Chapter 14 - SMG
* * * * *
It was total darkness in which the senshi arrived. They couldn't even make out each other in the darkness.
"How are we supposed to fight in the dark," asked Sailor Moon, sounding very worried.
"Calm down Sailor Moon," Sailor Mars told her, "I'll shine some light on the situation."
Sailor Moon made a face at the poor humor in Sailor Mars's reply as Sailor Mars chanted, "Fire soul!" As she held her white gloved hands together a flame appear at the end of her extended fingers. She separated her hands, and kept the flame at the end of one finger.
As she lifted her hand and the whole area lit up. Sailor Moon, Luna, Sailor Pluto and Tuxedo Kamen were all there. They all stood on grey rocky ground among ancient ruins. In the sky above they could see both the sun and the earth.
Sailor Moon exclaimed, "We are on the moon!"
With a clenched fist Tuxedo Kamen asked, "Has the Dark Kingdom already come and desecrated here?"
Sailor Pluto glanced around then told them, "We are not even here."
"What do you mean," asked Luna.
"It's an illusion," replied Sailor Pluto.
"How do you know?" inquired Tuxedo Kamen, "It looks like I remember it."
Sailor Pluto turned towards Tuxedo Kamen and explained, "First, Sailor Mars's flame lit up the whole landscape. It should have only lit up a small area."
Sailor Mars look at her flame self consciously, then let it go out. The scene didn't change.
Sailor Pluto continued, "Next, if you observe the sky, at no time today would the earth and sun be at those positions from anywhere on the moon."
Luna nodded but the rest just stood there though Sailor Moon pretended she knew it all along.
Sailor Pluto then turned to Sailor Moon and told them, "Finally, under normal circumstances a dog from earth could not survive here."
Sailor Moon blinked and asked, "A dog?"
Sailor Moon proceeded then to jump about three feet into the air as she heard a loud bark behind her. She then turned around and saw a small black Scottish terrier standing right behind where she had been. It just sat there and looked at her.
Sailor Moon asked with a confused tone, "How did he get here?"
"I think he hitched a ride when we teleported. After we formed a circle and right before we teleported I saw something black run under your feet," Sailor Pluto told her.
Sailor Moon knelt down and offered her hand to the dog. "Hey little dog. I won't hurt you," she told it softly. The dog sniffed her hand suspiciously then suddenly jumped up and licked her face. Sailor Moon laughed, grabbed the little dog and told it, "Stop that!"
Sailor Mars sighed at Sailor Moon and the dog's antics. She asked, "How are we supposed to save the others with you playing with that dog?"
Sailor Moon nodded solemnly but said, "We can't leave him here."
Sailor Mars replied reluctantly, "I suppose not."
Luna, who had kept quiet upon the appearance of the black terrier, finally commented, "This is going to be trouble."
Out of no where came a chorus of laughter. A vaguely familiar voice told them, "Don't worry. We'll protect you from the vicious dog." With that, walls rose up around them, separating the group.
* * * * *
Tuxedo Kamen ran through the maze as fast as his legs could carry him. He needed to find Sailor Moon so he could protect her.
He cheated the maze by vaulting over walls in the direction that Sailor Moon had been but he couldn't find her. It was as if they had been moved apart when the walls had appeared.
He froze as he heard a pained cat cry somewhere in the maze. He knew it was Luna, and though he didn't know if Sailor Moon was with her, Luna needed help.
He headed in the direction of the cry but soon got lost. He ran faster in desperation as a chorus of dark laughter began to fill the air.
Then another scream came, distorted by the laughter and echoes, so he could not tell whom it was. "Sailor Moon!" he cried. Unnatural silence was his only answer.
He called out for the others many times during the next few minutes, but received no reply.
He jumped over another wall and almost ran into five female youma. He did fall into a pit in the floor just after them however.
One smiled cruelly and leaned over to offer a hand out. "Ah, Tuxedo Kamen. Remember us?"
Tuxedo Kamen ignored the hand, and leaped out to the opposite side of the pit. He replied simply, "No," as he readied his cane.
Another pretended to be thoughtful and argued, "Sailor Mars recognized us, though, I suppose her cat did not."
Tuxedo Kamen narrowed his eyes and demanded, "What happened to them?"
A third replied, "Oh, they are doing much better then the last time we met Sailor Mars. See?" With that two crystals rose up from the ground as the youma moved to either side of it. In one was the frozen form of Luna, and the other held Sailor Mars. Both looked like they had been in pain when crystallized.
Tuxedo Kamen's eyes went wide. He told them, "You are nothing but cruel, heartless creature. Let them go and let me find Sailor Moon, or you'll regret it!"
The fourth youma laughed and told him, "Oh, you'll see Sailor Moon, a moment before you die by her hand, causing her great pain too."
The last added, "But we are being so rude. We should show you someone you will recognize, but before we go I wanted to say one more thing."
The forms of the youma began to melt and merge with the ground. The turned the same color as the ground as it merged to meet them. A magical aura covered it and soon Tuxedo Kamen faced the earth elemental.
With a voice that seemed to be made up of cracking stone, the earth elemental said, "Welcome to the stone."
With that the earth around Tuxedo Kamen rose up. He tried to jump away but the rock grabbed a hold of his foot. Before he could do any more, the earth pulled him down and swallowed him whole.
There was only silence afterwards.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon walked around in relative quiet. Since the walls went up she hadn't heard from the others. She had called out their names many times but there was no response. She tried the communicator but got no response. It was as if she was in another world.
Before with the others she was confident they'd save the day as always. Now she was all alone without Tuxedo Kamen or her friends or her confidence.
She looked around nervously, expecting some kind of attack but nothing happened.
The she found herself jumping in fright, as there was a loud bark behind her.
She turned to find the black terrier, which sat happily behind her.
Sailor Moon sighed in relief. She knelt down and petted the dog which woofed in enthusiastic response. "I'm glad it is just you and no6 some youma."
The dog woofed in agreement.
"I don't suppose you can use that nose of yours to find the others?" she asked, not really expecting an answer.
The dog whimpered and lowered his head.
"Auw, it's alright," Sailor Moon told it, then she stood up. With a determined expression she said, "Come on little one, let's find the others."
She turned and moved on. The dog gave two barks and followed.
* * * * *
"So do you understand now little one?" asked what looked to be a black-haired version of Sailor Moon dressed in a tuxedo, like Tuxedo Kamen. She wore a golden mask.
Lisa nodded slowly and replied, "I think so. You need my little mark to defeat Sailor Moon before she destroys Tuxedo, um, something?"
The lady nodded and calmly explained, "I need the Shard of light within you to stop the cruel Sailor Moon from destroying my beloved Tuxedo Kamen."
"But you need my permission first?" asked the little girl.
The other nodded and replied, "Yes, it is only polite after all."
The girl nodded quickly. "I understand," she said a little nervously.
The female in the tuxedo smiled, and as if she sensed the girl's reluctance, offered, "I can keep us invisible and show you them, if you would like."
Lisa smiled nervously and nodded.
The older female told Lisa, "To show I trust you, I'll remove my mask so you know who I really am."
With that she reached up, and removed the golden mask, giving it to Lisa. Revealed was not a sailor moon look-a-like, but human looking version of the Sage's face.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon traveled along, not so quietly, for what seemed like hours on end, with the Scottish terrier following after her. Every minute or so she called for one of the others, with the dog accenting it with a bark. There never was a reply.
She finally stopped, leaned against a wall, and slide down it. The little dog trotted up to her curiously. Sailor Moon looked to the dog and lamented, "We are all alone puppy. All alone." She sighed.
The dog whimpered in sympathy.
Sailor Moon smiled down at him sadly and gently petted him. She asked him, "Glad you came alone now, doggy?"
The dog started to jump up and down happily, before settling back down after a few moments.
Sailor Moon shook her head and said, "You are one strange dog."
It snorted in reply. Then suddenly it turned and gave a questioning whine down the hall.
Sailor Moon got up slowly and asked, "What is it?"
Sailor Moon got her answer as the five female youma shot up from the ground and at her. Being ready from the dog's edgy tone she dodged aside and leaped out of the way, causing the youma to miss her. She then turned and stared for a moment in surprise, recognizing them.
The closest youma grinned and said, "You are quicker then before, and you remember us I see. Good some things don't change. Sort of like how we've defeated all your friends."
"That's not true!" said Sailor Moon, in denial.
Another youma spoke, "Sure it is. You'll see them soon, don't worry." With that the single youma attacked, lashing out with her strange arms.
Sailor Moon jumped away but a moment later, another youma that had moved behind her caught her in the youma's ribbon arms. That youma said, "So much for a challenge. At least we can have a little fun." With that the youma sent energy through the limbs, shocking Sailor Moon and causing her to scream.
The youma had not noticed the little dog however. It lept forward and somehow bit through all the ribbons at once, surprising Sailor Moon and the youmas. Sailor Moon recovered quick and told the dog, "Hurry, let's get out of here!" With that she turned and ran.
A few moments later she looked back to see if the dog followed and too her horror a youma had angrily wrapped it in it's ribbons. The dog just looked at the youma questioningly. Sailor Moon got ready to attack the youma to free the dog but the dog's bark made her pause. It bounced up and down, barked excitedly, but seemed to not be afraid at all. The youma sneered and sent energy down the limbs to the dog. The dog lit up so brightly Sailor Moon turned away.
Sailor Moon reluctantly looked back as the light faded and looked to where the dog had been. Too her surprise the youma's limbs had gone limp, burnt off at the end that had held the dog. The dog it self looked like a giant furball with all its hair standing straight out on end. Sailor Moon impulsively laughed for a moment until she remembered what was going on.
The dog turned to her and whined at her, not pleased with its new hairstyle. A youma behind the dog told Sailor Moon, "We'll get you and your little dog too." With that the youma lashed out its limbs at the dog.
Sailor Moon cried, "Look out puppy!"
The dog spun around quickly once or twice but was blinded but had trouble seeing. The youma grabbed the dog then started sinking into the ground planning to take the dog with it.
The dog had other ideas though, and stood its ground. The youma disappeared and tried to pull the dog too. It didn't budge. As the other youma looked on in surprise, the youma kept trying. The dog thought it was fun for a few moments then got a better idea. Incredibly the dog started running. Within moments the youma appeared out of the ground and was pulled along the floor by the small dog. After bumping into the ground a few times the youma let go. The dog then ran by the stunned Sailor Moon, paused, turned and barked at her.
"I wonder if mom will let me keep you?" Sailor Moon asked the dog in wonder, then they both ran down the passage, leaving the youma in disarray.
The dog gave an uncertain bark in reply.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon tried to regain her breath as she leaned against a wall. The little dog was beside her, resting, but there was no sign of the youma. She looked around in concern, but though she was worried, she was just too tired.
They waited a few minutes then Sailor Moon said, "Come on boy, we have to keep moving."
The dog wuffed quietly and followed.
Sailor Moon ran around a few corners and down a few halls, when a passageway she was following led her to a fair sized room, the first she had seen since getting there. It was lit less well there and for a moment Sailor Moon couldn't see. Then she backed up a few steps as she saw all five youma, with their arms crossed, standing in a small group looking across the room.
Sailor Moon glanced over to what they were looking at, and too her surprise, since she could have sworn there was nothing there before, she saw Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars standing there.
Sailor Mars spun to look at Sailor Moon and shouted, "Come on leader, you came in just in time. Eliminate the youma's with your magic!"
Tuxedo Kamen added, "Yes dearest, destroy them now!"
Sailor Moon blinked in confusion then nodded and got ready, when she noticed the little dog turning in confusion between the two groups. After a few moments he started growling at both groups.
Sailor Mars's face turned darker, as she told Sailor Moon, "Looks like they got to the dog too, I think you will have to kill him."
"What?" Sailor Moon asked in surprise.
"It's for his own good," Sailor Mars explained.
This whole situation baffled Sailor Moon. Both Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars seemed to be acting strange, but maybe they were just stressed.
"Don't worry my sweet," Tuxedo Kamen, "It will be quick for it and it is needed. After all how had the dog gotten away from the youma, if it was not one of them?"
Sailor Moon looked down at the dog and nodded, not having thought of that.
Right then, from the hall, ran in Sailor Pluto. Sailor Pluto shouted at Sailor Moon, "Be careful! Don't..*" As suddenly as she arrived the youma lashed out with their limbed and grabbed a hold of Sailor Pluto. Sailor Pluto fought the first attack off with her staff, not attacking with magic. The second attack grabbed her, pulled her to the youma, and muffled her.
Sailor Moon looked on in alarm. They had caught Sailor Pluto that quick.
Sailor Mars shouted to Sailor Moon seriously, "Hurry up and destroy them, before they get Sailor Pluto! I can't respect you anymore if you don't."
"Prove to us you are not one of them, Sailor Moon. Get them before it's too late!" Tuxedo Kamen told her.
Sailor Moon looked bewildered, then nodded. She looked to the dog, which started to bark louder, and towards Sailor Pluto who struggled. She reached up to her tiara, and took a deep breath. In that moment the dog went silent and Sailor Moon heard an unfamiliar young male whisper, "Illusion is reality only if you believe in it."
Sailor Moon shook her head to clear it, bit her lip, removed her tiara, turned slightly and shouted, "Moon tiara action!" as she prepared to throw it.
* * * * *
Lisa looked on is scared fascination, from a hidden niche, as she saw two youma cheering on Sailor Moon, trying to get her to destroy the tuxedoed man in the crystal. Lisa looked up to the tuxedo wearing lady next to her, while she held the golden mask the lady had given her, in her hands.
The tuxedo wearing female said, "She? The youma and the senshi are together, trying to destroy my precious Tuxedo Kamen. We really need your help before it's too late!"
Sailor Moon put her hand to her head and materialized a glowing disk as she removed her hand. She turned and got ready, then spun to throw the disk, turning towards the crystallized man. Lisa cried, "Ok, you can have the shard! Just save him!" as she turned away, not wanting to watch.
The female smiled evilly and said, "Thank you child." She gestured and the mask that Lisa held enlarged and trapped Lisa's hands.
"What?" Lisa asked in fright, not understanding why she was suddenly handcuffed.
"Don't worry little girl, this won't hurt me at all," the Sage replied, the tuxedo changing back into her normal clothing.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon wasn't sure of anything at the moment. First Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen were acting weird, Sailor Pluto tried to warn her of something, and the youmas didn't attack. However the dog was strange too, and Sailor Mars could have been right, but the dog had saved her, and neither Sailor Mars nor Tuxedo Kamen had tried to fight the youma. Sailor Moon was very worried she was about to make a mistake but she bit her lip and chanted, "Moon tiara action" as she spun to throw the tiara. However instead of releasing it when she faced the youma, she let the momentum of the spin continue to turn her, and she threw the tiara right between Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen, hoping to do nothing more then spook them.
As she finished the spin she looked behind her and looked in surprise. The youma were gone, and instead there was a piece of rock trapping Sailor Pluto, and where the youma had been was Tuxedo Kamen, trapped in a large crystal. Inside of the room were most of the senshi, trapped in crystal, all suddenly revealed. She realized it had been the plan to trick her, then reveal her mistake when it was too late. She turned back after that moment to watch the disk, head straight for a large pile of stone where the fake Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen had been. The mound seemed to try to melt into the ground but the disk reached it first. The spinning disk dug its way into and pile and struck something. The tiara then flew back to Sailor Moon, the hole it had dug revealing a now cracked crystal.
The pile of dirt began to rise up and gather itself, the magical rainbow aura appearing around it once more. The earth around Sailor Pluto fell to the ground at the earth elemental tried to regain its strength.
Sailor Pluto did not hesitate a moment. She readied her staff and shouted, "Dead scream," and released a purple globe with a ring towards the elemental's center. It struck the elemental, knocking it back, revealing the damaged gem that the elemental had tried to hide.
Sailor Mooned took out her scepter then and shouted, "Moon princess halation!" and sent positive energy waves at the elemental. From the middle of the energy spiral came crescent moon shaped energy projectiles, which struck the gem one after another.
Despite the elemental's increased power, it couldn't take it. Its gem shattered, and the whole elemental immediately fell to pieces, becoming mere dirt on the floor.
Sailor Pluto looked at the dirt and nodded. She said, "Good work Sailor Moon."
Sailor Moon nodded numbly in thanks, as the dog barked in encouragement. She then turned to the crystallized form of Tuxedo Kamen. She looked at it in concern and asked, "How can we free them?"
In a dark corner the Sage appeared, glowing eerily. She said, "That doesn't matter anymore. You have lost." With that she gestured at Lisa, who was trapped next to her. A spot on one of Lisa's hands began to glow white, and then suddenly the Shard of Light shot out, breaking the golden handcuffs that trapped Lisa. The Sage hadn't expected that and was unprepared when Lisa, who had figured out who the bad guys were now, grabbed the Shard out of the air and ran towards Sailor Moon.
"Get back here child!" shouted the Sage as she cast a crystallizing spell at Lisa. The little terrier reached Lisa first however and tackled her, causing the spell to miss.
The dog quickly hopped off as Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto moved between the Sage and Lisa. The Sage looked as if they were a minor annoyance and readied to cast again. She was interrupted as the Shard of Light released its stored up positive energy. As the energy came pouring out the Sage made a hasty retreated, with out the crystal. The rays of energy shot out the doorway, towards other areas of whatever place they were, then the rays engulfed each crystal is bright white light.
* * * * *
In London the police officer looked into the sky as streaks of light came down. Many spots where the light struck had been damaged recently by magic or in the panic to leave the city. Where that light struck, the damage was repaired, leaving the spots better then before. Other light rays came down and struck the ground, leaving behind people who had been abducted before. The officer searched frantically, but after a time he could only ask, "But where is Lisa?"
* * * * *
All in the room looked around in wonder as the prismatic effect of the light on the crystals as they glowed and melted away. The first and closest was Tuxedo Kamen, and for a change Sailor Moon caught him before he collapsed to the ground.
Lisa, with the little dog at her side, approached the other crystals and one by one they melted away, freeing each senshi and feline.
Luna ran over to Artemis and Diana, meowed happily, and ignoring that ones who didn't know who could talk were in the room, she proclaimed, "You are ok!"
Artemis smiled weakly and nodded while Diana just nodded in cute confusion.
The inner senshi gathered together, to make sure each other was ok, while Sailor Pluto spoke to Sailor Uranus as Sailor Neptune fussed over Sailor Neptune.
They all didn't notice the other figure that weakly stood up.
Lisa looked up to him, smiled and asked, "Who are you?"
The man didn't have a chance to reply. Sailor Moon gasped, "Jadeite!"
The blonde man in Dark Kingdom uniform narrowed his eyes and turned to Sailor Moon as the other senshi faced him.
Sailor Mercury gasped, "I thought you were removed by Queen Beryl!"
Jadeite smirked, "Well apparently it wasn't permanent."
Sailor Mars told him, "Well we beat you once, we can beat you again. We've faced much worse."
The Scottish terrier then moved from Lisa's side and towards Jadeite. However, strangely, instead of attacking, it stopped in front of him, then turned and barked towards Sailor Moon as if to tell her something.
Sailor Moon tried to guess what the dog was thinking. She asked, "You don't want us to attack Jadeite? He caused a lot of trouble before, and we don't want him to hurt innocents again."
The dog just shook its head.
To a man who was weak from being frozen for years, even one as powerful and intelligent as Jadeite, this was very strange. He asked, "And why shouldn't I fight?" He paused for a moment, and tried to use some innate magic. Then he blinked in surprise. "Queen Beryl is gone, isn't she?" he asked.
"Sailor Moon toasted her a long time ago while you were having your beauty sleep," Sailor Jupiter told him, disliking him if only from the stories Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury had told her.
Jadeite narrowed his eyes again before saying, " Queen Metalia is also dead, and Lord Agate is here. He doesn't deserve to rule. Queen Metalia left him behind for a reason."
Sailor Venus told Jadeite, "Well now he is hear, trying to take over, using some magic crystals," being somewhat vague.
Jadeite knew what she spoke of and said, "The Shards then. He must have stolen them while we slept before. No wonder Queen Beryl was unable to find the Shards of Darkness." He then turned to the senshi and said, "I have a proposal. Lets team up. I have powers that you do not, and you'll need it against the Sage, Lord Agate's automation. I want to see Lord Agate destroyed. Afterwards, I shall return to the Dark Kingdom, take my rightful place and mark this area not worth the effort."
The dog barked excitedly.
Sailor Moon looked at the others for an answer. Sailor Neptune shook her head, unable to offer help, as Sailor Pluto said, "You may need it. We can distract Lord Agate by attacking his other outposts again, diverting resources, but you'll still need help."
Sailor Uranus added, "But watch your back."
Sailor Mars said, "I guess we don't have a choice."
The others nodded slowly. "I guess we are a team then," Sailor Moon told Jadeite reluctantly.
Jadeite replied, "Don't think I like dealing with you brats either, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Together we can make it the time for Lord Agate to fall."
* * * * *
It was total darkness in which the senshi arrived. They couldn't even make out each other in the darkness.
"How are we supposed to fight in the dark," asked Sailor Moon, sounding very worried.
"Calm down Sailor Moon," Sailor Mars told her, "I'll shine some light on the situation."
Sailor Moon made a face at the poor humor in Sailor Mars's reply as Sailor Mars chanted, "Fire soul!" As she held her white gloved hands together a flame appear at the end of her extended fingers. She separated her hands, and kept the flame at the end of one finger.
As she lifted her hand and the whole area lit up. Sailor Moon, Luna, Sailor Pluto and Tuxedo Kamen were all there. They all stood on grey rocky ground among ancient ruins. In the sky above they could see both the sun and the earth.
Sailor Moon exclaimed, "We are on the moon!"
With a clenched fist Tuxedo Kamen asked, "Has the Dark Kingdom already come and desecrated here?"
Sailor Pluto glanced around then told them, "We are not even here."
"What do you mean," asked Luna.
"It's an illusion," replied Sailor Pluto.
"How do you know?" inquired Tuxedo Kamen, "It looks like I remember it."
Sailor Pluto turned towards Tuxedo Kamen and explained, "First, Sailor Mars's flame lit up the whole landscape. It should have only lit up a small area."
Sailor Mars look at her flame self consciously, then let it go out. The scene didn't change.
Sailor Pluto continued, "Next, if you observe the sky, at no time today would the earth and sun be at those positions from anywhere on the moon."
Luna nodded but the rest just stood there though Sailor Moon pretended she knew it all along.
Sailor Pluto then turned to Sailor Moon and told them, "Finally, under normal circumstances a dog from earth could not survive here."
Sailor Moon blinked and asked, "A dog?"
Sailor Moon proceeded then to jump about three feet into the air as she heard a loud bark behind her. She then turned around and saw a small black Scottish terrier standing right behind where she had been. It just sat there and looked at her.
Sailor Moon asked with a confused tone, "How did he get here?"
"I think he hitched a ride when we teleported. After we formed a circle and right before we teleported I saw something black run under your feet," Sailor Pluto told her.
Sailor Moon knelt down and offered her hand to the dog. "Hey little dog. I won't hurt you," she told it softly. The dog sniffed her hand suspiciously then suddenly jumped up and licked her face. Sailor Moon laughed, grabbed the little dog and told it, "Stop that!"
Sailor Mars sighed at Sailor Moon and the dog's antics. She asked, "How are we supposed to save the others with you playing with that dog?"
Sailor Moon nodded solemnly but said, "We can't leave him here."
Sailor Mars replied reluctantly, "I suppose not."
Luna, who had kept quiet upon the appearance of the black terrier, finally commented, "This is going to be trouble."
Out of no where came a chorus of laughter. A vaguely familiar voice told them, "Don't worry. We'll protect you from the vicious dog." With that, walls rose up around them, separating the group.
* * * * *
Tuxedo Kamen ran through the maze as fast as his legs could carry him. He needed to find Sailor Moon so he could protect her.
He cheated the maze by vaulting over walls in the direction that Sailor Moon had been but he couldn't find her. It was as if they had been moved apart when the walls had appeared.
He froze as he heard a pained cat cry somewhere in the maze. He knew it was Luna, and though he didn't know if Sailor Moon was with her, Luna needed help.
He headed in the direction of the cry but soon got lost. He ran faster in desperation as a chorus of dark laughter began to fill the air.
Then another scream came, distorted by the laughter and echoes, so he could not tell whom it was. "Sailor Moon!" he cried. Unnatural silence was his only answer.
He called out for the others many times during the next few minutes, but received no reply.
He jumped over another wall and almost ran into five female youma. He did fall into a pit in the floor just after them however.
One smiled cruelly and leaned over to offer a hand out. "Ah, Tuxedo Kamen. Remember us?"
Tuxedo Kamen ignored the hand, and leaped out to the opposite side of the pit. He replied simply, "No," as he readied his cane.
Another pretended to be thoughtful and argued, "Sailor Mars recognized us, though, I suppose her cat did not."
Tuxedo Kamen narrowed his eyes and demanded, "What happened to them?"
A third replied, "Oh, they are doing much better then the last time we met Sailor Mars. See?" With that two crystals rose up from the ground as the youma moved to either side of it. In one was the frozen form of Luna, and the other held Sailor Mars. Both looked like they had been in pain when crystallized.
Tuxedo Kamen's eyes went wide. He told them, "You are nothing but cruel, heartless creature. Let them go and let me find Sailor Moon, or you'll regret it!"
The fourth youma laughed and told him, "Oh, you'll see Sailor Moon, a moment before you die by her hand, causing her great pain too."
The last added, "But we are being so rude. We should show you someone you will recognize, but before we go I wanted to say one more thing."
The forms of the youma began to melt and merge with the ground. The turned the same color as the ground as it merged to meet them. A magical aura covered it and soon Tuxedo Kamen faced the earth elemental.
With a voice that seemed to be made up of cracking stone, the earth elemental said, "Welcome to the stone."
With that the earth around Tuxedo Kamen rose up. He tried to jump away but the rock grabbed a hold of his foot. Before he could do any more, the earth pulled him down and swallowed him whole.
There was only silence afterwards.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon walked around in relative quiet. Since the walls went up she hadn't heard from the others. She had called out their names many times but there was no response. She tried the communicator but got no response. It was as if she was in another world.
Before with the others she was confident they'd save the day as always. Now she was all alone without Tuxedo Kamen or her friends or her confidence.
She looked around nervously, expecting some kind of attack but nothing happened.
The she found herself jumping in fright, as there was a loud bark behind her.
She turned to find the black terrier, which sat happily behind her.
Sailor Moon sighed in relief. She knelt down and petted the dog which woofed in enthusiastic response. "I'm glad it is just you and no6 some youma."
The dog woofed in agreement.
"I don't suppose you can use that nose of yours to find the others?" she asked, not really expecting an answer.
The dog whimpered and lowered his head.
"Auw, it's alright," Sailor Moon told it, then she stood up. With a determined expression she said, "Come on little one, let's find the others."
She turned and moved on. The dog gave two barks and followed.
* * * * *
"So do you understand now little one?" asked what looked to be a black-haired version of Sailor Moon dressed in a tuxedo, like Tuxedo Kamen. She wore a golden mask.
Lisa nodded slowly and replied, "I think so. You need my little mark to defeat Sailor Moon before she destroys Tuxedo, um, something?"
The lady nodded and calmly explained, "I need the Shard of light within you to stop the cruel Sailor Moon from destroying my beloved Tuxedo Kamen."
"But you need my permission first?" asked the little girl.
The other nodded and replied, "Yes, it is only polite after all."
The girl nodded quickly. "I understand," she said a little nervously.
The female in the tuxedo smiled, and as if she sensed the girl's reluctance, offered, "I can keep us invisible and show you them, if you would like."
Lisa smiled nervously and nodded.
The older female told Lisa, "To show I trust you, I'll remove my mask so you know who I really am."
With that she reached up, and removed the golden mask, giving it to Lisa. Revealed was not a sailor moon look-a-like, but human looking version of the Sage's face.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon traveled along, not so quietly, for what seemed like hours on end, with the Scottish terrier following after her. Every minute or so she called for one of the others, with the dog accenting it with a bark. There never was a reply.
She finally stopped, leaned against a wall, and slide down it. The little dog trotted up to her curiously. Sailor Moon looked to the dog and lamented, "We are all alone puppy. All alone." She sighed.
The dog whimpered in sympathy.
Sailor Moon smiled down at him sadly and gently petted him. She asked him, "Glad you came alone now, doggy?"
The dog started to jump up and down happily, before settling back down after a few moments.
Sailor Moon shook her head and said, "You are one strange dog."
It snorted in reply. Then suddenly it turned and gave a questioning whine down the hall.
Sailor Moon got up slowly and asked, "What is it?"
Sailor Moon got her answer as the five female youma shot up from the ground and at her. Being ready from the dog's edgy tone she dodged aside and leaped out of the way, causing the youma to miss her. She then turned and stared for a moment in surprise, recognizing them.
The closest youma grinned and said, "You are quicker then before, and you remember us I see. Good some things don't change. Sort of like how we've defeated all your friends."
"That's not true!" said Sailor Moon, in denial.
Another youma spoke, "Sure it is. You'll see them soon, don't worry." With that the single youma attacked, lashing out with her strange arms.
Sailor Moon jumped away but a moment later, another youma that had moved behind her caught her in the youma's ribbon arms. That youma said, "So much for a challenge. At least we can have a little fun." With that the youma sent energy through the limbs, shocking Sailor Moon and causing her to scream.
The youma had not noticed the little dog however. It lept forward and somehow bit through all the ribbons at once, surprising Sailor Moon and the youmas. Sailor Moon recovered quick and told the dog, "Hurry, let's get out of here!" With that she turned and ran.
A few moments later she looked back to see if the dog followed and too her horror a youma had angrily wrapped it in it's ribbons. The dog just looked at the youma questioningly. Sailor Moon got ready to attack the youma to free the dog but the dog's bark made her pause. It bounced up and down, barked excitedly, but seemed to not be afraid at all. The youma sneered and sent energy down the limbs to the dog. The dog lit up so brightly Sailor Moon turned away.
Sailor Moon reluctantly looked back as the light faded and looked to where the dog had been. Too her surprise the youma's limbs had gone limp, burnt off at the end that had held the dog. The dog it self looked like a giant furball with all its hair standing straight out on end. Sailor Moon impulsively laughed for a moment until she remembered what was going on.
The dog turned to her and whined at her, not pleased with its new hairstyle. A youma behind the dog told Sailor Moon, "We'll get you and your little dog too." With that the youma lashed out its limbs at the dog.
Sailor Moon cried, "Look out puppy!"
The dog spun around quickly once or twice but was blinded but had trouble seeing. The youma grabbed the dog then started sinking into the ground planning to take the dog with it.
The dog had other ideas though, and stood its ground. The youma disappeared and tried to pull the dog too. It didn't budge. As the other youma looked on in surprise, the youma kept trying. The dog thought it was fun for a few moments then got a better idea. Incredibly the dog started running. Within moments the youma appeared out of the ground and was pulled along the floor by the small dog. After bumping into the ground a few times the youma let go. The dog then ran by the stunned Sailor Moon, paused, turned and barked at her.
"I wonder if mom will let me keep you?" Sailor Moon asked the dog in wonder, then they both ran down the passage, leaving the youma in disarray.
The dog gave an uncertain bark in reply.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon tried to regain her breath as she leaned against a wall. The little dog was beside her, resting, but there was no sign of the youma. She looked around in concern, but though she was worried, she was just too tired.
They waited a few minutes then Sailor Moon said, "Come on boy, we have to keep moving."
The dog wuffed quietly and followed.
Sailor Moon ran around a few corners and down a few halls, when a passageway she was following led her to a fair sized room, the first she had seen since getting there. It was lit less well there and for a moment Sailor Moon couldn't see. Then she backed up a few steps as she saw all five youma, with their arms crossed, standing in a small group looking across the room.
Sailor Moon glanced over to what they were looking at, and too her surprise, since she could have sworn there was nothing there before, she saw Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars standing there.
Sailor Mars spun to look at Sailor Moon and shouted, "Come on leader, you came in just in time. Eliminate the youma's with your magic!"
Tuxedo Kamen added, "Yes dearest, destroy them now!"
Sailor Moon blinked in confusion then nodded and got ready, when she noticed the little dog turning in confusion between the two groups. After a few moments he started growling at both groups.
Sailor Mars's face turned darker, as she told Sailor Moon, "Looks like they got to the dog too, I think you will have to kill him."
"What?" Sailor Moon asked in surprise.
"It's for his own good," Sailor Mars explained.
This whole situation baffled Sailor Moon. Both Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars seemed to be acting strange, but maybe they were just stressed.
"Don't worry my sweet," Tuxedo Kamen, "It will be quick for it and it is needed. After all how had the dog gotten away from the youma, if it was not one of them?"
Sailor Moon looked down at the dog and nodded, not having thought of that.
Right then, from the hall, ran in Sailor Pluto. Sailor Pluto shouted at Sailor Moon, "Be careful! Don't..*" As suddenly as she arrived the youma lashed out with their limbed and grabbed a hold of Sailor Pluto. Sailor Pluto fought the first attack off with her staff, not attacking with magic. The second attack grabbed her, pulled her to the youma, and muffled her.
Sailor Moon looked on in alarm. They had caught Sailor Pluto that quick.
Sailor Mars shouted to Sailor Moon seriously, "Hurry up and destroy them, before they get Sailor Pluto! I can't respect you anymore if you don't."
"Prove to us you are not one of them, Sailor Moon. Get them before it's too late!" Tuxedo Kamen told her.
Sailor Moon looked bewildered, then nodded. She looked to the dog, which started to bark louder, and towards Sailor Pluto who struggled. She reached up to her tiara, and took a deep breath. In that moment the dog went silent and Sailor Moon heard an unfamiliar young male whisper, "Illusion is reality only if you believe in it."
Sailor Moon shook her head to clear it, bit her lip, removed her tiara, turned slightly and shouted, "Moon tiara action!" as she prepared to throw it.
* * * * *
Lisa looked on is scared fascination, from a hidden niche, as she saw two youma cheering on Sailor Moon, trying to get her to destroy the tuxedoed man in the crystal. Lisa looked up to the tuxedo wearing lady next to her, while she held the golden mask the lady had given her, in her hands.
The tuxedo wearing female said, "She? The youma and the senshi are together, trying to destroy my precious Tuxedo Kamen. We really need your help before it's too late!"
Sailor Moon put her hand to her head and materialized a glowing disk as she removed her hand. She turned and got ready, then spun to throw the disk, turning towards the crystallized man. Lisa cried, "Ok, you can have the shard! Just save him!" as she turned away, not wanting to watch.
The female smiled evilly and said, "Thank you child." She gestured and the mask that Lisa held enlarged and trapped Lisa's hands.
"What?" Lisa asked in fright, not understanding why she was suddenly handcuffed.
"Don't worry little girl, this won't hurt me at all," the Sage replied, the tuxedo changing back into her normal clothing.
* * * * *
Sailor Moon wasn't sure of anything at the moment. First Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen were acting weird, Sailor Pluto tried to warn her of something, and the youmas didn't attack. However the dog was strange too, and Sailor Mars could have been right, but the dog had saved her, and neither Sailor Mars nor Tuxedo Kamen had tried to fight the youma. Sailor Moon was very worried she was about to make a mistake but she bit her lip and chanted, "Moon tiara action" as she spun to throw the tiara. However instead of releasing it when she faced the youma, she let the momentum of the spin continue to turn her, and she threw the tiara right between Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen, hoping to do nothing more then spook them.
As she finished the spin she looked behind her and looked in surprise. The youma were gone, and instead there was a piece of rock trapping Sailor Pluto, and where the youma had been was Tuxedo Kamen, trapped in a large crystal. Inside of the room were most of the senshi, trapped in crystal, all suddenly revealed. She realized it had been the plan to trick her, then reveal her mistake when it was too late. She turned back after that moment to watch the disk, head straight for a large pile of stone where the fake Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen had been. The mound seemed to try to melt into the ground but the disk reached it first. The spinning disk dug its way into and pile and struck something. The tiara then flew back to Sailor Moon, the hole it had dug revealing a now cracked crystal.
The pile of dirt began to rise up and gather itself, the magical rainbow aura appearing around it once more. The earth around Sailor Pluto fell to the ground at the earth elemental tried to regain its strength.
Sailor Pluto did not hesitate a moment. She readied her staff and shouted, "Dead scream," and released a purple globe with a ring towards the elemental's center. It struck the elemental, knocking it back, revealing the damaged gem that the elemental had tried to hide.
Sailor Mooned took out her scepter then and shouted, "Moon princess halation!" and sent positive energy waves at the elemental. From the middle of the energy spiral came crescent moon shaped energy projectiles, which struck the gem one after another.
Despite the elemental's increased power, it couldn't take it. Its gem shattered, and the whole elemental immediately fell to pieces, becoming mere dirt on the floor.
Sailor Pluto looked at the dirt and nodded. She said, "Good work Sailor Moon."
Sailor Moon nodded numbly in thanks, as the dog barked in encouragement. She then turned to the crystallized form of Tuxedo Kamen. She looked at it in concern and asked, "How can we free them?"
In a dark corner the Sage appeared, glowing eerily. She said, "That doesn't matter anymore. You have lost." With that she gestured at Lisa, who was trapped next to her. A spot on one of Lisa's hands began to glow white, and then suddenly the Shard of Light shot out, breaking the golden handcuffs that trapped Lisa. The Sage hadn't expected that and was unprepared when Lisa, who had figured out who the bad guys were now, grabbed the Shard out of the air and ran towards Sailor Moon.
"Get back here child!" shouted the Sage as she cast a crystallizing spell at Lisa. The little terrier reached Lisa first however and tackled her, causing the spell to miss.
The dog quickly hopped off as Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto moved between the Sage and Lisa. The Sage looked as if they were a minor annoyance and readied to cast again. She was interrupted as the Shard of Light released its stored up positive energy. As the energy came pouring out the Sage made a hasty retreated, with out the crystal. The rays of energy shot out the doorway, towards other areas of whatever place they were, then the rays engulfed each crystal is bright white light.
* * * * *
In London the police officer looked into the sky as streaks of light came down. Many spots where the light struck had been damaged recently by magic or in the panic to leave the city. Where that light struck, the damage was repaired, leaving the spots better then before. Other light rays came down and struck the ground, leaving behind people who had been abducted before. The officer searched frantically, but after a time he could only ask, "But where is Lisa?"
* * * * *
All in the room looked around in wonder as the prismatic effect of the light on the crystals as they glowed and melted away. The first and closest was Tuxedo Kamen, and for a change Sailor Moon caught him before he collapsed to the ground.
Lisa, with the little dog at her side, approached the other crystals and one by one they melted away, freeing each senshi and feline.
Luna ran over to Artemis and Diana, meowed happily, and ignoring that ones who didn't know who could talk were in the room, she proclaimed, "You are ok!"
Artemis smiled weakly and nodded while Diana just nodded in cute confusion.
The inner senshi gathered together, to make sure each other was ok, while Sailor Pluto spoke to Sailor Uranus as Sailor Neptune fussed over Sailor Neptune.
They all didn't notice the other figure that weakly stood up.
Lisa looked up to him, smiled and asked, "Who are you?"
The man didn't have a chance to reply. Sailor Moon gasped, "Jadeite!"
The blonde man in Dark Kingdom uniform narrowed his eyes and turned to Sailor Moon as the other senshi faced him.
Sailor Mercury gasped, "I thought you were removed by Queen Beryl!"
Jadeite smirked, "Well apparently it wasn't permanent."
Sailor Mars told him, "Well we beat you once, we can beat you again. We've faced much worse."
The Scottish terrier then moved from Lisa's side and towards Jadeite. However, strangely, instead of attacking, it stopped in front of him, then turned and barked towards Sailor Moon as if to tell her something.
Sailor Moon tried to guess what the dog was thinking. She asked, "You don't want us to attack Jadeite? He caused a lot of trouble before, and we don't want him to hurt innocents again."
The dog just shook its head.
To a man who was weak from being frozen for years, even one as powerful and intelligent as Jadeite, this was very strange. He asked, "And why shouldn't I fight?" He paused for a moment, and tried to use some innate magic. Then he blinked in surprise. "Queen Beryl is gone, isn't she?" he asked.
"Sailor Moon toasted her a long time ago while you were having your beauty sleep," Sailor Jupiter told him, disliking him if only from the stories Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury had told her.
Jadeite narrowed his eyes again before saying, " Queen Metalia is also dead, and Lord Agate is here. He doesn't deserve to rule. Queen Metalia left him behind for a reason."
Sailor Venus told Jadeite, "Well now he is hear, trying to take over, using some magic crystals," being somewhat vague.
Jadeite knew what she spoke of and said, "The Shards then. He must have stolen them while we slept before. No wonder Queen Beryl was unable to find the Shards of Darkness." He then turned to the senshi and said, "I have a proposal. Lets team up. I have powers that you do not, and you'll need it against the Sage, Lord Agate's automation. I want to see Lord Agate destroyed. Afterwards, I shall return to the Dark Kingdom, take my rightful place and mark this area not worth the effort."
The dog barked excitedly.
Sailor Moon looked at the others for an answer. Sailor Neptune shook her head, unable to offer help, as Sailor Pluto said, "You may need it. We can distract Lord Agate by attacking his other outposts again, diverting resources, but you'll still need help."
Sailor Uranus added, "But watch your back."
Sailor Mars said, "I guess we don't have a choice."
The others nodded slowly. "I guess we are a team then," Sailor Moon told Jadeite reluctantly.
Jadeite replied, "Don't think I like dealing with you brats either, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Together we can make it the time for Lord Agate to fall."