Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Eternal
Book 8: Chapter 23 'Fire'
e-mail [kisaki@tds.net]
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"Sailor Moon! Please wake up! I don't have power like you! I can't do this alone! Please don't leave me!"
"Chibi-Usa!" Kisaki yelled to her only friend. She reached a hand out but the other Akuma tried pulled her back. "Chibi-Usa, run!"
"This amulet would give a pure-hearted wearer luck and protect them." Kisaki held it out to Chibi-Usa. "I don't have a very pure heart. But you do! I think it will help you. Those men are determined to hurt you, aren't they? I believe this will protect you somehow. I want you to have it."
"Kisaki… you're wrong…" Chibi-Usa suddenly whispered.
"What?! I don't understand!" Kisaki managed to reach her friend as Pollux quickly enclosed on them.
"You do have a Pure Heart!" Chibi-Usa insisted. "Pure Hearted people are those that are willing to sacrifice their own life to help someone they care about – or even somebody they don't know! They don't have to be a Senshi! In fact most of them probably aren't!" She grabbed Kisaki's hand. "You want to help, don't you? Just because we're friends! And that's good enough for me!"
"Chibi-Usa…" A light flickered from Chibi-Moon's necklace as it floated atop their joined hands just as Sailor Moon moaned and sat up to look at the two. The teardrop within it flared to life and its power wrapped ribbons around them. Chibi-Moon suddenly powered up into a new Senshi uniform. Alike the others in every way except the gloves and boots, it was then Chibi-Moon realized she had reached a level beyond Star – just like the others – the level of Eternal.
But she wasn't the only one radiating. So was Kisaki, who was oblivious to everything around her. A silvery symbol streaked onto her forehead. It was the symbol worn by Kaylyn – the symbol of the planet Somnus.
"Chibi-Moon! Kisaki!" Sailor Moon called again.
The area shook again as Pollux attacked the two children in vain - for the shield surrounding them was stronger than he.
"Pollux!" Chibi-Moon yelled to the twin. "I'm going to turn you back!" She turned to her friend. "Kisaki! Stay here!"
"So you can…" Kisaki slowly opened her eyes as the symbol faded from her forehead. "Fight him?" Her eyes were shallow pools of azure. "To complete your mission? To defeat the darkness of evil?"
"Kisaki?" Sailor Chibi-Moon took a step in her direction.
"What if…" The child looked to Beryl and stretched out her hand. Beryl screamed as she started to melt into reddish goo.
"Beryl's an illusion too?!" gasped Venus.
"What if everyone…" Kisaki glanced back to Chibi-Moon. "Had the darkness of evil within them? What if everyone was a soldier of the Dark Kingdom? Or the Black Moon? Or an Akuma? What then? Would you still complete your mission? Even if it would mean that your mission was to destroy the people of Earth?"
"Kisaki? What's wrong…? Are you okay…?" Chibi-Moon worriedly walked over to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder. As surge of electricity attacked her, she jerked her hand back. "Eek! Kisaki?!"
"But what if…" Kisaki continued. "You had that darkness within you too? Would you kill yourself to complete your mission? Would you?"
"I… I don't know…" Chibi-Moon shook her head. "Let's just worry about Mars and Pollux first."
"Are the reborn Soldiers of the Millennium as pure of heart as they claim? Perhaps they are not worthy of the blessings of the gods and the power of their planets. How can you be sure? What if everyone is an illusion?"
Pluto and Saturn had had just about enough of this. Saturn looked to Galaxia. "We've got to stop this, now."
"Right."
The three raced toward the two children and suddenly took action. Galaxia grabbed Chibi-Moon while Sailor Pluto and Saturn attacked Kisaki.
"CHRONOS TYPHOON!!!"
"SILENCE GLAIVE SURPRISE!!!"
"Wait! No! Stop!" Chibi-Moon shrieked.
The two energies collided with the child. Kisaki waved her hand and tossed the blast to the side, unaffected by the quick action of the three Elite Senshi.
Chibi-Moon broke free of Galaxia's hold and scrambled toward her friend. "Kisa-chan!"
"Chibi-Usa! Wait!" Saturn yelled.
"Small Lady!" Pluto called in warning.
"Chibi-Usa…" Kisaki murmured. Her eyes shifted and she blinked. "Chibi-Usa-chan…"
"Kisaki…!" The pink-hared child approached her friend again.
Kisaki suddenly fell to the ground on her knees. "Chibi… Usa…" The girl fell over to the side as Sailor Moon caught her.
* * *
'Mars…' Kaylyn murmured to Mars.
"You're… back!"
'Temporarily…' She held an object out to her. 'Here, Princess Mars… Sailor Chibi-Moon will need this…' It shimmered in her hands and faded as she continued. 'Now… as for you… I will aid you, also…' She took Mars' hands and a silvery aura surrounded Kaylyn. The power spread covering Mars, but as it did the color shifted from gray to crimson. 'Use this to help your princess… but I wonder… is that all that she is to you…? Perhaps… if you can find out what she truly is to you, you will wake up… but until that time… it's time to wake up, Mars… wake up… you have a mission to complete… wake up…'
* * *
Sailor Mars moaned softly and sat up as she put a hand to her head. "How long have I been asleep? Where is everyone?" Just then her questions were answered as and explosion rippled the stage. A protesting voice yelled then its owner, Eternal Sailor Chibi-Moon, ran to a girl. As Sailor Moon caught the falling child, Pollux attacked again. "Sailor Moon?!"
The other Senshi whirled to her when she spoke. "Mars!" "Rei!" "You're OK!"
Mars nodded as she ran past them to aid her friends. The other Senshi followed.
"Sailor Moon!" Mars stopped quickly next to her fallen comrades. "Chibi-Moon!"
"Chibi-Usa…" Kisaki murmured to her friend.
"Don't speak! We'll talk later!" Chibi-Moon insisted.
"But… your form…"
"What do you mean?"
"It won't stay much longer… I don't have enough power…"
"Oh!" Chibi-Moon caught on. "Then I'd better hurry."
"Wait." Mars stopped her from leaving.
"Mars?!"
"Yeah, but here - it's from Kaylyn. She said it would help you." Chibi-Usa's pink Music Box was placed into her hands and suddenly it morphed. "Huh?" Now it looked exactly like Sailor Moon's Moon-Reviver, but slightly shorter and colored in pink. "Wow!"
"I'll help!" Sailor Moon offered.
"Okay! Let's go!" The two moon princesses ran to the front, where Pollux stood. "Come on, Chibi-Moon!" Sailor Moon mentally hoped Kaylyn would give her the boost of power she needed. [Kaylyn! Please, help me save them!]
"MOONLESS SOUL REVIVAL KISS!!!"
"PINK LADIES FREEZING KISS!!!"
Pollux suddenly realized he was being pushed backward. A mirror floated in front of him shattered into dust and the trapped Heart Crystal returned to its owner - Pollux. Pollux collapsed to the ground.
"Pollux?!" Castor yelled again. But gave a surprised yelp when he realized her and his brother were fading and quickly disappeared.
"Castor?! Pollux?!" Chibi-Moon called but there was no response. "Where did you go…?"
"It's okay, I'm sure their all right." Sailor Moon placed a hand in her shoulder comfortingly.
"We are, Chibi-Usagi."
"Castor! Pollux!" Chibi-Moon leaped for joy when they had appeared in front of the two. But there was something… different. They were faded and glowing with a golden aura that surrounded them like two globes - two miniature stars.
"Thank you, Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi-Moon." Pollux smiled to them. "Now that we are together, we can go home."
"Home?"
"We are…" Castor explained gently. "The Gemini – the twin stars of space. We had been separated during the Sailor War and were sleeping as shooting stars when the Negafleet found us, and when we used our human form without the other being close for so long, we forgot our past and home."
"Neither of us had been together for over a thousand years, we were looking for the other so we could go home - to the stars. But unfortunately Sage had already found me first." Pollux winced slightly.
"But you brought us back together, and now we are free to leave." Castor smiled again.
"We both wanted to thank you before we left." The two flashed brightly and exploded upward into the sky, orbiting each other, as they disappeared into space.
"Chibi-Moon… I will keep your secret until we meet again… Thank you… Chibi-Usagi… I will never forget you…"
"Me neither, Castor… me neither…" Chibi-Moon smiled happily as they vanished into the heavens above, bound for home.
"Sailor Moon! Behind you!" Pluto's voice yelled a warning of the coming danger, although too late to help.
The two Senshi were suddenly covered in darkness as Akuma's by the dozen surrounded them. "Aaaaahhhhhh!"
"Sailor Moon?!" Mars yelled in panic. "Sailor Chibi-Moon?!" She tried to push her way through the herds of monsters but they kept driving her backward. [No! I've got to hurry! Usagi! They'll be killed! They have to get out of there!] She kept on pushing, not willing to give up. But the Akuma had covered over the two, forming a dome. It was too late. "No! Usagi! Chibi-Usa!" There was no one to save them now. She was the only one close enough to help them, and yet she had no power to be able to. [I can't…! I won't let this happen! Usagi… She may be my princess, but she's more importantly my friend!] Suddenly her locket flared to life and a column of flames spiraled around her. "What's happening?!" A red symbol - the symbol of the planet Mars - replaced her tiara. [I know what to say…!] She stretched out her hand to the ceiling and yelled. "MARS ETERNAL… MAKE UP!" The fires wrapped around her as they morphed into new clothing. Now she, too, was Eternal.
"Mars?!" The other Senshi gawked.
"You'd better leave them alone or you'll be punished!" She warned the Akuma who blocked her path. When they paid no heed, she attacked by calling the burning flames buried deep within her soul to arise. By calling the fire that originated within her heart. "MARS HI-NO-MOTO!" A pillar of flames dispersed the Akuma in her path and she ran to her friends. "Usagi!"
"Ulp…" Sailor Moon gulped.
"Are you okay?! You're not hurt, are you?!" Mars threw a series of questions at her pale princess.
"I'm… okay… I think." She managed to say as the other Senshi had arrived after they destroyed the last of the Akuma.
"Sailor Moon!" Shingo pounced on top of his sister. "Did those creeps get you?!"
"No, I'm fine." She insisted with a hesitant laugh.
The four Asteroid Senshi huddled around the unconscious Super Sailor Chibi-Moon. She had lost her Eternal transformation and collapsed only a moment ago.
"Is she okay?!" Pallas squeaked as she clamped her hands together.
"I think she's just tired." Vesta reported in satisfaction after she had checked her over.
The other soldiers heaved a sigh of relief when they heard the news. "That's good."
"Hey!" Juno exclaimed suddenly. "Everyone's gone!"
"Huh?!" The Sailors looked around the auditorium. She was right. Sage was gone, and so was the rest of her monsters.
"The wolf's gone too!" Ceres noticed.
"So he is… I wonder where he went." Vesta agreed with her partner then tapped the side of her cheek in deep thought.
"Princess Mars."
Everyone turn to the two girls standing side by side. Mars gasped, "Phobos?! Deimos?!"
"Although we are not a strong as you," Phobos said sadly.
"We still wanted to help." Deimos finished.
"We…" Phobos paused, "We only want to help. Please, let us fight with you."
"Please, Princess," Deimos begged, "We won't be a burden! Honest!"
"Of course you can!" Mars smiled warmly. "Thank you for offering. We could use the help."
"Thank you!" The chorused happily. "We are glad to see you are unharmed."
"Umm… not to break the happy moment or anything," Ceres insisted to the others, "But I think we need to get her to bed, she looks exhausted." She looked to Chibi-Moon.
"Good idea." The other Sailor agreed.
* * *
"…Now remember, Shingo," Usagi explained their plan again. "We went to the park and Chibi-Usa fell into the lake. And right now…"
"I know, I know." Shingo interrupted. "She's upstairs sleeping because she hit her head and almost drowned, and would have if Makoto hadn't have gotten her out in time. I know already, you've told me this a hundred times. I think I have it memorized now, Odango-Atama."
"At least you haven't let this get to your head…" She grumbled.
Click! The door opened and Usagi's parents walked in.
"Oh! Hi, Mom, Dad!" Usagi scurried over to them. "Umm… we need to tell you something…"
* * *
Luna, Artemis, and Diana - who had been updated about what had happened inside the school - watched over the sleeping Chibi-Usa with worry.
But that ended when she opened her eyes and jolted upright in bed. "Kisa…! Huh?! What happened?! Where is everyone?! Are they OK?! Where's the Akuma?! And Sage?!" She paused as she noticed more clearly her surroundings. "Well?"
"Everyone's fine." Luna assured the child. "We even got Rei back! When she morphed into an Eternal Senshi, all the monsters were destroyed with other Senshi's the help."
"There's a meeting later." Artemis added. "If you feel up to it, you can go and get the news."
"Okay, thanks." Chibi-Usa looked out the window and watched as the Tsukino's pulled into the driveway. "And Kisaki?"
"…" The cats didn't know what to say about that.
"Well," Diana said slowly. "She disappeared after Castor and Pollux left. We don't know much more than that…"
Chibi-Usa's hands clenched the bed-sheets. "Nothing…?"
"I'm sure somebody will know where she's at. Nobody can just disappear without a trace. Okugi was watching over her, too, remember?"
"That's it!" She exclaimed.
"What's it?"
"Okugi was a police officer! Remember? He may be gone but certainly his files are still there!"
"And the files will tell us where she is!" Diana continued, as she understood the girl's point. "If she isn't at her home, then the files will give us the other places to look for her!" Diana leaped onto the bed beside Chibi-Usa. "That's a great idea!"
"Let's go!" Chibi-Usa cheered and jumped out of bed.
* * *
Hotaru frowned as she strolled the park's sidewalk in silence. [Kisaki bore the same symbol as Kaylyn wears… Why…?] She wondered to herself. [What does it mean…? We were told that the four of us would never meet together. And that for us were here, together, at the same time… It would mean a force that could tear the timeline to pieces… it would appear… That would be the only reason all four of us would be needed like this…] She turned her head towards the lake. [It that what is happening? Is this why we were truly awakened? Is that why the Asteroid Senshi are here?]
The sound of familiar voices broke Hotaru out of the trance. She glanced back to the edge of the sidewalk where a group of students had pinned Kisaki to the edge of the broken railing. Nearby, a waking child laid in the arms of his friends, they glared at her too.
"Yeah right!" Snapped one. "That monster tried to eat him!"
"Yeah!" Accused another. "You'd kill us all if you had the chance!"
"Keep away from us!" The third agreed.
"You should leave before we run you out!" Agreed a fourth.
"Scram!" Ordered the victim. He picked up a rock and pitched it at her.
Kisaki scurried out of the way and towards the woods.
"Get out of here!" "Beat it!"
"But… He was going to fall!" She insisted.
Something clicked in Hotaru's mind and she remembered the way she had once been treated by her fellow classmates. She instantly made up her mind and took action.
* * *
"Hotaru! Dinner time!" Haruka called towards the upstairs rooms from the stairs. When there was no response the opened her mouth to try again, but was prevented when Setsuna spoke.
"She went for a walk." The woman explained over her shoulder as she finished setting the table. "She told us to eat without her."
"Hmm…" Haruka nodded then left the rail and toward the dining room. Just as she sat down, the doorbell rang. Haruka grumbled slightly after she volunteered to answer the door. "Never fails…"
A surprise waited for her though. "Hey-ya Haruka-chan!" Kyo grinned at Haruka's shocked expression. "I was in town and thought I'd stop by and say 'hi'! So… Hi!"
"Kyo…! Hello! It's been a while! Why don't you come in?" Then she noticed two silhouettes behind the ruby-haired girl. "Who are your friends?"
"Oh! This is my cousin Seidan, Hinshi and his partner Seishou, Hidama."
"Tenou, Haruka?" Hinshi inquired to the racer.
"Yeah? So? What's this all about?" Haruka asked as everyone – Michiru and Setsuna included – sat down at the living room.
"We'd like to ask you a few questions."
* * *
Chibi-Usa, Diana, Luna, and Artemis ran across the pathway along the street. "First I'm going to try her house!"
"All right." Luna agreed but stopped when Diana paused in front of the park. "What is it, Diana?"
"We should go this way." Diana insisted to their surprise.
"Why?" asked Artemis tentatively.
"I don't know…" She admitted.
"You're right." Chibi-Usa agreed, for she too felt a pull from that direction.
"Let's go." Luna finally decided.
* * *
"Stop!" Hotaru jumped in front of Kisaki. "Don't be so mean to her!"
"But…!" "Yeow!" "Ack!" "Hey, Stop it!" Determined to help, she started throwing rocks at the group until they vanished.
"Thanks." Kisaki said to her when they were gone.
Hotaru turned around to face the child and nodded.
"Why did you… help me…?" She asked softly.
"Because…" Hotaru smiled as she lent out a hand. "I, too, once was treated like you."
Kisaki took Hotaru's hand and pulled herself up. "I… That doesn't mean anything… there are a lot of people different from the world… you didn't have to help… you know…"
The violet-black haired child just smiled again. "But… did any of those people risk their life to aid those same ones who had shunned them?"
"What makes you say that I'm risking my life?"
"When one uses their gifts, they use a part of their energy that keeps them alive. To create an illusion with a personality and free-willed thought takes a LOT more. And you've done it enough times to make you weak and vulnerable. I have a healing power. That takes me energy to use."
Kisaki shuffled her feet and glanced down at them. "I know…" She sighed, "It's foolish… but I still feet I should do something… other than watch."
Hotaru laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. "That is the decision of a Senshi. To protect the people, even though they could have been shunned by them. They have strong hearts and souls. That's what makes them Senshi."
Chibi-Usa and the trio of felines rushed to the scene and came to a halt a distance away. "Hotaru-chan? Kisa-chan?"
The two turn to speak to the girl. Kisaki winced slightly. "Chibi-Usa…"
"You're all right!" Chibi-Usa hugged Kisaki before she could finish.
"Chibi-Usa, I'm sorry I doubted you." Hotaru told her friend. "From now on, Kisaki's MY friend too, no matter what happens and who protests."
"Thanks!" The pink haired child smiled to Hotaru in thanks.
"Do you… mean it?!" Kisaki squeaked in both surprise and happiness.
"Yes." Hotaru smiled. She held out her and into the center of the trio's circle they had formed. "We're all friends."
"No matter what!" Chibi-Usa added in certainty and placed her hand atop Hotaru's.
Kisaki hesitated a moment then nodded adding her hand to the pair's. "Always… for ourselves… and for each other."
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Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Eternal
Book 8: Chapter 23 'Fire'
e-mail [kisaki@tds.net]
Book 8: Chapter 23 'Fire'
e-mail [kisaki@tds.net]
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Sailor Moon! Please wake up! I don't have power like you! I can't do this alone! Please don't leave me!"
"Chibi-Usa!" Kisaki yelled to her only friend. She reached a hand out but the other Akuma tried pulled her back. "Chibi-Usa, run!"
"This amulet would give a pure-hearted wearer luck and protect them." Kisaki held it out to Chibi-Usa. "I don't have a very pure heart. But you do! I think it will help you. Those men are determined to hurt you, aren't they? I believe this will protect you somehow. I want you to have it."
"Kisaki… you're wrong…" Chibi-Usa suddenly whispered.
"What?! I don't understand!" Kisaki managed to reach her friend as Pollux quickly enclosed on them.
"You do have a Pure Heart!" Chibi-Usa insisted. "Pure Hearted people are those that are willing to sacrifice their own life to help someone they care about – or even somebody they don't know! They don't have to be a Senshi! In fact most of them probably aren't!" She grabbed Kisaki's hand. "You want to help, don't you? Just because we're friends! And that's good enough for me!"
"Chibi-Usa…" A light flickered from Chibi-Moon's necklace as it floated atop their joined hands just as Sailor Moon moaned and sat up to look at the two. The teardrop within it flared to life and its power wrapped ribbons around them. Chibi-Moon suddenly powered up into a new Senshi uniform. Alike the others in every way except the gloves and boots, it was then Chibi-Moon realized she had reached a level beyond Star – just like the others – the level of Eternal.
But she wasn't the only one radiating. So was Kisaki, who was oblivious to everything around her. A silvery symbol streaked onto her forehead. It was the symbol worn by Kaylyn – the symbol of the planet Somnus.
"Chibi-Moon! Kisaki!" Sailor Moon called again.
The area shook again as Pollux attacked the two children in vain - for the shield surrounding them was stronger than he.
"Pollux!" Chibi-Moon yelled to the twin. "I'm going to turn you back!" She turned to her friend. "Kisaki! Stay here!"
"So you can…" Kisaki slowly opened her eyes as the symbol faded from her forehead. "Fight him?" Her eyes were shallow pools of azure. "To complete your mission? To defeat the darkness of evil?"
"Kisaki?" Sailor Chibi-Moon took a step in her direction.
"What if…" The child looked to Beryl and stretched out her hand. Beryl screamed as she started to melt into reddish goo.
"Beryl's an illusion too?!" gasped Venus.
"What if everyone…" Kisaki glanced back to Chibi-Moon. "Had the darkness of evil within them? What if everyone was a soldier of the Dark Kingdom? Or the Black Moon? Or an Akuma? What then? Would you still complete your mission? Even if it would mean that your mission was to destroy the people of Earth?"
"Kisaki? What's wrong…? Are you okay…?" Chibi-Moon worriedly walked over to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder. As surge of electricity attacked her, she jerked her hand back. "Eek! Kisaki?!"
"But what if…" Kisaki continued. "You had that darkness within you too? Would you kill yourself to complete your mission? Would you?"
"I… I don't know…" Chibi-Moon shook her head. "Let's just worry about Mars and Pollux first."
"Are the reborn Soldiers of the Millennium as pure of heart as they claim? Perhaps they are not worthy of the blessings of the gods and the power of their planets. How can you be sure? What if everyone is an illusion?"
Pluto and Saturn had had just about enough of this. Saturn looked to Galaxia. "We've got to stop this, now."
"Right."
The three raced toward the two children and suddenly took action. Galaxia grabbed Chibi-Moon while Sailor Pluto and Saturn attacked Kisaki.
"CHRONOS TYPHOON!!!"
"SILENCE GLAIVE SURPRISE!!!"
"Wait! No! Stop!" Chibi-Moon shrieked.
The two energies collided with the child. Kisaki waved her hand and tossed the blast to the side, unaffected by the quick action of the three Elite Senshi.
Chibi-Moon broke free of Galaxia's hold and scrambled toward her friend. "Kisa-chan!"
"Chibi-Usa! Wait!" Saturn yelled.
"Small Lady!" Pluto called in warning.
"Chibi-Usa…" Kisaki murmured. Her eyes shifted and she blinked. "Chibi-Usa-chan…"
"Kisaki…!" The pink-hared child approached her friend again.
Kisaki suddenly fell to the ground on her knees. "Chibi… Usa…" The girl fell over to the side as Sailor Moon caught her.
* * *
'Mars…' Kaylyn murmured to Mars.
"You're… back!"
'Temporarily…' She held an object out to her. 'Here, Princess Mars… Sailor Chibi-Moon will need this…' It shimmered in her hands and faded as she continued. 'Now… as for you… I will aid you, also…' She took Mars' hands and a silvery aura surrounded Kaylyn. The power spread covering Mars, but as it did the color shifted from gray to crimson. 'Use this to help your princess… but I wonder… is that all that she is to you…? Perhaps… if you can find out what she truly is to you, you will wake up… but until that time… it's time to wake up, Mars… wake up… you have a mission to complete… wake up…'
* * *
Sailor Mars moaned softly and sat up as she put a hand to her head. "How long have I been asleep? Where is everyone?" Just then her questions were answered as and explosion rippled the stage. A protesting voice yelled then its owner, Eternal Sailor Chibi-Moon, ran to a girl. As Sailor Moon caught the falling child, Pollux attacked again. "Sailor Moon?!"
The other Senshi whirled to her when she spoke. "Mars!" "Rei!" "You're OK!"
Mars nodded as she ran past them to aid her friends. The other Senshi followed.
"Sailor Moon!" Mars stopped quickly next to her fallen comrades. "Chibi-Moon!"
"Chibi-Usa…" Kisaki murmured to her friend.
"Don't speak! We'll talk later!" Chibi-Moon insisted.
"But… your form…"
"What do you mean?"
"It won't stay much longer… I don't have enough power…"
"Oh!" Chibi-Moon caught on. "Then I'd better hurry."
"Wait." Mars stopped her from leaving.
"Mars?!"
"Yeah, but here - it's from Kaylyn. She said it would help you." Chibi-Usa's pink Music Box was placed into her hands and suddenly it morphed. "Huh?" Now it looked exactly like Sailor Moon's Moon-Reviver, but slightly shorter and colored in pink. "Wow!"
"I'll help!" Sailor Moon offered.
"Okay! Let's go!" The two moon princesses ran to the front, where Pollux stood. "Come on, Chibi-Moon!" Sailor Moon mentally hoped Kaylyn would give her the boost of power she needed. [Kaylyn! Please, help me save them!]
"MOONLESS SOUL REVIVAL KISS!!!"
"PINK LADIES FREEZING KISS!!!"
Pollux suddenly realized he was being pushed backward. A mirror floated in front of him shattered into dust and the trapped Heart Crystal returned to its owner - Pollux. Pollux collapsed to the ground.
"Pollux?!" Castor yelled again. But gave a surprised yelp when he realized her and his brother were fading and quickly disappeared.
"Castor?! Pollux?!" Chibi-Moon called but there was no response. "Where did you go…?"
"It's okay, I'm sure their all right." Sailor Moon placed a hand in her shoulder comfortingly.
"We are, Chibi-Usagi."
"Castor! Pollux!" Chibi-Moon leaped for joy when they had appeared in front of the two. But there was something… different. They were faded and glowing with a golden aura that surrounded them like two globes - two miniature stars.
"Thank you, Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi-Moon." Pollux smiled to them. "Now that we are together, we can go home."
"Home?"
"We are…" Castor explained gently. "The Gemini – the twin stars of space. We had been separated during the Sailor War and were sleeping as shooting stars when the Negafleet found us, and when we used our human form without the other being close for so long, we forgot our past and home."
"Neither of us had been together for over a thousand years, we were looking for the other so we could go home - to the stars. But unfortunately Sage had already found me first." Pollux winced slightly.
"But you brought us back together, and now we are free to leave." Castor smiled again.
"We both wanted to thank you before we left." The two flashed brightly and exploded upward into the sky, orbiting each other, as they disappeared into space.
"Chibi-Moon… I will keep your secret until we meet again… Thank you… Chibi-Usagi… I will never forget you…"
"Me neither, Castor… me neither…" Chibi-Moon smiled happily as they vanished into the heavens above, bound for home.
"Sailor Moon! Behind you!" Pluto's voice yelled a warning of the coming danger, although too late to help.
The two Senshi were suddenly covered in darkness as Akuma's by the dozen surrounded them. "Aaaaahhhhhh!"
"Sailor Moon?!" Mars yelled in panic. "Sailor Chibi-Moon?!" She tried to push her way through the herds of monsters but they kept driving her backward. [No! I've got to hurry! Usagi! They'll be killed! They have to get out of there!] She kept on pushing, not willing to give up. But the Akuma had covered over the two, forming a dome. It was too late. "No! Usagi! Chibi-Usa!" There was no one to save them now. She was the only one close enough to help them, and yet she had no power to be able to. [I can't…! I won't let this happen! Usagi… She may be my princess, but she's more importantly my friend!] Suddenly her locket flared to life and a column of flames spiraled around her. "What's happening?!" A red symbol - the symbol of the planet Mars - replaced her tiara. [I know what to say…!] She stretched out her hand to the ceiling and yelled. "MARS ETERNAL… MAKE UP!" The fires wrapped around her as they morphed into new clothing. Now she, too, was Eternal.
"Mars?!" The other Senshi gawked.
"You'd better leave them alone or you'll be punished!" She warned the Akuma who blocked her path. When they paid no heed, she attacked by calling the burning flames buried deep within her soul to arise. By calling the fire that originated within her heart. "MARS HI-NO-MOTO!" A pillar of flames dispersed the Akuma in her path and she ran to her friends. "Usagi!"
"Ulp…" Sailor Moon gulped.
"Are you okay?! You're not hurt, are you?!" Mars threw a series of questions at her pale princess.
"I'm… okay… I think." She managed to say as the other Senshi had arrived after they destroyed the last of the Akuma.
"Sailor Moon!" Shingo pounced on top of his sister. "Did those creeps get you?!"
"No, I'm fine." She insisted with a hesitant laugh.
The four Asteroid Senshi huddled around the unconscious Super Sailor Chibi-Moon. She had lost her Eternal transformation and collapsed only a moment ago.
"Is she okay?!" Pallas squeaked as she clamped her hands together.
"I think she's just tired." Vesta reported in satisfaction after she had checked her over.
The other soldiers heaved a sigh of relief when they heard the news. "That's good."
"Hey!" Juno exclaimed suddenly. "Everyone's gone!"
"Huh?!" The Sailors looked around the auditorium. She was right. Sage was gone, and so was the rest of her monsters.
"The wolf's gone too!" Ceres noticed.
"So he is… I wonder where he went." Vesta agreed with her partner then tapped the side of her cheek in deep thought.
"Princess Mars."
Everyone turn to the two girls standing side by side. Mars gasped, "Phobos?! Deimos?!"
"Although we are not a strong as you," Phobos said sadly.
"We still wanted to help." Deimos finished.
"We…" Phobos paused, "We only want to help. Please, let us fight with you."
"Please, Princess," Deimos begged, "We won't be a burden! Honest!"
"Of course you can!" Mars smiled warmly. "Thank you for offering. We could use the help."
"Thank you!" The chorused happily. "We are glad to see you are unharmed."
"Umm… not to break the happy moment or anything," Ceres insisted to the others, "But I think we need to get her to bed, she looks exhausted." She looked to Chibi-Moon.
"Good idea." The other Sailor agreed.
* * *
"…Now remember, Shingo," Usagi explained their plan again. "We went to the park and Chibi-Usa fell into the lake. And right now…"
"I know, I know." Shingo interrupted. "She's upstairs sleeping because she hit her head and almost drowned, and would have if Makoto hadn't have gotten her out in time. I know already, you've told me this a hundred times. I think I have it memorized now, Odango-Atama."
"At least you haven't let this get to your head…" She grumbled.
Click! The door opened and Usagi's parents walked in.
"Oh! Hi, Mom, Dad!" Usagi scurried over to them. "Umm… we need to tell you something…"
* * *
Luna, Artemis, and Diana - who had been updated about what had happened inside the school - watched over the sleeping Chibi-Usa with worry.
But that ended when she opened her eyes and jolted upright in bed. "Kisa…! Huh?! What happened?! Where is everyone?! Are they OK?! Where's the Akuma?! And Sage?!" She paused as she noticed more clearly her surroundings. "Well?"
"Everyone's fine." Luna assured the child. "We even got Rei back! When she morphed into an Eternal Senshi, all the monsters were destroyed with other Senshi's the help."
"There's a meeting later." Artemis added. "If you feel up to it, you can go and get the news."
"Okay, thanks." Chibi-Usa looked out the window and watched as the Tsukino's pulled into the driveway. "And Kisaki?"
"…" The cats didn't know what to say about that.
"Well," Diana said slowly. "She disappeared after Castor and Pollux left. We don't know much more than that…"
Chibi-Usa's hands clenched the bed-sheets. "Nothing…?"
"I'm sure somebody will know where she's at. Nobody can just disappear without a trace. Okugi was watching over her, too, remember?"
"That's it!" She exclaimed.
"What's it?"
"Okugi was a police officer! Remember? He may be gone but certainly his files are still there!"
"And the files will tell us where she is!" Diana continued, as she understood the girl's point. "If she isn't at her home, then the files will give us the other places to look for her!" Diana leaped onto the bed beside Chibi-Usa. "That's a great idea!"
"Let's go!" Chibi-Usa cheered and jumped out of bed.
* * *
Hotaru frowned as she strolled the park's sidewalk in silence. [Kisaki bore the same symbol as Kaylyn wears… Why…?] She wondered to herself. [What does it mean…? We were told that the four of us would never meet together. And that for us were here, together, at the same time… It would mean a force that could tear the timeline to pieces… it would appear… That would be the only reason all four of us would be needed like this…] She turned her head towards the lake. [It that what is happening? Is this why we were truly awakened? Is that why the Asteroid Senshi are here?]
The sound of familiar voices broke Hotaru out of the trance. She glanced back to the edge of the sidewalk where a group of students had pinned Kisaki to the edge of the broken railing. Nearby, a waking child laid in the arms of his friends, they glared at her too.
"Yeah right!" Snapped one. "That monster tried to eat him!"
"Yeah!" Accused another. "You'd kill us all if you had the chance!"
"Keep away from us!" The third agreed.
"You should leave before we run you out!" Agreed a fourth.
"Scram!" Ordered the victim. He picked up a rock and pitched it at her.
Kisaki scurried out of the way and towards the woods.
"Get out of here!" "Beat it!"
"But… He was going to fall!" She insisted.
Something clicked in Hotaru's mind and she remembered the way she had once been treated by her fellow classmates. She instantly made up her mind and took action.
* * *
"Hotaru! Dinner time!" Haruka called towards the upstairs rooms from the stairs. When there was no response the opened her mouth to try again, but was prevented when Setsuna spoke.
"She went for a walk." The woman explained over her shoulder as she finished setting the table. "She told us to eat without her."
"Hmm…" Haruka nodded then left the rail and toward the dining room. Just as she sat down, the doorbell rang. Haruka grumbled slightly after she volunteered to answer the door. "Never fails…"
A surprise waited for her though. "Hey-ya Haruka-chan!" Kyo grinned at Haruka's shocked expression. "I was in town and thought I'd stop by and say 'hi'! So… Hi!"
"Kyo…! Hello! It's been a while! Why don't you come in?" Then she noticed two silhouettes behind the ruby-haired girl. "Who are your friends?"
"Oh! This is my cousin Seidan, Hinshi and his partner Seishou, Hidama."
"Tenou, Haruka?" Hinshi inquired to the racer.
"Yeah? So? What's this all about?" Haruka asked as everyone – Michiru and Setsuna included – sat down at the living room.
"We'd like to ask you a few questions."
* * *
Chibi-Usa, Diana, Luna, and Artemis ran across the pathway along the street. "First I'm going to try her house!"
"All right." Luna agreed but stopped when Diana paused in front of the park. "What is it, Diana?"
"We should go this way." Diana insisted to their surprise.
"Why?" asked Artemis tentatively.
"I don't know…" She admitted.
"You're right." Chibi-Usa agreed, for she too felt a pull from that direction.
"Let's go." Luna finally decided.
* * *
"Stop!" Hotaru jumped in front of Kisaki. "Don't be so mean to her!"
"But…!" "Yeow!" "Ack!" "Hey, Stop it!" Determined to help, she started throwing rocks at the group until they vanished.
"Thanks." Kisaki said to her when they were gone.
Hotaru turned around to face the child and nodded.
"Why did you… help me…?" She asked softly.
"Because…" Hotaru smiled as she lent out a hand. "I, too, once was treated like you."
Kisaki took Hotaru's hand and pulled herself up. "I… That doesn't mean anything… there are a lot of people different from the world… you didn't have to help… you know…"
The violet-black haired child just smiled again. "But… did any of those people risk their life to aid those same ones who had shunned them?"
"What makes you say that I'm risking my life?"
"When one uses their gifts, they use a part of their energy that keeps them alive. To create an illusion with a personality and free-willed thought takes a LOT more. And you've done it enough times to make you weak and vulnerable. I have a healing power. That takes me energy to use."
Kisaki shuffled her feet and glanced down at them. "I know…" She sighed, "It's foolish… but I still feet I should do something… other than watch."
Hotaru laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. "That is the decision of a Senshi. To protect the people, even though they could have been shunned by them. They have strong hearts and souls. That's what makes them Senshi."
Chibi-Usa and the trio of felines rushed to the scene and came to a halt a distance away. "Hotaru-chan? Kisa-chan?"
The two turn to speak to the girl. Kisaki winced slightly. "Chibi-Usa…"
"You're all right!" Chibi-Usa hugged Kisaki before she could finish.
"Chibi-Usa, I'm sorry I doubted you." Hotaru told her friend. "From now on, Kisaki's MY friend too, no matter what happens and who protests."
"Thanks!" The pink haired child smiled to Hotaru in thanks.
"Do you… mean it?!" Kisaki squeaked in both surprise and happiness.
"Yes." Hotaru smiled. She held out her and into the center of the trio's circle they had formed. "We're all friends."
"No matter what!" Chibi-Usa added in certainty and placed her hand atop Hotaru's.
Kisaki hesitated a moment then nodded adding her hand to the pair's. "Always… for ourselves… and for each other."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Eternal
Book 8: Chapter 23 'Fire'
e-mail [kisaki@tds.net]