Chapter Seventeen
Michiru silently clenched her teeth as the plane started to descend. She had never appreciated flying to say the least. And the anxiousness due to their tight schedule didn't exactly make anything better. But this was something that they had to do.
Glancing at the other members of her group, Michiru pondered the grouping Angelus, Usagi and Buffy had decided on before embarking on the flight. It had been a hard decision, especially considering that most facts had been taken from the Silver Millennia. The only obvious pairing had been Angelus and Hotaru, as neither of them could use their powers in the quickly approaching battle. Then it had become fuzzier. But in the end, everyone had been paired off. Buffy and Haruka. Usagi and Minako. Her and Setsuna. Rei and Makoto with Ami working independently with all the groups. Hopefully this would work.
As they dipped below the clouds, Angelus tapped his communications watch and sent a short message.
"Countdown begun."
Makoto impatiently waited by her rented van, knowing that the countdown would already have begun. It felt really strange waiting for the senshi from LA. Not only because they literally hadn't met for millennia, but also because she couldn't remember them all that clearly. Sure, she and the others had enough memories to remember the basics from their past lives, but everything else was lost.
Before the memories had returned, Makoto never would have thought that Usagi was the princess. Not only because she was the smallest of them, she was the slowest developing of them as well. It had seemed too unlikely to be considered. Now, it seemed as natural as breathing.
The brown-haired senshi shook her head as she recognized the tall, regal man exiting the building. Here they came.
"Here!" she called out. "Angelus!"
His head whipped in her direction, and he gave her a short nod. Then he waved for the others to exit the terminal. Five minutes later, they were all stuffed into the van and Makoto took off.
Sitting on her knees, Ami patiently waited for everyone to arrive. Nearby, Rei and Luna were pacing, but differently from them, Ami knew how to deal with stressful circumstances. There was no way to survive the entrance exams to the college she had chosen if one didn't know how to do that.
Suddenly, the sound of many feet walking on the stone floor leading to Rei's meditation and training room was heard, causing the two pacing aliens to turn towards the door. They were finally here!
Ami watched silently as the persons she had known for so long ago entered the room and then slid to her feet. It felt strange to say the least to see them again. She could not deny her heart hadn't yearned deeply for this though.
Knowing of their pressed schedule, the blue haired young woman wasn't surprised when Angelus immediately took command.
"Rei, Ami and Makoto," he softly but kindly said. "Come here."
Walking quickly towards him, the mercurian knew the others did the same. As she reached him, he immediately put his hands on both sides of her head.
"This may be a bit confusing, Ami," he gently warned her. "It should be better after a minute or two though."
Ami nodded and freely let him into her mind. Soon, she could feel her memories surfacing in her mind, like a float on fishing net. Angelus' warning was well deserved.
Falling to her knees, Ami cradled her head. A splitting headache had made itself known the moment the first memory had shown up, and each new memory sent a fresh wave of pain through her. But she would willingly go through that a hundred times if she just would regain her memories.
As the pain finally dissipated, Ami tentatively opened her eyes. When that didn't cause any pain, she slowly rose to her feet, looking around her. As she had been the first one to be memory healed, neither Makoto nor Rei were up yet. So, Ami turned to study the new additions.
When Angelus first had contacted them about a year after Usagi's depart, they had been taken completely by surprise. Or to be more precise, they had fallen to their knees in the ancient Imperial bow and reinstated their vows to serve the kin of Selene Ceteri. Because if Empress Serenity was their leader and friend, their Luke Skywalker, Angelus was their master, guide and mentor, their Yoda. To see him when he was believed lost forever was both a great shock and a great joy. Now, Ami simply was more grateful that he was there than she had ever been before.
Sensing that she was looking at him, the tall vampire sent her a gently, affectionate look from his timeless eyes before stepping forwards to steady a wobbly Rei. The two others had been healed as well.
Feeling a warm wave sweeping over her, Ami smiled and nodded thankfully at Serenity. The blonde grinned back.
"No problems, Ami" she said humbly. "You looked a little unsteady there."
Ami chuckled a bit at that before letting her arm sweep over the room.
"Will we have time to go through our attacks after our power-up?" she asked. "It would be a definite plus if we at least had a minor idea of what we all are able to do before going off to battle."
"Yes," Angelus answered as he walked over to Buffy, Hotaru and Haruka. "We will need a short period of rest immediately after the power-up anyway. Besides, we cannot afford to make any mistakes in this. Even if we didn't have time to do that, I would have to make time."
Ami nodded.
"Then we should begin," Angelus continued. "It's time. Take the hands of the persons next to you and concentrate. I'll guide you through it."
To anyone looking on at that moment, they would have looked like a brightly burning circle of different colors. The circle seemed to expand and then explode, revealing eleven figures dressed in one colored fukus/battle clothing. The senshi was back.
Hotaru felt rather sad as she looked at the other senshi. She knew they were all going out into battle in just a little while, risking their lives to protect a world that largely didn't know that they existed with the exception of Mina. But what made it even more difficult was that she wouldn't be able to follow. Not only because of her not having another power than her death and life one, but of her slight stance and her age. In their past life, she had been of the same age as the other senshi, but in this one, she was much younger. She didn't know why, but she guessed there was a reason.
Sighing, the purple-eyed young woman waited for the last remains of the power channelled in the room to disappear before letting go of Buffy and Tenshi. Turning to the man and woman she considered to be her closest friend and mentor/sister, she looked at them. They were both clad completely in black, mirroring each other perfectly. Hotaru wore a fuku in purple, matching her eyes.
"Tenchi?" she silently said, smiling softly at him. "I think we are ready know. The energy levels around you all has been re-established enough for you to separate. Do it slowly though, or the slight backlash of the severing could give you a nasty headache."
Tenshi nodded, touching her cheek affectionately before nodding to the others.
"You heard her," he said, giving them stern looks, reminding them all of the imposing man who had taught them so much in all their lives. "But be careful."
One by one, they all separated and went to stand in a tight circle, automatically in the pairs they would come to work as.
"All right them," the ancient one said. "Search within you for a few seconds for the powers you harbor, and then we'll start introducing them to each other."
The next minute or so was spent in silent meditation as everyone did as their mentor said. Even Hotaru, who already knew of the only power she had in her present state. And even though it didn't bring her any new insights, it certainly helped when it came to reaching an inner serenity.
"Rise." The word was spoken in the soft, almost hypnotizing voice of Tenshi. It served as a light beacon leading them out of their meditation, and when Hotaru opened her eyes again, she found herself gazing into the calm and light eyes of her princess and friend. Smiling sweetly, the small senshi then turned her eyes to Tenshi.
"When you present your attacks to us, please state your activation words and what it will do. Listen carefully as the others do the same. The knowledge may be critical in battle. Usagi, you may begin."
The pale princess senshi in her silver fuku smiled.
"Thank you," she simply said. "My activation phrases is: 'Imperial Healing Light' and 'Imperial Sceptre Call'. The second will simply call the war sceptre that was mine. The first will bring healing to the target, banishing all that is dark or evil within the being."
Minako continued where Usagi left, adjusting the collar of her golden fuku as she spoke.
"The activation phrases I will use are: 'Venusian Luminance' and 'Imperial Moon Call'. The first is my attack, consisting of one or multiple beams of light. The effect from them can be everything from light burns to incineration. The second are meant to call either my chain link or the moon sword. Michiru?"
The senshi in a sea green fuku nodded gracefully.
"The phrases which have come to me are: 'Tsunami Ascending' and 'Imperial Twin Call'. They will conjure a tsunami, which is capable of either crushing or carrying away the target and summon my twin knives respective. Setsuna, if you may?"
The darker senshi in the second black fuku inclined her head. For a minute Hotaru pondered who were controlling the gates while Setsuna was still regaining her past abilities. But then she realized that Tenchi and the late empress Serenity most likely had seen to that problem as they saved the Silver Millennia from annihilation.
"The words I will use to activate my powers are: 'Dark Wind' and 'Imperial Time Call'. The first will cause a pulse of pure energy while the latter brings me my garnet staff."
Ami spoke up after the older woman, an amused look on her face. The same look that no doubt was on her own face. The effect of Ami's blue fuku, hair and eyes brought the rather interesting result that it all blended seamlessly, making her look like some mythical sea witch.
"My first attack is activated with 'Lyric Ice Harmony', causing a mist not unlike liquid nitrogen in its effect. The phrase to call my quarterstaff is 'Imperial Wind Call'. Makoto?"
"Yes, well, my activation phrases are 'Earth Life Bind' and 'Imperial Touch Call'. The latter brings my battle axe, the former brings vines and similar things from the ground at my command."
The green clad senshi looked at the red clad one next to her.
"I guess it's my turn then," Rei murmured, giving Makoto a look. "As one could expect, my attack is connected to fire. The words are 'Phoenix Song' and lacking a better description, it causes a firestorm I control. To call my bow and arrows, I say 'Imperial Arrow Call'. Does this satisfy Little Miss Impatience?"
"Children, children," Buffy amusedly said next to Hotaru, absently pulling on the neckline to her black fuku. "Stop fighting so we can get this over with. Anyway, my activation words are 'Earth Banish' and 'Imperial Sword Call'. The first on banish beings from this dimension to their rightful ones, and the second gets me my sword. Haruka, will you finish this?"
The tall woman who almost always was at Buffy's side chuckled, her blue eyes turning a shade or two darker than her fuku.
"Of course," she simply agreed. "My words are 'Realm Seizure' and 'Imperial Earth Call'. The former gives the world a jelly effect, and the latter brings my sword."
Hotaru smiled a little at Haruka's description, even as she suspected that it were quite true. She had been present while Haruka trained with her lesser power, and if that earthquake could be called minor, she was a frog.
Checking the energy levels of everyone, Hotaru nodded in satisfaction. It seemed like they had recuperated from the exhausting experience upgrading were. Time for the chase to begin.
"Tenchi?" she softly said. "We are ready."
Michiru silently clenched her teeth as the plane started to descend. She had never appreciated flying to say the least. And the anxiousness due to their tight schedule didn't exactly make anything better. But this was something that they had to do.
Glancing at the other members of her group, Michiru pondered the grouping Angelus, Usagi and Buffy had decided on before embarking on the flight. It had been a hard decision, especially considering that most facts had been taken from the Silver Millennia. The only obvious pairing had been Angelus and Hotaru, as neither of them could use their powers in the quickly approaching battle. Then it had become fuzzier. But in the end, everyone had been paired off. Buffy and Haruka. Usagi and Minako. Her and Setsuna. Rei and Makoto with Ami working independently with all the groups. Hopefully this would work.
As they dipped below the clouds, Angelus tapped his communications watch and sent a short message.
"Countdown begun."
Makoto impatiently waited by her rented van, knowing that the countdown would already have begun. It felt really strange waiting for the senshi from LA. Not only because they literally hadn't met for millennia, but also because she couldn't remember them all that clearly. Sure, she and the others had enough memories to remember the basics from their past lives, but everything else was lost.
Before the memories had returned, Makoto never would have thought that Usagi was the princess. Not only because she was the smallest of them, she was the slowest developing of them as well. It had seemed too unlikely to be considered. Now, it seemed as natural as breathing.
The brown-haired senshi shook her head as she recognized the tall, regal man exiting the building. Here they came.
"Here!" she called out. "Angelus!"
His head whipped in her direction, and he gave her a short nod. Then he waved for the others to exit the terminal. Five minutes later, they were all stuffed into the van and Makoto took off.
Sitting on her knees, Ami patiently waited for everyone to arrive. Nearby, Rei and Luna were pacing, but differently from them, Ami knew how to deal with stressful circumstances. There was no way to survive the entrance exams to the college she had chosen if one didn't know how to do that.
Suddenly, the sound of many feet walking on the stone floor leading to Rei's meditation and training room was heard, causing the two pacing aliens to turn towards the door. They were finally here!
Ami watched silently as the persons she had known for so long ago entered the room and then slid to her feet. It felt strange to say the least to see them again. She could not deny her heart hadn't yearned deeply for this though.
Knowing of their pressed schedule, the blue haired young woman wasn't surprised when Angelus immediately took command.
"Rei, Ami and Makoto," he softly but kindly said. "Come here."
Walking quickly towards him, the mercurian knew the others did the same. As she reached him, he immediately put his hands on both sides of her head.
"This may be a bit confusing, Ami," he gently warned her. "It should be better after a minute or two though."
Ami nodded and freely let him into her mind. Soon, she could feel her memories surfacing in her mind, like a float on fishing net. Angelus' warning was well deserved.
Falling to her knees, Ami cradled her head. A splitting headache had made itself known the moment the first memory had shown up, and each new memory sent a fresh wave of pain through her. But she would willingly go through that a hundred times if she just would regain her memories.
As the pain finally dissipated, Ami tentatively opened her eyes. When that didn't cause any pain, she slowly rose to her feet, looking around her. As she had been the first one to be memory healed, neither Makoto nor Rei were up yet. So, Ami turned to study the new additions.
When Angelus first had contacted them about a year after Usagi's depart, they had been taken completely by surprise. Or to be more precise, they had fallen to their knees in the ancient Imperial bow and reinstated their vows to serve the kin of Selene Ceteri. Because if Empress Serenity was their leader and friend, their Luke Skywalker, Angelus was their master, guide and mentor, their Yoda. To see him when he was believed lost forever was both a great shock and a great joy. Now, Ami simply was more grateful that he was there than she had ever been before.
Sensing that she was looking at him, the tall vampire sent her a gently, affectionate look from his timeless eyes before stepping forwards to steady a wobbly Rei. The two others had been healed as well.
Feeling a warm wave sweeping over her, Ami smiled and nodded thankfully at Serenity. The blonde grinned back.
"No problems, Ami" she said humbly. "You looked a little unsteady there."
Ami chuckled a bit at that before letting her arm sweep over the room.
"Will we have time to go through our attacks after our power-up?" she asked. "It would be a definite plus if we at least had a minor idea of what we all are able to do before going off to battle."
"Yes," Angelus answered as he walked over to Buffy, Hotaru and Haruka. "We will need a short period of rest immediately after the power-up anyway. Besides, we cannot afford to make any mistakes in this. Even if we didn't have time to do that, I would have to make time."
Ami nodded.
"Then we should begin," Angelus continued. "It's time. Take the hands of the persons next to you and concentrate. I'll guide you through it."
To anyone looking on at that moment, they would have looked like a brightly burning circle of different colors. The circle seemed to expand and then explode, revealing eleven figures dressed in one colored fukus/battle clothing. The senshi was back.
Hotaru felt rather sad as she looked at the other senshi. She knew they were all going out into battle in just a little while, risking their lives to protect a world that largely didn't know that they existed with the exception of Mina. But what made it even more difficult was that she wouldn't be able to follow. Not only because of her not having another power than her death and life one, but of her slight stance and her age. In their past life, she had been of the same age as the other senshi, but in this one, she was much younger. She didn't know why, but she guessed there was a reason.
Sighing, the purple-eyed young woman waited for the last remains of the power channelled in the room to disappear before letting go of Buffy and Tenshi. Turning to the man and woman she considered to be her closest friend and mentor/sister, she looked at them. They were both clad completely in black, mirroring each other perfectly. Hotaru wore a fuku in purple, matching her eyes.
"Tenchi?" she silently said, smiling softly at him. "I think we are ready know. The energy levels around you all has been re-established enough for you to separate. Do it slowly though, or the slight backlash of the severing could give you a nasty headache."
Tenshi nodded, touching her cheek affectionately before nodding to the others.
"You heard her," he said, giving them stern looks, reminding them all of the imposing man who had taught them so much in all their lives. "But be careful."
One by one, they all separated and went to stand in a tight circle, automatically in the pairs they would come to work as.
"All right them," the ancient one said. "Search within you for a few seconds for the powers you harbor, and then we'll start introducing them to each other."
The next minute or so was spent in silent meditation as everyone did as their mentor said. Even Hotaru, who already knew of the only power she had in her present state. And even though it didn't bring her any new insights, it certainly helped when it came to reaching an inner serenity.
"Rise." The word was spoken in the soft, almost hypnotizing voice of Tenshi. It served as a light beacon leading them out of their meditation, and when Hotaru opened her eyes again, she found herself gazing into the calm and light eyes of her princess and friend. Smiling sweetly, the small senshi then turned her eyes to Tenshi.
"When you present your attacks to us, please state your activation words and what it will do. Listen carefully as the others do the same. The knowledge may be critical in battle. Usagi, you may begin."
The pale princess senshi in her silver fuku smiled.
"Thank you," she simply said. "My activation phrases is: 'Imperial Healing Light' and 'Imperial Sceptre Call'. The second will simply call the war sceptre that was mine. The first will bring healing to the target, banishing all that is dark or evil within the being."
Minako continued where Usagi left, adjusting the collar of her golden fuku as she spoke.
"The activation phrases I will use are: 'Venusian Luminance' and 'Imperial Moon Call'. The first is my attack, consisting of one or multiple beams of light. The effect from them can be everything from light burns to incineration. The second are meant to call either my chain link or the moon sword. Michiru?"
The senshi in a sea green fuku nodded gracefully.
"The phrases which have come to me are: 'Tsunami Ascending' and 'Imperial Twin Call'. They will conjure a tsunami, which is capable of either crushing or carrying away the target and summon my twin knives respective. Setsuna, if you may?"
The darker senshi in the second black fuku inclined her head. For a minute Hotaru pondered who were controlling the gates while Setsuna was still regaining her past abilities. But then she realized that Tenchi and the late empress Serenity most likely had seen to that problem as they saved the Silver Millennia from annihilation.
"The words I will use to activate my powers are: 'Dark Wind' and 'Imperial Time Call'. The first will cause a pulse of pure energy while the latter brings me my garnet staff."
Ami spoke up after the older woman, an amused look on her face. The same look that no doubt was on her own face. The effect of Ami's blue fuku, hair and eyes brought the rather interesting result that it all blended seamlessly, making her look like some mythical sea witch.
"My first attack is activated with 'Lyric Ice Harmony', causing a mist not unlike liquid nitrogen in its effect. The phrase to call my quarterstaff is 'Imperial Wind Call'. Makoto?"
"Yes, well, my activation phrases are 'Earth Life Bind' and 'Imperial Touch Call'. The latter brings my battle axe, the former brings vines and similar things from the ground at my command."
The green clad senshi looked at the red clad one next to her.
"I guess it's my turn then," Rei murmured, giving Makoto a look. "As one could expect, my attack is connected to fire. The words are 'Phoenix Song' and lacking a better description, it causes a firestorm I control. To call my bow and arrows, I say 'Imperial Arrow Call'. Does this satisfy Little Miss Impatience?"
"Children, children," Buffy amusedly said next to Hotaru, absently pulling on the neckline to her black fuku. "Stop fighting so we can get this over with. Anyway, my activation words are 'Earth Banish' and 'Imperial Sword Call'. The first on banish beings from this dimension to their rightful ones, and the second gets me my sword. Haruka, will you finish this?"
The tall woman who almost always was at Buffy's side chuckled, her blue eyes turning a shade or two darker than her fuku.
"Of course," she simply agreed. "My words are 'Realm Seizure' and 'Imperial Earth Call'. The former gives the world a jelly effect, and the latter brings my sword."
Hotaru smiled a little at Haruka's description, even as she suspected that it were quite true. She had been present while Haruka trained with her lesser power, and if that earthquake could be called minor, she was a frog.
Checking the energy levels of everyone, Hotaru nodded in satisfaction. It seemed like they had recuperated from the exhausting experience upgrading were. Time for the chase to begin.
"Tenchi?" she softly said. "We are ready."
