Episode Three: And the walls come crashing down

Pandora Orbital power… MAKE UP!

Shinseino Tskui was floating in nothingness. Blackness encroached all around her, yet by this point she didn't care. Not about her parents, the "thing" awaiting her Nothing.

At that moment, the only thing Tskui cared about was the blinding pain coursing through her body. It ebbed and flowed like an ocean of agony. It was as if keen blades had replaced the blood in her veins. Every time the tide of pain returned, it doubled in intensity.

A terrible pressure focused between her breasts. Her hands flew to her chest, trying to hold the whatever-it-was in. Fingertips connected with bare skin and cool etched enamel. Curious even through the pain, Tskui looked down at herself to see her body completely nude and pulsating a deep, blood red. In counter time, the brooch glowed bright silver through her clasped hands.

A cyclone of wind flew from the void beneath her, and her hair rushed about her face, obscuring her vision for a moment. The pain in her chest began to spread throughout her body like fire. When the wind blew itself out, a cool balm calmed the pain to a tolerable throb.

Faint tingles began at her feet, working their way up to her body. Her feet felt heavier than before. As the tingle spread to her hands, she instinctively moved them to cross over her chest, feeling them become encased in something silky-soft.

To the right, a silver pinpoint of light came towards her. As it came closer, it became evident that the light was actually great licks of silver flame. The pillars of fire engulfed her body, and her brooch responded with a flash of brilliant red light.

She threw her hands straight before her, and the tingly sensation moved down her shoulders to her hips. She felt a silky material brush her legs mid-thigh.

The flames dissipated a moment later, leaving Tskui shaking in darkness. Her arms were still held before her body. She felt strangely filled with power. The black haired girl had no more time to think about what was happening, for the non-world was dissolving into reality, and imminent danger demanded her focus.

The girl who had been Shinseino Tskui took a silent step backwards, and Sailor Pandora stepped into her shoes. When she had her feet solidly on the ground again, she turned to face the disgusting creature in front of her, awaiting the inevitable. She was not afraid, but very, very angry.

She didn't have long to wait, as the putrid monster lunged forward almost immediately. She saw it's clawed hand swipe at her head, but not soon enough to avoid the blow. By sheer force it toppled her to the ground, and she was knocked senseless. Her head swam as she blinked away the stinging tears that had crept beneath her eyelids. She had no idea what she was doing fighting this thing. It was obviously brutally strong, and she was just a girl.

The creature sensed her failing sprit and rushed in for the kill. It drew one long, gnarled hand from beneath it's tattered sleeve to reveal long, razor sharp talons.

"I will have your blood-gem girl, the Storm-Mistress demands it."

Sailor Pandora glared into the pus-filled face without fear. Inside it felt as if Tskui had disappeared, and another, stronger crueler woman had taken her place. Instinct told her to kill the bastard, and that was exactly what she planned on doing.

"Whatever you are, you killed my parents, and you will pay for their lives dearly." Her words buzzed around the blood-spattered room like venomous wasps. "Your screams will echo to the dark side of the moon when I have finished with your worthless hide."

The creature seemed unaffected by her speech, and lunged forward again, reaching out with the claws.

His arms moved faster than she expected, and in their second swing, they tore the soft flesh of her right thigh. The four deep gashes were soon flowing freely with blood, and as the wounds mixed with the open air it brought a stinging of tears to her eyes.

As fast as her small body could dodge them, the monster swung. Soon, deep cuts and abrasions decorated Sailor Pandora's legs, arms and torso, staining her body crimson. Her vision swam, and as the creature rushed in for the final blow, an urgent voice yelled in her mind.

"Damnit, Pandora, attack!" It was the girl Hotaru's voice.

The black and red clad senshi struggled against impending loss of consciousness and stood to face her attacker. A strange heat was building in her body, throbbing and pulsing through her veins again, like when she had transformed. She crossed her white-gloved hands in front of her face, and threw them down towards the ground, hard. Then, words came unbidden to her lips.

"Pandora Rebirth SHOCKWAVE!"

Spirals of ruby and silver light sped towards the disgusting excuse for a living creature, and engulfed it in heat-less flames. It's screams died away moments later, and Sailor Pandora collapsed on the ground in small pool of her own blood, finally giving in to unconsciousness.

**

Tskui awoke to the antiseptic smell of the hospital. She moved her arm to push her hair out of her face, only to feel the jab of the IV in her hand. For a blessed moment, she could not remember why she there, but it soon cam e rushing back in a horrible rush worse than any nightmare. When she lifted the blanket up to assess the damage, there was only one scar high on her inner thigh. All the rest had healed of their own accord.

Just then, nurse came in and seeing that she was awake, shoved a thermometer under her tongue and adroitly wrapped her arm in a Velcro band to check her blood pressure.

Tskui lost all train of thought as Aidan entered the room. He looked as if he hadn't slept in weeks. His red hair was disheveled and the purple smudges under his eyes scared her. When their eyes met, Tskui's awful nightmare was confirmed. He rushed to her side and they were one for a long moment, lips pressed together in a sorrowful kiss. She knew in that instant.

Her parents were really dead.