Here's Chapter Eleven! What's going to happen between Anthony and Mina? How's the date going to go... or will there be a date at all? Read on to find out! :)
PS: Thanks for the wonderful reviews guys! *wipes away a tear* I'm truly touched! :)
Fighters of Love
Serena smiled at her friends, overjoyed all of them were together again. Amy clung to Greg as if he was life support, and Mina and Anthony couldn't take their eyes off each other! Poor Lita was looking lonely and worried... 'Must be about Ken,' she thought disappointed. 'I wonder where he is.'
Her thoughts quickly drifted away from Lita to the man she was holding on to herself. 'Darien is so handsome,' she thought happily... 'and I have him all to myself. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing guy that's faithful to me. Thank goodness for destiny!'
She looked over at Raye and Chad who were laughing together. 'There is definitely something going on there,' she declared silently. 'Something that only needs a little help... And matchmaker Serena is just the one to do it!' She smiled devilishly. 'Oh this is going to be so much fun!'
Her happy thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the screams of people outside the theater. 'Oh no,' she thought, 'here we go again...'
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Stealth observed the fray going on beneath him with distinct pleasure. The monsters were attacking helpless people left and right, draining their life energy and seriously harming some of them. He laughed ruthlessly!
'This carnage is so fun to watch! But I must find my little Sailor Mercury, she's the one I need, and according to my energy readings, she should be here.'
He slipped into the darkness, melting its inky blackness. He darted from shadow to shadow a dim and silent figure. He scanned the crowd, searching for her. In moments he had spotted her across the street, standing with a group of people and staring in horror at the bloodbath before her. 'Come on Sailor Scouts,' his mind pleaded silently, 'take the bait.'
He suddenly had a thought! 'The others with her must be Sailor Scouts as well... maybe not the men, but the girls at least. I'll keep an eye on them and not blow my cover!' He crouched down, and began to watch.
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Lita glanced at the other girls with worry. Amara and Michelle caught this and nodded affirmatively. They began to leave, an action Anthony noticed. He tried to stop them.
"Where are you going? We have to help them! We have to do something!" he shouted.
He looked over his shoulder to see a monster looming over a small child. The child crouched down, terrified and screaming, trying desperately to cover himself. Anthony gasped and felt an unspeakable rage course through his body. He couldn't allow the monster to hurt that child.
He ran, sprinting across the street, and leaped at it with surprising agility. Anthony fought with it, hand to hand, until the creature managed to create an opening and dragged its nails across his chest. He fell to the ground, feeling the blood pour down his chest in small rivers, staining his white shirt crimson. The creature unexpectedly jumped on him hard, knocking the wind out of his lungs and screeching in his face. Nothing had ever been so repulsive to him, and he had never felt such pain before.
He suddenly looked up to see a beautiful woman with short blond hair ram into the monster from the side. She was dressed in gold and dark blue outfit resembled a cheerleader uniform. He recognized her, but didn't know from where. She glanced at him and turned around.
"Mina! Get him out of here! Lita help her. The rest of you, transform!" Sailor Uranus shouted.
He stared up as Mina ran towards him, she was crying. He looked up at her and smiled. She bent down and took hold of one of his arms. Lita took the other. They began to drag him into the alleyway.
"Oh Anthony! I'm so sorry. I'll make it right, I promise! You'll be fine, I'll make sure of that." She whispered, tears running down her face as she slipped off his white shirt. She quickly wrapped it around him in a makeshift bandage. She stopped and looked at his face again, letting her tears course down her cheeks.
'You're so beautiful,' he thought as he touched her face tenderly. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Come on Mina, he's out of it, let's transform now. We need to help the scouts... The Negaverse is up to something serious right now, I can feel it." Lita said angrily.
Mina nodded. She stood up and took out her transformation stick. Anthony opened again and stared at her. 'What is she going to do?' His mind asked. 'And what did Lita mean when she said they were supposed to help?' He looked at the strange sticks in their hands and their determined stances and felt an enormous wave of deja vu. 'Why is this so familiar?'
Mina and Lita stood up, not realizing Anthony was awake and watching them. They looked at each other and nodded. Mina lifted up her hand first, followed by Lita.
"VENUS CRYSTAL POWER!" she screamed.
"JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!" Lita followed.
Anthony stared at them, not believing what he was seeing! He watched as Mina's body was showered by a blinding beam of light. He noticed how the light seemed to shimmer like stars, and gazed open-mouthed as her transformation finished with a short pose.
Lita was finishing next to Mina, and he found her transformation just as amazing. It was as if lightning had engulfed her whole body, giving her enormous power. Her sailor suit was very becoming- green with pink with white trimming. But he couldn't take his eyes off Mina. Her sailor suit was a lovely orange, with yellow, blue, and white trim. Her shoes were gorgeous heels that accented the muscles in her legs. Her golden hair was half up and half down, held back with a red-orange bow.
When they left him behind in the alley, he began to lift himself to his feet. 'Why am I doing this?' He thought crazily. 'They look like they have it under control, what do they need me for?' He shook his head. 'No, I have to help them, and I have to help Mina. She's a part of me, I know her, somehow...' He managed to stand and walked out onto the battlefield.
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Shortly after Lita and Mina had dragged Anthony off, the other scouts (minus Amy) had transformed. Raye had managed to get rid of Chad when a monster had dropped a rock on his head. He was fine, but would be out for a while. Everyone had begun to fight, except for Amy, who they feared was too weak. Greg stood in front of her protectively until Raye signaled him to get Amy out of there.
Greg took Amy's hand and led her quickly towards the outskirts of the battlefield. He held her there while they watched battle with growing anxiousness.
"Something is wrong here Greg. These monsters are way too easy. They're not like the one I fought against the other day. That one was much stronger. These are weak, like those of Queen Beryl... Something worse is coming. I don't know if we can face it alone." Amy said, looking into Greg's eyes.
Greg nodded in acknowledgment of Amy's words. He pulled her into his arms. Pluto's orders rang through his ears. "Remember Greg, only if she's in danger..."
He would keep his promise. He would protect Amy, as well as help the scouts... if he could be much help. He suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder and spun around. A dark figure of a man stood there. He grinned and instantly Greg knew this man was evil. Stealth glanced at Amy, and then looked back at Greg.
"Excuse me my friend, but I need to borrow your girlfriend for a moment." He laughed wickedly.
"Who are-" Greg began, but he never finished.
Stealth raised a hand and fired a blast of dark energy at Greg, throwing him to the ground. Greg skidded to a halt and jerked his head back up, wincing at the pain he felt in his body. Amy screamed and tried to run to him, but Stealth grabbed her roughly by the arm and made her face him.
"Don't worry little Mercury. Your boyfriend will be fine for now, but I can't promise for later. It's lucky for you oblivion will come much quicker..." Stealth touched a finger to her forehead and the sign of Mercury appeared, faint and beautiful. He prepared to fire at point blank range. Amy began to scream.
Greg looked up. 'This is it,' he thought, 'I must do it now.' He stood up and readied his transformation sapphire.
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"SUPREME THUNDER...." Lita yelled powering up...
"CRASH!" she finished sending bolts of lightening exploding from her tiara.
The last monster screamed as the agony of the pure lightening engulfed it. It dissipated into nothing in a gust of wind. Lita smiled, happy of her victory. Anthony observed it all.
'Such power,' he thought, awed by it all. Mina is strong as well he realized. He had already observed her Love Chain, Crescent Beam, and Love and Beauty Shock. She did it all with great precision and grace. He smiled and wondered why this power was so familiar to him.
Suddenly he heard a scream! He looked up across the field where Amy was being held by a dark figure, a man of such great evil... he could sense it from the place he stood. The man was touching her head with his index finger and dark energy was growing around him. Amy glowed with a blue, silver light. A symbol shined from her forehead, but he couldn't make it out from where he was.
'She's special too,' he thought. He looked at Mina and back at Amy, and realized the small girl was one of them. He noticed movement near the dark man and the young girl and his mouth dropped open in curiosity.
'It's that guy Greg,' he remembered. 'What's he doing?' Greg stood up, and held a blue stone in his hand that glowed as bright as a Christmas tree, but much more beautiful. The stone shined bright and beautiful against the blackness of the energy emitted by the shadow man. Anthony was filled with joy! 'He's going to help her!' He thought happily. 'I know he is!'
The other scouts weren't so sure. Sailor Jupiter and Venus took after Amy, running to save her as fast as their legs could carry them. They were followed closely by Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Tuxedo Mask, and the rest of the Sailor Scouts who blasted monsters out of their way to clear a path. They stopped a few feet from Greg and gaped in surprise! He turned around and looked at them, smiling, his bravery and love reflected on his face. He looked at his precious Amy, who lay softly on the ground unconscious where Stealth had dropped her in his shock at the arrival of a new opponent. She was still in danger. Darien saw this and quickly retrieved her while Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter kept Stealth distracted with a couple of easy attacks. Stealth cursed after him. Darien turned in his flight and motioned for Greg to fight. Greg nodded, and prepared himself.
"I can handle it! Stay back" he shouted. He lifted his arms into the air. 'Please Mercury,' he pleaded, 'give me the strength to protect my dear Amy.' He opened his eyes and the others saw how they glowed with power.
"MERCURY PLANET POWER!" his voice boomed.
The scouts gasped as they heard these words come from Greg's mouth! They watched the transformation of Mercury Knight, the first in a thousand years.
Greg was rising into the air and the crystal glowed as it floated out of his hands and loomed over him. The light of the crystal engulfed him in a blue prism that turned into icy water that swirled around him. The water suddenly rose and fell over him, washing away his identity in a matter of moments. His normal clothes disappeared, leaving behind a new man. He stood before them in light silver armor. A sword hung at his side. The blade seemed to have been made of ice and glowed like blue fire when he unsheathed it. The sign of Mercury glowed softly on his forehead. Mercury Knight had returned to the Sailor Scouts.
Anthony saw this transformation and hardly believed it was possible. Obviously Stealth didn't believe it either. He stared after Amy but walked toward Mercury Knight, ready for a great battle. He remembered the scouts suddenly and realized how outnumbered he was. He laughed!
"Foolish boy! I shall fight you, but I can't have the others interfere. Therefore, they must deal with my minions! Let the battle begin." Stealth laughed wickedly.
Suddenly huge amounts of monsters appeared all around the scouts, locking them and Anthony into a ring. They all glared at Stealth.
"Oh yeah, this is fair!" Mars shouted angrily.
"You're in the big leagues now fire girl, get used to it!" Stealth sneered. He looked back at Greg. "Now..." he began. "Where were we?" he paused and readied himself to fight.
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While Mercury Knight battled with Stealth, the Sailor Scouts were having trouble with the monsters. The creatures attacked from all sides, and with great numbers that quickly proved overwhelming. The scouts formed a ring and finally noticed Anthony fighting some himself. A monster leapt down on him and Mars took the liberty of saving him.
"MARS FIRE BALLS...." she began... "CHARGE!" she finished.
The ball of fire careened into the unsuspecting monster and destroyed it in one blow. She ran over and grabbed Anthony from the ground. "Boy you're going to get yourself in a lot of trouble! Now stick with us and stay out of the way!" She snapped.
Anthony nodded, but couldn't help but feel like he should be doing something. The scouts were losing. The outer soldiers were holding up okay, but there were just too many!
"URANUS WORLD..."
"NEPTUNE DEEP..."
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY..."
"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP..."
The sailor soldiers powered up, already aiming at their targets...
"SHAKING!!!"
"SUBMERGE!!!"
"SHOCK!!!"
"ZAP!!!"
They all finished their attacks and were rewarded by the destruction of their monsters- but those were just replenished by more, and Venus and Jupiter were already tiring. Even Mercury Knight was showing evidence of strain with his fight with Stealth. He cried out at he was hit by a large dark energy blast and driven to the ground. He lifted himself up, eyes blazing.
"MERCURY ICE SWORD...." he powered up... "SLASH!!!"
He finished with an icy blast of energy that flew at Stealth, paralyzing him. He raised his hand and screamed...
"MERCURY BLIZZARD..."
"SPRAY!!!"
The attack hit Stealth, but didn't do as much damage as he'd hoped. Stealth stood holding his wounded shoulder. Mercury Knight's head throbbed and his whole body hurt with the effects of Stealth's dark energy. This was only his first battle and he knew he didn't have enough stamina. He needed help, and fast.
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Anthony watched in horror as the scouts' attacks began to weaken. They were exhausted and there were too many enemies! He screamed as monsters overwhelmed Sailor Venus. She fell to the ground in a heap of dead and scrambling monsters. They leaped at her with teeth and claws prepared to tear her body apart. Anthony jumped in front of her unthinkingly.
"Leave her alone!" He screamed! "Or I swear I rip you all to pieces if it kills me." He leaped at the monsters, attacking them with all his strength.
He fought well, but Anthony was soon overwhelmed and fell to the ground, defeated. He did not get up. Mina didn't even realize it when Sailor Jupiter finished off the monsters around her. She only stared at Anthony, who had sacrificed himself for her. She let out a scream of despair as he fell and ran to his side. She lifted him up and looked into his eyes. He smiled at her weakly and grimaced at the enormous pain.
"I'm sorry Sailor Venus, they were too strong for me. Please forgive me?" He pleaded as tears of pain and love began to form in his eyes.
Venus burst into fresh tears. How could she feel so much for him? They had only just met. Suddenly she said something, whispered it, words she didn't know she had in her... but were so familiar. "Please don't leave me, my dear Venus Knight." She whispered, tears running down her face.
Anthony's eyes widened in remembrance. 'How does she know that? She is the one... the one I belong to... And I am Venus Knight!'
Suddenly images came to him. Images of a Golden Palace, his princess, the pain of their parting, the pain of his loneliness, of his loss of her. He had found her again, like he had known he would... He began to glow, and rose into the air.
Everything around them stopped. The scouts stared aghast, and Stealth even stopped his battle to behold the magic before him. The handsome young man had risen into the air and the sailor scout with him, for she held him in her arms. They began to change, and Anthony began to scream, not in pain, but with the force of the power that coursed through him.
Anthony felt as if he were filled to the brim with power and was going to fall apart but knowing their love would hold him together. He was lifted out of her arms and placed in front of her, floating above the ground. He glowed with divine light, and reached down to take her hands. Sailor Venus gasped as she began to change as well.
Her sailor suit was being replaced by a long, golden, and very beautiful gown made of lace and satin. A small crown that shone like the sun was placed on top of her head. Her hair gleamed around her like golden silk, and flowed down her back. She looked at Venus Knight with eyes that shined like two bright sapphires. He had changed into the warrior she had loved so long ago.
He wore a crisp, long-sleeved sailor-style shirt and tight fitting black pants. A golden sash was tied around his waste and black boots adorned his feet. A long sword with a golden sheath and hilt hung at his side. He wore no mask but she knew he had one, to hide his identity as Darien did. He took her hands and she felt warmth flow through them. She opened them to reveal a large, yellow, clear stone that shined like the sun. He looked at her and kissed her softly.
"Our love has brought us back together again my princess," he said quietly, touching her face tenderly. "I will never leave you again. We have returned as the Fighters of Love."
Venus nodded and turned to the other scouts. Darien and Mercury Knight smiled in understanding. They too turned to face their new enemies.
And so happened the re-birth of the first knights and the fighters of love.
PS: Thanks for the wonderful reviews guys! *wipes away a tear* I'm truly touched! :)
Fighters of Love
Serena smiled at her friends, overjoyed all of them were together again. Amy clung to Greg as if he was life support, and Mina and Anthony couldn't take their eyes off each other! Poor Lita was looking lonely and worried... 'Must be about Ken,' she thought disappointed. 'I wonder where he is.'
Her thoughts quickly drifted away from Lita to the man she was holding on to herself. 'Darien is so handsome,' she thought happily... 'and I have him all to myself. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing guy that's faithful to me. Thank goodness for destiny!'
She looked over at Raye and Chad who were laughing together. 'There is definitely something going on there,' she declared silently. 'Something that only needs a little help... And matchmaker Serena is just the one to do it!' She smiled devilishly. 'Oh this is going to be so much fun!'
Her happy thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the screams of people outside the theater. 'Oh no,' she thought, 'here we go again...'
******************************************************************************
Stealth observed the fray going on beneath him with distinct pleasure. The monsters were attacking helpless people left and right, draining their life energy and seriously harming some of them. He laughed ruthlessly!
'This carnage is so fun to watch! But I must find my little Sailor Mercury, she's the one I need, and according to my energy readings, she should be here.'
He slipped into the darkness, melting its inky blackness. He darted from shadow to shadow a dim and silent figure. He scanned the crowd, searching for her. In moments he had spotted her across the street, standing with a group of people and staring in horror at the bloodbath before her. 'Come on Sailor Scouts,' his mind pleaded silently, 'take the bait.'
He suddenly had a thought! 'The others with her must be Sailor Scouts as well... maybe not the men, but the girls at least. I'll keep an eye on them and not blow my cover!' He crouched down, and began to watch.
******************************************************************************
Lita glanced at the other girls with worry. Amara and Michelle caught this and nodded affirmatively. They began to leave, an action Anthony noticed. He tried to stop them.
"Where are you going? We have to help them! We have to do something!" he shouted.
He looked over his shoulder to see a monster looming over a small child. The child crouched down, terrified and screaming, trying desperately to cover himself. Anthony gasped and felt an unspeakable rage course through his body. He couldn't allow the monster to hurt that child.
He ran, sprinting across the street, and leaped at it with surprising agility. Anthony fought with it, hand to hand, until the creature managed to create an opening and dragged its nails across his chest. He fell to the ground, feeling the blood pour down his chest in small rivers, staining his white shirt crimson. The creature unexpectedly jumped on him hard, knocking the wind out of his lungs and screeching in his face. Nothing had ever been so repulsive to him, and he had never felt such pain before.
He suddenly looked up to see a beautiful woman with short blond hair ram into the monster from the side. She was dressed in gold and dark blue outfit resembled a cheerleader uniform. He recognized her, but didn't know from where. She glanced at him and turned around.
"Mina! Get him out of here! Lita help her. The rest of you, transform!" Sailor Uranus shouted.
He stared up as Mina ran towards him, she was crying. He looked up at her and smiled. She bent down and took hold of one of his arms. Lita took the other. They began to drag him into the alleyway.
"Oh Anthony! I'm so sorry. I'll make it right, I promise! You'll be fine, I'll make sure of that." She whispered, tears running down her face as she slipped off his white shirt. She quickly wrapped it around him in a makeshift bandage. She stopped and looked at his face again, letting her tears course down her cheeks.
'You're so beautiful,' he thought as he touched her face tenderly. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Come on Mina, he's out of it, let's transform now. We need to help the scouts... The Negaverse is up to something serious right now, I can feel it." Lita said angrily.
Mina nodded. She stood up and took out her transformation stick. Anthony opened again and stared at her. 'What is she going to do?' His mind asked. 'And what did Lita mean when she said they were supposed to help?' He looked at the strange sticks in their hands and their determined stances and felt an enormous wave of deja vu. 'Why is this so familiar?'
Mina and Lita stood up, not realizing Anthony was awake and watching them. They looked at each other and nodded. Mina lifted up her hand first, followed by Lita.
"VENUS CRYSTAL POWER!" she screamed.
"JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!" Lita followed.
Anthony stared at them, not believing what he was seeing! He watched as Mina's body was showered by a blinding beam of light. He noticed how the light seemed to shimmer like stars, and gazed open-mouthed as her transformation finished with a short pose.
Lita was finishing next to Mina, and he found her transformation just as amazing. It was as if lightning had engulfed her whole body, giving her enormous power. Her sailor suit was very becoming- green with pink with white trimming. But he couldn't take his eyes off Mina. Her sailor suit was a lovely orange, with yellow, blue, and white trim. Her shoes were gorgeous heels that accented the muscles in her legs. Her golden hair was half up and half down, held back with a red-orange bow.
When they left him behind in the alley, he began to lift himself to his feet. 'Why am I doing this?' He thought crazily. 'They look like they have it under control, what do they need me for?' He shook his head. 'No, I have to help them, and I have to help Mina. She's a part of me, I know her, somehow...' He managed to stand and walked out onto the battlefield.
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Shortly after Lita and Mina had dragged Anthony off, the other scouts (minus Amy) had transformed. Raye had managed to get rid of Chad when a monster had dropped a rock on his head. He was fine, but would be out for a while. Everyone had begun to fight, except for Amy, who they feared was too weak. Greg stood in front of her protectively until Raye signaled him to get Amy out of there.
Greg took Amy's hand and led her quickly towards the outskirts of the battlefield. He held her there while they watched battle with growing anxiousness.
"Something is wrong here Greg. These monsters are way too easy. They're not like the one I fought against the other day. That one was much stronger. These are weak, like those of Queen Beryl... Something worse is coming. I don't know if we can face it alone." Amy said, looking into Greg's eyes.
Greg nodded in acknowledgment of Amy's words. He pulled her into his arms. Pluto's orders rang through his ears. "Remember Greg, only if she's in danger..."
He would keep his promise. He would protect Amy, as well as help the scouts... if he could be much help. He suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder and spun around. A dark figure of a man stood there. He grinned and instantly Greg knew this man was evil. Stealth glanced at Amy, and then looked back at Greg.
"Excuse me my friend, but I need to borrow your girlfriend for a moment." He laughed wickedly.
"Who are-" Greg began, but he never finished.
Stealth raised a hand and fired a blast of dark energy at Greg, throwing him to the ground. Greg skidded to a halt and jerked his head back up, wincing at the pain he felt in his body. Amy screamed and tried to run to him, but Stealth grabbed her roughly by the arm and made her face him.
"Don't worry little Mercury. Your boyfriend will be fine for now, but I can't promise for later. It's lucky for you oblivion will come much quicker..." Stealth touched a finger to her forehead and the sign of Mercury appeared, faint and beautiful. He prepared to fire at point blank range. Amy began to scream.
Greg looked up. 'This is it,' he thought, 'I must do it now.' He stood up and readied his transformation sapphire.
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"SUPREME THUNDER...." Lita yelled powering up...
"CRASH!" she finished sending bolts of lightening exploding from her tiara.
The last monster screamed as the agony of the pure lightening engulfed it. It dissipated into nothing in a gust of wind. Lita smiled, happy of her victory. Anthony observed it all.
'Such power,' he thought, awed by it all. Mina is strong as well he realized. He had already observed her Love Chain, Crescent Beam, and Love and Beauty Shock. She did it all with great precision and grace. He smiled and wondered why this power was so familiar to him.
Suddenly he heard a scream! He looked up across the field where Amy was being held by a dark figure, a man of such great evil... he could sense it from the place he stood. The man was touching her head with his index finger and dark energy was growing around him. Amy glowed with a blue, silver light. A symbol shined from her forehead, but he couldn't make it out from where he was.
'She's special too,' he thought. He looked at Mina and back at Amy, and realized the small girl was one of them. He noticed movement near the dark man and the young girl and his mouth dropped open in curiosity.
'It's that guy Greg,' he remembered. 'What's he doing?' Greg stood up, and held a blue stone in his hand that glowed as bright as a Christmas tree, but much more beautiful. The stone shined bright and beautiful against the blackness of the energy emitted by the shadow man. Anthony was filled with joy! 'He's going to help her!' He thought happily. 'I know he is!'
The other scouts weren't so sure. Sailor Jupiter and Venus took after Amy, running to save her as fast as their legs could carry them. They were followed closely by Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Tuxedo Mask, and the rest of the Sailor Scouts who blasted monsters out of their way to clear a path. They stopped a few feet from Greg and gaped in surprise! He turned around and looked at them, smiling, his bravery and love reflected on his face. He looked at his precious Amy, who lay softly on the ground unconscious where Stealth had dropped her in his shock at the arrival of a new opponent. She was still in danger. Darien saw this and quickly retrieved her while Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter kept Stealth distracted with a couple of easy attacks. Stealth cursed after him. Darien turned in his flight and motioned for Greg to fight. Greg nodded, and prepared himself.
"I can handle it! Stay back" he shouted. He lifted his arms into the air. 'Please Mercury,' he pleaded, 'give me the strength to protect my dear Amy.' He opened his eyes and the others saw how they glowed with power.
"MERCURY PLANET POWER!" his voice boomed.
The scouts gasped as they heard these words come from Greg's mouth! They watched the transformation of Mercury Knight, the first in a thousand years.
Greg was rising into the air and the crystal glowed as it floated out of his hands and loomed over him. The light of the crystal engulfed him in a blue prism that turned into icy water that swirled around him. The water suddenly rose and fell over him, washing away his identity in a matter of moments. His normal clothes disappeared, leaving behind a new man. He stood before them in light silver armor. A sword hung at his side. The blade seemed to have been made of ice and glowed like blue fire when he unsheathed it. The sign of Mercury glowed softly on his forehead. Mercury Knight had returned to the Sailor Scouts.
Anthony saw this transformation and hardly believed it was possible. Obviously Stealth didn't believe it either. He stared after Amy but walked toward Mercury Knight, ready for a great battle. He remembered the scouts suddenly and realized how outnumbered he was. He laughed!
"Foolish boy! I shall fight you, but I can't have the others interfere. Therefore, they must deal with my minions! Let the battle begin." Stealth laughed wickedly.
Suddenly huge amounts of monsters appeared all around the scouts, locking them and Anthony into a ring. They all glared at Stealth.
"Oh yeah, this is fair!" Mars shouted angrily.
"You're in the big leagues now fire girl, get used to it!" Stealth sneered. He looked back at Greg. "Now..." he began. "Where were we?" he paused and readied himself to fight.
******************************************************************************
While Mercury Knight battled with Stealth, the Sailor Scouts were having trouble with the monsters. The creatures attacked from all sides, and with great numbers that quickly proved overwhelming. The scouts formed a ring and finally noticed Anthony fighting some himself. A monster leapt down on him and Mars took the liberty of saving him.
"MARS FIRE BALLS...." she began... "CHARGE!" she finished.
The ball of fire careened into the unsuspecting monster and destroyed it in one blow. She ran over and grabbed Anthony from the ground. "Boy you're going to get yourself in a lot of trouble! Now stick with us and stay out of the way!" She snapped.
Anthony nodded, but couldn't help but feel like he should be doing something. The scouts were losing. The outer soldiers were holding up okay, but there were just too many!
"URANUS WORLD..."
"NEPTUNE DEEP..."
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY..."
"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP..."
The sailor soldiers powered up, already aiming at their targets...
"SHAKING!!!"
"SUBMERGE!!!"
"SHOCK!!!"
"ZAP!!!"
They all finished their attacks and were rewarded by the destruction of their monsters- but those were just replenished by more, and Venus and Jupiter were already tiring. Even Mercury Knight was showing evidence of strain with his fight with Stealth. He cried out at he was hit by a large dark energy blast and driven to the ground. He lifted himself up, eyes blazing.
"MERCURY ICE SWORD...." he powered up... "SLASH!!!"
He finished with an icy blast of energy that flew at Stealth, paralyzing him. He raised his hand and screamed...
"MERCURY BLIZZARD..."
"SPRAY!!!"
The attack hit Stealth, but didn't do as much damage as he'd hoped. Stealth stood holding his wounded shoulder. Mercury Knight's head throbbed and his whole body hurt with the effects of Stealth's dark energy. This was only his first battle and he knew he didn't have enough stamina. He needed help, and fast.
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Anthony watched in horror as the scouts' attacks began to weaken. They were exhausted and there were too many enemies! He screamed as monsters overwhelmed Sailor Venus. She fell to the ground in a heap of dead and scrambling monsters. They leaped at her with teeth and claws prepared to tear her body apart. Anthony jumped in front of her unthinkingly.
"Leave her alone!" He screamed! "Or I swear I rip you all to pieces if it kills me." He leaped at the monsters, attacking them with all his strength.
He fought well, but Anthony was soon overwhelmed and fell to the ground, defeated. He did not get up. Mina didn't even realize it when Sailor Jupiter finished off the monsters around her. She only stared at Anthony, who had sacrificed himself for her. She let out a scream of despair as he fell and ran to his side. She lifted him up and looked into his eyes. He smiled at her weakly and grimaced at the enormous pain.
"I'm sorry Sailor Venus, they were too strong for me. Please forgive me?" He pleaded as tears of pain and love began to form in his eyes.
Venus burst into fresh tears. How could she feel so much for him? They had only just met. Suddenly she said something, whispered it, words she didn't know she had in her... but were so familiar. "Please don't leave me, my dear Venus Knight." She whispered, tears running down her face.
Anthony's eyes widened in remembrance. 'How does she know that? She is the one... the one I belong to... And I am Venus Knight!'
Suddenly images came to him. Images of a Golden Palace, his princess, the pain of their parting, the pain of his loneliness, of his loss of her. He had found her again, like he had known he would... He began to glow, and rose into the air.
Everything around them stopped. The scouts stared aghast, and Stealth even stopped his battle to behold the magic before him. The handsome young man had risen into the air and the sailor scout with him, for she held him in her arms. They began to change, and Anthony began to scream, not in pain, but with the force of the power that coursed through him.
Anthony felt as if he were filled to the brim with power and was going to fall apart but knowing their love would hold him together. He was lifted out of her arms and placed in front of her, floating above the ground. He glowed with divine light, and reached down to take her hands. Sailor Venus gasped as she began to change as well.
Her sailor suit was being replaced by a long, golden, and very beautiful gown made of lace and satin. A small crown that shone like the sun was placed on top of her head. Her hair gleamed around her like golden silk, and flowed down her back. She looked at Venus Knight with eyes that shined like two bright sapphires. He had changed into the warrior she had loved so long ago.
He wore a crisp, long-sleeved sailor-style shirt and tight fitting black pants. A golden sash was tied around his waste and black boots adorned his feet. A long sword with a golden sheath and hilt hung at his side. He wore no mask but she knew he had one, to hide his identity as Darien did. He took her hands and she felt warmth flow through them. She opened them to reveal a large, yellow, clear stone that shined like the sun. He looked at her and kissed her softly.
"Our love has brought us back together again my princess," he said quietly, touching her face tenderly. "I will never leave you again. We have returned as the Fighters of Love."
Venus nodded and turned to the other scouts. Darien and Mercury Knight smiled in understanding. They too turned to face their new enemies.
And so happened the re-birth of the first knights and the fighters of love.