Chapter 6

The magical window showed me that the others had the same problems as Chiro and me. Azusa struggled with a flute that kept trying to knock her over the head. Whistling a high, off-pitch key, I winced for my friend. Finally she slammed the spindly legs out from under it and shouted,

Note Wave!

The harp in her hands glowed. Golden light streamed to cover the demon, leaving a young, black haired boy.



Azusa looked up, surprised. Mi? How d you do that?

I'll show you later. We have to end this at the source. Meet me with the others on top of the clock tower.



Waving my hand across the window, the scene changed. Melody and Ken battled a tuba, percussion, and horn. Panting, Melody slashed the percussion with her bow. A flash of red left a chubby youth on the ground. Ken focused his hands in front of him and shouted,

Trumpet Fanfare!

The silver light blazed forth and blew the horn away. Flicking his wrist, Ken drew his sword and cut the remaining tuba that ran squawking away. Before the two pursued, I called,

Saya and Nogu! I have a new plan. Meet us on top of the clock tower as soon as possible.

The two nodded before chasing after the running tuba.

***************************************

Horror blanketed the campus. Breathless from the nearly non-stop fighting, I stood silently watching the ground below. One could view the entire school from the four-story clock. Unconsciously I sighed. A warm arm wrapped around me.

Do you regret accepting this? Chiro asked, unusually serious.

Turning, I looked up at him. Do you?

He smiled sadly. No. It will be hard - look at all those superheroes people create. It'll be even impossible sometimes, but it s what were here for. His eyes hardened. This is my path, and I'll accept it. He looked at me. What about you?

For a long time I simply held his gaze. It amazed me that such a carefree person could shame me in open and honest loyalty. But then, he had been named the Muse of Devotion.

I smiled. I accept mine with yours.

Chiro bent and kissed me. Pulling back he whispered, Muse of my heart.

I groaned slightly at his attempt at romance. Actually, that would be Mel.

True, yours is even better, Muse of Pass-

A violin ran drunkenly across the plaza below. Raising my staff, I prepared to strike it down.

String Lash!

The now familiar silver-red beam left another student moaning on the ground. Melody checked the boy before springing up to join us. Soon after came the others.

What's up? Azusa asked.

You mean besides us? Chiro impertinently chimed in.

I elbowed him and turned to our self-designated leaders.

Saya, this isn't working. When we destroy one, the others grow stronger. We're limiting their numbers, but the amount of power remains the same. I waved out across the grounds. Were injuring students now.

Melody pushed back a lock of sweaty hair, her eyes tired. It's come to this then.

Azusa had always been slow on the uptake.

Ken murmured, Harmony Blade. His sword reappeared.

Nodding to his unspoken agreement I gripped my staff. A bladed point sprang from the base, turning it into a weapon.

We attack Javier and take him down.

*******************************

The Conductor leisurely watched the entertainment of his creations. This time his spells were quite ingenious, if he did say so himself. Guardians and their stupid principles. He sneered and spitefully destroyed the lightning rod atop the stadium. He could beat the lot of them with his eyes shut. He nearly had the trio before, if those two hadn't - Javier covered his ears with the memory. No matter, he would just have to silence both of them. Permanently.

He grinned, catching a movement on the clock tower. The smile grew in maliciousness. Here they come.

*******************************

We found the center of this chaos sitting nonchalantly on the dome of the stadium. Smiling, eyes closed, the seemingly harmless old man waved his arms, conducting an invisible orchestra. Ken stalked forwards to confront him. A wall of fiery light flamed to life in a ten-foot radius around Javier, throwing the Muse of Understanding off his feet. A laugh erupted from the demon leader and the flames extended. Chiro unfolded his shield and again we crouched under the onslaught. Flames whipped around us and I felt an instant of fear for the others. Reaching out, I felt their presence and plan of action. The moment the flames subsided I leapt up and planted my staff. Nodding to Azusa and Melody we shouted together,

String Vibration!

Red, yellow and purple beams came to a head and met with the wall of fire. Energy crackled. I forced my magic through the focus. Strands of violet twisted among the fire, but Javier fought back, choking my hold. The heat raked my concentration and I nearly lost control. Blue light slipped alongside mine and the strain lessened. I chanced a look over my shoulder. Chiro had joined me. I smiled and extended the reach. With a twist of my hand, I squeezed. The wall shattered. Immediately the six of us circled the Conductor.

We are the Muses of Harmony who represent the virtues of True music.



Passion!









We are the protectors of song for the past, present, and future; the Destroyers of Discord, Champions of Concert and Unity. All those who wish to turn the pleasure of music to evil will face justice. You, Conductor Javier, have defiled the purity of sound and shall be punished!

Javier didn't even answer. Shooting pages of his magicked music in our faces, he blinded us for the moment he needed.

Wind Confusion!

The white, green, and blue colored beam swept away the assault and bounced off of a strange papery, egg-shaped bundle.

What the - ? I turned to Melody. Is this a joke?

Melody shook here head grimly. Don't take your guard down. He's planning something.

Um, guys?

We turned to look at Azusa. She pointed down. We're going to have company soon.

The demons were approaching the stadium. A few were climbing the walls like spiders. Yuki played his flute.

Flute Cascade!

Green lashed the instruments from the building.

That won't scare them for long.

Ken sprang at the paper cocoon, blade drawn. The paper exploded.



Ken struggled, wrapped in the possessed music up to his neck. Javier laughed, rising above the roof on a pillar of flames. Melody leapt after Ken, trying to cut his bonds. Javier waved at her. The strands sprang out to trap her, tying her back to back with her partner.
Javier snarled down at the rest of us. Leave now if you wish to prolong your lives. I have things to settle with these two first. Then it will be your turn.

Anger swept through my logic. I attacked, bringing the bladed point slashing across his neck. The Conductor whipped his baton up to parry and sent me sprawling across the ground. From the baton came a blast of fire, shooting directly at my face. I cringed. Something slammed me out of the way at the last moment.



He smiled breathlessly down at me. Not Chiro, I m Harok, remember?

I grinned back for a moment before getting to my feet.

Yuki stood boldly in front of Javier. If you wish to deal with those
who defeated you once before, won't that include me?

The man laughed. Aren't you the sacrificing one? He looked towards the bound pair who hung limply in the air. These two owe me.
The paper tightened and I could hear joints pop. I winced.



Azusa plucked the strings of her harp. Golden light swirled around the Conductor. He looked down in disgust.

He waved a hand. The gold swirled into nothingness. Flicking his wrist, another ball of fire bloomed and burned a ditch in the roof as the Muse leapt over it.

Flute Cascade!

Note Wave!

The attacks merely dispersed off of an invisible wall. It seemed hopeless that we would be able to take this madman down. The possessed instruments closed in from behind, trapping us in a double ring. Back to back, the four of us faced our end.

*********************************

Melody whispered. I'm sorry about the past.

Ken turned as best he could to look at her. I understand why you did.

She hesitantly began singing.

I've looked inside my heart
Worried what I'll do
But now I know the part
I'll sing it back to you.

Javier's eyes widened. He screamed. The paper tried to choke off the song, but Melody raised her head and Ken joined her.

They sang, driving away the terror and darkness. I never could remember the words after it was over, or even if they used words. All I remember is the perfect harmony simply intertwined that rapidly spun into a tapestry of music. The instruments cringed and screamed at the sound as the rest of us looked on in awe.

Two spots of silver appeared on Melody's and Ken's foreheads. It spread and lit their masks.

Gift of Voice!

Silver light burned the cocoon away and shot out at Javier. He screamed, hands over his ears, and fell to the roof. Our leaders gracefully floated down, hand in hand. Smoke trailing from his cloths, the Conductor heaved to his feet. Baton in hand he hissed,

I'll silence you forever!

The baton grew. The end sharpened and the length flattened into a blade. Javier charged with a maniac howl. Ken stepped to meet him. In a blink of an eye, the fight was over. Ken diverted the sword upward, slid under it, and in the same moment reversed his own blade to strike with the pommel. Javier crumpled.

Melody raised her hand.

End this.

We followed her example, and the colors of power gathered around our fists.

Rainbow Soul Serenade!

The swirl of color flooded out, leaving unconscious students in its wake and driving the demons out into the burning open. Javier lay writhing before us. His outer shell melted, leaving the true beast screaming and clawing until the magic burned him into nothing but a heap of vile-smelling ashes.


Author's note: I have an idea for a sequal, but no one seems to want to read this. I've mixed Sailor Moon and Greek myth and had a blast doing so. There are nine muses, and I've only written in six. Wether or not the final three come into existance dependes on readers.