Chapter Seven
Annika
winced as Amy checked her ankle.
She
had heard from Maggie what had happened the night before. Maggie had not
received punishment as her mother had reasoned that pain she was experiencing
was more than enough. However, Rini had not gotten off that easily.
Her
parents would have grounded her but she had to be there to lead the Chibi
Scouts. So finally, they forbade her from seeing Helios for two weeks. Rini had
protested with a rage. Finally she stopped when her father threatened to take a
belt to her again.
"Ow!"
Annika protested. Amy smiled.
"Sorry
Annika. I'll give your mother some pills for the pain. In meantime, try to stay
off that foot. It should be better in a few days."
Annika
nodded and hopped down, gathering her crutches that Amy had given her.
"Thanks,
Aunt Amy,"
The
doctor nodded and watched as Annika went over to her mother and Raye waved at
Amy and left. She was worried. Only Annika and Gloria were left. Although Amy
knew it wasn't fair, she really believed Annika was the Senshi of Loyalty.
She
swallowed hard. Annika couldn't fight.
*
* *
"Isolo!"
The
black creature ran and bowed before her Lady.
"Yes,
Lady Phobia?"
"Only
two senshi remain. If you attack the hurt one and she is not the senshi we're
looking for, bring her to me. The senshi will not be able to trace us."
Isolo
bowed low. "As you wish, M'Lady."
*
* *
Annika
sighed as she talked to Stardust. She could barely walk.
"It's
not fair, Stardust!"
Her
kitten sighed, but put up with her mistress' complaining.
"Annika,
it will only be for a few more days."
"But
there's nothing to do."
Suddenly
the door opened. Her mother walked in,
"Baby,
someone's here to see you."
Gloria
walked in.
Annika's
first impulse was to turn away but she had forgiven Gloria as she had before.
Annika let her best friend sit down.
"How
are you, Annika?"
"Bored
to death. I can't do anything with this hurt foot."
A
well of guilt sprang up from inside Gloria. She didn't want her friend
miserable. Finally, she called,
"Aunt
Raye?"
Raye
walked in, "yes? What is it girls?"
Gloria
walked over to her, "If my Momma comes can we go to the park? We won't let
Annika on her foot, promise. I…I just want her not to be bored anymore."
Raye
looked at her daughter who glanced at her, begging. Finally, Raye said,
"Alright but I'm coming too."
That
said, Raye left to call Mina.
*
* *
Annika
laughed as Gloria purposely fell and made all sorts of funny acts. Even Mina
and Raye were smiling. Gloria took off. She called behind her,
"Be
right back."
Mina
got up and followed her daughter.
It
was a few minutes before Raye said, "I should go see what's going on." She
looked to Annika. Annika smiled.
"Go
Mama. There are a ton of people around, I'll be alright."
Against
her better judgment, Raye nodded. She found Mina looking.
"Well?"
Mina
sighed, "She told em she was going to get some ice cream for her and Annika.
The ice cream man said that he did remember a girl that matched her description
run off with two cones a few minutes ago."
Raye
smiled, "Maybe she's back by now."
The
two nodded and headed back when they heard a familiar scream. Raye's face
turned snow-white.
"Annika!"
*
* *
Annika
stared at the black creature that loomed over her.
"Let's
see if you're who I seek," it hissed.
Suddenly,
two cones hit it straight in the eyes. Before Annika could blink, Sailor Chibi
Venus was standing over her, shielding her body with her own.
"The
hell with the intro. Get away from my best friend."
Before
the youma could recover, Chibi Venus cried,
"Venus
Beautiful Shockwave!"
The
attack only stunned the youma. She smirked.
"I
have Lady Phobia with me. Your pitiful powers do nothing."
Chibi
Venus' heart throbbed and her eyes burned with anger. She ran forward and
knocked the youma onto it's back. She grabbed the creature's neck and tightened
her grip.
This
happened a bit until the youma managed to kick Chibi Venus into a tree. But
before she could reach Annika to find her Senshi Crystal, Chibi Venus was on
her back again. She had peeled her gloves off and was using her long nails as
claws, ripping into the creature's flesh, biting down with her teeth.
Finally,
the youma tossed her off and tried to reach Annika again who was trying to get
to her good foot. But something grabbed her foot and pulled her back. Chibi
Venus.
"Venus
Love Arrow!"
Instead
of firing it, Chibi Venus used it like a spear and dug the point into the
youma's leg. She ripped the flesh and when her arrow broke, bit in with her
teeth, howling,
"Leave
her alone!"
The
youma shocked her, with lightning. By the time the child recovered, she heard
her best friend scream.
A
red colored crystal appeared.
"So,
the Senshi of Love. That means your friend here…"
Chibi
Venus tried to pounce the youma again but it grabbed Annika in an arm lock,
making her stop to keep from hurting her friend. The youma said simply,
"Detransform."
Gloria
complied.
The
youma smiled. "Come for your friend, Gloria, Chibi Venus….Senshi of Loyalty."
She
vanished taking Annika with her.
Gloria
stood stunned for a minute and then fell to her knees, screaming,
"ANNIKA!"
