"So we're here," Crystal Mars stated as she climbed to her feet, dusting off her fuku. She peeled the leaves and dirt from her black tresses and looked at her mother. Elysian mars had shorter hair and as such it was easier to sort twigs and branches out. Cosmic Mars was still dusting herself off while Chibi Mars had just got to her feet.
"Now what do we do?" Crystal; Mars demanded, impatient and angry. She had heard of the massacre in Senshi History and she was determined to stop it. She had never met her great-grandmother but had been told that she and her could be twin sisters. She would stop at nothing to alter history back on its correct track.
Elysian Mars turned to Elysian Moon. The princess had got to her feet and like the Mars Senshi had just finished dusting herself off. She threw her pale ponytails behind her shoulders and faced the rest of her family. Crystal Moon had the most trouble. Her hair was white so any twigs or briars were easy to spot but very hard to remove. Eternal Cosmic Moon…Neo-Queen Serenity the Second was helping her while her younger self looked around, eager for action, her eyes practically dancing with rage.
"Well," Chelsea answered carefully. "We can't attack together, there's too many of us in one place. That's too noticeable. We should split up."
She immediately got unanimous nods. Since the Moon Senshi were the leaders, both Rinis, Chelsea, and Rayna conversed for a few minutes before Crystal Moon spoke.
"Okay, we're gonna go by planet. Chibi Cosmic, Elysian, and Crystal Mars will sneak around the Palace and go in through the gate leading to the gardens."
The said Senshi nodded. Annika had her arms wrapped around Brooke's leg. She remembered Brooke from when Tiffany had come. She liked Brooke and over the hours had learned to trust her. Brooke had her hands in little Annika's hair, as comfort.
"Chibi, Cosmic, Elysian and Crystal Jupiter, you guys will go in the side entrance, through the servants' quarters."
The Mars Senshi heard no more as they had already begun to walk to their destination. Annika was very quiet and Brooke looked at her, with pity.
"Mom?"
It was Ashley. She spoke in a gentle voice, soft. Brooke whispered back,
"Hai?"
"Do you really think we can save Great-Grandma?"
"Hai, Ashley. It isn't a matter of can we. It's a matter of how. We will. We have to."
She stole a glance at Chibi Mars.
"Her mother is what defines her world. She has nothing to live for without Raye."
Ashley lowered her voice another notch,
"Mom, that can't be healthy. I mean, I love you. With all my heart but I know you would want me to go on without you!"
"Hai, as does Raye. Amy was working with my mother. Another reason we have to save them."
Brooke paused and then said,
"Look at your grandmother Ashley. She loves me and she loves you but does she reveal it?"
"Iie."
"She did, once. But when her mother was taken from her, it shattered her. Even with me, she seemed to lose much of her emotional gift. And all because of her mother's death."
Brooke stole a glance at Cosmic Mars, who was storming forward, her heels clicking against the sidewalk. Her eyes were narrowed, focused. Brooke shook her head,
"All she lives for now is revenge."
Chibi Mars suddenly stopped.
"What is it, Annika?" Brooke asked her gently. The girl turned to face her future daughter.
"I don't know. It isn't a warning, but it's a sense….I hafta see it."
"What about your mother?"
Annika stopped, "yes…Mama….but-"
"Her powers are too weak, Brooke." Cosmic Mars stated. She knelt and smiled at her past self, "and if you feel the aura that I do, go."
Annika stared at her future self who said,
"I know that aura, just as you do. Go."
Annika nodded. She took off at a sprint and closed her eyes as she ran, allowing her psychic sense to overtake her. Realizing how obvious a Senshi would look once downtown, she powered down. A whole group of Senshi was a common sight but one alone was a whole other matter.
"Well, well, hello crybaby."
No, Annika pleaded silently, Not her. Not now.
But it was. Miyaki.
While Crystal Tokyo was under attack, the attack was so isolated that the city could go on with their usual lives. For Miyaki, that meant tormenting others.
Miyaki grabbed Annika by her shoulder, "Shouldn't you be napping, crybaby? Or maybe shaking a rattle?"
Annika started to walk away, towards where the aura was generating. Miyaki yanked her back.
"Don't walk away. I was talking to you crybaby!"
Annika was about to start crying when a voice pierced her mind, through her psychic sense, no words but a scream of pure pain. She recognized it instantly.
"Gloria!"
"Your protector isn't here, crybaby."
Annika could not believe the pain she heard in Gloria's voice, the fear. She started to run. Miyaki grabbed her again. Gloria screamed louder, which made it worse for Annika. Her best friend needed her, needed Chibi Mars. And she couldn't get there because of a simple girl.
Something inside of Annika snapped.
She whirled to face Miyaki, her deep violet eyes burning with hate. Her voice came out, cold and hard.
"Let. Go. Miyaki."
The bully was stunned. "where are the tears, crybaby?"
Annika let out a roar of frustration and for once didn't care what she was supposed to act like. Her best friend needed her. She brought her knee up and caught Miyaki in the stomach. To Annika, Miyaki was a youma, nothing more. All her past pain came rushing back and she saw Miyaki in a new light. As a bully, not someone stronger than her but merely a bully. Anger filled her heart.
"Listen here, Miyaki. And listen good. I don't have time to deal with you! I've taken this off you day and day again but I've had it!"
Miyaki backed up. Annika grabbed her by her shirt.
"I'll say this once…I am in no mood to play games!"
She released Miyaki and then gave her a swift Senshi kick to the stomach, enough to send the girl sprawling down onto her backside.
"GET OUT OF MY LIFE!"
Annika's anger faded and before she crumbled again, she ran, screaming,
"Hang on Gloria!"