Sailor Moon
A Secret No More – By BenRG
Legal Disclaimer
Sailor Moon, and all the characters and events therein were created by Naoko Takeuchi. The property is owned by several companies, none of whom have any connection to me. I don't own anything much. This is a non-profit work for free distribution through the worldwide web. Any attempt to sue me will merely lead to a clear definition of the word 'penniless.'
Author's Notes
OK – This is going to get Kaz mad at me, but I know what I want.
I have read a lot of Sailor Moon fanfics and suddenly this idea jumped into my head. Work with me here, as I don't know much about the story's continuity or the various characters, I'm playing it by ear based on other authors' works. I'll also be adding some of my own concepts that will violate what I know is established continuity. Don't worry, I know the details are wrong, but I need to add my own 'feel' to the story.
Richard Sharpe, aka 'Orion' is my own creation.
Glen Farthinggale is the creation of 'Sailor Mac,' a fellow fanfiction author. I have tried to contact him/her to get their permission to use their creation but, unfortunately, the email address on their web page no longer exists. Sailor Mac, if you read this and object to me using your character, please email me and I'll try and work something out.
I am using the names 'Alex' for Haruka and 'Heather' for Hotaru because I like them better. Mark Berger originally used these names for these characters in his stories 'The Wedding' and 'Married Life.'
I'm using the dub names because I'm not sure of the 'real' names, and I don't know enough Japanese names to name all the secondary characters. Nonetheless, with the exception of Glen, Richard and Mina, all the main characters are ethnic Japanese living in Tokyo.
Censor: PG-13 for safety's sake
Ages, The Senshi: Serena, Amy, Mina and Lita are all 16; Raye is 19; Heather is 16; Alex and Michelle are 22; Trista is at least 25,000 years old, but doesn't look a day over 25
Ages, The Planetary Knights: Darien is 21; Glen is 18; Greg is 16; Ken is 16; Richard is 18; Chad is 20
Text in Italics are thoughts;
Text in Triangular Brackets is psychic communication;
Chapter 3 – Mina Love – Sailor Venus
Towards the centre of the Tokyo suburb of Juubian is a cluster of middle-class housing. The people who lived here were the cubicle fodder; the professional workers who made most large organisations function. If you were walking through this quiet and unspectacular neighbourhood, you would have seen something very odd: a female form clad in orange body armour dropping out of the sky and land on a second-floor balcony of one semi-detached house.
Sailor Venus looked around to make sure that no one had noticed her land. Once she was certain, she lifted off again and glided over to the windowsill of her bedroom. The window was open, because she left it that way. The Champion of Love glided through the open window and landed next to her bed. Mina drew in a deep breath and then let herself sigh deeply, drawing a shaking hand through her long blonde hair. Then she allowed herself to sit down heavily on her bed.
On Mina's bed were a selection of stuffed animals, and one real (if magical) cat. The cat was Mina's guardian, named Artemis. Despite appearances, Artemis was actually a Lunarian, an intelligent native of the Moon, and was over 25,000 years old. What is more, he had known her before, when she was Princess Minako of Venus during the Silver Millennium. Right now, he was very concerned for the safety of his charge. "Are you okay, Mina?" Artemis asked the young woman who was easily the strongest fighter of the Sailor Senshi. Usually, Mina was a picture of life: vivacious and hyperactive. Right now she looked like she could barely sit up straight.
"Just dead tired, Artemis," Mina replied. "These big productions the new Negaverse agents seem to like putting on just suck away at your energy, even if you don't get hit by a Youma." The young woman sighed before pulling her disguise pen out of a convenient pocket dimension and activating it. There was a sparkling of light and suddenly she was a 16-year-old girl, wearing a pair of ragged jeans and a white tee-shirt with the astrological symbol for Mina's homeworld superimposed on a big pink valentine's heart. Raye said that shirt was silly, but Mina liked it. As always, her hair was tied back with a big red bow.
Artemis sighed and walked over to the exhausted teenager and tried to comfort her, rubbing his cream-coloured head against her arms. "Just remember that you are still winning," he said gently. "The Dark Kingdom hasn't come close to beating the Senshi yet. So long as you keep believing, you will prevail."
Mina laughed and tickled Artemis between the ears, making him purr loudly. "I know, Artie," she said. "But it is getting harder every time. This 'Wolfspite' guy seems to have a personal problem with Serena and that is making him mean."
Artemis' head snapped up. "Wolfspite you say?" he blurted. Mina nodded, her eyes wide and surprised from her guardian's sudden focussed attention. "Now that is a name I haven't heard in a long time," the cat whispered, almost to himself, "a very long time indeed." Suddenly the cat jumped up onto the windowsill. "Mina, I have to talk to Luna and to headquarters about this," he announced. "If I'm right, then this Wolfspite could be even more a threat than you realise!" Before Mina could so much as say a word, he leapt into the tree growing just outside Mina's bedroom window and was away.
"Bye!" Mina said, waving at the spot where her friend had been sitting a few seconds ago. She laughed and walked over to her computer to check her Inbox one last time before she went to bed. She was dog-tired after dusting a round dozen Youma and having to fight that knife-blade nightmare that Wolfspite had summoned. There was a pause as her PC checked her two email accounts for new messages. Like all the Senshi, she had a 'public' email account and a 'private' one, working through a secured mail server that Amy and (shockingly) Serena had set up together in Darien's house. They had all agreed on the necessity of a secure means of electronic communication. Who knew how far the Negaverse's tendrils of influence extended?
There was a pause before her PC announced: "You've got mail." There were a few e-commerce adverts in her normal account, and a single email in her private account.
Mina's low energy levels suddenly perked up when she saw the originator's ID on the long email. It was from Glen Farthinggale, the twelfth Lord Woodfield, and Mina's boyfriend. "Great! A letter from Glen!" Mina opened the mail and speed-read it as best as she could. When she had finished, her eyes had got very wide. "Oh… boy!" she said at last. "This could go wrong in so many ways…"
Mina lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling, as the email still lay open on her PC desktop. The passage in the letter that so distressed her was as follows: "The good news is that means that we will be in the same country for more than a month for the first time in God knows how long. Unfortunately the bad news is that my mother will be here too. I don't know how to make this sound any better, Mina, so I won't bother. She wants to meet you. I guess after all the times I've written to you and sent gifts to you, she has decided to find out who this mystery girl is. So, be on your best behaviour, Mina my love, for the Farthinggale court arrives in Tokyo this Friday."
***
It was Thursday evening, and after a horribly boring day at school, Mina was just getting off the bus at the bottom of Cherry Blossom Hill. Above her sat the Shinto shrine run by Ookido Hino, Raye's grandfather and legal guardian since the train accident long ago that clamed her parents' lives. How odd that almost all the Senshi came from abnormal families. She and Serena were the only ones who had parents who were still married, still alive and usually at home.
Mina was on time for the weekly 'Club Meeting' as Raye's fiancée, Chad, insisted on calling the gathering of the Inner Senshi. Eight hours of training, intelligence briefings and special power-focusing meditation awaited the five friends. As daunting as Serena, Lita and Amy found this, Mina loved it. She had been a superhero since the moment her powers first appeared when she was a 12-year old English schoolgirl. Thanks to Artemis' brilliant advice and training, Sailor V had been the protector of the people of London for over a year before her father's work (he was a geologist) meant that he had to move to Japan. Mina had pined after Glen, her school friends and her homeland for several weeks before a girl with dyed blonde hair in ondangos and a talking black cat approached her and Artemis while they were walking in Juubian Municipal Park… From that moment onwards, she had at last known who and what she was. Sailor Venus, the priestess of Aphrodite and the Champion of Love had never looked back.
As Mina walked up the steps and passed under the wooden multi-layered arch, she felt the distinctive psychic imprint of the perimeter defence spells that Raye, Darien and Trista had cast around the shrine. Both Inner and Outer Senshi met here and didn't want to have any unpleasant surprises. Combined with the natural magic of any holy place, they made the Hino Shrine arguably the second safest place on Earth after Trista's hidden fortress somewhere in the South Pacific.
As she crossed the courtyard, Mina passed the sacred pond (a bit like a wishing well to her European upbringing) and remembered to greet the colourful Koi respectfully. Then she angled to the right, away from the shrine buildings to the old storage rooms that the Senshi had equipped to work as their base of operations.
As she entered the building, she was immediately assaulted by the familiar hum of Soul Blades and the electric crash as they met in a sparing battle. Serena (who had beaten her here, wonder of wonders) and Raye were sparring in the centre of the open-plan room, their pearl white and blood red energy blades meeting with bright electric-yellow flashes as they cut and parried. Raye was in nondescript grey sweats while Serena was wearing cut-down short jeans and a white tee shirt with 'My boyfriend went to the Negaverse and all I got was this lousy tee shirt' printed on the front. On the back was the message 'If you're reading this, you are too close.' Mina laughed gently. She could see Darien's odd sense of humour at work there.
Suddenly, Raye lunged forwards with a series of powerful strokes that should have driven Serena back or even knocked her from her feet. Amazingly, the one-time school klutz deflected every blow and launched a series of counter-blows that sent the Champion of Honour reeling back. Serena locked blades with Raye for a moment before twisting slightly in a move that sent Raye's Mars Soul Blade spinning across the room. A low kick swept Raye's feet from under her and Serena landed on her friend, one leg pressed to her chest to pin her down. The point of the humming Moon Soul Blade was almost touching Raye's throat. "Well, Lady Mars?" Serena asked around her gasps of exertion.
Raye swallowed once and then laughed ruefully. "I yield, Highness," she said at last. Immediately the room was filled with applause as Lita, Mina and Amy welcomed their princess' victory. To think that just two-and-a-half years ago Serena could barely run in a straight line without tripping over her own feet! Of course, thirty months of almost continual warfare was enough to teach anyone new skills and greater control over their own actions. Serena stood up, sent her weapon back into its' extra-dimensional pocket and helped Raye to her feet. "Where did you learn that disarming move, Ondango?" Raye asked.
"Darien and I have been practising in our spare time," Serena said, blushing slightly at her friends' approval. "He's taught me quite a few sword moves that I didn't know were possible!"
"Is the sword the only 'weapon' that he's been practising with?" Raye asked, her expression bland.
Mina giggled at the priestess' double-entendre. Serena, on the other hand, went bright red in embarrassment and anger. Serena's absolute innocence was one of the most remarkable features of her personality. "Aw… Raye!" she blurted. "You're…"
"So mean," Raye finished for her, even imitating the whining tone Serena always used for that complaint. "Yeah, you keep telling me that, Ondango, but you love me still!" Serena opened and closed her mouth a few times, but she couldn't deny that, so she just scowled and looked away. After sulking for a moment, she turned back and stuck out her tongue at Raye, who reciprocated immediately.
Mina laughed to herself as she watched. Watching their public performance, you would never believe that Serena and Raye were the closest of friends, closer than even family. Mina knew this better than anyone, as the powers that Aphrodite gave her included a special ability that meant she could sense the close, sisterly bond between the priestess and the schoolgirl. She shook her head as the two looked away from each other again, then she walked off to the lockers to change into her training sweats (an old leotard that she used to use for dance practice).
When she returned, Serena and Raye had forgiven each other and Lita was getting ready for unarmed combat training, using the Senshi's own unique fighting style that combined elements from every martial art from kung fu to tai-chi. From the slightly sinister expression on the brunette cook's face, their limbs were going to be sore tonight. Mina grimaced.
As it turned out, the practice session only lasted about twenty minutes. At that moment, there was an unexpected interruption. "Your Highness! Senshi! The most terrible news!" Everyone stopped in the middle of their exercises to see a panicked Luna climbing through one of the room's skylights, an equally upset Artemis less than a foot behind her.
"W… What is it, Luna?" Serena said, running over to her feline guardian, who was trembling with exertion. "What's going on? The Negaverse haven't launched a full-scale invasion or something have they?" Serena was only half kidding. She had never seen Luna so upset in her life.
"Worse," Artemis said unhappily. "They have resorted out their ultimate weapon, the thing that let them destroy the Silver Millennium."
"Wh… what…?" Serena asked, going deathly pale. The other Senshi looked at each other in horror and disbelief. What were Luna and Artemis talking about? How bad could this get? "What are you two talking about?" Serena said, finally getting control of herself. "What 'weapon' do you mean?"
"You should summon the Outers," Luna replied. "You all need to hear this." Serena nodded and closed her eyes, using her telepathic abilities to summon the other four Sailor Senshi. She decided to summon Darien too. As her prince-in-waiting, he had as much need to hear this as anyone else did.
***
"So what is this all about, Luna?" Alex asked. The tomboyish woman had declined Serena's offer to sit down with the others in a circle around the two feline guardians and had elected to pace around restlessly. "What is so important that you need all ten of us here?"
"Recently, the Negaverse have launched a series of extremely aggressive and dangerous attacks," Luna said. "These attacks have been abnormal in their scale and the visionary tactics and strategies used by the Dark Kingdom forces. There have been assaults on Serena's family and massed attacks on public events. The special Youma that the Negaverse have used in these battles are notable by their level of resistance to your powers."
"So…?" Alex asked, cocking her head suspiciously.
"According to Serena, the Negaverse general directing these assaults is named… 'Wolfspite.'"
There was an immediate and completely unexpected response from Trista Bachelor, AKA Queen Setsuna of Pluto, Sailor Pluto. The tall brunette woman, the only survivor of the Silver Millennium, gasped and jumped to her feet. "No! It can't be!" she almost shouted. "Luna, there has to be some mistake! We haven't heard from him since the fall of the Silver Millennium! I thought that Beryl or maybe Metallia had killed…"
"So did we," Luna said grimly.
"What? What is this about Trista?" Alex almost shouted.
"A nightmare," Trista replied, visibly trembling. "The worst-case scenario come true." Inner and Outer Senshi looked at each other in horror. Trista had always been the most calm and collected of their number. What could possibly affect her in this way?
Luna pulled her miniaturised computer, one like Amy's, from her collar and activated it. "Please sit, everyone." After a moment, Alex and Trista complied. "Serena, please look at this hologram," she commanded. An image of a blond-haired man appeared above the computer. He was notable by the icy beauty of his face and the cruel humour in his eyes. Trista visibly jumped when the image appeared and seemed to be on the verge of tears.
"That's Wolfspite all right," Serena said, shivering slightly. Wolfspite always made her feel vulnerable, but she couldn't figure out why. "The funny thing is that he looks familiar somehow… And not as an enemy."
"That is what I was afraid of," Luna said dryly. "Let me show you another image." The image changed to show Wolfspite again. This time, he seemed younger. The icy precision of his face was gone, as he was laughing about something. His eyes were sparkling with warmth and good humour. "If I were to use the name 'Wolfe,'" Luna said quietly, "would it mean anything to you, Highness?"
Serena looked at the image, but nothing came into her frustratingly blank mind. "I'm sorry, Luna, I can't recall anyone by that name."
Darien suddenly moved closer to Serena and whispered into her ear. "Don't think, beloved, feel," he instructed quietly. "Clear your mind of the memories of Serena Thompson and let Princess Serenity talk to you."
Serena nodded and, almost instinctively, began to use the meditation forms that Raye had taught her for use whenever she needed the memories of her past life. "I… yes…" Serena said, her voice subtly different. "I do remember… Wolfe… Yes I do… No… no… NO…!" Serena jumped to her feet and nearly leapt away from the image. "My brother?" Serena said, sounding horrified, tears streaming down her cheeks. Darien automatically stood and reached out to support her.
Luna nodded and touched a control. The hologram suddenly expanded, now showing the entire image. It was a picture from some kind of informal gathering during the Silver Millennium. Princess Serenity was sitting in Prince Endymion's lap in a comfortable-looking chair. The man that Luna had identified as 'Wolfe' was standing beside them, ruffling Serenity's hair teasingly. He had his other arm around the shoulders of another woman, one so obviously a younger Trista, who was leaning into his embrace happily. All four young people were laughing. "The young man standing in the centre of this image is Prince Wolfe of the Moon," Luna said in a dry, devastated tone of voice. "He is Princess Serenity's older brother." The feline guardian sighed and looked down. "This holograph was recorded by Princess Makoto of Jupiter at a informal gathering when the prince announced his engagement to Princess Setsuna of Pluto."
Trista had, by now, completely collapsed into tears. Only the support of Michelle on one side and Lita on the other side was stopping the dark-haired woman from collapsing to the ground. Everyone was looking from the image, to Serena and then to Trista in horror.
"Why weren't we told that Serenity had a brother?" Raye asked firmly, trying to take some kind of charge of the situation.
"Because Wolfe, or rather Wolfspite as he is now known, hadn't been seen or heard from since the end of the Silver Millennium," Artemis explained. "We had assumed that Beryl had destroyed him long ago."
"What does a prince of the Moon have to do with Queen Beryl?" Amy asked quietly. She knew the answer. Somehow, everyone in this room already knew.
"Because he is the traitor who gave the Negaverse their great victory that darkest day," Trista announced in an emotionless voice. The woman had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Wolfe had turned to the Negaverse, and his treason let Beryl's forces past our defences into the heart of the Silver Palace. When they got that far, we never stood a chance."
"But… why?" Heather asked in horror. "Why would he do such a thing?"
"Because he's been turned, of course," Darien said with a shrug. "If Beryl could turn Malachite, Nephrite, Jadeite and Zoicite, she'd certainly be able to turn him."
"That is a kind thing to say," Trista said bitterly. "But she didn't turn my betrothed the way she did your knights, Prince Endymion. Wolfe went to her and joined the forces of the Negaverse willingly."
There was a collective gasp from the gathered Senshi. "Why?" Mina blurted in horror.
"Because he wanted my throne," Serena rasped. She shook her head and tried to focus her eyes again, which were blurring from tears. "Or rather Serenity's throne. The kingdoms of the Silver Millennium were all matrilineal, as you know," she continued. "The eldest daughter succeeded to a vacant throne. But Wolfe felt he was more suited for the throne than me. His ambition slowly soured his soul bit-by-bit. When Queen Serenity formally announced my… rather Princess Serenity's appointment as heir apparent to the throne, Wolfe protested publicly and bitterly. He refused to accept my mother's decision and… and tried to humiliate me to make the Lunar Council reject the Queen's nomination. When the Queen confronted him, he refused to comply with her decision and apologise for his actions. As punishment, he was stripped of his titles and exiled." Serena could feel Serenity's pain at losing her beloved big brother very clearly and only Darien's reassuring presence stopped her from fainting.
Trista, whose face and voice had taken on the composure of oblivion, took up the tale. "We can only guess what happened next," she said. "All we know for certain is that he went to Queen Beryl and entered her service. The next time any of us saw him was when he returned to the Moon on the eve of the ball that Queen Serenity was holding to celebrate Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion's betrothal. He caused quite a stir, walking into the middle of the Queen's court, wearing his Negaverse uniform!" Trista smiled bitterly. "He told the Queen that he had been given a leave of absence from Beryl's service to attend the ball. He walked right up to Serenity and kissed her, offering her the most sincere-sounding congratulations." Trista licked her lips. "We should have realised what was happening we saw the name on his uniform jacket. Beryl always was a fine judge of character. She knew what Wolfe's motives were for entering her service. That is why she re-named him Wolfspite." Trista shook her head. "We were all a little suspicious, but all of us were too glad to see Wolfe back to act on those suspicions.
"Anyway, the night of the ball came quickly enough. Wolfe seemed to be his old self, joking with Ryo, Endymion, Shinozaki and the other Knights. He even danced with me…!" Trista shivered, remembering the glacial chill that had been emanating from her fiancée all that evening. "Then, shortly before Queen Serenity made the formal announcement of the betrothal, he slipped away. He sabotaged the planetary defences and killed the technicians in the traffic control room, allowing the Negaverse's assault ships to land on the Moon unopposed. Then he led a group of Youma into battle. He… Wolfspite…was the first Negaverse general into battle that night." Trista began to cry helplessly. "He effectively has the blood of his own mother and sister with his own hands…"
"I sort of knew already," Serena said at last. "Every time I've met Wolfspite, I have called him 'traitor,' even though I didn't know why."
Luna stayed silent for a long time before speaking again. "General Wolfspite seemed to be torn during the battle," she recalled. "He tried to protect the Queen and his sister. When Jadeite killed Serenity, I clearly heard Wolfspite shout. 'Damn you, you promised!' A pair of Youma dragged him off almost immediately. I had thought him dead, as he had clearly outlived his usefulness and his loyalty to the Negaforce was clearly questionable."
"Beryl had her ways of ensuring loyalty," Darien said quietly, remembering all-too-clearly the torments that he had experienced at the sadistic NegaMoon Queen's hands. "I doubt that there is anything left in him anymore of Prince Wolfe."
"Perhaps," Artemis agreed. "What matters is this. Wolfspite is intimately familiar with all of your powers and fighting styles. As the Moon Knight, he trained alongside your Silver Millennium selves. He knows how you respond to certain threats and how you think. He is the most formidable weapon that the Negaverse could use against you."
Suddenly Serena perked up. "No, it's worse than that," she said with a sudden sensation of dread. "Wolfspite knows that we're almost at the time of change of epochs again. With Beryl, Wiseman and Diamundo dead, along with most of the Negaverse's top generals, he is in the best possible position to take control of the Negaverse's forces and take control of the system when we enter the new Millennium. All he has to do is get his baby sister and her friends out of the way; either dead, or turned to the Dark Side."
There was a long, horrified pause. "Yes, that is it exactly," Luna said in the sudden silence.
***
Mina awoke the next morning, tired and exhausted, even though she had got her usual six hours of sleep, which had suited her perfectly well in the past. It had probably been the strain of the hours of futile brainstorming that had followed Luna and Artemis' stunning revelations regarding their new enemy. Afterwards, everyone had left the Shrine tired and demoralised. No one had come up with a useful strategy for combating this new enemy. Like so many times before, they would simply have to make up their response as events developed.
Yeah! We're the team supreme! Mina told herself as she lay in her bed. We'll beat whatever they throw at us! This guy is no match for us! Unfortunately, her words echoed hollowly in her thoughts. She had a dream last night. One of the clearest dreams that she had ever had regarding the Silver Millennium.
She had been sparring with a blond-haired man who she recognised as Wolfspite. The man had disarmed her easily and knocked her over. He had then pulled her to her feet. Applause had echoed around the room in her dream, and she had heard Serena… no Princess Serenity say something: "Well done, brother. You've beaten all of us now! You really are the best swordsman in the system!"
"Don't you forget it, Baby Sis," Wolfspite had replied. "Thanks for the work-out, Minako."
There was a knock on the door that brought Mina crashing forwards 25 millennia to the here and now. She looked up as her mother walked in. "Mina, come on darling," Nyssa Love said. "You don't want to be late for school." Artemis ran in and jumped on Mina with a loud 'meow.' He began to rub her face, firmly 'in character' as a domestic cat. "See, even Artemis thinks you've been lying in too long," her mother remarked with a chuckle.
"Traitor," Mina hissed at her grinning feline guardian.
***
Friday passed with deadly tedium. All of the Senshi were in a state of high tension and it was something of a disappointment that no massive assault had occurred.
Finally, Friday evening came and Mina was able to focus on matters that were not so dark. After dressing in a fairly conservative dress and blouse, she took the RTS train to Tokyo International Airport. As she stood in the crowds of people either departing or arriving in her adopted homeland, Mina scanned the 'Arrivals' board carefully. Finally the flight she wanted was announced.
Using every bit of the agility/pursuit training that she had received in her short career as a superheroine, Mina darted through the claustrophobia-inducing crowds to the appropriate boarding gate. Finally, she arrived at her destination. Through wide windows she could see the looming bulk of a British Airways Boeing 747-400 airliner with several boarding and umbilical arms extending from the terminal building to it's side.
Mina peered over the crowds and saw whom she wanted to see at last as his party left the customs area. "Glen!" she called, waving wildly.
"Mina! Great to see you!" Glen called back in his impeccable upper-class English accent. Mina's boyfriend was wearing his usual perfectly tailored suit. He was not on his own this time, however. He had several suited companions who just about shouted out to Mina that they were lawyer or solicitor types. Then there was the imposing woman in a lavender business suit standing at Glen's side who stared at the blonde child actress with withering scorn and disapproval.
She was Lady Eleanor Farthinggale, Glen's mother. Mina found it strange that she, who had faced demons, extraterrestrials and nightmares from other dimensions, should be afraid of an ordinary human woman. When Mina had confided her fears to Glen, the young man had laughed and told her that it was because his mother was 'an old battleaxe.' Mina didn't agree with his comment at the time. If Lady Farthinggale was a battleaxe, she was a beautifully crafted and perfectly balanced one with an elegant minimum of etching on the axe-head that stopped just short of it's razor-sharp edge. One blow with such a weapon and you would not realise that you had been hit until you tried to look at your watch and realised that your arm wasn't on anymore.
It was also pretty obvious that this dangerous weapon, who loved her only son with the fierce protectiveness of a tigress, disapproved of him having an actress as a girlfriend.
Glen walked over to Mina and the two of them stood for a moment, grinning inanely at each other, Glen simply touching the backs of her hands with his fingers. "I missed you, my love," Glen murmured, making Mina blush slightly. "Did you miss me?"
Mina answered that by throwing herself into Glen's arms, crushing him in a joyful bear hug. "I feel like I've just come to life again," she murmured into his ear.
Behind Glen, the Lady Eleanor looked at her son and his paramour with some surprise. She had seen young Miss Love before, of course. However, those brief sightings, all three or more years ago now, had not communicated the level of passion and emotional dependency that existed between the girl and her son. Her upper-class upbringing naturally disproved of her son becoming involved with a commoner, and an actress too, a profession that traditionally held very low position in the view of the British aristocracy. Nonetheless, Eleanor reminded herself, times were changing. The old class distinctions were virtually gone and the concept of 'marrying below yourself' was an anachronism. Her son would choose one he wanted not one that would bring advantage to their noble family. Eleanor cleared her throat and stepped forwards. "Well, Glen," she said quietly, "are you going to introduce me?"
Glen and Mina broke their hug, Mina blushing and Glen running a hand through his hair nervously. "Oh… yes, how amiss of me," he said. "Mother, may I introduce Aramina Roberta Love." Glen had the urge to add 'heir to the Kingdom of Venus, Priestess of Aphrodite and the Champion of Love, Sailor Venus,' but he was too mature to do something so destructively dangerous simply to score a petty point over his over-protective mother. "Mina, this is my mother, the Lady Eleanor of Woodfield."
Mina curtseyed in the appropriate form for a commoner meeting a mid-level member of the aristocracy. "Your Grace, welcome to Tokyo," she said, averting her eyes. When she straightened up again, much to her surprise, Eleanor was offering her hand. Swallowing her nervousness, she grasped the woman's hand and shook. She felt the vital strength in the woman, as well as her disapproval of Mina and concern for Glen.
What does she think I am? Mina asked herself angrily, some kind of gold-digging slut? Does she think I only want Glen for his money? Does she think I will hurt him? With a sudden sinking sensation, Mina realised that this was exactly Glen's mother's fear about this relationship. Mina felt dismayed, but she couldn't think of anything that she could say or do to rectify the situation. One of the troubling aspects of this was that her instinct, which came from her previous life, Princess Minako of Venus, was simply to love Glen and let that solve the matter. However, the more sophisticated Mina doubted that the simple magic of the Silver Millennium would suffice in the Age of Capricorn.
"My dear," Eleanor said at last, "it is good to finally meet you. I have actually seen you more than once before, although we've never met before. However, I barely recognised you! You have grown tall and… womanly since the last time I saw you." This was totally true. Until Glen had called out to her, she had not recognised Mina. She was no longer simply pretty. She had become beautiful. The girl could have any man she chose, she thought. How I wish she would chose another. She sighed and again reminded herself that she was interfering in something that was none of her business. Glen was of age now, and it was his choice that mattered. "How have you found life here in Tokyo?" Eleanor asked courteously.
"Oh, just wonderful, Lady Eleanor," Mina said enthusiastically. "I have a good home, fine friends and I have plenty of occupations that I love! The city is so full of life, and learning the Japanese way of life instead of the British one is such a wonderful challenge! I will have to show you around the sights and show you what Tokyo has to offer! I…" Mina suddenly broke off, blushing when she realised that she was babbling in her nervousness and her need to impress this majestic woman. "Anyway, I am happy," she said at last.
Glen, wonderful man that he was, hid his laughter perfectly. Eleanor's sculpted left eyebrow had risen during Mina's babble. "I am glad for you child," she said at last. She turned to her son. "Glen, I do believe that it is time to go to the hotel."
Glen sagged slightly. He had hoped that he could make his escape with Mina immediately. Clearly this was not to be. "Mother…" he began.
"Glen, it's okay," Mina said quietly. "I have to get to the studio anyway," she added more loudly. Although Mina didn't have many acting jobs these days (she simply didn't have the time) she was currently recording scenes for a series of action/adventure TV movies three nights every week. Being an actress and an accredited stuntwoman meant that she saved producers a lot of money. This job was why she had been released early enough from school today to meet Glen.
Glen nodded. "Then I will see you tomorrow evening at the Crown?" he asked.
Mina winked. "I wouldn't miss it," she said. On a whim she leaned forward and captured Glen's lips for a deep, passionate kiss. Glen went bright red, but it was the way his mother's eyes opened wide that Mina appreciated the most. Let the old bat chew that raw and swallow it! she thought.
"Well I never!" Lady Eleanor's private secretary whispered in a scandalised tone of voice, after Mina dashed off.
"Oh, grow up, Marion," Eleanor snapped and led the cavalcade off to where their limousines waited, in a thoroughly foul mood.
***
That night, after returning home from several hours filming, Mina stood in her bedroom. She pulled her Disguise Pen out of its' scabbard up her sleeve and murmured 'Venus power: Make up." There was a flare of orange light and a swirl of hearts and colour. When they cleared, Sailor Venus stood in the centre of the room. The Champion of Love's brows were drawn together in thought. Suddenly she spoke aloud, although she still was alone in her room. "Sailor Pluto, I need to talk to you."
There was an imperceptible pause before a section of the bedroom's wall seemed to ripple out of existence, replaced by a swirling green vortex. Out of that strode Sailor Pluto, Queen of Pluto, High Priestess of Hades, the Champion of Time. "What can I do for you, Sailor Venus?" the brown-haired woman asked pleasantly. "I assume that you haven't called me here simply for a chat."
Mina laughed. "Nah, I would never do that, Trista!" she replied with a lop-sided grin. Trista rolled her eyes. She would be happier if she were confident that Mina wouldn't do anything like that. "Trista, I've been thinking about Wolfspite and how he has threatened Serena's family." Trista shuddered when she heard the new name of her fallen fiancée, but she stayed focussed on her sister Senshi's words. "I think it is possible that he might try to attack our families or close associates… or loves."
Trista nodded. "It is a definite risk," she agreed. "What conclusions have you come to?"
"I think I can protect my immediate family without too many problems," Mina said. "But I'm worried about Glen and his family. They spend a lot of their time in a different country, one that doesn't have any Senshi to protect them. If Wolfspite were to attack them there…" Trista nodded in understanding, her elegant face pinched with distress at hearing that name. Mina felt bad having to use it, but she had to explain her thoughts clearly. "I was wondering if, among all the stuff you salvaged from the Silver Millennium, there is a weapon that I could let Glen have that he could use to defend himself." Trista's mouth dropped open to form a near perfect 'O' shape. "Trista, he is capable of handling a weapon like that! When I was still Sailor V, I practised with him a lot. He qualified from his High School with top marks in swordsmanship and unarmed combat from their Cadet Corps."
"I… I don't think you appreciate what you're proposing, Mina," Trista protested. "You are suggesting giving a civilian a magical weapon from the Silver Millennium!" The older woman shook her head firmly. "No. Absolutely not. The risks involved…"
"Trista, please," Mina responded. "He is the most vulnerable one of all our friends. All the rest live in or around Juubian and we are never far from them, but Glen…" Mina looked into Trista's violet eyes pleadingly, tears beginning to well up in her own sapphire eyes. "Trista, I couldn't possibly live with myself if he were hurt because Wolfspite realised his relationship with me! I'd die!" She sighed and shook her head. "There has to be something stand-alone, which doesn't need a Senshi's powers to make it work. Look, Trista, I'm aware of the risk, but that is nothing compared to the risk to him if we… if I leave him exposed!"
Trista groaned and covered her face with one gauntletted hand. Suddenly, she was 25,000 years ago and a 12-year old Princess Setsuna of Pluto was trying to refuse to give a treat to 3-year-old Princess Minako of Venus. Yes, that little girl had exactly the same pleading look, pouting lips and tearful blue eyes that Mina had right now. Trista sighed. She had never been able to refuse that little girl anything then, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to dissuade her from her plan now. Besides, in many ways, it was Mina's right to ask for some of those items. They were the property of the Royal House of Venus, after all, making it her property. "Okay, you'd better come with me," she said at last.
The two Senshi walked through the swirling green vortex of the Time Stream until they reached the Gate of Time, a huge metal circular gate marked with arcane symbols that allowed its' mistress to travel to any place in time and space. As soon as Trista and Mina emerged from the rippling green surface, like a pond tilted on its' side, the Champion of Time deactivated the gate, making the green vortex dissipate like a bubble bursting. Then she pulled an elaborate key out of a pouch on her armour and inserted it into a slightly raised pedestal in the centre of the room and twisted it round in a full circle. With the Gate of Time closed and locked, she could now give her guest her full attention.
No matter how many times that Mina visited Trista's hidden fortress, it never ceased to amaze her. Millennia ago, it was the summer palace of the Royal House of Earth, now it was all that remained of the Silver Millennium. All around were artworks of stunning complexity, only possible in that long-lost time when the humans could live a thousand years. There were also appliances and tools of sublime complexity and efficiency, hybrids of technology and magic that were far superior to anything possible through today's science.
Following the graceful Sailor Pluto, Mina walked through the palace until they arrived at a storeroom with a massive orange metal gate, marked with the seal of the Royal House of Venus. Trista stepped to one side and gestured Mina forwards. "Please put your right hand on the silver disc," Trista instructed. Mina did as she was asked, and the gates of the storeroom swung open with a clean pneumatic hiss.
"The lock is keyed to my palm print?" Mina asked in amazement.
"Of course it is," Trista replied with a broad grin. "After all, all this stuff belongs to you!" She enjoyed watching Mina's eyes bulge out when she heard that.
Trista walked into the storeroom and looked around the mass of magical and non-magical items that she was able to salvage from the Royal Palace on Venus before Sailor Saturn destroyed it 25,000 years ago. There were artworks, records and personal items that she felt that the reincarnation of her gentle friend would value. And, of course, there were the magical weapons forged by Aphrodite, for her champions, Sailor Venus and Venus Knight. "I think that this is what you need," Trista said. When she pulled the item out of its' rack, her concerns and worries about Mina's idea suddenly flowed away. Suddenly, her instincts were telling her that this was the right thing to do. Trista sighed. Despite her deep affinity with the Continuum, it never spoke to her in clear or definitive terms. It was times like this, however, that she really wished she could see the ends as clearly as she could see the means of destiny.
Trista turned around and placed what looked like a Roman gladius, a short-sword, but with a hilt almost as long as the blade, into Mina's hands. "What is it?" Mina asked. The sword was made in the same orange magical metal that made up several of her own pieces of equipment, mined on Venus, no doubt. It was covered with various etchings, but the most prominent was a valentine heart, whose pointed base pointed up from the hilt to the point of the blade. The astrological symbol for Venus was etched into the centre of the heart.
"This is the Venus Knight's war-blade," Trista explained. "The blade was forged by Aphrodite's husband, the god Hephaistos. It can cut through any non-magical substance and can extend to over double this length. It can also generate energy blasts similar to your Crescent Beam attack and, when held with the blade flat against the outside of the forearm, generates a force shield that can resist most moderate-sized magical attacks." Trista watched as Mina twirled the weapon around professionally before continuing. "It draws its' power directly from the planetary power of Venus itself," she explained. "Theoretically, anyone could use it, although only the Venus Knight himself could use it to its' full potential. His own powers would boost the weapon's power by at least three times."
Mina nodded and smiled happily. "Yes, this is perfect," she said. "Thank you, Trista!" She ran over to hug her friend warmly.
Trista sighed. "It was my pleasure, Mina," she replied. "Just make sure I don't regret doing this, okay?"
***
Glen was very surprised when Mina called him in his hotel room and asked him to meet her on the roof of the hotel. Obviously something was up, because she would never mix Senshi business with personal business.
Glen arrived on the roof to find the helipad deserted. Suddenly, a hand fell on his shoulder. "Hello, my love," Mina said. Glen nearly jumped six feet in the air in his surprise. She had been waiting in the shadow of the stairwell. As Glen had expected, she was wearing her orange body armour with its' pink sash.
"Hello, Mina, I'm glad to see you," he said. The two embraced and exchanged a gentle kiss before Glen looked into his girlfriend's eyes. "What brings you here all ready for action?" he asked, a bit nervous.
Mina drew in a deep breath and then explained the situation as well as she could, the sudden terrible advent of the arch-traitor Wolfspite and the possible threat to Glen and his family. "I can't be there to protect you when you aren't in Japan," she reminded him. "So I have decided that you need the means to protect yourself." With that, she pulled out the Venus War Blade, now in its' beautifully tooled Venusian Leather scabbard. "I want you to take this, Glen. Learn to use it well and use it protect yourself and your family from the Negaverse."
Glen's heart nearly stopped and he swallowed nervously as he stared at the (obviously magical) weapon that Sailor Venus was holding out to him. "I… are you sure?" he said at last. "Mina, I am not a warrior or a fighter…"
"Oh don't be silly," Mina said, rolling her eyes. "Glen, you have fought beside me on many occasions without the benefit of a weapon of any kind." That was true, and the memories were slightly embarrassing. Glen felt that, as a gentleman, he shouldn't let anyone try to bully a girl, even when that girl was Sailor V and the bully was a Youma. That led him into a scrape that was way beyond his ability to handle and, indirectly, led him to this place and time. "Glen, you are a good fighter, and I am certain that you can handle this weapon," Mina insisted. She winked at him in a saucy way. "Hey, have I ever led you astray?"
"Time after time, love," Glen replied with a laugh. He shook his head. "Okay, you'd better show me how to use this mystical doodad if you are serious about me using it to defend myself." Mina nodded with approval as Glen took the weapon from her hands. Neither of them noticed that, when Glen wrapped his hand around the War Blade's hilt, the orange opal gem set into the very base of the hilt briefly glowed brightly.
After a long training session on the roof, Glen returned to his room, the blade strapped to his back, hilt-down, so that he could carry it under his coat without anyone seeing it. Exhausted from the training session… indeed more exhausted than he should have been after a simple refresher lesson in kendo and a demonstration of the weapon's other functions, Glen needed a large snack and long sleep. Brushing aside his mother's queries about where he had been for the last few hours, he retreated to his room. There, he placed the Venus War Blade on the chair beside his bed before collapsing to the bed and falling asleep in seconds.
As Glen was sleeping, there was no one to see the Venus War Blade begin to glow orange with planetary magic. There was a flare of light and the weapon flipped off of the chair and dropped to Glen's side, tucking itself against his chest, its hilt tucked into the palm of his right hand, which had curled in front of him as he slept.
***
Saturday evening at the Crown Arcade…
"So, I said to him, 'I will only drive in that jalopy if you are sitting right next to me when I do.'" Laughter greeted the end of Alexandra 'Alex' Tennyson's story.
"That showed him, I'll bet," Darien said with a grin. His good humour was partly due to the outrageous stories that the four Outers were telling, but primarily due to the fact that Serena was sitting at his side, tucked in against his shoulder.
With the sudden new and dangerous threat from the Negaverse, Serena had suggested that it was wise if the two Senshi bands joined forces, if only temporarily, until the threat was dealt with. Trista had agreed at once, hoping that this would end the artificial Inner/Outer division that had once been a grim necessity, but was now weakening the forces of light at a critical time. Serena had also suggested that the nine Senshi should spend more of their free time together. Again, Trista had been enthusiastic in her agreement. Heather had practically jumped for joy at the chance of associating with the Inners, who were all mostly her age. Alex and Michelle had taken some persuading, but now they were at the Crown, enjoying their young friends' company, all their doubts had evaporated like dew on a summer's day. The Inners and Outers hadn't met like this for almost a year, and everyone had a lot of gossip to catch up on.
As well as the nine young women, there were also the young men that they jokingly referred to as their 'knights.' Raye's fiancée Chad, from the Hino Shrine, Amy's young man Greg, Darien (of course), Lita's foster brother Ken, Heather's boyfriend Richard, and Mina's significant other Glen. No Senshi business was discussed, of course. Not only was this a public place, but Ken and Richard (as well as Serena's good friend Molly) didn't know of the women's secret identities. Of all of the men, only Darien knew who that all the other women were also Senshi.
Trista looked at Glen out of the corner of her eye in a concerned way. She could sense the energy signature of the Venus War Blade immediately. What concerned her was that it was clearly integrated into the young man's own aura. That was unexpected. Could Destiny be playing one of her little jokes? It was difficult to tell… "Miss Bachelor?" asked a voice. Trista jumped and saw Andrew Watson, the son of the arcade's owner, standing at her shoulder. "Can I get you something?" he asked. Trista smiled and shook her head. She could only drink so much coffee in a day, after all. As Andrew retreated, Trista had to force herself to look away from him. There was something familiar about him, and she wished she knew what it was… Then she noticed the way that Molly was watching him and shook her head, trying to will away the sense of Déjà vu.
Serena, Amy, Lita, Raye and Mina stepped up to the karaoke machine to perform the Eurythmics' 'Sisters are Doin' it for Themselves,' to shouts of "Get off!" and "Singing lessons! They need tutoring!" None of the young people partying in the Crown Arcade and Internet Café noticed the woman who was standing on the street corner opposite the establishment.
The Lady Eleanor looked on in a combination of disgust and sadness as she watched her son with his friends. None of them were exactly what you would call the ideal companions for a peer of the realm. However, what had really caught her eye was how relaxed her son was in the company of these strange young men and women. At home, amongst those of his class and social set, he always seemed vaguely bored and uncomfortable. Here, among commoners, most of them foreign, he seemed relaxed and at ease. Eleanor wondered if, for the very first time, she was seeing the real Glen in action.
As she looked on, she watched as Glen swept Mina from the stage and began to dance with her, swinging the giggling blonde girl around while the others wolf-whistled and shouted things like: "When's the wedding?" Eleanor suddenly felt wetness on her face. She touched the tear running down her cheek with a profound sense of surprise. She suddenly realised what was so different about Glen. He was happy, and that was making her happy. She couldn't recall the last time she felt that. It had to have been before that terrible day when a terrorist's bomb had claimed her husband's life.
As she stood there, watching her son with his… friends, yes she had to get used to that fact… she didn't notice the dark saurian shape with glowing red eyes work its' way down the side of a building behind her.
***
As the gathering wore down, the various young people began to pair off. It was a tribute to modern liberal attitudes that no one batted an eyelid as Michelle and Alex sat down together, holding each other's hands and looking into each other's eyes lovingly.
Suddenly, Mina felt tired. After a day filming on the set of The Lost World II – Return to the Amazon and a late party, she was exhausted. "Glen, I suddenly have the need to get out of here," she whispered to her boyfriend, who was sitting with an arm around her shoulder.
"Suddenly want some privacy?" he asked teasingly.
Mina laughed. "Nah, I just suddenly realised that I am incredibly tired. It has been a long day."
Glen twisted his face into a fair facsimile of lust. "Oh, and here I was hoping that you and I could keep each other entertained until dawn," he whispered into Mina's ear, making her blush brightly. She didn't know if it was the words or his breath blowing past her ear. Either way, she was redder than Raye's armour right now.
"Oh! You…" Mina shook her head, giggling quietly. "You will be the death of me, Glen Farthinggale. You know that I don't want anything like that until we are married!"
That made Glen blush. "Uh… yeah," he said. "Well… so long as I stay first in the queue." Glen then yawned. Jet Lag was catching up with him too.
After bidding farewell to their friends, the two young lovers walked out into the street-lamp-lit early night air of Juubian. After a while walking towards Mina's home, Glen decided to continue the thought that Mina had inadvertently raised in the café. "Seriously," Glen said, "I'm going to finish college next year. After that, I've got a junior position waiting for me at one of my father's companies. Have… have you thought about what you are going to do after you finish High School this year?"
Mina thought about that. "Not really," she said at last. "I'm not even sure if I want to go to college. I'm not really the academic type. There are always plenty of secretarial positions for High School graduates. And I can always make a little extra with modelling and acting if I get the chance."
Glen nodded. "Well, maybe I can offer you a different position, Mina," he said gently. "One that I think will suit you just fine." The two teenagers stopped in the middle of the street and Mina looked up into Glen's dark eyes questioningly. Glen drew in a deep breath. He had been thinking long and hard about this matter. His mother was beginning to push him to find a wife and continue the family line. More importantly, the fact that he and Mina were living virtually on opposite sides of the Earth made him fearful that the beautiful girl who haunted all his dreams would find someone else. He had decided that, despite the many risks from her lifestyle and their youth, he had to act. He also had to do so now before his nervousness made him drop the idea. "Mina… how would you like to be the next Lady Woodfield?"
Mina's mouth dropped open and it took her a moment to gather her senses enough to reply. "Glen… Glen, what are you saying?"
Glen drew in a deep breath. Now or never, my Lord, he told himself. "Mina, I feel like I've known you forever," he said. "Certainly, I can't remember ever feeling about anyone the way I feel like you. I know that we are both still very young but…" Glen fumbled in the pocket of his leather duster for a moment before pulling out a small box. He knelt before his girlfriend and opened the box revealing a gold ring with a sparkling diamond. "Mina, would you do me the honour of… agreeing to be my Lady? Would you please marry me?"
Mina felt like she would faint. Tears began to run down her face as she looked at the beautiful engagement ring glinting in the moonlight and she began to shiver a little in shock. "Glen… I… I…" she stammered. Mina shook her head, trying to clear it enough to formulate a coherent reply.
Glen misinterpreted the gesture. He sagged a little. "I asked too soon," he said. "Mina, I'm sorry. Please don't hate me. It is just that I love you so much… and I thought you felt the same way. I won't ever embarrass you like this again."
The young Englishman prepared to rise and walk out of the blonde heartbreaker's life forever when Mina dropped to her knees and grabbed his hands hard. "Glen, no!" she protested. "Glen, I want this! I want this so much it hurts but…" She shook her head and laughed. "It is just so unexpected! I never thought this day would come!" Mina was laughing and crying at the same time. She tried to hug Glen, but his position made that difficult. "Yes, Glen. Oh, yes, I'll marry you!"
Glen smiled slightly and placed the diamond ring on Mina's left ring finger. "You have just made me the happiest man who has ever lived," he said.
Mina looked at the ring. "I… I don't know how I'm going to tell my parents this," she said. "Let alone my friends!" The two of them stood up and hugged again. "I love you, Glen," Mina said simply.
"I love you, Mina," Glen replied.
Mina and Glen began to exchange the deepest and most loving kiss that they had ever exchanged when they were interrupted by a scream from the other side of the street.
***
Eleanor had been watching this drama with a growing sense of… well; she wasn't too sure what she felt. She was shocked and dismayed to see her son proposing marriage to that… little girl. However, the raw joy that seemed to be literally flowing from them as they hugged under the street light amazed her. They are both little more than children, a part of her protested. Their relationship can't possibly be that serious!
Or was it? Glen and Mina corresponded once or twice a week, thanks to the miracle of electronic mail. He sent gifts to her regularly, and she, despite massively smaller financial resources, did the same for him. He always wore that golden charm bracelet with the two entwined Venus symbols dangling from it that she sent him. Her pictures decorated his rooms at the Manor. And then there was the fact that on every one of the longer school holidays, he travelled to Japan to be with her. An infatuation it might be, but it was also a strong one.
Eleanor was desperately trying to think of what she should do, if anything, when the huge reptilian thing with dozens of tentacles writhing from its' back, dropped to the ground behind her. One of the green scaly tentacles wrapped around her waist…
***
Glen and Mina broke contact as the massive Youma hauled the silver-haired woman who had been standing in the shadows opposite them into the air by. Despite the darkness and the woman's discreet clothing, Glen recognised her at once. "Mother!" he shouted.
"Stay here, Glen," Mina snapped as she pulled her Disguise Pen out of its' hiding place. "Venus Power! Make up!" Glen winced and narrowed his eyes. At night, the light generated by his fiancée's transformation was nearly blinding.
Sailor Venus leapt across the street with one bound. "Venus Meteor Shower!" she shouted, raising her hands. Pink energy projectiles, all shaped like valentine hearts, shot from her finger tips and shot at the Youma, slicing into its' flesh like energy shuriken. The creature roared in agony and staggered back several steps, still holding Glen's mother in its' coils. "Okay, Scaly," Sailor Venus snapped, "I'm Sailor Venus, the Champion of Love. Your violence and villainy have no place here. In the name of Venus, I will punish you!" Hey, not bad, Mina added silently. She had adapted that from Serena's old opening line from when she was first starting out as Sailor Moon.
The creature snarled. "Reptar!" it snarled and lashed out with several other tentacles. Sailor Venus drew her Soul Blade and severed the foul pseudopods before they could reach her. Black Ichor spat out from the stumps and the monster roared in pain. The young warrior jumped forward a few paces and swept the blade down towards the creature's squat, dinosaur-like skull, intending to cut it in two. To her surprise, the blade bounced off a surprisingly tough dark magic shield.
"Okay, so you're a tough guy, are you?" she asked. "Let's see how you handle this. Venus Power Kiss!" Sailor Venus blew a kiss right at the creature's horrible face and it was blown back about ten yards by the transmitted force of the attack, ripping long furrows in paving with its' lethal-looking claws.
The Youma roared angrily and spat out a cloud of green-black foul-smelling smog that enveloped the Senshi. Sailor Venus tumbled onto her backside, coughing violently. "Reptar!" the Youma roared in triumph and reared up onto its' hind legs, preparing to savage the stunned Senshi with its' lethal foreleg claws. At that moment, an orange bolt of energy struck it in the centre of its belly, knocking it onto its side.
With a loud battle cry, half fury and half panic, Glen charged towards the Reptar Youma, waving the Venus War Blade (which had extended to its' full length, approximately four feet long). The Youma lashed out at the human with its' claws, but its' left foreleg was suddenly captured by a Love-me Chain. Sailor Venus had somersaulted back to her feet and was how hauling backwards on the super-strong energy chain to drag the creature off balance. "Get your mother clear!" she hollered.
Glen looked and saw his terrified mother still in the creature's scaly grasp. Changing his posture slightly, he lashed out and severed the tentacle holding her with one blow. He then caught his mother as she tumbled to the ground. "G… Glen?" she asked, disoriented and afraid. The Youma lashed out with its' left hind leg and Glen jumped clear, carrying his mother to safety.
Luna had been on her way home from visiting with Artemis when she felt the unmistakable taint of Dark Kingdom magic. She hurried over to the source, just in time to see Sailor Venus lasso the Youma and Glen rescue his mother. "I don't believe it," she said as she watched the young man wielding the Venus War Blade. Artemis had told her of Mina's risky idea on how to protect Glen, but the ease with which he was using the weapon caught Luna's attention. "Can it really be…?"
Sailor Venus released the Youma from the Love-me Chain with a disgusted growl, unable to pull the low-slung creature off its' feet. "Okay, we do this the old-fashioned way," she snapped, extending her right arm, her outstretched hand pointing at the monster. "Crescent Beam!" she shouted. An orange energy beam slammed into the creature's shields, making it bellow in agony. The creature was visibly weaker from its' wounds and the continual attacks. "Ha! That showed you! Now to finish this! Venus Soul Blade Ex…"
At that moment, the Youma spat something black and tar-like in Sailor Venus' eyes. The young woman screamed in agony and fell onto her backside, clawing at her suddenly blinded eyes. "Mina!" Glen screamed. Luna, who had jumped unnoticed to the young man's side, saw the opal in the War Blade's hilt glow brightly when he cried out to his fiancée. Seeing the magical weapon react to Glen's distress decided Luna as to her next move. It would only react that way to one person in the entire universe. The young man raised the weapon and prepared to charge.
"Young man! Wait!" Luna cried. Glen turned around and, much to his surprise, saw Serena's cat looking at him. "You can't rush into battle unprepared," Luna said. "Do exactly as I say and you will be able to help Sailor Venus."
Glen's jaw dropped open. "You… you can talk?" he blurted. Why am I surprised? he asked himself. Artemis can talk, after all. Wait a minute, this means that Serena must…
"I will explain later," Luna said. "For now, just do as I say. Raise the Venus War Blade above your head and say: 'Venus Power' and then 'Guardian.'" Glen stared at the feline guardian, still in shock. On the other side of the street, a blinded Sailor Venus was desperately trying to hold off the Youma, but her energy shield didn't look like it could take much more of the demon's dark energy assaults. "Just do it!" Luna snapped.
Glen, feeling like he was in a dream, did as he was commanded. "Venus Power! Guardian!" There was an infinitesimal pause before ribbons of energy poured down from the War Blade, which was suddenly shining like an orange sun. When the light faded, Glen was wearing orange, body-hugging armour similar to Mina's in most respects, other than it was clearly designed for the male form. Instead of a sash, he had a loincloth in pink chiffon with the astrological symbol for Venus picked out in darker thread. Glen looked at his armour in shock. "No way!" he muttered.
"Now, Venus Knight! Go to your love's aid!" Luna cried out.
Responding automatically to Luna's commanding tone of voice, Glen strode forward, suddenly faster and stronger than he had ever been before. The Youma was very shocked when the War Blade suddenly punched through its' flank, deep into its' chest. It shrieked in unholy agony and turned to face its' new attacker. It spat dark venom at the interloper, but Glen reacted with instinctive speed. He reversed his weapon, letting the blade lie flat against his arm. Immediately a heart-shaped energy shield appeared, centred on the join between hilt and blade, and deflected the attack. In one smooth move, Glen swept the blade forwards again and sliced open a massive bleeding cut along the monster's flank. Continuing to parry the occasional slash from the Youma's claws, Glen proceeded to virtually flay the demon with his deadly weapon.
Finally, the Youma tumbled onto its' side, clearly very weak. Luna ran over. "Well done, Venus Knight," the feline guardian said to the shocked young man. "Now, the time has come to finish this. Please drive the War Blade into the creature's chest and say: 'Venus War Blade Execution." Glen shook his head in shock and complied. Within moments, the monster was a fading orange glow, which quickly vanished forever.
There was a long silence in the quiet suburban street. As Glen relaxed, he suddenly de-transformed. Sliding his weapon into its' scabbard, he ran over to where Mina was clutching her face, weeping silently in pain. "Mina! Are you okay? Please, God, be okay!"
"I… I can't see…" Mina sniffled. Glen hugged her tightly.
"May I see your eyes, please Aramina?" Luna asked. Mina uncovered her face and Luna walked over and looked into Mina's face in concern. Finally, the feline guardian sighed in relief. "It is only reptile venom," she said. "Wash it out with cold water, and your eyesight will return without any further trouble. Do you think you can teleport to your bedroom?" Mina nodded silently. "Good, Artemis is there, and he will be able to help you."
"There's no need for her to try to teleport, I'll get her home," Glen said, helping Mina to her feet.
"I rather think that someone else needs your attention," Luna said discreetly. Glen looked over his shoulder, and the sight that greeted his eyes made him groan deeply in horror. His mother was standing, staring at her son, Sailor Venus and the… the talking cat. Her face was pale with shock, but her eyes were clear and aware.
***
Lady Eleanor had not spoken to anyone the entire night, except to bid Glen good night. She didn't know about her son, but she hadn't had a good night at all. Instead, she had paced around the drawing room of her sumptuous hotel suite, thinking hard. Now day had come and she had asked Glen to go and collect Mina and come back to see her at once.
Finally, the door opened and her son and his love entered. Mina was wearing a sober suit in dull colours, obviously trying to portray maturity. In the cold, hard light of day, Eleanor confirmed that the ring on the girl's finger was definitely an engagement ring. She looked at the two teenagers for a moment. "Glen, dear, please leave us for a moment."
Glen looked like he didn't feel safe leaving Mina with his mother, but after a moment, during which he received an almost imperceptible nod of assent from Mina, he turned and left the drawing room. Eleanor tried to focus her thoughts for a moment before gesturing to the sofa. "Sit down, Miss. Love," she said at last. Mina looked rather nervous. By an effort of will, Eleanor managed to smile and make her voice far less harsh. "Please, dear," she said. "We must talk."
Mina swallowed and sat down, her hands pressed hard against her legs. Eleanor sat down next to her. Suddenly, she took the girl's left hand and looked at the ring for a moment before laughing. "Well I never," she said. Mina looked at her strangely. "The ring is new, of course," the matriarch explained, "but the design is old. It is the traditional design our family always uses for engagement rings."
Mina let out a gentle breath. "Well, you know then," she said. There was really nothing else for her to say.
Eleanor nodded. "I know," she said. She sucked in a deep breath and tried to focus her mind. "That is why I called you here, my dear. I won't hide the fact that I hoped that Glen would find a young lady of his own social class, but I know my son's heart well enough to trust his choice. You, however, I must ask something: Do you love my son? Are you willing to bind yourself to him and be faithful to him for the rest of your life? Are you really ready for such a commitment?"
Mina swallowed. "I won't lie," she said. "The thought terrifies me and attracts me all at once. However, I do know this: I love Glen. I can't get him out of my mind for one moment. When I touch him I… I feel more alive, as if living without him is only the motions." Mina summoned up all her courage and looked the woman in the eye. "I want to live with him for the rest of my life. As I grow older, things may change, but that will never change." Mina didn't add that she had reason to say this. Almost two years ago now, she and the other Inner Senshi were mysteriously taken to the far future, to a palace where their future selves ruled over the Crystal Millennium. There, on the walls of the Great Hall, she had seen formal portraits of them all. Her portrait included Glen and three children. She had never revealed that sight to Glen, but from that moment, she realised that what she had feared was only a teenage infatuation was in fact a bonding of souls, one that would last for centuries. Mina blinked, coming back to the here-and-now. "I love him," she repeated calmly.
"I know," Lady Eleanor said simply. "And I know that he loves you. I would be a poor mother if I didn't know that. However…"
"You wonder if I am the right person for you son," Mina completed for Glen's mother. "My Lady, I can't pretend that I am wealthy or that I know the etiquette of aristocracy. All I know is that I love your son and I will be a faithful wife for as long as I live."
Eleanor wasn't offended by the girl's interruption. The answer was the right one, for the question that the girl had asked for her, but the real question that she wanted answered was quite different. "Actually, dear, I wanted to know something else." Eleanor paused before continuing. "What are your intentions for my son… Sailor Venus?"
There was another long pause. "I'm… sorry?" Mina asked, feeling a bit faint all of a sudden.
"I saw you transform," Eleanor replied. "Last night. The appearance and attack of that monster terrified me, but I had enough wit to see you become Sailor Venus. I also saw that talking cat and…" The woman swallowed before continuing. "I also saw my son transform also. What does all of this mean?"
Mina sucked in a deep breath, her mind reeling. Suddenly, she decided to tell the truth. Even attempting to lie or think up a plausible way to debunk what the woman had seen would be counter-productive. "Very well," she said. "I am Sailor Venus, that is true. However, that doesn't change anything, don't you see? I still love your son, even though I am a part-time superhero." She laughed gently when she realised that she had subconsciously used Lita's way of describing their situation. "Perhaps that will mean that I may not be a conventional wife, but it will not change that I love your son and will try to be a good wife to him."
Eleanor remained silent for a while. "Being a crusading hero, a wife and a mother all at the same time would be most difficult," she said at last.
Mina smiled. "I'm sure that it will, but I think I can manage," she said. And I will, at least three times. Mina focused on the noblewoman again and turned to the rest of her question. "As for Glen's powers… I don't pretend to understand that. According to… my Sensei in the ways of a Senshi, Glen is Venus Knight, my counterpart in using the mystical powers of Venus to protect humanity from harm. I don't know how that this came to be the case, but then again, I can't even say that I understand how I came to be Sailor Venus." Mina laughed to herself when she realised how odd that sounded. She thought for a moment before continuing. "According to my teacher, I am the reincarnation of a woman named Minako, who was the previous Sailor Venus. Perhaps Glen has the soul of the last Venus Knight, but I don't know."
Lady Eleanor was nodding gently. "Yes," she said at last. "I've been aware that my son is… special. He knows when people are in trouble and he feels the need to help them. He is much like his father in that respect, but I never dreamed that it would find such an expression." She shook her head and looked at Mina again. "This adds a burden to you, dear. My son is a gentle and kindly soul. He loves life and takes people at their face value. You will have to shield him from taking risks that he cannot handle. You will have to be… his cynicism and caution."
Mina laughed. "He is usually the one who holds me back from taking stupid risks," she said. "Nonetheless, you have my word that he will never go into a fight that he cannot win without me at his side."
Eleanor smiled slightly. She had heard enough. "Glen, dear, come in!" she called, standing up again.
Glen entered and walked over to Mina. The two young lovers held each other's hands and looked at Eleanor worriedly. "What is it, mother?" he asked.
Eleanor walked over. She took Mina's left hand and Glen's right hand and put them together in between them. She smiled slightly when she saw their fingers twine together. "I know that you are betrothed," she announced. "I am willing to give my blessing on one condition. You will wait at least two years, until you know your minds better than you can at this time. If, at that time, you are still both determined to marry, I will not stand in your way." A few unashamed tears ran down the elegant woman's cheeks. "Glen, my darling little boy, I am sure that your father would have approved of your choice. And Ara… And Mina, I am sure that he would have approved of you, as do I."
Suddenly there was a loud bleeping noise. Eleanor was shocked when she realised that it was Mina's wristwatch. Mina grimaced. "Excuse me," she said and turned around. "What?" she hissed at her watch. To Eleanor's surprise, a voice replied from the device.
"Mina, Wolfspite is back, and he's attacking the Little League Baseball finals," Amy announced. "Serena got a heads-up because her little brother is there. We're all converging on the stadium now. Get yourself over here."
"I'm on my way," Mina announced. She looked at Lady Eleanor again. "My Lady…"
"Go dear," the woman said with a slight smile, gesturing to the balcony doors. "And it is 'Eleanor' to you." Mina nodded in gratitude and set off for the doors, wearing a determined expression. Eleanor watched her son for a moment, seeing him fidget and the concern written on her face. "I believe that it would be appropriate for the Venus Knight to make an appearance too, don't you dear?" she asked gently. Glen looked shocked for a moment, before nodding gratefully and rushing to catch up with his fiancée.
Eleanor watched the sudden explosion of orange light as the two young people transformed. She stayed standing by the balcony doors until the two heroes were vanishing orange dots against the city skyline. After all, where else should the great-grandson of war heroes be but on the front lines of this new war? she asked herself. Then she went to the room's TV set and turned on the news, waiting, as many others did, of news of the outcome of the coming battle.
The end of Chapter 3
Next time: Chapter 4 – Raye Hino – Sailor Mars