Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. However, I do own all the new
characters featured in this story. See my other fics for more about them,
or contact me at: lady_polaris@hotmail.com Also, you can contact the
following for information: Cosmic Angel, aka Miss L.Lane, Miss H.Perrin
(who at this moment in time, has not signed up to ff.net) or Miss V.Lane
(who has changed her ff.net pen name to Ice Sprite.)
Rash Decisions.
The Scouts and Obsidian arrived at Juuban City Hospital at nine o'clock. Members of the local press were there, all trying to get inside the building to speak to Melvin and Molly's families.
The group pushed their way past the press, and went in through the main doors. The hospital was a mass of activity, with nurses, registrars, surgeons and consultants rushing around everywhere.
Amy, Zabadws and Darien walked up to the reception desk. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman whose hair was beginning to go grey, ignored them and carried on with her filing work. Darien coughed to grab her attention.
"Yes?" she said, looking up at them.
"We're friends of Molly Osaka and Melvin Gurio," started Darien. "We were wondering what ward they're in? We'd like to go and see them," he added.
"How many of you are there?" she asked.
"About fifteen of us," said Amy. The two cats had remained outside, keeping watch for any attacks.
"Fifteen? Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to take turns to see them," said the receptionist.
"We won't mind, we just want to see our friends, be there for them when they need us," said Amy earnestly.
The woman nodded.
"They're in the intensive care ward, but they're moving Mr. Gurio to a side ward, where we can monitor his condition. I'll get one of the student nurses to show you up," she said.
A young male nurse passed by.
"Nate! Come here a sec sweetie," called the receptionist.
The nurse paused, and then walked over. He was dressed in dark blue medical scrubs.
"Yeah Agnes?" he said.
"Show these kids up to the intensive care ward for me, please," said Agnes. "You got it, boss-lady," smiled Nate.
"If you'll follow me," he said to the group. They walked up several flights of stairs, before reaching the sixth floor.
"I'll show you the relative's room first. It's probably best you wait here, let the families be with them now," he said.
"There's a coffee machine, a water dispenser and a couple of magazines for you there. The bathroom's just down the corridor, and the T.V works, but it's in black and white."
Nate's pager went off, and he waved a goodbye before he made his way back.
The group went into the relative's room, and saw that they weren't the only ones there.
"Jack, what the hell are you doing here?" said Hope ferociously.
Jack stood up and stretched. On the small table between two couches, there was a black velvet bag.
"Who d'you think found those kids and called the ambulance?" he said.
His words were greeted with silence, and both Catalina and Hope shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I guess all we can do now is wait," said Raye, sitting down on one of the couches.
Lita nodded sadly and sat down beside Raye. Mina went over to the window, and started to open the blinds.
"I don't wanna be a pain or anything, but I don't think I can get away with leaving before sunrise," said Jack.
"Oh right, sorry," said Mina, closing the blinds.
"Where's Kalista?" asked Jack.
"Why do you care?" snapped Catalina.
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Jack, heatedly.
"I think I may have to fill you in on some things Jack," said Zabadws, taking Jack to one side of the room, and quietly telling him all the events that had taken place since Obsidian arrived.
Nate opened the door once more, and Serena walked in.
"Here you are Serena," he said, closing the door with a click.
Darien ran to Serena and the pair embraced for several minutes. Then the pair kissed.
Jasmine looked hopefully at Serena.
"How did you escape? Is Lee with you?" she asked, clasping her hands.
"What about Amara and Michelle?" asked Trista.
Serena looked down at the floor. Her silence spoke volumes. Jasmine's shoulders slumped and she sat down heavily.
"Where's Kalista?" asked Jack once more, worry creeping into his voice.
Serena looked at him. "Who's he?" she asked.
"This is Jack," said Jacen. "He found your friends," he added.
"Answer me someone, godammit!" said Jack, kicking the table in frustration.
"I'm so sorry," began Serena.
"She's not dead is she?" asked Catalina, beginning to panic.
"Is she hurt?" asked Jack, in dread.
"Let me tell you what happened," said Serena, raising her hands in order to calm the others down and quiet them.
"As Luna probably told you, I was attacked by a youma. It took me to, well, I guess it must have been Celeste's Realm. Anyway, it took me to Prince Diamond. He said that now that he knew Polaris was here, in Tokyo, he wasn't going to let her go. He sent the youma to attack Kalista, and force her to swap places with me," she said.
"So she's in Celeste's Realm?" asked Jack.
Serena nodded forlornly.
"Along with Lee," said Jasmine.
"And Amara and Michelle," added Lita.
"Why aren't you getting them out now?" said Jack, his anger building.
"We can't find a way in," said Darien.
"We've been searching almost all day for a way to open a portal to get in," added Amy.
"Look in the bag. The one on the table," ordered Jack.
Raye leaned forward and picked up the bag. She opened it, and pulled out the orb for the group to see.
"What's that?" asked Hotaru.
Zabadws walked over to Raye and took the orb off her. He lifted it up and looked at it, as if trying to find out if it was fake or not.
"This," he said, "Is one of Anne's portal orbs. I believe that Trista said Sigma used one of these to make her escape back to Celeste's Realm."
"It looks like it," said Trista, walking over and examining the orb.
"How did you get one?" asked Trista.
"It was Nephrite's," said Jack.
"How do you know him?" asked Mina.
"Sunshine, you really think that I've not been following you guys?" said Jack.
"That still doesn't answer my question," said Trista.
"It was Nephrite who attacked the two kids, your friends," said Jack.
"Nephrite? I'll kill him for this," threatened Serena.
"No need to, I already have," said Jack smiling harshly.
"What?" said the Senshi, shocked.
"Once a killer, always a killer," said Catalina in a low voice.
"What happened to his body?" asked Amy, ignoring Catalina. It was obvious that the two didn't get along.
"I took it to Celeste's Realm. Well, actually, I took it to Anne," Jack said.
"But how? I mean, there's only one orb in the bag, and if you didn't use it, then how did you get there?" asked Amy, in disbelief.
"Anne taught me how to open portals using dark magic," answered Jack.
"So if you'd shown up earlier, instead of hiding away in the shadows, we could have stopped Celeste by now?" said Raye angrily.
"Where else can a vampire hide?" shot back Jack.
"Even if he had shown up, I doubt that all of you would have been prepared to face off against Celeste and her minions," interrupted Zabadws, holding Raye back before she could hit Jack.
"Raye, calm down, he's right," said Serena.
"Jack, did you see Lee?" asked Jasmine.
"I only went to Anne's chambers. The only people I saw were Anne, Saffire and Sailor Neptune," he said.
"Sailor Neptune? Then at least we know Michelle is still alive," said Darien.
"For now she is, but what if we wait? We still don't know if Sailor Uranus and Lee are okay, and by the time we get there, Sailor Neptune could be dead!" screamed Raye.
"She's right," agreed Hope. She clenched her fist and threw a punch through the air.
"Perhaps we should all just CALM DOWN a little, before we do anything stupid," said Zabadws.
"Or perhaps calming down isn't what we need to do! Why not attack them now, when we'll have the element of surprise?" said Lita, standing up.
"Don't you want Lee back?" Raye said to Jasmine.
"Of course I do," said Jasmine. "I'd give anything to get him back," she added.
"Well, don't you think it's a good idea?" said Raye.
"The only way we stand a chance in Celeste's Realm is if we work as a team," said Jasmine.
The door clicked open. It was Nate.
"If you want to go though, you can see Molly now, but she's not awake yet," he said.
"Will she be okay?" asked Serena.
"She'll be fine after a few months rest and recuperation," said Nate.
Serena led the way as Darien, Mina, Trista, Hotaru and Catalina followed her, and then Nate said that he couldn't let any more people go and see Molly. Jacen and Charisma said that they would go to the hospital shop, to buy a get well soon card for Molly.
"Oh and the police are here. They'd like to talk to you," said Nate to Jack.
Jack nodded and walked out, Zabadws following him.
"Why are you following me?" whispered Jack to Zabadws.
"I want to know what's going to happen. You won't be much use to us if they think you're the person responsible for the attack," said Zabadws, closing the door behind him.
The girls left inside the relative's room stood in silence.
"I still think that waiting is a bad idea," grumbled Raye.
"Me too," said Lita.
"Me three," added Hope.
Jasmine looked around the room once more. Zabadws had left the orb there.
"The orb's still here," she said, pointing at it.
Amy, Raye, Lita and Hope stared at the orb.
"I don't suppose the others'll be coming back anytime soon," said Raye, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Guess not," said Lita, smiling.
"We should use it," said Hope quietly.
"But what about the others? Shouldn't we wait for them?" protested Amy. "Surely you agree with me Jasmine?"
Jasmine looked down at the floor for a moment. Then she looked at Amy, and in her eyes was a look of desperation.
"Amy, this could be our only chance to get the others back alive," she said.
"But," began Amy.
"But nothing! Put yourself in my place. Would you risk the life of the person you love any longer than necessary?" she said avidly.
Amy held her gaze for a minute, and then bowed her head.
"No, no I wouldn't," she said.
"So it's settled then," said Raye.
The other four girls nodded.
"Mars Star Power!" said Raye.
"Jupiter Star Power!" said Lita.
"Mercury Star Power!" said Amy.
"Spirit Power!" said Jasmine.
"Blaze Inferno Power!" said Hope.
The five transformed, and stood there as Sailors Mars, Jupiter and Mercury, alongside Galaxia and Infernia.
Sailor Mars picked up the orb.
"How's this thing work?" she said.
"Throw it onto the floor," said Galaxia.
Sailor Mars did as Galaxia suggested. The orb smashed, and suddenly a black portal opened in the floor.
"Let's go," said Mars, jumping in.
The other four followed suit.
Time passed by. After half an hour, Charisma and Jacen walked in.
"Jacen, where's the orb gone?" said Charisma, noticing the orb's absence immediately.
"More to the point, where have the others who aren't with Molly gone?" said Jacen.
The couple looked at each other, worried.
"We have to get the others, now," said Charisma. Jacen nodded in agreement.
"I'll find Zabadws and Jack," he said, walking off.
Before she followed him, Charisma looked around the room one more time. She grabbed the bag that had held the orb, and then half ran, half walked out.
*Let them be okay* she thought.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x
The group appeared in the portal room. The sorcerer on duty gasped, and raised his hands to cast a spell.
"I don't think so," said Sailor Jupiter. "Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!"
The attack hit the sorcerer head on. He collapsed, and his body jerked as the electricity pulsed through him. After several minutes, the body stopped moving.
"So far, so good," commented Sailor Mars.
"We've got a long way to go before we rescue everyone," said Galaxia.
"Sailor Mercury, can you find out where they are using your mini computer?" asked Mars.
Mercury pulled out her mini computer and began tapping buttons. She frowned slightly.
"What is it?" asked Jupiter.
"I can roughly pinpoint their positions, but I can't get the exact place. There's something here affecting my computer," she said.
"It's better than nothing," said Infernia.
"Lead the way," said Jupiter, motioning for Mercury to take the lead.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x
"Lee should be this way," said Sailor Mercury, pointing down a flight of stone steps.
They had been in Celeste's Realm for almost an hour, and they hadn't encountered any vampires, werewolves, demons or youma.
"This has been easy so far," said Mars.
"Almost too easy," said Galaxia.
The group descended slowly, straining to see what lay ahead of them in the growing darkness.
Suddenly, Infernia, who had taken the lead, fell forward. Sailor Jupiter fell over Infernia, and Sailor Mars in turn fell over the two girls. The three lay in a heap on the floor.
Despite their need for caution, both Sailor Mercury and Galaxia laughed at them.
"You should've looked where you were going," said Galaxia, as she helped Mars get back to her feet.
Jupiter and Infernia disentangled themselves from each other, and stood up. Jupiter dusted down the skirt of her outfit, and Infernia did likewise.
Mercury pointed down a dark corridor.
"This way," she said.
The four others followed her.
Eventually, they came to a heavyset door in the wall. Galaxia looked at Mercury hopefully.
"He should be through here," she said, smiling.
"We've already found someone," said Jupiter, punching the air.
"So much for Celeste and her minions," said Mars cockily.
A chilling laugh greeted her words. Both Mars and Jupiter froze, and turned towards the sound.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" said Sigma.
Behind her, a group of werewolves smiled evilly.
"Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Galaxia and Infernia. Flies caught in the spider's web," she continued, smiling.
"Mercury, how come your computer didn't notice?" asked Sailor Mars.
Mercury looked at her, bewildered.
"I don't know," she said.
"Well, I do," smirked Sigma, tossing some of her blue hair behind her. "In Celeste's Realm, technology doesn't work as it should. Magic is the predominant force here, not the little toys of humans."
"Get them," snarled Sigma. The werewolves crouched, morphing into their wolf forms, and then pouncing.
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
"Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!"
The two attacks hit the same werewolf. It screamed before dying.
However, they were outnumbered. A werewolf sneaked up on Infernia and pounced.
Infernia didn't see it before it was too late. She was knocked roughly to the ground, grunting as she hit the ground.
"Infernia!" screamed Galaxia, running towards her.
A werewolf jumped on her, dragging her down. She struggled madly, and eventually morphed into a wolf form of her own.
Sigma frowned to herself. Suddenly, all four girls slumped to the floor, unconscious.
"I didn't need your help," said Sigma to Anne.
"Really? So why did it take you so long to defeat them?" said Anne.
Sigma looked away from Anne, holding her tongue.
"Take them away," ordered Anne. The werewolves obeyed her, and Sigma frowned even more.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x
Rash Decisions.
The Scouts and Obsidian arrived at Juuban City Hospital at nine o'clock. Members of the local press were there, all trying to get inside the building to speak to Melvin and Molly's families.
The group pushed their way past the press, and went in through the main doors. The hospital was a mass of activity, with nurses, registrars, surgeons and consultants rushing around everywhere.
Amy, Zabadws and Darien walked up to the reception desk. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman whose hair was beginning to go grey, ignored them and carried on with her filing work. Darien coughed to grab her attention.
"Yes?" she said, looking up at them.
"We're friends of Molly Osaka and Melvin Gurio," started Darien. "We were wondering what ward they're in? We'd like to go and see them," he added.
"How many of you are there?" she asked.
"About fifteen of us," said Amy. The two cats had remained outside, keeping watch for any attacks.
"Fifteen? Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to take turns to see them," said the receptionist.
"We won't mind, we just want to see our friends, be there for them when they need us," said Amy earnestly.
The woman nodded.
"They're in the intensive care ward, but they're moving Mr. Gurio to a side ward, where we can monitor his condition. I'll get one of the student nurses to show you up," she said.
A young male nurse passed by.
"Nate! Come here a sec sweetie," called the receptionist.
The nurse paused, and then walked over. He was dressed in dark blue medical scrubs.
"Yeah Agnes?" he said.
"Show these kids up to the intensive care ward for me, please," said Agnes. "You got it, boss-lady," smiled Nate.
"If you'll follow me," he said to the group. They walked up several flights of stairs, before reaching the sixth floor.
"I'll show you the relative's room first. It's probably best you wait here, let the families be with them now," he said.
"There's a coffee machine, a water dispenser and a couple of magazines for you there. The bathroom's just down the corridor, and the T.V works, but it's in black and white."
Nate's pager went off, and he waved a goodbye before he made his way back.
The group went into the relative's room, and saw that they weren't the only ones there.
"Jack, what the hell are you doing here?" said Hope ferociously.
Jack stood up and stretched. On the small table between two couches, there was a black velvet bag.
"Who d'you think found those kids and called the ambulance?" he said.
His words were greeted with silence, and both Catalina and Hope shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I guess all we can do now is wait," said Raye, sitting down on one of the couches.
Lita nodded sadly and sat down beside Raye. Mina went over to the window, and started to open the blinds.
"I don't wanna be a pain or anything, but I don't think I can get away with leaving before sunrise," said Jack.
"Oh right, sorry," said Mina, closing the blinds.
"Where's Kalista?" asked Jack.
"Why do you care?" snapped Catalina.
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Jack, heatedly.
"I think I may have to fill you in on some things Jack," said Zabadws, taking Jack to one side of the room, and quietly telling him all the events that had taken place since Obsidian arrived.
Nate opened the door once more, and Serena walked in.
"Here you are Serena," he said, closing the door with a click.
Darien ran to Serena and the pair embraced for several minutes. Then the pair kissed.
Jasmine looked hopefully at Serena.
"How did you escape? Is Lee with you?" she asked, clasping her hands.
"What about Amara and Michelle?" asked Trista.
Serena looked down at the floor. Her silence spoke volumes. Jasmine's shoulders slumped and she sat down heavily.
"Where's Kalista?" asked Jack once more, worry creeping into his voice.
Serena looked at him. "Who's he?" she asked.
"This is Jack," said Jacen. "He found your friends," he added.
"Answer me someone, godammit!" said Jack, kicking the table in frustration.
"I'm so sorry," began Serena.
"She's not dead is she?" asked Catalina, beginning to panic.
"Is she hurt?" asked Jack, in dread.
"Let me tell you what happened," said Serena, raising her hands in order to calm the others down and quiet them.
"As Luna probably told you, I was attacked by a youma. It took me to, well, I guess it must have been Celeste's Realm. Anyway, it took me to Prince Diamond. He said that now that he knew Polaris was here, in Tokyo, he wasn't going to let her go. He sent the youma to attack Kalista, and force her to swap places with me," she said.
"So she's in Celeste's Realm?" asked Jack.
Serena nodded forlornly.
"Along with Lee," said Jasmine.
"And Amara and Michelle," added Lita.
"Why aren't you getting them out now?" said Jack, his anger building.
"We can't find a way in," said Darien.
"We've been searching almost all day for a way to open a portal to get in," added Amy.
"Look in the bag. The one on the table," ordered Jack.
Raye leaned forward and picked up the bag. She opened it, and pulled out the orb for the group to see.
"What's that?" asked Hotaru.
Zabadws walked over to Raye and took the orb off her. He lifted it up and looked at it, as if trying to find out if it was fake or not.
"This," he said, "Is one of Anne's portal orbs. I believe that Trista said Sigma used one of these to make her escape back to Celeste's Realm."
"It looks like it," said Trista, walking over and examining the orb.
"How did you get one?" asked Trista.
"It was Nephrite's," said Jack.
"How do you know him?" asked Mina.
"Sunshine, you really think that I've not been following you guys?" said Jack.
"That still doesn't answer my question," said Trista.
"It was Nephrite who attacked the two kids, your friends," said Jack.
"Nephrite? I'll kill him for this," threatened Serena.
"No need to, I already have," said Jack smiling harshly.
"What?" said the Senshi, shocked.
"Once a killer, always a killer," said Catalina in a low voice.
"What happened to his body?" asked Amy, ignoring Catalina. It was obvious that the two didn't get along.
"I took it to Celeste's Realm. Well, actually, I took it to Anne," Jack said.
"But how? I mean, there's only one orb in the bag, and if you didn't use it, then how did you get there?" asked Amy, in disbelief.
"Anne taught me how to open portals using dark magic," answered Jack.
"So if you'd shown up earlier, instead of hiding away in the shadows, we could have stopped Celeste by now?" said Raye angrily.
"Where else can a vampire hide?" shot back Jack.
"Even if he had shown up, I doubt that all of you would have been prepared to face off against Celeste and her minions," interrupted Zabadws, holding Raye back before she could hit Jack.
"Raye, calm down, he's right," said Serena.
"Jack, did you see Lee?" asked Jasmine.
"I only went to Anne's chambers. The only people I saw were Anne, Saffire and Sailor Neptune," he said.
"Sailor Neptune? Then at least we know Michelle is still alive," said Darien.
"For now she is, but what if we wait? We still don't know if Sailor Uranus and Lee are okay, and by the time we get there, Sailor Neptune could be dead!" screamed Raye.
"She's right," agreed Hope. She clenched her fist and threw a punch through the air.
"Perhaps we should all just CALM DOWN a little, before we do anything stupid," said Zabadws.
"Or perhaps calming down isn't what we need to do! Why not attack them now, when we'll have the element of surprise?" said Lita, standing up.
"Don't you want Lee back?" Raye said to Jasmine.
"Of course I do," said Jasmine. "I'd give anything to get him back," she added.
"Well, don't you think it's a good idea?" said Raye.
"The only way we stand a chance in Celeste's Realm is if we work as a team," said Jasmine.
The door clicked open. It was Nate.
"If you want to go though, you can see Molly now, but she's not awake yet," he said.
"Will she be okay?" asked Serena.
"She'll be fine after a few months rest and recuperation," said Nate.
Serena led the way as Darien, Mina, Trista, Hotaru and Catalina followed her, and then Nate said that he couldn't let any more people go and see Molly. Jacen and Charisma said that they would go to the hospital shop, to buy a get well soon card for Molly.
"Oh and the police are here. They'd like to talk to you," said Nate to Jack.
Jack nodded and walked out, Zabadws following him.
"Why are you following me?" whispered Jack to Zabadws.
"I want to know what's going to happen. You won't be much use to us if they think you're the person responsible for the attack," said Zabadws, closing the door behind him.
The girls left inside the relative's room stood in silence.
"I still think that waiting is a bad idea," grumbled Raye.
"Me too," said Lita.
"Me three," added Hope.
Jasmine looked around the room once more. Zabadws had left the orb there.
"The orb's still here," she said, pointing at it.
Amy, Raye, Lita and Hope stared at the orb.
"I don't suppose the others'll be coming back anytime soon," said Raye, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Guess not," said Lita, smiling.
"We should use it," said Hope quietly.
"But what about the others? Shouldn't we wait for them?" protested Amy. "Surely you agree with me Jasmine?"
Jasmine looked down at the floor for a moment. Then she looked at Amy, and in her eyes was a look of desperation.
"Amy, this could be our only chance to get the others back alive," she said.
"But," began Amy.
"But nothing! Put yourself in my place. Would you risk the life of the person you love any longer than necessary?" she said avidly.
Amy held her gaze for a minute, and then bowed her head.
"No, no I wouldn't," she said.
"So it's settled then," said Raye.
The other four girls nodded.
"Mars Star Power!" said Raye.
"Jupiter Star Power!" said Lita.
"Mercury Star Power!" said Amy.
"Spirit Power!" said Jasmine.
"Blaze Inferno Power!" said Hope.
The five transformed, and stood there as Sailors Mars, Jupiter and Mercury, alongside Galaxia and Infernia.
Sailor Mars picked up the orb.
"How's this thing work?" she said.
"Throw it onto the floor," said Galaxia.
Sailor Mars did as Galaxia suggested. The orb smashed, and suddenly a black portal opened in the floor.
"Let's go," said Mars, jumping in.
The other four followed suit.
Time passed by. After half an hour, Charisma and Jacen walked in.
"Jacen, where's the orb gone?" said Charisma, noticing the orb's absence immediately.
"More to the point, where have the others who aren't with Molly gone?" said Jacen.
The couple looked at each other, worried.
"We have to get the others, now," said Charisma. Jacen nodded in agreement.
"I'll find Zabadws and Jack," he said, walking off.
Before she followed him, Charisma looked around the room one more time. She grabbed the bag that had held the orb, and then half ran, half walked out.
*Let them be okay* she thought.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x
The group appeared in the portal room. The sorcerer on duty gasped, and raised his hands to cast a spell.
"I don't think so," said Sailor Jupiter. "Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!"
The attack hit the sorcerer head on. He collapsed, and his body jerked as the electricity pulsed through him. After several minutes, the body stopped moving.
"So far, so good," commented Sailor Mars.
"We've got a long way to go before we rescue everyone," said Galaxia.
"Sailor Mercury, can you find out where they are using your mini computer?" asked Mars.
Mercury pulled out her mini computer and began tapping buttons. She frowned slightly.
"What is it?" asked Jupiter.
"I can roughly pinpoint their positions, but I can't get the exact place. There's something here affecting my computer," she said.
"It's better than nothing," said Infernia.
"Lead the way," said Jupiter, motioning for Mercury to take the lead.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x
"Lee should be this way," said Sailor Mercury, pointing down a flight of stone steps.
They had been in Celeste's Realm for almost an hour, and they hadn't encountered any vampires, werewolves, demons or youma.
"This has been easy so far," said Mars.
"Almost too easy," said Galaxia.
The group descended slowly, straining to see what lay ahead of them in the growing darkness.
Suddenly, Infernia, who had taken the lead, fell forward. Sailor Jupiter fell over Infernia, and Sailor Mars in turn fell over the two girls. The three lay in a heap on the floor.
Despite their need for caution, both Sailor Mercury and Galaxia laughed at them.
"You should've looked where you were going," said Galaxia, as she helped Mars get back to her feet.
Jupiter and Infernia disentangled themselves from each other, and stood up. Jupiter dusted down the skirt of her outfit, and Infernia did likewise.
Mercury pointed down a dark corridor.
"This way," she said.
The four others followed her.
Eventually, they came to a heavyset door in the wall. Galaxia looked at Mercury hopefully.
"He should be through here," she said, smiling.
"We've already found someone," said Jupiter, punching the air.
"So much for Celeste and her minions," said Mars cockily.
A chilling laugh greeted her words. Both Mars and Jupiter froze, and turned towards the sound.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" said Sigma.
Behind her, a group of werewolves smiled evilly.
"Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Galaxia and Infernia. Flies caught in the spider's web," she continued, smiling.
"Mercury, how come your computer didn't notice?" asked Sailor Mars.
Mercury looked at her, bewildered.
"I don't know," she said.
"Well, I do," smirked Sigma, tossing some of her blue hair behind her. "In Celeste's Realm, technology doesn't work as it should. Magic is the predominant force here, not the little toys of humans."
"Get them," snarled Sigma. The werewolves crouched, morphing into their wolf forms, and then pouncing.
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
"Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!"
The two attacks hit the same werewolf. It screamed before dying.
However, they were outnumbered. A werewolf sneaked up on Infernia and pounced.
Infernia didn't see it before it was too late. She was knocked roughly to the ground, grunting as she hit the ground.
"Infernia!" screamed Galaxia, running towards her.
A werewolf jumped on her, dragging her down. She struggled madly, and eventually morphed into a wolf form of her own.
Sigma frowned to herself. Suddenly, all four girls slumped to the floor, unconscious.
"I didn't need your help," said Sigma to Anne.
"Really? So why did it take you so long to defeat them?" said Anne.
Sigma looked away from Anne, holding her tongue.
"Take them away," ordered Anne. The werewolves obeyed her, and Sigma frowned even more.
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