Chapter Five
Hotaru
looked over at her daughter, sleeping soundly. But she was uneasy. Every since
the twins had been attacked, everyone was tense. Rini was better and Daisy was
too but the twins were in the prime of the pain. Hotaru looked at the clock and
bit her tongue.
"Anthony!"
Her
husband ran in. "You're late, Hotaru."
She
nodded. Their scout meeting had begun two minutes ago. She raced out the door,
calling,
"Watch
Madelyn."
Her
chest was heaving. She was still not athletic and before she had even gotten to
the doorway of the meeting hall, sweat was pouring down her face and her chest
was heaving as she gasped in air. She pulled the door open.
Everyone
else was already there. Her face burned deep red and she sat down.
Serenity
smiled at her youngest friend and passed her a glass of water. Hotaru nodded
her thanks and drank.
Raye
smiled. "I never knew a time someone could be late and it wouldn't be
Serenity."
Hotaru
flushed and lowered her head.
"I'm
sorry, ever since Faith and Hope were attacked I've been worried about Madelyn.
That enemy said Madelyn was next."
Haruka
put a hand on Hotaru's shoulder. "We're all worried, Hotaru. We will find this
enemy and stomp them to dust."
Everyone
nodded in agreement. Amy spoke out,
"But
do we know what they want?"
Lita
stood up, "Daisy told me that after they extracted her senshi crystal they
called her the Senshi of Protection and said they wanted the Senshi of
Loyalty."
"The
Senshi of Loyalty?" Serenity asked.
Lita
nodded. Before anyone said anything else, Amy had removed her mini computer and
was typing.
"We
need to eliminate who isn't the senshi of Loyalty. Okay, Serenity, Rini was
first and obviously wasn't the Senshi of loyalty."
Serenity
nodded. "The youma called her the Senshi of Forgiveness."
Amy
nodded and wrote Rini's name down and beside it typed, Senshi of Forgiveness.
She then typed Daisy's name and put beside it Senshi of Protection.
Haruka
spoke out then,
"Faith's
Senshi of Strength and Hope's Senshi of Harmony."
Amy
added both names as well as which Senshi. When she finished, she said,
"So
that leaves, Annika, Gloria, Maggie, Ariel, and Madelyn."
Mina
spoke her feelings aloud, "But either one could be the Senshi of Loyalty." She
saw the others' faces and snarled. "I know Gloria can be annoying and a brat
but she is just as likely no matter what you think."
Mirchiru held up her hands, "Peace Mina. We
know. But I think we're all hoping that it isn't ours."
Mina
relaxed, "I know."
"So
what do we do?" Hotaru asked. Setsuna answered,
"Watch
over our daughters as best we can. I cannot guide in this battle. The time
lines never predicted this."
The
adults nodded. Then they each ventured back to their chambers.
*
* *
"Ms.
Ella?"
Gloria
looked around, there was only darkness but then she saw her home star, Venus.
Ms. Ella appeared before her and caressed her hair.
"I'm
watching you little one and so is your grandmother. Even though Queen Serenity
perished during the Silver Millennium, the parents of your mother as well as
the queens of the inner planets did not. The outers perished in the fighting.
But your grandmother, Queen Alina is watching you. And when the time is right
she will guide you."
She
began to fade away.
"Ms.
Ella! Wait! Wait!"
Then
she woke up.
It
was a change from the dreams of losing Annika but she still feared for her best
friend. But she didn't know what to do. She did know that whatever happened,
she would get Annika back.
*
* *
Madelyn
smiled at her best friend and she and Ariel took off across the park. Hotaru
had agreed to take them, as it was their first day on summer vacation. They
were pretty well behaved and were on the swing sets. They played a bit before
Madelyn rushed over and asked,
"Mama?
Can me and Ariel-"
"Ariel
and I," Hotaru gently corrected.
Madelyn
started again,
"Can
Ariel and I go and buy some ice cream from the vendor? We have our allowances.
Please?"
Madelyn
had noted her parents getting very overprotective lately and she hated it. Her
mother debated a bit but then said,
"All
right but come right back."
"Oh
we will, Mama."
That
said she and her best friend took off for the far end of field.
Isolo
watched and made her move.
As
Madelyn trailed behind Ariel she grabbed her and pulled her behind some bushes.
Before Madelyn could make a peep she tore her shirt open and dug her claws into
her chest. She whispered, so not to be heard,
"Appear
Senshi Crystal."
A
diamond shaped crystal appeared and hummed a dark violet. Isolo hissed,
"So
the Senshi of Greater Good."
"Leave
her alone."
Isolo
turned. Sailor Chibi Mercury was standing there, transformed. She had noted her
friend gone and had heard a struggle. Now she was furious.
"Mercury
Ice Glacier!"
Isolo
dodged and dropped Madelyn. The girl fell limp. Ariel sprung at Isolo but then
the youma vanished and before Ariel could react, she reappeared, tore open
Ariel's shirt and again demanded her senshi crystal.
The
pain was incredible for Ariel. So great that it knocked her unconscious. An
aqua colored diamond appeared,
"The
senshi of Strategy."
Before
Isolo could do anything else, a blade was at her throat. She turned and saw an
enraged Sailor Saturn. She didn't waste time and swiftly vanished.
Saturn
immediately dismissed her blade and gathered both fallen girls in her arms.
Aloud, she murmured,
"Three more to go."
