THE SORCERESS OF NY
based on the novel by L. Frank Baum
Chapter 5: "The Shadow of Desperation"
By Bill K.
Jupiter waited impatiently at the mouth of the cave. Though
she didn't have a watch, and wasn't sure there was even a concept
like time in this odd dimension, she knew it had been a long time.
More than once she had entertained the notion of just abandoning the
others and seeking out Princess Nocturn or the Sorceress of Ny on her
own. But, though she was loathe to admit it, Mercury's words about
strength through working together did make sense.
Right now, it looked like the best way she could see to achieve
her goals. And right now, that was the only thing that mattered to
her.
A few minutes later, Jupiter turned to a sound coming from the
cave. It was Mercury. The senshi had her arms folded over her
breast and a concerned look coloring her features - - none of which
mattered to Jupiter.
"Are they about done in there?" Jupiter groused.
"Yes," Mercury whispered. "It's very sad what happened to that
girl."
"Those are the breaks," shrugged Jupiter. "Man, we need to go!
Nocturn could be half way to the center of the universe by now!"
"The beast doesn't think so," countered Mercury. "The beast
still thinks Princess Nocturn will attack Sailor Moon again."
"I hope she's right," grimaced Jupiter.
"Pardon me for asking," Mercury began apologetically. "Where
were we going again?"
Jupiter rolled her eyes in disgust and walked over to the
sunlit path.
After a time, Sailor Moon emerged from the cave, supporting
Sailor Venus. Venus clung to her, timidly glancing around in the
belief that some new terror was lurking just outside. Though the
terror Venus felt was artificially induced, Sailor Moon and Luna
could feel some trepidation themselves in the ominous shadows that
covered the mouth of the cave and the surrounding area.
"Y-You're sure nothing's out here?" whimpered Venus.
"Nothing's going to hurt you, Venus," Sailor Moon said, trying
to bury her own pain beneath a soothing mask. "I promise, you're
safe with me. And you'll be even safer on the sunlit path."
"Then let's go," Venus replied, biting her lip anxiously.
"Let's get there quick, before something gets us!"
"Yes, let's," muttered Jupiter.
Finally the travelers resumed their journey. The shrine that
housed the Sorceress of Ny loomed over them. It wasn't far now.
"Venus," Luna asked as softly and as non-threateningly as
possible, "do you recall anything about your confrontation with
Princess Nocturn?"
"Why do you keep asking that?" Sailor Moon demanded.
"I'm trying to find something that could give us a clue to
defeating her," Luna responded. Then she looked back at Venus.
Sailor Venus began to breathe faster. Her lower lip quivered.
It looked like she was trying to speak, but couldn't force her mouth
to work properly. Finally in frustration she buried her head on
Sailor Moon's shoulder and began crying.
"It's all right," Sailor Moon whispered, gently patting Venus
on the back of the head. "You don't have to tell us if it's too much
for you. We understand. We can probably guess what happened
anyway."
"I'm sorry," Venus sobbed. "I-I didn't use to be this way. I
used to be - - but now it's all gone! Oh, Sailor Moon, I'm so
afraid! I don't want to live the rest of my life like this!" She
clung that much tighter to Sailor Moon, pitifully sobbing on the
girl's shoulder.
"Oh, Mina-chan," Sailor Moon whimpered. Luna and the others
looked over to her and saw the utter desolation in Sailor Moon's
face.
"So what's eating her?" scowled Jupiter.
"You can't guess?" Luna asked reproachfully.
"What is this, a quiz show?"
"Search your memories. You must recall what Minako means to
her? Sailor V was her hero! Usagi idolized her. It was the thrill
of her life to finally meet and work with her. She even tried to
pattern her early career after Sailor V." Luna gazed sympathetically
at Sailor Moon. "And now to see her hero reduced to this - - it
isn't the type of thing one endures easily."
"Poor Sailor Moon," Mercury said. Jupiter merely scowled.
By now the sobbing had eased to soft tears. Sailor Moon hugged
Venus protectively to her as they walked. Despite having to support
Venus both physically and emotionally, Sailor Moon kept moving
doggedly down the path toward the shrine. Luna increased her pace to
pull up along side of her.
"We can rest if you like," Luna offered.
"No," Sailor Moon replied cheerlessly. "I'm all right."
Luna began several times to say something, but stopped every
time. Finally she summoned enough strength to speak.
"I-I don't know what words of advice I can offer you," Luna
struggled to say. "I realize it looks bleak . . ."
"We'll make it," Sailor Moon responded. "I won't let her do
this to my friends."
Luna stared at Sailor Moon. In all the time the cat had known
her, she'd never seen such grim determination in her. Then she
noticed cracks begin to show in the façade Sailor Moon presented.
Tears were welling again and her eyes took on a haunted look.
"What is it, Usagi?" Luna asked sympathetically.
"I'm just scared - - worried about what she's done to Rei,"
Sailor Moon squeaked.
Sailor Moon felt Venus pull back. She turned and saw Venus was
alarmed by something ahead. She looked and saw only the limbs of
trees extending into the light of the sunlit path.
"Venus, what is it?" she asked.
"T-They're going to get us," Venus whispered fearfully.
"Mina-chan, they're just tree limbs. They can't hurt you."
Then Sailor Moon recalled her earlier encounter with the tree. "Just
- - don't speak to them."
They continued to walk along the path and Luna noticed Sailor
Moon's struggle to keep her composure.
"Courage, Usagi," Luna said. "We'll make it."
"Um hmm," Sailor Moon nodded, but it was clear she didn't
really believe it.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm," came from Venus and Sailor Moon felt the
girl's grip on her tighten.
Shaken from her depression, Sailor Moon looked up, trying to
see what threatened Venus now. Her eyes popped. Lining the path on
both sides were tree spirits. They waved at her and stared with
their odd faces, almost like they sensed her distress and were trying
to cheer her up. Luna glanced from them to Sailor Moon and saw the
corners of the girl's mouth begin to curl. It made Luna smile, too,
for nothing was more infectious than Sailor Moon's smile.
"It's all right, Venus," Sailor Moon said gently. "They won't
hurt us."
"A-Are you sure?" whimpered Venus.
"Yes. Open your heart, Mina-chan. You'll feel their love."
She waved at the tree spirits. "Thank you again. You've all just
been too kind to me."
Though their expressions were unreadable, Luna sensed the
spirits were pleased.
"Hey, it's the foot of the hill!" Jupiter shouted, pointing
ahead.
The group all looked. It was the foot of the hill. Carved
into the hill were steps that led up to the hill. At the top sat the
shrine.
"All those steps," marveled Mercury. "There must be billions
- - hundreds even!"
"Um, yes, Mercury, something like that," Luna replied, shaking
her head in confusion.
"Well, let's get climbing," Sailor Moon said with surprising
determination. She started for the steps, but Venus held back.
"Mina-chan?" she asked.
"B-B-But it's s-so high," Venus gaped fearfully. Instantly she
felt Sailor Moon's reassuring arms around her.
"I won't let you fall," Sailor Moon said, smiling reassuringly
at her. "Please believe in me, Venus."
Venus shut her eyes, gritted her teeth and began panting
briskly. Finally she summoned enough strength to nod her head.
Sailor Moon patted her on the back and led her to the steps.
As one they all heard the dull flap of leathery wings. Looking
up, the group saw a huge bat-like creature swooping down on them.
Venus let out a shriek of terror and threw herself to the ground.
Jupiter crouched, ready to defend herself and no one else. Mercury
stood and watched, confused and helpless.
Sailor Moon only had a moment to react and, when the taloned
feet of the creature seized her by the shoulders and whisked her off
the ground and into the air, even that moment was gone. She allowed
a small cry of surprise escape, but didn't scream. She realized it
would do no good and would only further terrify Venus.
"Jupiter!" yelled Luna. "Try to shoot it down with your
lightning!"
But Jupiter only shrugged and ignored her as the bat creature
carried Sailor Moon up and away. Luna glared daggers at Jupiter, but
the senshi seemed unconcerned.
"You craven, cowardly. . ." Luna began, but stopped in
frustration. "Well, come on! We must keep that thing in sight!"
Mercury started to follow. Venus, however, was curled up in a
ball and quivering helplessly and Jupiter still stood there,
unconcerned.
"Come along!" Luna demanded.
"Why?" Jupiter asked.
"Who in bloody Hell do you think sent that creature?" spat
Luna. "Princess Nocturn!"
"Nocturn?" Jupiter responded angrily.
"Yes! And I know you don't care a whit about Sailor Moon, but
I thought you still cared about your golden heart!"
Jupiter let out a frustrated sigh, then took off after Sailor
Moon and her captor. The senshi easily outdistanced Sailor Mercury
and Luna.
"What about - - um, the blonde girl?" asked Mercury as she ran.
"We'll have to leave her and just pray nothing attacks her,"
Luna replied. "Jupiter's already proven she's no match for Nocturn,
so Sailor Moon's the one in immediate danger!"
High over the shadow-draped countryside, Sailor Moon struggled
in the grip of the bat creature. Although to break the grip of the
creature would mean a potentially deadly fall, Sailor Moon still
fought to get free. She was completely at the creature's mercy,
since the talons pressing into her shoulders kept her from raising
her arms high enough to reach her only weapon, her tiara.
So preoccupied was she in breaking the creature's grip that
Sailor Moon failed to notice that she and the creature were losing
altitude at an alarming clip. The bat creature emitted a shrill
noise that sounded almost like a wounded cry as it struggled to
remain aloft. The struggle went on for a few more beats of its
leathery wings, then it expended its last bit of energy and fell.
The creature nose-dived into the ground from about twenty-five feet
up, sending Sailor Moon helplessly sprawling across the ground from
her momentum. She rolled to a stop and lay there, stunned from the
bone-jarring impact. Finally she gathered enough strength and enough
wits to struggle up to her elbows.
The hem of a billowy black skirt was inches from her face.
Sailor Moon craned her neck as she brought her vision up. Standing
before her, looking down upon her with cold malice, was Princess
Nocturn.
"I'm so glad my creature managed to get you this far before
dying," Nocturn said mirthlessly. Sailor Moon glanced over at where
the creature had crashed. The huge bat creature had disintegrated
into hundreds of the smaller bat creatures she had earlier seen
menacing Mercury. They fluttered impotently on the ground for a few
beats, then became still. "It was a calculated risk to send it into
the light, but it served its purpose."
"How can you be so cruel?" Sailor Moon asked irritably.
"Great rewards require great risks," Nocturn replied. She bent
down, looming over Sailor Moon. "Now, girl, give me that pendant."
Though it hurt, Sailor Moon scrambled up into a sitting
position and inched away from Nocturn's grasp. The woman followed
her, though, looming over her the entire time.
"Don't think you'll escape me," she hissed. "We have things to
settle, and we settle accounts now!"
"You can't touch me," Sailor Moon said with defiance she didn't
feel. "You would have taken the pendant from me if you could have.
You've had plenty of chances. So just go away and leave me and my
friends alone!"
With those words, inspiration sparkled in the pale woman's dark
eyes and Sailor Moon realized once again that she'd let her mouth
out-distance her brain.
"Perhaps I am prevented from touching you," Nocturn smiled with
evil intent. "But we both know I'm not prevented from touching the
others you care so much for. Do you want to see them die in agony,
Princess Serenity?"
"You leave them alone!" bellowed Sailor Moon.
"I'm desperate, Princess, and you're the one who has driven me
to that point! I warned you that their fate would be on your head!
Well their time has run out! What will it be, Princess Serenity?
The pendant or their lives?"
concluded in Chapter 6
based on the novel by L. Frank Baum
Chapter 5: "The Shadow of Desperation"
By Bill K.
Jupiter waited impatiently at the mouth of the cave. Though
she didn't have a watch, and wasn't sure there was even a concept
like time in this odd dimension, she knew it had been a long time.
More than once she had entertained the notion of just abandoning the
others and seeking out Princess Nocturn or the Sorceress of Ny on her
own. But, though she was loathe to admit it, Mercury's words about
strength through working together did make sense.
Right now, it looked like the best way she could see to achieve
her goals. And right now, that was the only thing that mattered to
her.
A few minutes later, Jupiter turned to a sound coming from the
cave. It was Mercury. The senshi had her arms folded over her
breast and a concerned look coloring her features - - none of which
mattered to Jupiter.
"Are they about done in there?" Jupiter groused.
"Yes," Mercury whispered. "It's very sad what happened to that
girl."
"Those are the breaks," shrugged Jupiter. "Man, we need to go!
Nocturn could be half way to the center of the universe by now!"
"The beast doesn't think so," countered Mercury. "The beast
still thinks Princess Nocturn will attack Sailor Moon again."
"I hope she's right," grimaced Jupiter.
"Pardon me for asking," Mercury began apologetically. "Where
were we going again?"
Jupiter rolled her eyes in disgust and walked over to the
sunlit path.
After a time, Sailor Moon emerged from the cave, supporting
Sailor Venus. Venus clung to her, timidly glancing around in the
belief that some new terror was lurking just outside. Though the
terror Venus felt was artificially induced, Sailor Moon and Luna
could feel some trepidation themselves in the ominous shadows that
covered the mouth of the cave and the surrounding area.
"Y-You're sure nothing's out here?" whimpered Venus.
"Nothing's going to hurt you, Venus," Sailor Moon said, trying
to bury her own pain beneath a soothing mask. "I promise, you're
safe with me. And you'll be even safer on the sunlit path."
"Then let's go," Venus replied, biting her lip anxiously.
"Let's get there quick, before something gets us!"
"Yes, let's," muttered Jupiter.
Finally the travelers resumed their journey. The shrine that
housed the Sorceress of Ny loomed over them. It wasn't far now.
"Venus," Luna asked as softly and as non-threateningly as
possible, "do you recall anything about your confrontation with
Princess Nocturn?"
"Why do you keep asking that?" Sailor Moon demanded.
"I'm trying to find something that could give us a clue to
defeating her," Luna responded. Then she looked back at Venus.
Sailor Venus began to breathe faster. Her lower lip quivered.
It looked like she was trying to speak, but couldn't force her mouth
to work properly. Finally in frustration she buried her head on
Sailor Moon's shoulder and began crying.
"It's all right," Sailor Moon whispered, gently patting Venus
on the back of the head. "You don't have to tell us if it's too much
for you. We understand. We can probably guess what happened
anyway."
"I'm sorry," Venus sobbed. "I-I didn't use to be this way. I
used to be - - but now it's all gone! Oh, Sailor Moon, I'm so
afraid! I don't want to live the rest of my life like this!" She
clung that much tighter to Sailor Moon, pitifully sobbing on the
girl's shoulder.
"Oh, Mina-chan," Sailor Moon whimpered. Luna and the others
looked over to her and saw the utter desolation in Sailor Moon's
face.
"So what's eating her?" scowled Jupiter.
"You can't guess?" Luna asked reproachfully.
"What is this, a quiz show?"
"Search your memories. You must recall what Minako means to
her? Sailor V was her hero! Usagi idolized her. It was the thrill
of her life to finally meet and work with her. She even tried to
pattern her early career after Sailor V." Luna gazed sympathetically
at Sailor Moon. "And now to see her hero reduced to this - - it
isn't the type of thing one endures easily."
"Poor Sailor Moon," Mercury said. Jupiter merely scowled.
By now the sobbing had eased to soft tears. Sailor Moon hugged
Venus protectively to her as they walked. Despite having to support
Venus both physically and emotionally, Sailor Moon kept moving
doggedly down the path toward the shrine. Luna increased her pace to
pull up along side of her.
"We can rest if you like," Luna offered.
"No," Sailor Moon replied cheerlessly. "I'm all right."
Luna began several times to say something, but stopped every
time. Finally she summoned enough strength to speak.
"I-I don't know what words of advice I can offer you," Luna
struggled to say. "I realize it looks bleak . . ."
"We'll make it," Sailor Moon responded. "I won't let her do
this to my friends."
Luna stared at Sailor Moon. In all the time the cat had known
her, she'd never seen such grim determination in her. Then she
noticed cracks begin to show in the façade Sailor Moon presented.
Tears were welling again and her eyes took on a haunted look.
"What is it, Usagi?" Luna asked sympathetically.
"I'm just scared - - worried about what she's done to Rei,"
Sailor Moon squeaked.
Sailor Moon felt Venus pull back. She turned and saw Venus was
alarmed by something ahead. She looked and saw only the limbs of
trees extending into the light of the sunlit path.
"Venus, what is it?" she asked.
"T-They're going to get us," Venus whispered fearfully.
"Mina-chan, they're just tree limbs. They can't hurt you."
Then Sailor Moon recalled her earlier encounter with the tree. "Just
- - don't speak to them."
They continued to walk along the path and Luna noticed Sailor
Moon's struggle to keep her composure.
"Courage, Usagi," Luna said. "We'll make it."
"Um hmm," Sailor Moon nodded, but it was clear she didn't
really believe it.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm," came from Venus and Sailor Moon felt the
girl's grip on her tighten.
Shaken from her depression, Sailor Moon looked up, trying to
see what threatened Venus now. Her eyes popped. Lining the path on
both sides were tree spirits. They waved at her and stared with
their odd faces, almost like they sensed her distress and were trying
to cheer her up. Luna glanced from them to Sailor Moon and saw the
corners of the girl's mouth begin to curl. It made Luna smile, too,
for nothing was more infectious than Sailor Moon's smile.
"It's all right, Venus," Sailor Moon said gently. "They won't
hurt us."
"A-Are you sure?" whimpered Venus.
"Yes. Open your heart, Mina-chan. You'll feel their love."
She waved at the tree spirits. "Thank you again. You've all just
been too kind to me."
Though their expressions were unreadable, Luna sensed the
spirits were pleased.
"Hey, it's the foot of the hill!" Jupiter shouted, pointing
ahead.
The group all looked. It was the foot of the hill. Carved
into the hill were steps that led up to the hill. At the top sat the
shrine.
"All those steps," marveled Mercury. "There must be billions
- - hundreds even!"
"Um, yes, Mercury, something like that," Luna replied, shaking
her head in confusion.
"Well, let's get climbing," Sailor Moon said with surprising
determination. She started for the steps, but Venus held back.
"Mina-chan?" she asked.
"B-B-But it's s-so high," Venus gaped fearfully. Instantly she
felt Sailor Moon's reassuring arms around her.
"I won't let you fall," Sailor Moon said, smiling reassuringly
at her. "Please believe in me, Venus."
Venus shut her eyes, gritted her teeth and began panting
briskly. Finally she summoned enough strength to nod her head.
Sailor Moon patted her on the back and led her to the steps.
As one they all heard the dull flap of leathery wings. Looking
up, the group saw a huge bat-like creature swooping down on them.
Venus let out a shriek of terror and threw herself to the ground.
Jupiter crouched, ready to defend herself and no one else. Mercury
stood and watched, confused and helpless.
Sailor Moon only had a moment to react and, when the taloned
feet of the creature seized her by the shoulders and whisked her off
the ground and into the air, even that moment was gone. She allowed
a small cry of surprise escape, but didn't scream. She realized it
would do no good and would only further terrify Venus.
"Jupiter!" yelled Luna. "Try to shoot it down with your
lightning!"
But Jupiter only shrugged and ignored her as the bat creature
carried Sailor Moon up and away. Luna glared daggers at Jupiter, but
the senshi seemed unconcerned.
"You craven, cowardly. . ." Luna began, but stopped in
frustration. "Well, come on! We must keep that thing in sight!"
Mercury started to follow. Venus, however, was curled up in a
ball and quivering helplessly and Jupiter still stood there,
unconcerned.
"Come along!" Luna demanded.
"Why?" Jupiter asked.
"Who in bloody Hell do you think sent that creature?" spat
Luna. "Princess Nocturn!"
"Nocturn?" Jupiter responded angrily.
"Yes! And I know you don't care a whit about Sailor Moon, but
I thought you still cared about your golden heart!"
Jupiter let out a frustrated sigh, then took off after Sailor
Moon and her captor. The senshi easily outdistanced Sailor Mercury
and Luna.
"What about - - um, the blonde girl?" asked Mercury as she ran.
"We'll have to leave her and just pray nothing attacks her,"
Luna replied. "Jupiter's already proven she's no match for Nocturn,
so Sailor Moon's the one in immediate danger!"
High over the shadow-draped countryside, Sailor Moon struggled
in the grip of the bat creature. Although to break the grip of the
creature would mean a potentially deadly fall, Sailor Moon still
fought to get free. She was completely at the creature's mercy,
since the talons pressing into her shoulders kept her from raising
her arms high enough to reach her only weapon, her tiara.
So preoccupied was she in breaking the creature's grip that
Sailor Moon failed to notice that she and the creature were losing
altitude at an alarming clip. The bat creature emitted a shrill
noise that sounded almost like a wounded cry as it struggled to
remain aloft. The struggle went on for a few more beats of its
leathery wings, then it expended its last bit of energy and fell.
The creature nose-dived into the ground from about twenty-five feet
up, sending Sailor Moon helplessly sprawling across the ground from
her momentum. She rolled to a stop and lay there, stunned from the
bone-jarring impact. Finally she gathered enough strength and enough
wits to struggle up to her elbows.
The hem of a billowy black skirt was inches from her face.
Sailor Moon craned her neck as she brought her vision up. Standing
before her, looking down upon her with cold malice, was Princess
Nocturn.
"I'm so glad my creature managed to get you this far before
dying," Nocturn said mirthlessly. Sailor Moon glanced over at where
the creature had crashed. The huge bat creature had disintegrated
into hundreds of the smaller bat creatures she had earlier seen
menacing Mercury. They fluttered impotently on the ground for a few
beats, then became still. "It was a calculated risk to send it into
the light, but it served its purpose."
"How can you be so cruel?" Sailor Moon asked irritably.
"Great rewards require great risks," Nocturn replied. She bent
down, looming over Sailor Moon. "Now, girl, give me that pendant."
Though it hurt, Sailor Moon scrambled up into a sitting
position and inched away from Nocturn's grasp. The woman followed
her, though, looming over her the entire time.
"Don't think you'll escape me," she hissed. "We have things to
settle, and we settle accounts now!"
"You can't touch me," Sailor Moon said with defiance she didn't
feel. "You would have taken the pendant from me if you could have.
You've had plenty of chances. So just go away and leave me and my
friends alone!"
With those words, inspiration sparkled in the pale woman's dark
eyes and Sailor Moon realized once again that she'd let her mouth
out-distance her brain.
"Perhaps I am prevented from touching you," Nocturn smiled with
evil intent. "But we both know I'm not prevented from touching the
others you care so much for. Do you want to see them die in agony,
Princess Serenity?"
"You leave them alone!" bellowed Sailor Moon.
"I'm desperate, Princess, and you're the one who has driven me
to that point! I warned you that their fate would be on your head!
Well their time has run out! What will it be, Princess Serenity?
The pendant or their lives?"
concluded in Chapter 6