Two Combating Sides

Author's Notes: Yes, finally, the next chapter is up. Arigatou to all who reviewed, sorry for the delay. I've been suffering severe artist's/writer's block and still am trying to recover. Here we go!

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CHAPTER 6 – BATTLE-CAUSED REUNION

"Be more certain when you attack! Don't hesitate! When you hesitate in a battle, that could mean your death!" The senshi of the sky's eyes narrowed as she fiercely slashed at her trainee. She could only pant in response as she brought her Glaive up to prevent being chopped in two.

Despite herself, Sailor Saturn took a deep breath before lunging at her tutor, giving her time to prepare. Uranus sighed and twirled her saber, flicking it upward and forward, knocking the Glaive out of the young girl's hands. Almost immediately, Saturn was on the ground with the Space Sword at her throat.

"U-U-Uranus-san," she gasped, frightened. The elder warrior sheathed her sword and took a calming breath. Looking down at the Warrior of Ruin with exasperated blue eyes, she shook her head. The girl should know that Uranus wouldn't harm her in a training battle unless by accident. She reached out a gloved hand and, hesitantly, Saturn took it and was hauled to her feet. Her gaze flickered to the side, catching movement. An aqua-haired woman ran towards them, a blue mirror in her hands.

Bowing, she looked at the two senshi. "We're needed on a mission," she said hurriedly. "It's Beryl again." Saturn blinked and turned to look up at Uranus with a quizzical expression. The elder senshi grinned down at her and Sailor Neptune smiled. "Hey, Saturn, it's going to be your first real battle. You're ready?" Saturn inhaled shakily, then smiled and nodded, watching Pluto run towards them and smile. The Outers joined hands and focused their energy. Violet light emanated from Saturn, blending with the green powers of Pluto. On the young warrior's other side was the senshi of skies, whose tan aura slowly mixed with both Saturn and the aqua powers of Neptune. Finally, aqua met green and the powers fused together. Wind increased around them, blowing their hair and fuku. Then the four vanished, each with a vision of darkness as their destination.

With an startled jerk, they were wrenched not to the rims of the solar system, but to Rhea, one of Saturn's moons. Violet eyes huge, the young senshi looked around. Her gaze found none other than Matthew, ebony eyes narrowed and fiercely slashing at the enemy with a scythe. Immediately, she received a cuff on the head. "Ow!" she exclaimed, looking at Uranus, who had knocked her.

"Pay attention to the enemy and don't let yourself be distracted!" she commanded. Blinking, Saturn nodded and leaped into battle, the other Outers at her heels. Sending the young prince into shock, the young senshi flew in to assist him. She saw he was wounded and ferociously beat the enemy back with strong blasts of power and physical swipes with the Glaive. Uranus blinked in surprise before heading to Saturn's side to help.

"Submarine Reflection!!"

"Dead Scream!"

A lavender ball of light merged with an aqua colored beam. With swirling torrents of energy, it soared at the enemy, slamming into it full force. Right after the energy faded, Uranus was right there, slashing with her sword and flinging physical blows everywhere. Before long, the youma was lying helpless.

"Destroy it!" Pluto yelled to Saturn. She hesitated for a moment, looking down at the helpless, half-dead youma. Then, with a resolved sigh, she slammed the blade of the Glaive down into it. In an immense violet wave of power, the youma was totally destroyed. The extra energy she had exerted flowed for a couple more feet, knocking out the few youma that had come as backup. The outers and Matthew were forced to cover their eyes and exert some power to shield them from the huge blast. Then Sailor Saturn collapsed and the other senshi rushed to her side.

Looking at the destruction Saturn's power did, Neptune gave a small smile. "I, uh, think you might've overdone it, Hota-chan," she commented. "But good job." A flicker of a smile crossed the young senshi's face before she fell unconscious. Neptune turned to Matthew. "We know she's technically not supposed to be here, but this is where the battle was. She really needs some rest. Could you let us stay in the palace for a few hours, or at least until she wakes up?" Sighing reluctantly, the prince nodded and led the way to the palace. He quickly located a small bridge of power connecting the moon to its planet so the Outers wouldn't have to apply anymore energy.

~

Once they arrived, Neptune lay Sailor Saturn down in a familiar surrounding, her own bed. The senshi groaned and blearily opened her amethyst eyes. "Matthew..." she whispered. Neptune shook her head.

"It's me, Neptune," she said gently. "You overdid yourself in that battle. You're pretty drained. Just rest for a while, okay?" Saturn nodded and put a gloved hand on the silver crystal on her bow. The violet aura of power left her and she returned to her normal state. She quickly fell asleep.

Meanwhile, Matthew was in sitting in the living room with Sailors Uranus and Pluto. Uranus and Matthew were giving each other glares of death, icy blue meeting frigid ebony. The Time Keeper sighed in exasperation but said nothing.

"So, she's been training as a senshi, ne?" Matthew inquired in a monotone voice. Uranus gave a vehement reply.

"Not just a senshi, but the leader of the Outer senshi. She'll learn to control her powers and be fully ranked as the Warrior of Ruin, the senshi of death and destruction. She'll be the most powerful Sailor senshi in the solar system. But you wouldn't care," she snapped. Pluto shook her head. This got Matthew a little worked up.

"I should care if she's going to be the Sailor representing my planet!" he said in a clipped tone, eyes blazing. Of course this just got Uranus angrier.

"Yeah, you Ishould/I," she replied huffily. "And it's not only your planet. This is a part of the one whole solar system ruled by Queen Selenity and this planet is maintained by both you and Hota-chan, even though I don't see why she allows you to stay here."

Matthew and Uranus carried on like this for quite some time until Neptune and Hotaru descended the steps into the living room. The aqua haired woman sighed and she and Pluto exchanged exasperated glances. The senshi of the sea's voice cut into their heated conversation.

"I turn my back on you for one moment, Uranus, and you're already fighting," she commented, ignoring the giggling princess behind her.

Uranus huffed and responded, "I'm not fighting. I'm making my point known. And arguing my point!"

Suppressing her giggles, Hotaru threw in, "Isn't arguing an oral type of fighting?" she queried, violet eyes laughing. Matthew thought she hadn't changed.

"You shut your face, rookie," demanded Uranus, only in a more playful tone. The Glaive appeared in Hotaru's hand and she shook it at Uranus mockingly. Then all of the Outers burst out in laughter. "Fine, fine, I won't beat his head in. But I'm not promising anything about the arguments," she told them, giving the prince another death glare. The princess smiled and tried to just ignore her fiancé until she could figure him out. But that wasn't an easy task.

"I see you haven't changed much, Hotaru," he commented. The young girl avoided his eyes and didn't respond.

In the same tone that he had used earlier, she replied, "You haven't either." Then, she turned to the rest of her senshi. "I'm feeling better now. We should return so I can resume my training." The Outers responded with nods. In her hand the violet wand appeared and a flash of power transformed her once more into Sailor Saturn. She turned to a blinking Matthew with an unreadable expression. "Goodbye, Matthew." The Outers joined hands once more and, in a rush of vibrant energy, they were transported back to Uranus.