Bishoujo Senshi Sailororion
Episode Two: "Arashi's Crush in Peril! Sailororion Awakened"
"Sukui..."
Sukui tossed and turned in her sleep.
"Who are you?" she commanded.
A regal silhouette of a tall, delicate young woman appeared. She was wearing a long, elegant gown and, although Sukui could not see her face, she felt as if she knew her.
"The question, child, is who are you?"
Sukui took in a deep breath, confused.
"I'm me! Tenjouno Sukuinushi! Who else would I be?"
The young woman's silhouette rippled suddenly, as thought she were nothing but water.
"You are Sukui... but you are also much more. You are a soldier of purity and dreams. You are..."
The woman stopped suddenly.
"I must go! Never forget who you are, Sukui! You are more than you think..." The woman's silhouette faded away into darkness, her last words echoing in Sukui's mind.
"-more than you think..."
Sukui gasped, jerking upright in her bed.
She slammed her fist down on her ever-annoying alarm clock, and breathed heavily. She was covered in sweat.
Masurao eyed her with curiosity.
Sukui wiped her forehead and sighed with relief.
"Something strange is going on, 'Rao-chan..." she said softly. The cat looked away, resting his head in his paws.
Sukui looked at him strangely.
Why do I feel like that cat has something to do with all this... she thought. She suddenly remembered the strange rod, and took it in her hand.
"And I think this has something to do with it too..." she said out loud.
She catches on fast... Nodus thought to himself, trying his hardest not to smirk.
* * * * *
In the misty depths of an alternate dimension called Mephisto, a dark figure sat atop a black marble throne. Twisted around the black marble were thorny vines covered in black roses.
The figure that sat on this throne was dressed in a deep brown cloak that flopped over the top half of his face, casting both his head and neck into shadows. A deep purple scar glowed ferociously on the hooded figure's left cheek, and a black Labrador sat at his feet.
"My minions! Come forth at once!" the figure yelled; judging from his gruff, harsh voice, he was assumed to be male.
At once, thousands of odd-looking, monstrous silhouettes appeared in a half-circle around the marble throne; each one keeping their distance from the hooded man.
"Sirius," the man began. The black dog at his feet stood up immediately, taking its place on the right side of the man's throne.
"Yes, my Lord?" the dog spoke. Not one of the other creatures appeared surprised that this dog could speak.
"My faithful and truest companion, Sirius; you must help me choose my minions for this important task," said the man.
The dog nodded, and walked out in front of the man.
"I am suggesting the Dark Starz, your eminence. Centaurus! Lyra! Columba! Vulpecula! Serpens! Appear and serve your Lord!" Sirius barked.
All at once, five female silhouettes stepped forward out of the crowd; their human-like faces now visible.
Each one bowed quickly. "Here to serve, our Lord Diabolus!" they said together.
The hooded man, called Diabolus, then spoke.
"A good choice, Sirius. I knew you would not fail me; but will the five of you?" he said.
"No, my Lord!" all five said quickly.
Diabolus leaned back into his chair; his elbows resting beside him and his fingers touching.
"Very well then. I shall explain your mission."
Every creature in the room grew deathly silent, anxious to hear what their Lord would tell them.
"As you may or not know, I am searching for the Naiyasuishou, the Diamond Crystal. This tiny gem is the key to my greatest plan: to destroy the Earth, and it's pathetic inhabitants," Diabolus began.
"My Lord! My Lord! Why have you targeted the earthlings?" one of the silhouetted creatures suddenly yelled.
"SILENCE!!!" Diabolus yelled. With the wave of his hand, the creature disappeared in a puff of violet smoke, leaving behind a small pile of charred remains.
"Fool," Diabolus hissed. "My plan is not only dominance, but I seek something far greater. Far greater than anything your puny little minds could comprehend! Anyone else want to interrupt me?"
The room was silent.
"Good. As I was saying, with the power of the Naiyasuishou, I will be able to unleash my own great powers on the people of Earth. However, the Naiyasuishou was lost on the planet Earth when that foolish Queen Serenity sent the Sailor Planets and the Sailor Constellations to the future to be reborn. We've tracked the crystal to the Japanese city of Sendai, but we have not been able to locate any further readings."
The creatures pondered this for a moment.
"The crystal is powered by the purity of one's soul; therefore it will have placed itself within the soul of an appropriate holder. Dark Starz, it is your mission to locate the single human who possesses such a soul. A humanoid soul will take the crystallized shape of an earth creature called a 'butterfly' when extracted from its holder. Pure souls will be an assortment of different colors; however, the one we want to find is all the colors of the rainbow. You will extract these souls with these," Diabolus continued.
In a puff of smoke, a table appeared in front of the Dark Starz. On it were five solid silver gloves that covered the wrist and the hand, but not the fingers. On the palm, was a star; one was violet, another dark turquoise, another was orange, another was blood red, and the last was deep moss green.
Each Dark Star picked up the glove with their respective color and slipped it onto their right wrists. The table disappeared.
"Dark Starz, is your mission clear?" Diabolus demanded.
"Yes, sir!" the five young women yelled in unison.
"Very well then. Dark Starz, dismissed!"
The five bowed and disappeared in swirls of smoke in their respective colors.
"And so it begins..." Diabolus whispered.
* * * * *
"Fries and a small lemonade, please, Sesshoku."
"And I'll have a triple hot-fudge sundae and a chocolate shake!" Arashi added.
Sukui sweatdropped. She and Arashi had decided to take Masurao to the Shield Arcade and Diner after school that day. Only a few other people were there.
"Can't you eat anything remotely healthy?" she asked her sister.
Arashi smirked, and shook her head.
18 year-old Fanken Sesshoku, who worked as a cashier at the Shield, laughed.
"You two crack me up. You act like sisters!" he said, grinning.
"We are sisters," Sukui and Arashi said together.
"Well, stepsisters..." Arashi pointed out.
"Same thing!"
Sesshoku laughed again and rang up their orders.
"Be ready in about six minutes," he said.
"Great, 'cause I'm starving!" Arashi said.
Sukui gave her a knowing look.
"You're always starving..." she said.
"Not always! Sometimes I'm tired... and sometimes I'm really starving!"
Sesshoku laughed.
"You two are just too much!" he said, shaking his head.
Five minutes later, Sukui was nibbling on her fries, Arashi was wolfing down her sundae, and Masurao was sitting on Sukui's lap-- eying the fries and the sundae.
"You know... you're going to get some serious acne from all that junk--" Sukui began.
Arashi ignored her, and kept eating.
"Here's a re-fill on that lemonade, Sukui-chan," said Sesshoku, as he placed a full glass of lemonade on the table.
"Arigatou, Sesshoku-kun!" Sukui replied. He smiled at her, and left.
Arashi sighed and put down her ice cream spoon for a moment.
"You're so lucky, Su-chan..."
Sukui blinked.
"How am I lucky?"
Arashi leaned back into her seat and crossed her arms.
"Hot guys are always coming on to you. For once, I wish a guy like Sesshoku could be interested in me! I mean, he's practically perfect! He's smart, he's older, he has a steady job, he plays football, he's senior class president, he'll probably be valedictorian, and he's drop-dead gorgeous!!! I mean, he's lived across the street from us for three years now, and he's always seemed so much more interested in you--" she said, pouting slightly.
Sukui smiled warmly.
"Sesshoku is just a good family friend, Arashi. There's nothing more! Besides, I already have a steady boyfriend, and--" Sukui stopped for a second. "--and... and I'm sure there's a great guy out there just for you!" she added quickly.
Arashi smiled.
"Nice save."
"Wasn't it?" Sukui grinned back, stroking Masurao behind the ears.
Arashi just smiled and watched Sesshoku taking orders.
"But he's just so perfect..." she pouted.
Sukui nodded.
"He's very ambitious too. He wants to go to college in America and study law. He's hoping to become a lawyer," she said.
Arashi sighed dreamily.
"A lawyer..." she whispered.
* * * * *
"How are we supposed to find a worthy target!? This is impossible! I'm hungry! I'm tired! My butt hurts! Are you done yet, Lyra!?" the young Dark Star named Columba whined, fidgeting in her seat and acting like a little brat.
The five Dark Starz sat in Lyra's laboratory, patiently waiting for her to complete her search of the entire town for a target; all except Columba, who whined and griped and moaned about how bored she was.
Finally, Serpens had had enough.
"Sit down and shut up!!!" Serpens screamed, her eyes glowing an intense silver.
Columba did as she was told, sinking in her chair and whimpering slightly.
Lyra spun around in her office chair to face the rest of the group.
"I've found the perfect target!" she announced.
The group looked at her.
"Well? Who!?" Vulpecula demanded.
Lyra smiled and swiveled back around to her computer. She pressed something, and the printer next to her sprang to life.
The other four girls craned their necks to see what she was printing, but saw nothing.
Finally, Lyra picked up the printed piece of paper and showed it to the others. It was a picture of a young man with dark brown hair and pale brown eyes. He wore an apron that said "Shield Arcade and Diner" and was handing a girl money from a register.
Centaurus raised an eyebrow.
"What's so special about him?" she asked. Vulpecula's eyes widened and she grinned.
"He fine, that's what!" she winked.
Lyra glared at her. "Vulpecula, do focus on the mission at hand!!!" she lectured.
Vulpecula sank into her chair.
"Whatever."
Lyra straightened her glasses, which had begun to slip down her thin, pointy nose.
"As I was saying. This young man's name is Fanken Sesshoku. He's your typical, perfect prettyboy. He has a job at the Shield Arcade and Diner, and dreams of studying law in America--"
"Oh, how touching. Get to the point!" Serpens hissed.
Lyra's upper lip twitched slightly, but she continued.
"Anyways, I have selected him as our first target. He achieves so much, so his soul must be the purest!" She paused and smirked at Serpens.
"Serpens! Why don't you do the honors of capturing his soul crystal?"
Serpens scowled.
"I'd be delighted!" she hissed, pounding her silver glove into her left fist a few times.
She hastily snatched the printed image and stats of Sesshoku, and glared at Lyra, who gave her an innocent, sarcastic look.
She snarled, and leapt into a portal of swirling green smoke.
"20 bucks says she's back in twenty minutes with no Naiyasuishou!" Vulpecula smirked.
"Make it 50, and you've got a deal," said Lyra.
* * * * *
Sukui arched her eyebrow at Arashi's odd behavior.
Then it hit her.
"Arashi! You have a crush on Sesshoku, don't you?" she whispered, grinning from ear-to-ear.
Arashi's face went several shades of pink.
"I- I- No! I mean, yes! I mean- NO!!!" she stuttered.
Sukui giggled.
"Oh come on, Arashi, it's so obvious!"
Arashi's face went two more shades of pink and she looked away.
"Whatever. I know a perfect senior like him would never date a sophomore loser like me..." she said sadly.
Sukui smiled gently.
"Why don't you just go talk to him? I'm sure you have a lot in common!" she said.
Arashi looked at her like she was crazy.
"Like what???" she asked. "He's the world's most perfect guy, Sukui! He probably only dates beautiful, smart, funny, outgoing, and ambitious girls! I'm not any of those things!!!"
Sukui shook her head.
"Not true, Arashi! Don't put yourself down! You've got a great sense of humor; you could make the Devil roll over laughing! And you're honest and loyal and caring and--"
"Okay okay! I get the point! But still... I'm just not worthy of him..."
Sukui couldn't help but laugh.
"Worthy??? Arashi, he's not some prince from a faraway country! He's just a regular guy! Now go talk to him!!!" she pressed.
"But--"
"Go talk to him!!!"
"Alright, alright! I'm going!"
Sukui smirked as Arashi stood up and walked over to Sesshoku, who was standing behind the cashier waiting for customers.
"They're a perfect match, 'Rao-chan. Just like Romeo and Juliet!" she whispered to Masurao.
"Hey there, Arashi! You need a re-fill on that chocolate milkshake?" Sesshoku asked her.
Arashi blushed, not noticing she was still holding her milkshake.
"Um, yes please," she said, handing it to him.
"Got it. Be right back!"
"Okay!"
I'd wait forever... she thought dreamily.
While she waited, she noticed a very tall, very out of place, woman walk into the Shield. Her dark green hair was worn in a short braid, and a pair of black sunglasses hid her eyes. She was dressed in a beige trench coat, buttoned up all the way.
Whoa... even I wouldn't be seen looking like that! Arashi thought.
The woman approached the cashier and looked around.
"Is there a Fanken Sesshoku on the premises? she asked Arashi.
Arashi blinked, and nodded. "Yeah, he's in the back re-filling my milkshake."
The other woman nodded.
"Good."
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Arashi started edging away from the odd woman.
At that moment, Sesshoku re-emerged with her milkshake.
"Here ya go, Ara-chan. Oh! Welcome to the Shield, may I take your order?" he said, handing Arashi her milkshake and turning his attention to the new customer.
"Why yes! I'd like... your soul crystal, if you please!" the woman cackled, throwing her trench coat on the floor and revealing the odd, green and brown outfit beneath it. She removed her sunglasses as well, revealing strange, silver eyes.
Sesshoku and Arashi backed away from her in amazement.
"My soul??? Who the hell are you!?" Sesshoku cried.
"Your worst nightmare," the woman laughed.
Sukui looked up from her fries as Masurao jumped off her lap.
"What's wrong, Masurao-- Ohmygosh!" she gasped.
The woman had her right palm flipped up, so her silver glove was facing Sesshoku. A dark green beam of light suddenly shot from her glove, taking the form of a claw-like hand. It reached into Sesshoku's mouth, practically choking him. The woman jerked her hand back, and the claw flew back towards her; a beautiful, grass-green butterfly within it's grasp. Sesshoku collapsed instantly.
"NOOOO!!!" Arashi cried, rushing to his side.
Sukui stood up and started towards them.
"Wait!"
She whirled around to see who had said that. No one was there, except...
"Masurao!?" Sukui squeaked.
"Yes, it was me! And please stop calling my 'Masurao.' My name is Nodus!" the cat said.
Sukui blinked.
"Um, sure... Nodus," she said.
Nodus nodded, and suddenly backflipped over himself. A swirl of violet energy appeared beneath him. When it disappeared, the violet rod Sukui had found the night before was lying on the floor.
"How did you--?"
"No time to explain! Take the rod and yell, 'Orion Star Power, Makeup!' And hurry!" Nodus explained.
"But--"
"JUST HUMOR ME!!!"
"Um, okay."
Sukui picked up the rod and ducked into the corner of the diner, where no one could see her; everyone was already watching Sesshoku anyways.
"Here goes--" She raised the rod into the air and yelled, "Orion Star Power, Makeup!"
Violet ribbons, pinkish-purple streams of light, and white angel feather scattered around her body, transforming her school uniform into a skimpy sailor uniform.
"Whoa!!!" she cried out in amazement.
Nodus ran up beside her.
"You are the Sailor Constellation of Purity and Dreams, Sailororion. You must use your powers to stop that woman and return that soul crystal to its proper holder!" he explained.
"What???" Sailororion questioned, sweatdropping.
Nodus sighed.
"Destroy the woman; get the butterfly; put it back into Sesshoku's mouth!!!"
"Oh! Why didn't you say so?"
"DAMN THAT IDIOT, LYRA! It's just another worthless humanoid soul! Pfft!!!" Serpens scowled, examining Sesshoku's soul crystal.
Arashi narrowed her eyebrows.
"No one's soul is worthless, you piece of scum!!! GIVE IT BACK!!!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Serpens smirked.
"Aw, you want it back? Why don't you come and GET IT!!!" she threatened.
"POISON IVY!!!"
Arashi screamed as glowing vines of ivory erupted from Serpens' fingernails, tying her up in poison ivy.
"Aaagh! It itches!!!" she squealed.
Serpens laughed maniacally.
"Well, this little baby may seem worthless, but we wouldn't want that crystal deciding to pick another holder. Better get rid of it..." she said to herself, raising the butterfly above her head to smash to the ground...
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Serpens looked up.
"Who said that?"
"I did!"
A violet-clad sailor soldier leapt up onto the cashier counter.
"Protecting the dreams of humans everywhere, I am Sailororion! With the powers of Purity on my side, I shall vanquish you in the name of the Constellations!" she challenged.
Ooh... not bad for her first entry. Nodus thought, hidden within the surrounding crowd.
Serpens scowled.
"Oh really? Well I am nature's deadliest assassin, Serpens, Dark Star of Wood! Prepare to feel nature's wrath!" she yelled.
"POIIIIIISON IVYYYYY!!!!!"
Sailororion gasped and leapt above the glowing vines, flipping of the counter and in front of Serpens.
Familiar words suddenly escaped her mouth, thought she had never heard them before.
"Orion Chaste Beams, Blind!!!"
An angelic, silver and violet scepter appeared in her hands, and she slammed it down into a horizontal position in front of her. Violet beams of light exploded from the crystal at the top of the scepter.
"AAAAGH!!!!" Serpens screamed, the beams piercing her arms and torso.
Panting heavily after the attack, Serpens glared angrily at Sailororion.
"Forget this!" she yelled.
"Souls Invert!" she cried; Sesshoku's soul crystal began glowing a furious black.
"I call upon... youma Hebi-Hebi!!!" she yelled, tossing the butterfly into the air.
There was a burst of black light, and the butterfly molded itself into a hideous, snake-like creature. A dark green star was tattooed beneath its neck. The rest of the people in the crowd screamed and ran out of the diner, fearing for their lives.
"Heeeeeeebi-Heeeeeeebi!" the creature hissed.
"Hebi-Hebi, destroy the girl and report back to Mephisto!" Serpens commanded, before she leapt into a portal of moss-green smoke and disappeared. As soon as she left, the ivy vines disintegrated off of Arashi.
Mephisto...? thought both Nodus and Sailororion.
"Hebi-Hebiiiiiii!!!!!"
"EEEEK!!!"
Sailororion leapt out of the way, as Hebi-Hebi's red snake tongue went flying towards her.
"That's disgusting!" she cried, as the monster slurped its tongue back into its mouth.
"HEBI-HEBIIII!!!!!" it screamed again, it's tongue flying towards her once more.
Orion leapt out of the way again.
"NODUS, HELP!" she cried, dodging the tongue once more.
Nodus paused to think.
"TRY AIMING FOR THE STAR, ORION!" he finally yelled.
She nodded, and raised her scepter.
"Orion, Chaste Beams, Blind!" she screamed, sending her beams of pure energy towards Hebi-Hebi.
"HEBI-HEBIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!" the monster cried in pain, as the beams hit their mark and literally dissolved it.
The green butterfly re-appeared in the monster's place, no longer glowing black.
Orion sighed with relief.
"Phew!"
* * * * *
"WHAT!?!?!?" Diabolus howled in anger.
Serpens and the other creatures in the throne room cringed in fear.
"My Lord, I was given a defective target, and some sailor-suited brat got in my way before I could destroy the crystal!!!" Serpens argued, shooting Lyra a nasty look.
"You didn't even destroy the boy's crystal!? Incompetent idiot! I ought to--" Diabolus suddenly paused. "What did you say about a sailor-suited brat?"
Serpens' face went slightly blue.
"Em... a young girl in a violet sailor suit got in my way, my Lord."
"What was her name?"
Sirius looked away, snarling.
Damn it!!! she thought, bitterly.
"Sailororion, my Lord," replied Serpens
"Orion? Very interesting," said Diabolus.
Sirius suddenly smirked to herself, a plan forming in her devious mind.
Next time the girl will pay. Next time... she thought.
Diabolus tapped his fingers on the arms of his throne.
"Very well then, Serpens. I shall give you another chance. But I do not accept failure! Dark Starz dismissed!" he said.
"Thank you my Lord," Serpens said quickly, as she and the others bowed and leapt into their separate portals.
* * * * *
"Sesshoku??? Sesshoku??? PLEASE WAKE UP!!!" Arashi was yelling when Sukui approached her, de-henshined.
She blinked.
"What happened here?" she said, as if she hadn't seen a thing.
"A big ugly monster attacked poor Sesshoku, taking a butterfly out of his mouth! Than a sailor senshi came and gave it back to him, but he's still unconscious!!!!" Arashi cried. "Where the hell have you been?"
Sukui restrained a smirk.
"I was in the bathroom... sounds like I missed a lot!" she said.
At that moment, Sesshoku began to stir.
"Ugh... my head..." he moaned.
Arashi hugged him tightly.
"Oh Sesshoku! I'm so glad you're okay!!!!" she cried.
Sesshoku's face went blue.
"Arashi.......can't.......breathe!!!!" he managed to croak.
Sukui laughed and smiled at Nodus, who winked back.
She then attempted to pull Arashi of Sesshoku... which wasn't an easy task!
Episode Two: "Arashi's Crush in Peril! Sailororion Awakened"
"Sukui..."
Sukui tossed and turned in her sleep.
"Who are you?" she commanded.
A regal silhouette of a tall, delicate young woman appeared. She was wearing a long, elegant gown and, although Sukui could not see her face, she felt as if she knew her.
"The question, child, is who are you?"
Sukui took in a deep breath, confused.
"I'm me! Tenjouno Sukuinushi! Who else would I be?"
The young woman's silhouette rippled suddenly, as thought she were nothing but water.
"You are Sukui... but you are also much more. You are a soldier of purity and dreams. You are..."
The woman stopped suddenly.
"I must go! Never forget who you are, Sukui! You are more than you think..." The woman's silhouette faded away into darkness, her last words echoing in Sukui's mind.
"-more than you think..."
Sukui gasped, jerking upright in her bed.
She slammed her fist down on her ever-annoying alarm clock, and breathed heavily. She was covered in sweat.
Masurao eyed her with curiosity.
Sukui wiped her forehead and sighed with relief.
"Something strange is going on, 'Rao-chan..." she said softly. The cat looked away, resting his head in his paws.
Sukui looked at him strangely.
Why do I feel like that cat has something to do with all this... she thought. She suddenly remembered the strange rod, and took it in her hand.
"And I think this has something to do with it too..." she said out loud.
She catches on fast... Nodus thought to himself, trying his hardest not to smirk.
* * * * *
In the misty depths of an alternate dimension called Mephisto, a dark figure sat atop a black marble throne. Twisted around the black marble were thorny vines covered in black roses.
The figure that sat on this throne was dressed in a deep brown cloak that flopped over the top half of his face, casting both his head and neck into shadows. A deep purple scar glowed ferociously on the hooded figure's left cheek, and a black Labrador sat at his feet.
"My minions! Come forth at once!" the figure yelled; judging from his gruff, harsh voice, he was assumed to be male.
At once, thousands of odd-looking, monstrous silhouettes appeared in a half-circle around the marble throne; each one keeping their distance from the hooded man.
"Sirius," the man began. The black dog at his feet stood up immediately, taking its place on the right side of the man's throne.
"Yes, my Lord?" the dog spoke. Not one of the other creatures appeared surprised that this dog could speak.
"My faithful and truest companion, Sirius; you must help me choose my minions for this important task," said the man.
The dog nodded, and walked out in front of the man.
"I am suggesting the Dark Starz, your eminence. Centaurus! Lyra! Columba! Vulpecula! Serpens! Appear and serve your Lord!" Sirius barked.
All at once, five female silhouettes stepped forward out of the crowd; their human-like faces now visible.
Each one bowed quickly. "Here to serve, our Lord Diabolus!" they said together.
The hooded man, called Diabolus, then spoke.
"A good choice, Sirius. I knew you would not fail me; but will the five of you?" he said.
"No, my Lord!" all five said quickly.
Diabolus leaned back into his chair; his elbows resting beside him and his fingers touching.
"Very well then. I shall explain your mission."
Every creature in the room grew deathly silent, anxious to hear what their Lord would tell them.
"As you may or not know, I am searching for the Naiyasuishou, the Diamond Crystal. This tiny gem is the key to my greatest plan: to destroy the Earth, and it's pathetic inhabitants," Diabolus began.
"My Lord! My Lord! Why have you targeted the earthlings?" one of the silhouetted creatures suddenly yelled.
"SILENCE!!!" Diabolus yelled. With the wave of his hand, the creature disappeared in a puff of violet smoke, leaving behind a small pile of charred remains.
"Fool," Diabolus hissed. "My plan is not only dominance, but I seek something far greater. Far greater than anything your puny little minds could comprehend! Anyone else want to interrupt me?"
The room was silent.
"Good. As I was saying, with the power of the Naiyasuishou, I will be able to unleash my own great powers on the people of Earth. However, the Naiyasuishou was lost on the planet Earth when that foolish Queen Serenity sent the Sailor Planets and the Sailor Constellations to the future to be reborn. We've tracked the crystal to the Japanese city of Sendai, but we have not been able to locate any further readings."
The creatures pondered this for a moment.
"The crystal is powered by the purity of one's soul; therefore it will have placed itself within the soul of an appropriate holder. Dark Starz, it is your mission to locate the single human who possesses such a soul. A humanoid soul will take the crystallized shape of an earth creature called a 'butterfly' when extracted from its holder. Pure souls will be an assortment of different colors; however, the one we want to find is all the colors of the rainbow. You will extract these souls with these," Diabolus continued.
In a puff of smoke, a table appeared in front of the Dark Starz. On it were five solid silver gloves that covered the wrist and the hand, but not the fingers. On the palm, was a star; one was violet, another dark turquoise, another was orange, another was blood red, and the last was deep moss green.
Each Dark Star picked up the glove with their respective color and slipped it onto their right wrists. The table disappeared.
"Dark Starz, is your mission clear?" Diabolus demanded.
"Yes, sir!" the five young women yelled in unison.
"Very well then. Dark Starz, dismissed!"
The five bowed and disappeared in swirls of smoke in their respective colors.
"And so it begins..." Diabolus whispered.
* * * * *
"Fries and a small lemonade, please, Sesshoku."
"And I'll have a triple hot-fudge sundae and a chocolate shake!" Arashi added.
Sukui sweatdropped. She and Arashi had decided to take Masurao to the Shield Arcade and Diner after school that day. Only a few other people were there.
"Can't you eat anything remotely healthy?" she asked her sister.
Arashi smirked, and shook her head.
18 year-old Fanken Sesshoku, who worked as a cashier at the Shield, laughed.
"You two crack me up. You act like sisters!" he said, grinning.
"We are sisters," Sukui and Arashi said together.
"Well, stepsisters..." Arashi pointed out.
"Same thing!"
Sesshoku laughed again and rang up their orders.
"Be ready in about six minutes," he said.
"Great, 'cause I'm starving!" Arashi said.
Sukui gave her a knowing look.
"You're always starving..." she said.
"Not always! Sometimes I'm tired... and sometimes I'm really starving!"
Sesshoku laughed.
"You two are just too much!" he said, shaking his head.
Five minutes later, Sukui was nibbling on her fries, Arashi was wolfing down her sundae, and Masurao was sitting on Sukui's lap-- eying the fries and the sundae.
"You know... you're going to get some serious acne from all that junk--" Sukui began.
Arashi ignored her, and kept eating.
"Here's a re-fill on that lemonade, Sukui-chan," said Sesshoku, as he placed a full glass of lemonade on the table.
"Arigatou, Sesshoku-kun!" Sukui replied. He smiled at her, and left.
Arashi sighed and put down her ice cream spoon for a moment.
"You're so lucky, Su-chan..."
Sukui blinked.
"How am I lucky?"
Arashi leaned back into her seat and crossed her arms.
"Hot guys are always coming on to you. For once, I wish a guy like Sesshoku could be interested in me! I mean, he's practically perfect! He's smart, he's older, he has a steady job, he plays football, he's senior class president, he'll probably be valedictorian, and he's drop-dead gorgeous!!! I mean, he's lived across the street from us for three years now, and he's always seemed so much more interested in you--" she said, pouting slightly.
Sukui smiled warmly.
"Sesshoku is just a good family friend, Arashi. There's nothing more! Besides, I already have a steady boyfriend, and--" Sukui stopped for a second. "--and... and I'm sure there's a great guy out there just for you!" she added quickly.
Arashi smiled.
"Nice save."
"Wasn't it?" Sukui grinned back, stroking Masurao behind the ears.
Arashi just smiled and watched Sesshoku taking orders.
"But he's just so perfect..." she pouted.
Sukui nodded.
"He's very ambitious too. He wants to go to college in America and study law. He's hoping to become a lawyer," she said.
Arashi sighed dreamily.
"A lawyer..." she whispered.
* * * * *
"How are we supposed to find a worthy target!? This is impossible! I'm hungry! I'm tired! My butt hurts! Are you done yet, Lyra!?" the young Dark Star named Columba whined, fidgeting in her seat and acting like a little brat.
The five Dark Starz sat in Lyra's laboratory, patiently waiting for her to complete her search of the entire town for a target; all except Columba, who whined and griped and moaned about how bored she was.
Finally, Serpens had had enough.
"Sit down and shut up!!!" Serpens screamed, her eyes glowing an intense silver.
Columba did as she was told, sinking in her chair and whimpering slightly.
Lyra spun around in her office chair to face the rest of the group.
"I've found the perfect target!" she announced.
The group looked at her.
"Well? Who!?" Vulpecula demanded.
Lyra smiled and swiveled back around to her computer. She pressed something, and the printer next to her sprang to life.
The other four girls craned their necks to see what she was printing, but saw nothing.
Finally, Lyra picked up the printed piece of paper and showed it to the others. It was a picture of a young man with dark brown hair and pale brown eyes. He wore an apron that said "Shield Arcade and Diner" and was handing a girl money from a register.
Centaurus raised an eyebrow.
"What's so special about him?" she asked. Vulpecula's eyes widened and she grinned.
"He fine, that's what!" she winked.
Lyra glared at her. "Vulpecula, do focus on the mission at hand!!!" she lectured.
Vulpecula sank into her chair.
"Whatever."
Lyra straightened her glasses, which had begun to slip down her thin, pointy nose.
"As I was saying. This young man's name is Fanken Sesshoku. He's your typical, perfect prettyboy. He has a job at the Shield Arcade and Diner, and dreams of studying law in America--"
"Oh, how touching. Get to the point!" Serpens hissed.
Lyra's upper lip twitched slightly, but she continued.
"Anyways, I have selected him as our first target. He achieves so much, so his soul must be the purest!" She paused and smirked at Serpens.
"Serpens! Why don't you do the honors of capturing his soul crystal?"
Serpens scowled.
"I'd be delighted!" she hissed, pounding her silver glove into her left fist a few times.
She hastily snatched the printed image and stats of Sesshoku, and glared at Lyra, who gave her an innocent, sarcastic look.
She snarled, and leapt into a portal of swirling green smoke.
"20 bucks says she's back in twenty minutes with no Naiyasuishou!" Vulpecula smirked.
"Make it 50, and you've got a deal," said Lyra.
* * * * *
Sukui arched her eyebrow at Arashi's odd behavior.
Then it hit her.
"Arashi! You have a crush on Sesshoku, don't you?" she whispered, grinning from ear-to-ear.
Arashi's face went several shades of pink.
"I- I- No! I mean, yes! I mean- NO!!!" she stuttered.
Sukui giggled.
"Oh come on, Arashi, it's so obvious!"
Arashi's face went two more shades of pink and she looked away.
"Whatever. I know a perfect senior like him would never date a sophomore loser like me..." she said sadly.
Sukui smiled gently.
"Why don't you just go talk to him? I'm sure you have a lot in common!" she said.
Arashi looked at her like she was crazy.
"Like what???" she asked. "He's the world's most perfect guy, Sukui! He probably only dates beautiful, smart, funny, outgoing, and ambitious girls! I'm not any of those things!!!"
Sukui shook her head.
"Not true, Arashi! Don't put yourself down! You've got a great sense of humor; you could make the Devil roll over laughing! And you're honest and loyal and caring and--"
"Okay okay! I get the point! But still... I'm just not worthy of him..."
Sukui couldn't help but laugh.
"Worthy??? Arashi, he's not some prince from a faraway country! He's just a regular guy! Now go talk to him!!!" she pressed.
"But--"
"Go talk to him!!!"
"Alright, alright! I'm going!"
Sukui smirked as Arashi stood up and walked over to Sesshoku, who was standing behind the cashier waiting for customers.
"They're a perfect match, 'Rao-chan. Just like Romeo and Juliet!" she whispered to Masurao.
"Hey there, Arashi! You need a re-fill on that chocolate milkshake?" Sesshoku asked her.
Arashi blushed, not noticing she was still holding her milkshake.
"Um, yes please," she said, handing it to him.
"Got it. Be right back!"
"Okay!"
I'd wait forever... she thought dreamily.
While she waited, she noticed a very tall, very out of place, woman walk into the Shield. Her dark green hair was worn in a short braid, and a pair of black sunglasses hid her eyes. She was dressed in a beige trench coat, buttoned up all the way.
Whoa... even I wouldn't be seen looking like that! Arashi thought.
The woman approached the cashier and looked around.
"Is there a Fanken Sesshoku on the premises? she asked Arashi.
Arashi blinked, and nodded. "Yeah, he's in the back re-filling my milkshake."
The other woman nodded.
"Good."
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Arashi started edging away from the odd woman.
At that moment, Sesshoku re-emerged with her milkshake.
"Here ya go, Ara-chan. Oh! Welcome to the Shield, may I take your order?" he said, handing Arashi her milkshake and turning his attention to the new customer.
"Why yes! I'd like... your soul crystal, if you please!" the woman cackled, throwing her trench coat on the floor and revealing the odd, green and brown outfit beneath it. She removed her sunglasses as well, revealing strange, silver eyes.
Sesshoku and Arashi backed away from her in amazement.
"My soul??? Who the hell are you!?" Sesshoku cried.
"Your worst nightmare," the woman laughed.
Sukui looked up from her fries as Masurao jumped off her lap.
"What's wrong, Masurao-- Ohmygosh!" she gasped.
The woman had her right palm flipped up, so her silver glove was facing Sesshoku. A dark green beam of light suddenly shot from her glove, taking the form of a claw-like hand. It reached into Sesshoku's mouth, practically choking him. The woman jerked her hand back, and the claw flew back towards her; a beautiful, grass-green butterfly within it's grasp. Sesshoku collapsed instantly.
"NOOOO!!!" Arashi cried, rushing to his side.
Sukui stood up and started towards them.
"Wait!"
She whirled around to see who had said that. No one was there, except...
"Masurao!?" Sukui squeaked.
"Yes, it was me! And please stop calling my 'Masurao.' My name is Nodus!" the cat said.
Sukui blinked.
"Um, sure... Nodus," she said.
Nodus nodded, and suddenly backflipped over himself. A swirl of violet energy appeared beneath him. When it disappeared, the violet rod Sukui had found the night before was lying on the floor.
"How did you--?"
"No time to explain! Take the rod and yell, 'Orion Star Power, Makeup!' And hurry!" Nodus explained.
"But--"
"JUST HUMOR ME!!!"
"Um, okay."
Sukui picked up the rod and ducked into the corner of the diner, where no one could see her; everyone was already watching Sesshoku anyways.
"Here goes--" She raised the rod into the air and yelled, "Orion Star Power, Makeup!"
Violet ribbons, pinkish-purple streams of light, and white angel feather scattered around her body, transforming her school uniform into a skimpy sailor uniform.
"Whoa!!!" she cried out in amazement.
Nodus ran up beside her.
"You are the Sailor Constellation of Purity and Dreams, Sailororion. You must use your powers to stop that woman and return that soul crystal to its proper holder!" he explained.
"What???" Sailororion questioned, sweatdropping.
Nodus sighed.
"Destroy the woman; get the butterfly; put it back into Sesshoku's mouth!!!"
"Oh! Why didn't you say so?"
"DAMN THAT IDIOT, LYRA! It's just another worthless humanoid soul! Pfft!!!" Serpens scowled, examining Sesshoku's soul crystal.
Arashi narrowed her eyebrows.
"No one's soul is worthless, you piece of scum!!! GIVE IT BACK!!!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Serpens smirked.
"Aw, you want it back? Why don't you come and GET IT!!!" she threatened.
"POISON IVY!!!"
Arashi screamed as glowing vines of ivory erupted from Serpens' fingernails, tying her up in poison ivy.
"Aaagh! It itches!!!" she squealed.
Serpens laughed maniacally.
"Well, this little baby may seem worthless, but we wouldn't want that crystal deciding to pick another holder. Better get rid of it..." she said to herself, raising the butterfly above her head to smash to the ground...
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Serpens looked up.
"Who said that?"
"I did!"
A violet-clad sailor soldier leapt up onto the cashier counter.
"Protecting the dreams of humans everywhere, I am Sailororion! With the powers of Purity on my side, I shall vanquish you in the name of the Constellations!" she challenged.
Ooh... not bad for her first entry. Nodus thought, hidden within the surrounding crowd.
Serpens scowled.
"Oh really? Well I am nature's deadliest assassin, Serpens, Dark Star of Wood! Prepare to feel nature's wrath!" she yelled.
"POIIIIIISON IVYYYYY!!!!!"
Sailororion gasped and leapt above the glowing vines, flipping of the counter and in front of Serpens.
Familiar words suddenly escaped her mouth, thought she had never heard them before.
"Orion Chaste Beams, Blind!!!"
An angelic, silver and violet scepter appeared in her hands, and she slammed it down into a horizontal position in front of her. Violet beams of light exploded from the crystal at the top of the scepter.
"AAAAGH!!!!" Serpens screamed, the beams piercing her arms and torso.
Panting heavily after the attack, Serpens glared angrily at Sailororion.
"Forget this!" she yelled.
"Souls Invert!" she cried; Sesshoku's soul crystal began glowing a furious black.
"I call upon... youma Hebi-Hebi!!!" she yelled, tossing the butterfly into the air.
There was a burst of black light, and the butterfly molded itself into a hideous, snake-like creature. A dark green star was tattooed beneath its neck. The rest of the people in the crowd screamed and ran out of the diner, fearing for their lives.
"Heeeeeeebi-Heeeeeeebi!" the creature hissed.
"Hebi-Hebi, destroy the girl and report back to Mephisto!" Serpens commanded, before she leapt into a portal of moss-green smoke and disappeared. As soon as she left, the ivy vines disintegrated off of Arashi.
Mephisto...? thought both Nodus and Sailororion.
"Hebi-Hebiiiiiii!!!!!"
"EEEEK!!!"
Sailororion leapt out of the way, as Hebi-Hebi's red snake tongue went flying towards her.
"That's disgusting!" she cried, as the monster slurped its tongue back into its mouth.
"HEBI-HEBIIII!!!!!" it screamed again, it's tongue flying towards her once more.
Orion leapt out of the way again.
"NODUS, HELP!" she cried, dodging the tongue once more.
Nodus paused to think.
"TRY AIMING FOR THE STAR, ORION!" he finally yelled.
She nodded, and raised her scepter.
"Orion, Chaste Beams, Blind!" she screamed, sending her beams of pure energy towards Hebi-Hebi.
"HEBI-HEBIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!" the monster cried in pain, as the beams hit their mark and literally dissolved it.
The green butterfly re-appeared in the monster's place, no longer glowing black.
Orion sighed with relief.
"Phew!"
* * * * *
"WHAT!?!?!?" Diabolus howled in anger.
Serpens and the other creatures in the throne room cringed in fear.
"My Lord, I was given a defective target, and some sailor-suited brat got in my way before I could destroy the crystal!!!" Serpens argued, shooting Lyra a nasty look.
"You didn't even destroy the boy's crystal!? Incompetent idiot! I ought to--" Diabolus suddenly paused. "What did you say about a sailor-suited brat?"
Serpens' face went slightly blue.
"Em... a young girl in a violet sailor suit got in my way, my Lord."
"What was her name?"
Sirius looked away, snarling.
Damn it!!! she thought, bitterly.
"Sailororion, my Lord," replied Serpens
"Orion? Very interesting," said Diabolus.
Sirius suddenly smirked to herself, a plan forming in her devious mind.
Next time the girl will pay. Next time... she thought.
Diabolus tapped his fingers on the arms of his throne.
"Very well then, Serpens. I shall give you another chance. But I do not accept failure! Dark Starz dismissed!" he said.
"Thank you my Lord," Serpens said quickly, as she and the others bowed and leapt into their separate portals.
* * * * *
"Sesshoku??? Sesshoku??? PLEASE WAKE UP!!!" Arashi was yelling when Sukui approached her, de-henshined.
She blinked.
"What happened here?" she said, as if she hadn't seen a thing.
"A big ugly monster attacked poor Sesshoku, taking a butterfly out of his mouth! Than a sailor senshi came and gave it back to him, but he's still unconscious!!!!" Arashi cried. "Where the hell have you been?"
Sukui restrained a smirk.
"I was in the bathroom... sounds like I missed a lot!" she said.
At that moment, Sesshoku began to stir.
"Ugh... my head..." he moaned.
Arashi hugged him tightly.
"Oh Sesshoku! I'm so glad you're okay!!!!" she cried.
Sesshoku's face went blue.
"Arashi.......can't.......breathe!!!!" he managed to croak.
Sukui laughed and smiled at Nodus, who winked back.
She then attempted to pull Arashi of Sesshoku... which wasn't an easy task!