" "You had a boyfriend and you never told us? I can't believe you?!" "So how did you two meet!" "Does he have an older brother?"
"I...we...I...he..." Saturn stumbled clumsily over her words as she tried to subdue her blush. Which only succeeded in adding more to the burning redness of her face. Trying to think up of a reason to leave and escape the interogation of the inners, Saturn remembered her promise to Syaoran that she would be waiting for him outside the park. "I...I have to go...Syaoran is probably mad with me right now..."
It was upset! It had to release its bond with its creation. The poor thing came so close to defeating the senshi. It released the Dark Crystal bond to the senshi and the prince of Earth the minute it reached just out of reach of a mage scan. It had not expected such an opponent. It must be ready the next time...however, it was considerably weakened and the Dark Crystal is still not strong to fully aid it if there was going to be a direct confrontation with the senshi. It needed more time...
Teleporting to the west area of the park, the direction that Syaoran had taken off towards, Sailor Saturn found a place to detransform. Please don't let him be upset with me, Hotaru prayed as she walked out of the bushes. Her clothes were still slightly wet and her chest was hurting a little. She didn't feel any injuries that neded to be immediately healed though. Deciding that she should wait near the exit of the park, Hotaru started toward the exit. Hotaru quickly light headed and drained. Her muscles went limb and her legs turned into jello. Hotaru suddenly felt empty. As if something had poured all the energy out of her. Her world started to swirl and her stomach became weak with nausea. The world became fuzzier, brighter. It got warmer, LOTS warmer. Hotaru felt fevered and fatigue, despite the fact that she just had lunch. Breathing suddenly became a challenge for her. Hotaru felt as if she was trying to breath in through a mall straw. No matter how deeply she breath, her lungs simply just wasn't recieving enough air. Her head started to swim as a slight headache chose to come one. Then her knees gave from both weakness and dizziness. The last thing she remembers was falling and being caught around the waist by two strong arms.
Syaoran rushed forward quickly as he saw Hotaru faultered in her steps. He'd seen this happen way to many times in the past. He knew the signals that the body naturally gives away before someone loses consciousness. He reached out with his arms as Hotaru's thin form started to fall forward. Grasping her around the waist as he reaches her. Holding her and keeping her dingling form from hitting the stone cold concrete. Getting her into a better position in his arms, Syaoran scans Hotaru's aura to see if there was something wrong with her. Only to find her...sleeping? I guess I better get her home...
-------------later that night---------------
"Mother, something came up," Syaoran spoke into the mouthpiece of the phone. He then proceeded to tell her about the day's event, excluding the part where he carried Hotaru home. "I think I'm going to be staying here for a little longer then expected."
"Yes, Xiao Lang, I shall tell your sisters." Yelan responded in Chinese. She was rather disappointed that her only son wasn't going to come home sooner. She sees less and less of him now a days. He maybe the future ruler of the clan, however, that doesn't mean he has to avoid his family. "Just write and call every now and then...I'm your mother for peaks sake Xaio Lang, I worry when you're away."
"Yes mother," Syaoran sigh. "Oh and mother...do you or my sisters know anything about a swoon spell?"
Tonight was colder then most nights. Between his patrol and school work, Syaoran was starting to feel a little fatigue. Everything had changed now. Everything was different.
Hopping from the roof of a bread shop onto a grocery store, Syaoran allowed himself to relished the hang time. He slowly felt his mind clearing and his troubled thoughts wash then drain away. He felt...invigorated. That was the correct word. He felt renewed. Cold as the air was, Syaoran wouldn't have given up roof hopping on a cold winter's night for anything. It was a great way to lose yourself in nothing but the rush of the job. The pure enjoyment of being in the air. In near flight position, staring down at the people below you. Knowing that while they may share the same problem as Syaoran did, the feeling of freedom made him feel as if all the shakles life was taken off of him.
However, his feeling of enjoyment was only temporary. Less then a second after his leap, his legs meet with the hard roof. Ruining the moment of bliss. A feeling that was far worse then any drug and refreshingly addictive to the troubled soul. Such as the one that Syaoran possessed. He needed more of the feeling. Some people's high was smoking. Some were drugs. Syaoran's was the feeling of what he can only describe as 'the rush.'
Tonight was a night, as all nights were, of infinite possibilities. And he was going to explore as many of those possibility as he can before the night is over.
Syaoran's mind, though clear was still troubled. It is easy to clear one's mind, but it impossible to calm the matters of the heart. At the moment, Syaoran's own emotions were his enemies. He was suppose to be home right now. His home. In Hong Kong. With his family. But he wasn't. Because fate never lets anyone get what they want, only unless they needed to be taught a lesson. No, fate only allows you to get what you need and a whole bunch of troubles as a freebie.
Expected the unexpected Syaoran, Syaoran's mind droned to himself as he made a huge leap to a taller building. Syaoran growled silently to himself as he reached out with his right arm and grasp onto the top of the building and pulled himself onto the roof. A lesson you should always keep in mind after yesterday's event...and something tells me, this is only the beginning...
FINISH! This was by far the longest chapter I had to rewrite. But I'm finally done...and lets all share a moment of silence for those who past away in the twin incident on Sept 11, 2001 in Manhatten and Washington. My condolences to the families and people who had lost friend and loved ones in that crash.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter...as I said, I had to rewrite from memory, which isn't really helping it for the better.
Anyway, R&R or write to me at LPS_2@yahoo.com.
