Spike looked around the darkened cafeteria, studying it carefully. "Where
do you think that the computer was?" He asked.
Uther frowned as he stalked around the tables. "Not sure. This entire
damn place looks the same." He spat in disgust on the shiny floor and
glared about.
"It was in a corner." Jedin reflecting. "I could see the two walls coming
together."
"And there was a bulletin board behind it." Damon muttered, pointing to
one on a nearby wall.
"Look at all the people!" Ivy sang, gesturing about the empty cafeteria.
"All the happy little kitties sitting down for an evening meal." Her voice
trailed away as she sat down in a seat and pretended to be eating
something.
Damon stiffened and glanced around. "Does it seem like-someone's watching
us?" He asked, giving the shadows a suspicious going-over.
"Nope." Spike said, trying to get Ivy to stand up. "Why?"
"Just a feeling." Damon muttered, rubbing an arm and continuing to look
around.
* * * "Uh-oh." Diamond whispered, seeing Damon glance around. The girls were huddled at the doors of the cafeteria, peeking in through small windows. "What?" Garnet asked. "I think-he senses us." Diamond hissed, pointing at Damon's twitching form. "Great." Emerald moaned softly. "This has to be a surprise mission if we're going to get anywhere!! Five-no, wait, there's Katrina!-six generals?! Not good! Very not good!!" "They can't figure us out!" Topaz whispered angrily. "Or we're done for!" "We're done for now, anyway!" Obsidian whirled and grabbed Diamond by her shoulders. "Diamond, come on! Think of something!" "I-I don't know!" Diamond whispered, wringing her hand and tearing away from the group. "I just don't know." She clenched her fists tightly together as tears began to come to her eyes. I can't lead them in there! It's like going to certain death! We're not strong enough!! I can't do this!! A single tear slipped down her face. A sudden burst of light illuminated the air in front of her. Diamond let out a small cry and moved back slightly. The light twisted in the air, molding itself into an unrecognizable shape. Green color began to shade the bottom half of the light while the top half remained a beautiful, glistening white. The light molded and shaped until finally something dropped into Diamond's outstretched palm. It was a rose. Sweet-smelling, beautiful, at its peak condition, and flawless in every way. Each white petal seemed to have been sculpted perfectly. The stem had a few thorns, but they did not seem to prick her skin. "Wow." Topaz breathed, coming up behind Diamond. "Oh, wow. Diamond, where'd you pull that from?!" "It's beautiful!" Amethyst exclaimed, gently touching a petal. "I-I think-" Diamond swallowed and calmed. "I think I'm supposed to use it." "How?" Garnet asked, puzzled. Diamond grinned a little. "Remember Tuxedo Kamen??" Obsidian stared at her and began to giggle. "Oh, no way. No way."
* * * "I swear someone's watching us." Damon muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, Dames, get serious!" Katrina snorted, sitting at a table. "I mean, who would spy on us?" "Sailor Scouts?" Damon offered, glaring a little at Katrina. "What the.hey!" Spike shouted from a few tables away. "Take a look at this!" Damon turned around, and stared. A brilliant white rose was embedded in a table surface just behind him. It was perfect and truly beautiful-and he had a good idea where it had come from. "It's pretty!" Katrina gasped, leaning into touch it. The rose seemed to move a little when her fingers brushed against it. Katrina shrieked and darted back, sucking her thumb. "Ow! It bit me!" "Every rose has got its thorns, even the most beautiful ones!" A voice intoned from behind them all. "Of course, some flowers are ugly and nothing but thorns, and those are what we call weeds!" Another voice added. "Told you someone was watching us." Damon said to Spike, grinning triumphantly. "Gah." Spike muttered, staring at the tables a few feet away. "How'd they get in here?!" "Stop talking about us as if we weren't here!!" Emerald growled. "Really! Sporting bad manners, what!" Obsidian said cheerfully and in a British-accent. "Hey, remember? Generals aren't taught manners." Amethyst reprimanded. "Shame on you both!" Emerald and Obsidian pretended to hang their heads. Diamond grinned at her friends' antics. "Idiots." She said affectionately before hardening her voice and her eyes to look at the generals. "Hello, you lot. And a special thank-you to Ivy for sending me into the future that one day. A simply tremendous experience." Ivy cackled and looked extremely pleased with herself. "We are the Jewel Sailor Senshi, Princesses of Opal!" Sapphire said, glaring at them fiercely and quite unlike herself. "And in the name of Opal, we will punish you!" Garnet snapped. Obsidian giggled. "Yes! Punishment! Fun time!!" "You're in way over your heads." Jedin hissed, clenching his fists. "You know, this entire thing's getting really boring." Amethyst muttered. "DEATH CRESCENTS DESTROY!!!!" Jedin jumped back as the two boomerangs whizzed around him, slicing and dicing at his clothing and hair. "HAH!!" Amethyst crowed, leaping at him and knocking him down. She began punching his chest and head enthusiastically. "Get her!" Uther yelled, leaping for Amethyst. "Oh, no, you don't!!" Sapphire cried, leaping off the table as well and hitting Uther in the shoulder. She began to raise her hand. "ICY GLACIER FREEZE!!!!!" Uther shrieked as the attack froze onto his head, freezing him to the ground. Sapphire laughed in fiendish delight as she began kicking him in his legs and chest. "Hah! I'm not that weak little space cadet you injured a few weeks ago, am I?! Am I?!?!" "Sapphire!" Emerald yelled in warning. "Duck!" Sapphire did, and felt someone fly over her head. Emerald growled as Katrina tackled her to the ground. She began lashing out with her fists, hitting the general's red head. Katrina hissed and pummeled her stomach, a lot stronger than she would have expected from this ditz. She kneed her hard in the gut, grabbed her shoulders, and flipped her over her head. Katrina landed on the floor with a crack and a moan, but she lashed back with her hand, grabbing Emerald's hair and yanking hard. Emerald cried out, then grabbed a hunk of Katrina's hair and tugged hard as well. It was the cat fight of the ages as the two yanked back and forth. Garnet and Ivy were locked again in a staring contest, though this time a much more serious one. The two circled each other, not breaking eye contact, a mental battle raging. Ivy was trying to take over Garnet's brain, while Garnet struggled to keep her away. Sparks flamed in the air between the two as Garnet hit Ivy's mind with a lash of power. Ivy let out a cry before lashing out with a wave at her own. The two pummeled the other's mind, hatred outlined on both faces. This left Obsidian, Topaz, and Diamond staring at Spike and Damon. Damon and Spike smirked together, staring at the two. "I'm betting you get the two blondes." Damon muttered to Spike. Spike snorted. "Hah. I could take all three of 'em on." "Obsidian, go for Damon, all right?" Diamond whispered, frowning at the generals' smirks. "Yell if you need help. Topaz, you're with me. We tackle Spike. Got it?" "Hai." Obsidian agreed, grinning maliciously. "I've been wanting a fight with dear old Damon for a bit, now." "And Spiky." Topaz giggled. "Think we should call him Blondie Bear again?" Diamond smiled a little before her eyes focused. "On the count of three. One." "KEEYAH!!!!!" Obsidian crowed, leaping at Damon. Caught by surprise, he was knocked sideways and hit the ground. Obsidian leapt off him with a war shriek and leapt onto a nearby table. "BLACK FEAR SWARM!!!!" She crowed ecstatically. Damon rolled away just as the attack destroyed the ground he had been laying on. He leapt to his feet and at Obsidian with a growl. She screeched and jumped high into the air, causing him to go underneath her. Unfortunately, she went a little too high. "OW!" Plaster was knocked loose from the ceiling in big chunks. Obsidian fell back to earth and hit with a crack, looking dazed. Her eyes slid in and out of focus. Dimly she realized Damon was standing over her before she slipped into unconsciousness. Diamond swore as she saw this. "Take care of Spike!" She ordered Topaz. "You can do it! Go!" Topaz obeyed, dodging to the side and at Spike. He moved away as she came flying at him. Topaz used a table for a springboard as she pushed off with her hands and back into the air. "BRIGHT WHIRLWIND GUST!!!" Spike growled as the attack took away part of his shoulder. Topaz was already launching herself back at him. This would be interesting. Meanwhile, Damon had put his foot over Obsidian's throat and pressed down hard, cutting off her respiration. Obsidian moved a little, and let out a small gasp. He ignored this, pressing down harder, until all Obsidian could do was open and close her mouth like a fish. She began to thrash about, hitting at his leg with arms that grew steadily weaker. Damon grinned as slowly she relaxed, arms falling back- A force hit him so hard in his side that he flew across the room, hitting the wall and cracking it. Diamond stood over Obsidian, eyes full of cold fury. Very slowly, and in a tone of complete ice, she said, "You stay the hell away from my friend." Damon chuckled to himself as he stood up. "Protective, aren't you?" "After the hell I went through in the future?? Not particularly." Diamond said sarcastically, eyes blazing with hatred. All friendly feelings she had towards him were forgotten for the time being. Anger was moving through her like a hot tidal wave. Obsidian weakly grabbed Diamond's ankle. "Dimes-let me do this! I can take him!" "No, you can't!" Diamond snapped, looking down at her. "Obsidian, please, just rest for a while, all right? I'll protect you." "I hate being out of a good fight." Obsidian muttered, sighing and closing her eyes. Diamond glared back up at Damon, who was watching her with something like cold amusement. "And what, pray tell, did you go through in the future?" He asked, eyes glinting coldly. "Had to watch your friends die, I suppose?" "Yes." Diamond whispered, hatred and sorrow etched deeply in her voice. "And I was the one who had to kill them." Damon had no reply to this. He just stared at her. Emotions began driving out of her. "I had to kill my own friends, damn you, and I did! I did just to stop you all!" She glared at him, rage and tears pouring out of her. "I hate you!! You've turned me into a monster! I'm not better than you all! I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!!!"
* * * Flame suddenly roared up all around the cafeteria. Garnet's and Ivy's mental match had gone physical, and Garnet had lost her temper. Ivy was shrieking as flames incinerated her skin. Circles of fire sped around each fight, trapping the fighters inside. Obsidian had her own private circle where she lay gasping, edging away from the walls. "I'll kill you yet!!" Garnet yelled from somewhere in the flames.
* * * Emerald noticed the flames springing up around her and an idea sprung into her mind. With an incredible pull, she flung Katrina into the fire. Katrina screamed as her hair and clothes caught on fire and began dancing about trying to put them out. Emerald laughed, massaging her scalp.
* * * Topaz had worse luck. Spike had managed to get an arm around her neck and was now choking her. She struggled, kicking him hard in the legs and shins. Spike growled and squeezed harder, making her wince in pain. With an almighty effort, she bent her knees, and leaned over before standing up quickly. Spike went flying over her shoulder and hit the ground hard, staring at her in amazement. Topaz gulped in air and grinned cockily at him.
* * * Amethyst leaned way back and gave Jedin the hardest blow she had ever delivered in her life. Jedin groaned in pain, body jerking about like a stuffed doll. Amethyst grinned fiercely as she hit him again and again, muttering insults. "You, my friend." She said finally, leaning over him. "Have gotten considerably weaker." "I-haven't gotten weaker." Jedin said, coughing up blood and staring at Amethyst in shock. "How could-how could you have gotten so strong?" Amethyst grinned. "I'm one high-and-mighty kick-butt princess, mister." She whispered. "Not some lousy reincarnation." Jedin gasped as her words sunk in. Angrily he flung himself to a seated position, sending Amethyst flying. "You, little-" He began wrestling with her while Amethyst fought back, wondering what on earth could have caused this change.
* * * Sapphire's sweet demeanor was completely gone. She had turned into something like a wildcat. Uther found himself fighting for his life as Sapphire battered him with attacks and blows. "Do you have any idea," she asked when he was on the floor recovering from one particularly brutal shot, "what I could be doing now instead of letting you ruin my life?!?!" She smacked him hard in the face. "I could be out with the guy I love!!" She roared, punching him hard. "Instead I'm here-" kick to the head, "-with a bunch of-" blow to the stomach, "evil, blood sucking losers!!!!" She socked him hard in his solar plexus. Uther gasped in pain, and, for the first time in his very long life, was knocked out of a fight.
* * * Damon fell back as a punch from Diamond hit the side of his face. His head snapped around, and his neck would have broken had he been mortal and human. As it was, he recovered quickly to shove the girl back. Diamond went flying, skidding on the ground until she stopped near the edge of the fire circle around them. She was back on her feet in an instant and charging, a war cry tearing from her throat. Damon calmly knocked her back as she came too close. She hit the ground with a sickening crack and moaned slightly, touching the back of her head. Oooh, yeah. That was going to leave a mark, though whether on the floor or her head she wasn't quite certain. Damon was there in an instant, grabbing both her wrists with one of his, keeping them above her head. Diamond struggled violently, twisting her body to kick at him. Damon winced as her foot knocked into his temple, and quickly straddled her, desperately trying to keep the warrior still. Diamond lashed back and forth furiously until she realized just where she was. Her face went a bright red even as she continued struggling violently. Damon cursed. "Would-you-stop-moving?! He grated, trying to hold down an overwhelming feeling moving through him from having the blonde trapped under him. "Not a chance!!" Diamond retorted. Please don't give me that look. Damon glared down at her, midnight eyes flashing black. "Stop it, you minx!!" He roared angrily in her face. Diamond stopped, closing her eyes and relaxing. That stupid look of his- his stupid blue eyes-stupid beautiful blue eyes-god, she hated him- "Get off me!" She growled, eyes still closed. "No." Damon replied absently, cocking his head. "Why are your eyes closed?" "Does it matter?!" Diamond shot back, making the mistake of opening her eyes to glare at him. Their eyes locked and held. "Oh, drat it." She sighed, heart instantly melting into a puddle. "You did it again." She laid her head back against the ground and shut her eyes. "Will you please get off me now?" "You'll attack me." Damon said suspiciously. Diamond snorted. "Like I even could. You gave me the look. Darn you. Get off, I won't hurt you." "Sorry." Damon announced. "Don't believe you." Diamond sighed. "So what? You're just going to sit here on me?" "I was personally planning on killing you but, as we both know, in the past I have found this completely impossible, and so it is now." Damon ran his other hand through his hair and sighed. "Don't do that!" Diamond ordered sharply. He blinked at her. "Do what?!" "Make me-oh, gods curse it!!!" She began to swear again, wriggling a little. Damon gasped and glared at her. "Stop that!" "Stop what?" She glared at him, then realized what was happening and blushed furiously. "Oops. Sorry." Damon growled and quickly got off the girl. She happily sat up and stretched. "Thank you." "So now what?" He asked. "We're obviously not fighting anymore." "Says who?" Diamond argued, trying to be fierce, but failing miserably. Her rage was gone. She instead giggled. "Oh, god, I'm going to regret this. And I just know you're going to come out of your trance and kill me again. So, might as well enjoy this." She sat cross-legged and studied him, head cocked a little to one side, an adorable pout on her face. "Um, so." Damon hesitated. This was certainly not going the way he had planned. No other scout he had ever met acted like this. "Uh-" Diamond giggled. "Hah! You're acting like half the boys in my school do when they're caught with a girl!" She chuckled. "Relax, I won't bite! I assure you we can go back to fighting in a few minutes." Damon blinked. His mind was in total and complete confusion. "Um, okay. Right." She sighed, and rubbed her head. "God. Last time I saw you, it was in the future, and you had just jabbed a sword through my chest." "You always begin talks like that?" Damon demanded tartly. "And you think we need to work on our conversation skills." Diamond grinned. "What? Had to talk about something." "Why'd I stab you?" Damon asked curiously. "What was it like, the future?" Diamond sighed. "I told you that I had to kill all my friends, right? Your lady-" An expression of such loathing crossed her face that Damon moved back slightly. "Your lady had turned them evil. I had to kill them. And then of course, you and your friends got on my case-but then I signaled to you what would send me back-breaking my charm-and you understood so you rammed your sword through it and I got back!" She grinned brightly at Damon. "Whoa, back up, back up." Damon put a hand to his forehead. "I-helped you?" "Yup!" Diamond beamed. "You said you liked fighting more than ruling. Or something like that. Oh, and before that I met you on the street and you said not to go to Rubian because you knew about the scouts being evil and you wanted to spare me-" "Jeez." Damon muttered. "I'm a class-A traitor." "It was a very nice thing to do!" Diamond protested. "But, of course, you haven't done them yet-and you never will, by the way, just to remind you that we're going to win-" "You talk way too fast." Damon muttered. "And you don't talk enough, aside from spouting evil lyrics and such!" Diamond said gaily, standing up. "Come on! Fighting must continue, now!" Damon continued to sit on the ground, blinking up at her. "That was fast." He muttered, standing as well. Diamond smiled, a dazzling smile that lit up inside him. "We can continue talking, if you like." She said softly, smiling at him. "I know we're enemies, but there's something about you. We could be good friends, I think." "More than friends." Damon whispered, so softly she couldn't hear. Out loud, he said, "And how, pray tell, would we manage that? We are indeed the two most opposite people in the universe." "No idea." Diamond replied cheerfully. "But I think you're not as evil as you believe yourself to be." "Am so!" Damon protested, trying to look angry. God, this was impossible. "Are not." Diamond said with a giggle. "You were when I met you, I know that. But-something's changed." She quickly brushed a strand of hair away from his face to gaze deeply into his eyes, a small frown on her face. "You're different, now. You're not as cold. You're talking to me, almost like a human." "I resent that." Damon said quietly, wishing she would stop touching his hair. "I'm not human. I can never be human. We're born enemies, if you'll remember." "You were born a human." Diamond told him sternly. "You were made evil. Therefore, you are not evil by birth." "I don't think of myself as a human." Damon muttered, half to himself. Diamond looked at him, sensing something of importance was about to happen. "I don't remember anything. I have no idea about who I am or where I come from. I could be a prince, or a pauper, or some bastard's forgotten child. I can't remember anything." He did not sound self-piteous, rather cold and calculating again. "I-I'm sorry." Diamond said quietly. "It's bad not knowing who you are. At least I know who I am, even if I have no recollection of my true past." Damon swung to look at her. "You're not some reincarnation, are you? You're the genuine article." "Yes." Diamond answered softly. "I am the same princess who stopped you all ten thousand years ago. Though I most assuredly cannot remember it." A look of something close to awe came into Damon's eyes. He abruptly moved away from her. "I didn't hear that." He told her sharply. "And I'd advise you to make sure I don't hear it again." "Huh?" Diamond asked eloquently, completely bewildered. "What's wrong?" "You little idiot!" Damon hissed, massaging his temples. "Do you realize what Ithengil would do to you if he found out you weren't just reincarnations?! You'd beg for death to come!" Diamond blinked. "See? You're worried about me! Another sign of humanity!" "Would you mind taking this seriously?!!" Damon demanded, raising a hand as if to slap her. "Ithengil-he's insane. He would kill you lot already without a single qualm in the world, but if he finds out you're the Jewel Princesses." Diamond blinked. "Okay. I didn't tell you that. Fine." She was completely extremely calm. He wanted to hit her. Didn't she know what kind of peril she was in?? "Chill." Diamond told him, reading his face clearly. "I'm in danger, I get it. But I can handle myself, and I believe I can handle Ithengil, whoever he is." "You don't even know who he is?" Damon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Jeez.." "Just another general, right?" Diamond asked. Damon looked at her, not knowing whether to kill her, knock her upside her ditzy head, or hug her. "Ithengil is the High Priest for our Lady. He has more power than all of us combined." "Ah." Diamond said, a sweat drop appearing on her forehead. "That explains a bunch." She sighed. "Guess we'd better figure out a group attack soon." "F-freeze!" Damon glanced over to the outside of the flame circle. A fat, sweaty security guard stood there, pointing a small gun at them, shaking. "D- don't m-m-move!! Don't m-move or I-I'll-" "Shoot." Diamond finished. "Don't move or you'll shoot." The man nodded, arms shaking up and down. "G-get out of here! Y-you gang m-members or w-whatever-" "Sir, listen to me, please." Diamond began, walking towards the man with her hands up. The man backed away, looking terrified. "One more step!" He screamed in fear. "And I'll blast your brains out!!" Diamond froze, smiling serenely. "Hey, sir, listen, we'll be out of here soon, I'm so sorry about all this-" "Who's the human?" Spike asked from behind them. Diamond whirled to see him standing on a table, Topaz's bruised form lying beside him. She was sitting up even as Diamond watched, and gave her a wink. "Um, sir!" Diamond said, urgency etched in her voice now. "Sir, I'd recommend you really get out of here!!" "A guard, I guess." Damon responded to Spike. Spike sneered at this and glared at the guard. "Well, I don't like spectators." The man waved his gun around, clearly petrified out of his wits. "P- please! G-g-go away!!" Spike sneered, and raised his hand to point at the man. A ball of black electricity formed at the tip of his fingertip. It steadily grew to the size of an Oldsmobile. With a shout, Spike flung it at the security guard. The guard stared at the oncoming bolt, heart stopping in his chest, eyes filling with terror- A shape hurled itself in front of the blast meant for him. The man collapsed, mercifully fainting. Diamond screamed in pain as she took the whole blast of it. The lighting struck at her back and chest, frying her clothes and her skin. She arched her back as the pain reached its climax, and sank to her knees, sizzling slightly. "Dimes!!" Topaz yelled, kicking Spike out of the way. He hit the ground and lay there, momentarily stunned. Topaz ran to her leader, gritting her teeth as pain lanced into her also. She grabbed Diamond by her shoulders and stood, ignoring the stings of pain from where she touched her friend. "Come on, Diamond, let's get out of here!" "Can't." Diamond growled. "Must-protect-man." She jerked her head at the man lying on the ground behind them, out in a cold faint. Topaz swore. "Do you have to be all high-and-mighty save-every-little- person?!" She demanded, taking a firm stance beside her friend. "It's my lot in life." Diamond said, smiling gratefully at her comrade. "Are you guys enjoying the pain??" Obsidian asked cheerfully, suddenly popping up on Diamond's other side. "Completely." Topaz assured her. Then she muttered to Diamond, "I wish it would stop, already!! What kind of long-lasting blast did Spike put into this one?!" "New long-lasting minty-fresh flavor!!" Obsidian said ecstatically. "It keeps on shining so you can feel great about yourself!!!!" "New whitening toothpaste!" Diamond suggested, falling into rhythm. "Makes your teeth brighter all day long!" "Kotex fits." Topaz muttered with a giggle. Diamond swatted her arm. The pain was fading away along with the electricity by this point. Diamond stretched and smiled. "That was relatively painless." "Says you." Topaz groaned. "God, I hate getting hit." "Sockem Boppers!!!!" Obsidian cheered, skipping over to the prostrate man and tapping his forehead. "Hello in there!!!" "Obi, have off." Diamond ordered, kneeling by the man and placing a hand on his wrist to check his pulse. She blinked in shock and drew her hand back like she had touched a hot pan stove, rubbing it slightly. "Dimes?" Topaz asked, concerned. "He's-he's sick." Diamond whispered, not realizing she was almost crying. "His blood-there's something so wrong inside him-cancer, I think, in his heart-oh, god." She gingerly touched his hand again, tears falling down her face. "And it's so bad.his death is so close..I've got to heal him!" She said suddenly, raising her hand. "Diamond, I don't think you can." Topaz said uncertainly. But Diamond had already opened her mouth and was beginning to speak. "Everlasting Love Purify!!!!" The light swirled around the three girls, healing the burn marks on their skin. Diamond frowned and pointed at the man. The light seemed to hesitate, then swirled down and into his nose and mouth. The man was jolted with spasms, rocking back and forth, small gasps escaping him. Then he suddenly relaxed, and the light poured out of him again to vanish. Carefully Diamond laid a hand on his wrist again. She smiled in relief. "H-he's okay! He'll be already! The sickness is gone!! I did it!!" She leapt about and hugged Topaz and Obsidian. "God, I'm so happy! I-I saved a life!" "Don't you every day?" Obsidian asked, freeing herself from Diamond's tough grip. "But he would have died anyway." Diamond said, wringing her hands ecstatically. "And now he won't!! I did that, Obsidian! I changed his life!! He could live to be a hundred years old, now!!" She knelt by the man again and pressed two fingers to his forehead. The man groaned, and his eyes fluttered open. He stared at Diamond's face hovering above him, then at Topaz and Obsidian who were just behind. "What the." He began to reach for his gun, then stopped, an expression of awe coming onto his face. He touched his chest and his arms, poking and pinching himself. "The pain." He whispered. "The pain.my pain.all gone." "Did you have some sort of heart cancer?" Diamond asked gently, sitting back a little as the man struggled to sit up. "I do, miss." The man replied, still shaking himself. "I believe it's gone." Diamond said, smiling reassuringly. The man blinked at her. "Gone? That's impossible. It was incurable. but I feel so great.like I haven't in years." He touched his chest again, then stared at Diamond in amazement and wonder. "Who are you.what did you do.are you the one who-saved me?" "I am." Diamond answered. "And you-cured me?" She nodded. The pudgy man's eyes grew even rounder. "Are you an angel?" Diamond laughed then, sounding for all the world truly like an seraph. "No, I'm no angel." She chuckled. "I'm just a Sailor Senshi. As are they." She gestured to Obsidian and Topaz, who waved and smiled, one brightly, the other kindly. "I've heard about you!" The man gasped. "The police force says the mayor thinks you're either juvenile delinquents or gang members." He paused, and stared at Diamond with eyes bright and intelligent. "But-you're not, are you? You're for real. You're real superheroes." "We are." Diamond said with a smile. "You've got more brains than a lot of people around here." The man grinned as his head bobbed up and down. He hesitated, then got to his feet and bowed low to all three girls. "I'm just a lowly security guard who's not really getting paid enough, and I have no idea what's happening beneath the surface of this town, but I sense it's big and supernatural. I'd just like to say, though, that I trust you ladies completely." His red face looked shyly at them. "If ever you need any help at all, just call on Stan Miles. I'm always here." Diamond smiled at the man, already liking him. "Thank you, Miles. I might be wrong, but I believe you might play a part in our future." Grinning broadly, she turned back to her friends and began walking back towards the still ongoing battles, leaving the balding man spluttering and blushing. "I like him." Obsidian announced softly. "He reminds me of Santa Claus." "He did seem nice." Topaz agreed. "You really think he'll play some part in our future, Diamond?" "I'm not sure, but I do sort of have a feeling." Diamond confessed. "Besides, we need allies outside of our little group. If we ever get through this fight, we have got to set ourselves up as international superheroes. Fight street crime or something. He might be able to help us set up a job." "Or he could just be a friend!" Obsidian suggested. Diamond grinned. "Yes, there's that too." Sapphire walked up to them, grim triumph outlined on every corner of her face. "Uther is officially out of the fight." She informed them with an evil smile. "I hit his head several times after his eyes closed, just to make sure." All three girls sweat-dropped. "You are getting as bloodthirsty as Amethyst." Topaz commented. Sapphire merely cracked her knuckles, winced, then grinned again. There was a roar of frustration from a few meters away. "Damn you!!!" Amethyst yelled, pounding Jedin's face and arms. "Just-get- knocked-OUT!!!!!!!" Jedin was struggling fiercely, hitting Amethyst back in her stomach and shins. "Get off, brat!!" He snarled, grabbing Amethyst by her shoulders and throwing her away. Amethyst hit the wall, crumpled, and was on her feet again in an instant, charging Jedin again. "Need any help?" Topaz called. Amethyst glared at her. "No! I'll fight my own battles, thank you!!!" She resumed hitting Jedin's temples. "Touchy." Topaz muttered, stung. A final punch, and Jedin's head was snapped sideways and he also was out of the fight. Amethyst cracked her knuckles and looked apologetically at Topaz. "Sorry, but I don't like fighting with someone else. How can I face these guys if I always need some help?" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly under Topaz's glare. "I'm sorry." Topaz's face finally softened. "Accepted. But no need to snap next time." "Gomen." Amethyst apologized again. "DIE, YOU EVIL RED-HEADED FRUITCAKE!!!!!!!" Emerald screamed from a few feet away. Katrina and Emerald had holds on the other's hair. Both were yanking furiously, clumps of hair littering the floor around them. Obsidian calmly walked over, yanked Katrina's hand off Emerald's hair, and slugged her hard in the stomach. Katrina collapsed to the ground and began whimpering, the wind torn out of her. "That was easy enough!" Obsidian said brightly as Emerald massaged her scalp. "Thank you, Obi." Emerald said, making sure most of her hair was still intact. "That witch. She wouldn't stop hurting me. Grrr!" She half- grinned at the group. Sapphire pointed over to a glowing mass of energy where Garnet and Ivy had previously stood. "I wonder how Shellie's doing." "Hope she's okay." Diamond said nervously. "That dome's radiating major powerful energy rays." As she spoke, red lightning sizzled inside the glowing energy dome, striking out into the air about it. Dimly Garnet's and Ivy's shrieks of anger and pain could be heard. There was a sudden crash, and the energy arena broke into thousands of pieces as Ivy sailed through it and landed several yards away. Garnet, bleeding and burned, eyes blazing, was glaring after her and shouting threats. "Don't you ever penetrate my mind again, yah hear me, you psychotic witch?!? Don't ever do it again!!" "Garnet! Chill!" Topaz said soothingly, walking over and patting her head. "It's okay! Ivy's knocked out! Be calm!" Garnet clenched her hands into fists. "She tried to penetrate my mind! Tried to read my secrets and found out who I was! Ooooh, I gave her a piece of my mind, I can tell you!" "Looks like you gave her most of your mind." Amethyst said with a whistle, lifting Ivy's head by her hair. "Jeez! Out like a light bulb!" "Everyone realized what just happened, right?" Obsidian asked. The others gazed blankly at her. "We just won." Obsidian said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We beat each bad guy on our own. We're warriors!! We kick butt!" "She's right!" Emerald said in surprise. "Well, we're missing one general, but who cares?! We actually have won a fight!!" "CELEBRATION DANCE!!!!" Obsidian crowed, doing 'jazz hands' and prancing around. "Does-this mean-our work's over?" Garnet asked hesitantly. "Not until all these creeps are dead." Amethyst said firmly. "But, then, we can fix that." She grinned maliciously down at Ivy. A large hand grabbed Amethyst's hair and yanked her away from Ivy. Spike stood in front of her, breathing hard, anger blazing in his eyes. "You stay away!" He roared, keeping well in front of Ivy. "You didn't knock him out?!" Amethyst asked Topaz indignantly. "I was a little busy trying to protect Mr. Guard!!" Topaz shouted back. "Doesn't matter, Amethyst, look!" Garnet said, pointing. All around the room, the unconscious or injured generals were rising again and standing beside Spike, glaring at the Senshi in total and complete hatred. "So much for winning." Sapphire said with a sigh. "Wait-where's Diamond?" Diamond was with Damon, across the room from them. The two were staring at each other, Diamond with a few tears in her eyes. "We have to go back to fighting now." She told him softly. Damon nodded. "I know." Diamond smiled a little, biting back a sob, then as quick as a wink, she threw her arms around him and for the briefest instant, embraced him. She let go very quickly and stepped back, blushing. To her astonishment, Damon was blushing slightly also. He didn't look at her, and stammered a little as he turned to walk back to the generals. Spike watched him with crafty, narrowed eyes. He noted the color on Damon's face, and the somewhat goofy smirk. "It appears," He murmured to himself. "That we have a problem." "We definitely have a problem." Emerald whispered to Topaz, looking at the smile on Diamond's face. "A very, very, very big problem." "Get out of here." Diamond told the generals, voice high and clear and firm. "We have won this fight. Most of you were knocked out. Some of you injured. All of you beaten. Go back to your hell-hole." "You have not beaten us." Jedin said angrily. "We have not called on our full reserve." "As we have not also." Diamond said calmly. "Go home." Jedin spat on the ground. "We're not leaving, Princess Diamond." He growled, voice full of triumph. A gasp echoed from generals and Senshi alike. "He knows?" Damon muttered to himself in disbelief. "How do you-how do you know?!" Diamond stuttered. One by one, the Senshi turned to stare at Amethyst. Amethyst blushed and faltered. "Well, you know-to make us seem scarier-ten thousand years old-" "Oh, Kami-sama." Diamond breathed. "Lord help us." "What's so bad about it?" Topaz inquired. "Tell you later." Diamond said, looking across at Damon, eyes bright with worry. His eyebrows were narrowed, and he was biting his lip. They know. Diamond told him in her mind. I know. Damon replied, mind-voice like velvet. Your Senshi let it slip. What happens now? You all are in very grave danger. "The-Princesses?" Katrina gasped. "Not-not reincarnations? The real ones?!" "Right." Diamond confirmed, throwing her head back and glaring at the group opposite them. "Wanna make sometin' outta it?!" Obsidian giggled. "Might I inquire why on earth you are talking like a gangster?" Diamond grinned. "What the heck? Might as well have fun." "You think this is some joke?!" Spike demanded. In synchronism, all the generals raised their hands. "DARK TITANIC DESTRUCTION!!!" The girls screamed as wave upon wave of black energy poured down on them, cutting them, scarring them, wounding every inch of their bodies. Diamond blindly reached to either side of her, and felt Obsidian and Sapphire grab her hands. "Come on, everyone!" She cried, tears slipping from her eyes. "Join together! We can beat this!" Haltingly, the Senshi drew together under the rain of evil energy. Hands were clasped. Garnet tripped and fell to the ground only to be picked up by Amethyst. Garnet smiled gratefully at Amethyst, who smiled back. "Come on, everyone!" Diamond called again. "We can beat this!!" Her voice was getting stronger and older, with the resonance of thousands of years slipping in. "We are the High Princesses of the Planet Opal!" "We are the Defenders of Justice!" Obsidian added. "We are the Fighters of Peace!" Sapphire cried. "We are the Ladies of Light!!" Emerald screamed. "We are the Soldiers of Love!" Garnet shouted. "We are the Scouts of Legend!" Topaz yelled. "We are the Promise of the Future!!" Amethyst finished. An incredibly bright golden light swarmed out from the girls, beating back the darkness. The pain began subsiding as the light ones fought back, directing their powers at the evilness plaguing their planet. Diamond's face grew older and more beautiful again, as did the rest of the Senshi. Obsidian's black hair flew out behind her as she remembered Diamond's recount of the future. I'm not evil. I'm not going to let my world fade. I can be strong. Garnet whispered. For myself and for the ones I care about. My power comes not from death and destruction, but from rebirth and creation. Amethyst murmured. I am afraid, but as long as my friends are near, I know we'll triumph. Emerald thought. I can't give up. Sapphire said softly. I have too many things worth living for. Too many things will be lost if we don't prevail. Topaz murmured. Too many beautiful creatures. I will fight and I will win, whatever the cost, Diamond whispered, for those that I love. "JEWEL SENSHI PLANETARY ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The entire room seemed to explode with incredibly strong energy. The Senshi were completely alien, now, faces beautiful and strange, eyes bright and glowing, hair flowing back from some unfelt breeze. The darkness vanished, and the generals could only stare at the golden power shooting at them. The cafeteria walls and ceiling began crumbling with the power of ten thousand years of living coming out in pure energy. Large blocks of cement and stone fell towards the girls, only to be incinerated when they got within five feet. The generals were hit square-on by the debris, making them have to blast it out of the air while enduring the pain of a thousand shots of power. "How the hell are they doing this!?!?" Jedin demanded, blasting a particularly large block out of the air. "Maybe we can stop them!" Katrina suggested. The Senshi spoke as one, voices coming from somewhere far away. "You will never uncover the source of our power." "I'm all for going home." Damon said, wincing as gravel rained down into his eyes. "Excellent idea." Uther said, disappearing with a pop. "Cowards." Spike muttered, firmly rooting himself to the spot as Katrina left also. The light slowly drained from the room back into the Senshi's bodies. Their faces changed back to normal, though very pale. The invisible, unfelt breeze that had been lifting their hair vanished. As the last glow faded, all seven girls fell to the ground, too drained to be unconscious, too weak to move. Diamond was worst of them all. She lay gasping for air, bones clearly showing through her skin. Her blue eyes seemed weak and pale also as they fluttered open and shut. "Everyone alive?" She asked finally. There were murmured replies of "Yeah" and "Mostly" from the majority of the scouts, one half-hearted "Whee!" from Obsidian. "What. Was. That?" Emerald asked weakly. "God, I feel so drained-but pretty alive at the same time. Weird." "Stop talking." Amethyst groaned. "Oh, my head." "Are they gone?" Garnet whispered, struggling to rise slightly and failing. "I'm afraid not." Spike said coldly, standing over the fallen scouts and looking down in hatred. Topaz sighed. "Do you mind making quick? I'm very tired and would like to rest now." "Not a chance, Miss Topaz." Spike swore, raising his hand that was filled with black electricity. "We're going to make this long and painful." "Painful, maybe, but not long." Sapphire murmured, closing her eyes and waiting. Spike began to bring his hand down- A silver rose rooted itself in Spike's hand. He swore and backed away, cursing. Tuxedo Onyx landed in front of the Senshi, eyes blazing. "Are you all right?" He asked, looking down at Obsidian in concern. Obsidian shook her head. "So sleepy." She murmured before finally and serenely passing out. "Good timing." Diamond told him, smiling a little. "But-I've got to get up-you can't handle them by yourself-" "Didn't say I had to." Onyx said, jerking his head back. Diamond twisted her head slightly to see Storm, Bullet, and Thunder standing behind them also. "Why-where'd you find them?" She gasped. Thunder smiled slightly. "We felt the energy, here. And it was a bit of a hint when the whole cafeteria top exploded." Diamond laughed, then closed her eyes. "Take care." She murmured in a tone of voice that was more whimper than whisper. Storm looked at her, concern flashing behind cold eyes. Then he shook his head and turned to glare at Spike, Jedin, Ivy, and Damon, all who were watching them expressionless. Damon's eyes never once left Diamond's incredibly white face. "You don't have their power." Jedin said calmly. "Perhaps not." Bullet replied, eyes cold. "But we are their protectors." He drew a rose, a deep red-orange, out of his own cloak. Damon choked back a gasp. More guardians?! This seemed to be true, for Storm produced a yellow rose from thin air, and Thunder a peach one. Onyx had his own silver rose clasped tightly in his hand. "We might not have our transformations, memories, or powers." Thunder said, green eyes icy. "But we'll protect these girls. We do know the future." "More-Tuxedoes?" Amethyst asked, sitting up slightly and laughing a little. "Jeez, aren't we so special." Thunder looked at her, a mysterious affection deep in his eyes and something else-strange and foreign. Then he turned away, leaving Amethyst to stare at him in wonder and confusion. "This is so stupid." Spike sighed. "God, this world has far too many self- sacrificing idiots. Jeez." "It's what keeps us going." Storm said in agreement. Then, like a wave crashing on the shore, he leapt at Spike. The two rolled over and over, pounding each other's face and chest, hatred and anger outlined in every movement. Thunder and Jedin began to throw different blasts at each other, Thunder purplish ones that looked somewhat like roses, Jedin black ones that looked like fire. Flames and lightning flew back and forth between the two as they batted it out, fighting for the length and breath of the room. Ivy seemingly did nothing. Bullet, however, gritted his teeth, feeling as wave after wave of mental power swarmed into his mind, plucking into his secrets-and his identity-oh no-he fought back fiercely, desperately forming a mental shield with his own power. Damon and Tuxedo Onyx stared at each other, neither moving or speaking. "You're hiding something." Onyx said at last, narrowing his eyes. Damon nodded, and looked at the still golden girl lying in the middle of her friends. "I can't fight her." "Why not?" Onyx asked, suspicion a clear vein in his voice. "I have no idea!" Damon raged suddenly. "I hate her! I hate her, and yet- god help me-" He ran a hand through inky-black hair and stared at the girl who was watching him from underneath half-closed eyelids. "She sees something in me." He says finally. "She does. In me. It means her death if we get too close. I can't be with her. I won't be with her." Diamond, listening to this, felt her heart break in her torso. Her face was motionless as she fought back a wail of pain that Damon felt in his own chest. Tuxedo Onyx stared at him, uncertainty and anger fighting in his heart. Something was wrong between these two, he could sense it. Sworn enemies, as willing to kill each other as soon as look, they had fought each other so many times-and now there was a look of almost tenderness on Damon's face that Diamond could not see through her tear-ridden eyes-she looked like she wanted to cry-He shook his head. This was far too confusing. "So now what?" He asked finally. Damon looked up at him, coldness masking into his face. "We'll fight. It's likely you will die, or at least be injured. I'll retreat, like we always do. Meanwhile, Diamond and her friends will grow stronger and stronger, until the day comes when we'll face them and they'll win, truly and completely, and Rubian will be destroyed forever, and us along with her." "You believe you will lose?!" Onyx gasped, wondering if he needed his hearing checked. Damon chuckled blackly. "With her in command? We don't stand a chance." Without another word, he launched himself at Tuxedo Onyx. The two raged back and forth, alternating sending attacks and blows at the other. Damon was like a tiger, eyes burning black in his cold face, teeth bared slightly. Grimly, Tuxedo Onyx fought quickly, ignoring stabs of pain when a shot would tear into his tuxedo and the flesh beneath. Diamond's tears were flowing underneath her eyelids, but she did not let them fall. She had been unable to hear or see anything after "I won't be with her." Her heart was breaking deep inside her, and she had no idea way. The thought that had occurred to her only a few days ago-it seemed like a lifetime-the one she had thought on the balcony after dancing with Damon came back in full force. I wonder-oh god-can I be in-She swallowed hard, and dared to finish. Love? Damon growled as Tuxedo Onyx's cane lashed out to strike him hard in the stomach. Expertly he grabbed the cane and tossed it away before grabbing the long ponytail and yanking it hard, making Onyx crash to the floor. He rolled as Damon's fist came down and cracked the floor where he had been two seconds earlier. "Onyx-chan!" Obsidian cried, sitting up slightly, face pale but determined. She began to rise up shakily, then fell back with a moan. Tuxedo Onyx abandoned the fight. He knelt by Obsidian and helped her sit up, concern on his face. "She'll be all right." Emerald assured him. All the Senshi were beginning to rise again. "We're all just exhausted." There was a crash, and Bullet fell to the ground beside them, a large spear sticking out of his shoulder. He grimaced as he wrenched it out. "Hey, you okay?!" Topaz gasped, seeing blood beginning to pour from the wound, drenching the black cloth. "I'm fine, I'm fine!" Bullet growled, forcing himself to stand. Ivy was walking towards him, grinning slightly. Diamond and Topaz, leaning against each other for support, stood in front of Bullet. "Beat it, Ivy!" Diamond growled. Ivy stopped suddenly and stared at Diamond, eyes glowing green. She seemed puzzled. "Death." She whispered in her sing-song voice. "Death floats around you." Diamond blinked, staring at her. "What are you talking about?" "Like a specter." Ivy murmured. "It's everywhere around you. Your clothes.they're drenched with blood." She gasped suddenly and fell backwards, wailing. "Spike!" Spike abandoned his fight with Storm in an instant and raced to Ivy side just in time to catch her as she fainted. He glared at them, then looked at Damon. "I'm leaving." He said coldly, disappearing with Ivy. Damon evaporated also, with a last glance at Tuxedo Onyx. Jedin, finding himself alone, flew up into the air, hovered a moment with a glare at Amethyst, then vanished. Obsidian sighed and rested her head on her knees. "Jeez.I feel like I'm someone's sponge, all wrung out." She grinned a little at this thought. The rest of the Senshi unsteadily got to their feet. Tuxedo Onyx, Storm, and Thunder watched them, reaching out a hand when they seemed a little too unsteady. Bullet groaned suddenly, reaching up to clutch his shoulder. His hand came away a bright red with blood. "We've got to get him to a hospital." Thunder murmured to Storm. "I can heal you-" Diamond began, then with a graceful move, she ended up on the floor. "Or not." She struggled up again and shrugged her shoulders apologetically. "Sorry, my magic's tapped dry for the moment." Bullet nodded weakly in acceptance, leaning on Thunder and Storm's shoulder. Quietly he whispered in Storm's ear. "Ivy-she plowed through my mind. I believe she knows who we are." Storm swore softly, then quickly grabbed Bullet as he swayed again. "We're getting you out of here." He told him. "We'll worry about that later." Supported on either side by Storm and Thunder, Bullet was lifted into the air. The trio bounded away, Bullet being carried by his friends. "Are you all right?" Tuxedo Onyx asked Obsidian as she swayed back and forth a few times. "I'm fine-I think-oops." Obsidian leaned a little too far one way and began to fall, fortunately towards Onyx. He grabbed her a moment before she would have hit the ground. "Neo?" She gasped before fainting away. "Obi!" Amethyst gasped, walking carefully over. Tuxedo Onyx put his head close to her mouth, then looked up. "Still breathing. Unconscious only." Amethyst sighed in relief, then looked around at the destroyed cafeteria. "We better get out of here before the police arrive." She warned, walking shakily towards the door. The rest of the scouts followed, jerky and unsure in their movements. Tuxedo Onyx gently lifted Obsidian in his arms and followed, thinking deeply about the dark-haired mortal that was snuggling into his side.
Eh-heh-heh-heh.*pokes the computer screen* Hallo! Wow, I have 18 reviews! Which is rather not a lot, but I'll take what I can get, yes? ^_^ Please review!
* * * "Uh-oh." Diamond whispered, seeing Damon glance around. The girls were huddled at the doors of the cafeteria, peeking in through small windows. "What?" Garnet asked. "I think-he senses us." Diamond hissed, pointing at Damon's twitching form. "Great." Emerald moaned softly. "This has to be a surprise mission if we're going to get anywhere!! Five-no, wait, there's Katrina!-six generals?! Not good! Very not good!!" "They can't figure us out!" Topaz whispered angrily. "Or we're done for!" "We're done for now, anyway!" Obsidian whirled and grabbed Diamond by her shoulders. "Diamond, come on! Think of something!" "I-I don't know!" Diamond whispered, wringing her hand and tearing away from the group. "I just don't know." She clenched her fists tightly together as tears began to come to her eyes. I can't lead them in there! It's like going to certain death! We're not strong enough!! I can't do this!! A single tear slipped down her face. A sudden burst of light illuminated the air in front of her. Diamond let out a small cry and moved back slightly. The light twisted in the air, molding itself into an unrecognizable shape. Green color began to shade the bottom half of the light while the top half remained a beautiful, glistening white. The light molded and shaped until finally something dropped into Diamond's outstretched palm. It was a rose. Sweet-smelling, beautiful, at its peak condition, and flawless in every way. Each white petal seemed to have been sculpted perfectly. The stem had a few thorns, but they did not seem to prick her skin. "Wow." Topaz breathed, coming up behind Diamond. "Oh, wow. Diamond, where'd you pull that from?!" "It's beautiful!" Amethyst exclaimed, gently touching a petal. "I-I think-" Diamond swallowed and calmed. "I think I'm supposed to use it." "How?" Garnet asked, puzzled. Diamond grinned a little. "Remember Tuxedo Kamen??" Obsidian stared at her and began to giggle. "Oh, no way. No way."
* * * "I swear someone's watching us." Damon muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, Dames, get serious!" Katrina snorted, sitting at a table. "I mean, who would spy on us?" "Sailor Scouts?" Damon offered, glaring a little at Katrina. "What the.hey!" Spike shouted from a few tables away. "Take a look at this!" Damon turned around, and stared. A brilliant white rose was embedded in a table surface just behind him. It was perfect and truly beautiful-and he had a good idea where it had come from. "It's pretty!" Katrina gasped, leaning into touch it. The rose seemed to move a little when her fingers brushed against it. Katrina shrieked and darted back, sucking her thumb. "Ow! It bit me!" "Every rose has got its thorns, even the most beautiful ones!" A voice intoned from behind them all. "Of course, some flowers are ugly and nothing but thorns, and those are what we call weeds!" Another voice added. "Told you someone was watching us." Damon said to Spike, grinning triumphantly. "Gah." Spike muttered, staring at the tables a few feet away. "How'd they get in here?!" "Stop talking about us as if we weren't here!!" Emerald growled. "Really! Sporting bad manners, what!" Obsidian said cheerfully and in a British-accent. "Hey, remember? Generals aren't taught manners." Amethyst reprimanded. "Shame on you both!" Emerald and Obsidian pretended to hang their heads. Diamond grinned at her friends' antics. "Idiots." She said affectionately before hardening her voice and her eyes to look at the generals. "Hello, you lot. And a special thank-you to Ivy for sending me into the future that one day. A simply tremendous experience." Ivy cackled and looked extremely pleased with herself. "We are the Jewel Sailor Senshi, Princesses of Opal!" Sapphire said, glaring at them fiercely and quite unlike herself. "And in the name of Opal, we will punish you!" Garnet snapped. Obsidian giggled. "Yes! Punishment! Fun time!!" "You're in way over your heads." Jedin hissed, clenching his fists. "You know, this entire thing's getting really boring." Amethyst muttered. "DEATH CRESCENTS DESTROY!!!!" Jedin jumped back as the two boomerangs whizzed around him, slicing and dicing at his clothing and hair. "HAH!!" Amethyst crowed, leaping at him and knocking him down. She began punching his chest and head enthusiastically. "Get her!" Uther yelled, leaping for Amethyst. "Oh, no, you don't!!" Sapphire cried, leaping off the table as well and hitting Uther in the shoulder. She began to raise her hand. "ICY GLACIER FREEZE!!!!!" Uther shrieked as the attack froze onto his head, freezing him to the ground. Sapphire laughed in fiendish delight as she began kicking him in his legs and chest. "Hah! I'm not that weak little space cadet you injured a few weeks ago, am I?! Am I?!?!" "Sapphire!" Emerald yelled in warning. "Duck!" Sapphire did, and felt someone fly over her head. Emerald growled as Katrina tackled her to the ground. She began lashing out with her fists, hitting the general's red head. Katrina hissed and pummeled her stomach, a lot stronger than she would have expected from this ditz. She kneed her hard in the gut, grabbed her shoulders, and flipped her over her head. Katrina landed on the floor with a crack and a moan, but she lashed back with her hand, grabbing Emerald's hair and yanking hard. Emerald cried out, then grabbed a hunk of Katrina's hair and tugged hard as well. It was the cat fight of the ages as the two yanked back and forth. Garnet and Ivy were locked again in a staring contest, though this time a much more serious one. The two circled each other, not breaking eye contact, a mental battle raging. Ivy was trying to take over Garnet's brain, while Garnet struggled to keep her away. Sparks flamed in the air between the two as Garnet hit Ivy's mind with a lash of power. Ivy let out a cry before lashing out with a wave at her own. The two pummeled the other's mind, hatred outlined on both faces. This left Obsidian, Topaz, and Diamond staring at Spike and Damon. Damon and Spike smirked together, staring at the two. "I'm betting you get the two blondes." Damon muttered to Spike. Spike snorted. "Hah. I could take all three of 'em on." "Obsidian, go for Damon, all right?" Diamond whispered, frowning at the generals' smirks. "Yell if you need help. Topaz, you're with me. We tackle Spike. Got it?" "Hai." Obsidian agreed, grinning maliciously. "I've been wanting a fight with dear old Damon for a bit, now." "And Spiky." Topaz giggled. "Think we should call him Blondie Bear again?" Diamond smiled a little before her eyes focused. "On the count of three. One." "KEEYAH!!!!!" Obsidian crowed, leaping at Damon. Caught by surprise, he was knocked sideways and hit the ground. Obsidian leapt off him with a war shriek and leapt onto a nearby table. "BLACK FEAR SWARM!!!!" She crowed ecstatically. Damon rolled away just as the attack destroyed the ground he had been laying on. He leapt to his feet and at Obsidian with a growl. She screeched and jumped high into the air, causing him to go underneath her. Unfortunately, she went a little too high. "OW!" Plaster was knocked loose from the ceiling in big chunks. Obsidian fell back to earth and hit with a crack, looking dazed. Her eyes slid in and out of focus. Dimly she realized Damon was standing over her before she slipped into unconsciousness. Diamond swore as she saw this. "Take care of Spike!" She ordered Topaz. "You can do it! Go!" Topaz obeyed, dodging to the side and at Spike. He moved away as she came flying at him. Topaz used a table for a springboard as she pushed off with her hands and back into the air. "BRIGHT WHIRLWIND GUST!!!" Spike growled as the attack took away part of his shoulder. Topaz was already launching herself back at him. This would be interesting. Meanwhile, Damon had put his foot over Obsidian's throat and pressed down hard, cutting off her respiration. Obsidian moved a little, and let out a small gasp. He ignored this, pressing down harder, until all Obsidian could do was open and close her mouth like a fish. She began to thrash about, hitting at his leg with arms that grew steadily weaker. Damon grinned as slowly she relaxed, arms falling back- A force hit him so hard in his side that he flew across the room, hitting the wall and cracking it. Diamond stood over Obsidian, eyes full of cold fury. Very slowly, and in a tone of complete ice, she said, "You stay the hell away from my friend." Damon chuckled to himself as he stood up. "Protective, aren't you?" "After the hell I went through in the future?? Not particularly." Diamond said sarcastically, eyes blazing with hatred. All friendly feelings she had towards him were forgotten for the time being. Anger was moving through her like a hot tidal wave. Obsidian weakly grabbed Diamond's ankle. "Dimes-let me do this! I can take him!" "No, you can't!" Diamond snapped, looking down at her. "Obsidian, please, just rest for a while, all right? I'll protect you." "I hate being out of a good fight." Obsidian muttered, sighing and closing her eyes. Diamond glared back up at Damon, who was watching her with something like cold amusement. "And what, pray tell, did you go through in the future?" He asked, eyes glinting coldly. "Had to watch your friends die, I suppose?" "Yes." Diamond whispered, hatred and sorrow etched deeply in her voice. "And I was the one who had to kill them." Damon had no reply to this. He just stared at her. Emotions began driving out of her. "I had to kill my own friends, damn you, and I did! I did just to stop you all!" She glared at him, rage and tears pouring out of her. "I hate you!! You've turned me into a monster! I'm not better than you all! I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!!!"
* * * Flame suddenly roared up all around the cafeteria. Garnet's and Ivy's mental match had gone physical, and Garnet had lost her temper. Ivy was shrieking as flames incinerated her skin. Circles of fire sped around each fight, trapping the fighters inside. Obsidian had her own private circle where she lay gasping, edging away from the walls. "I'll kill you yet!!" Garnet yelled from somewhere in the flames.
* * * Emerald noticed the flames springing up around her and an idea sprung into her mind. With an incredible pull, she flung Katrina into the fire. Katrina screamed as her hair and clothes caught on fire and began dancing about trying to put them out. Emerald laughed, massaging her scalp.
* * * Topaz had worse luck. Spike had managed to get an arm around her neck and was now choking her. She struggled, kicking him hard in the legs and shins. Spike growled and squeezed harder, making her wince in pain. With an almighty effort, she bent her knees, and leaned over before standing up quickly. Spike went flying over her shoulder and hit the ground hard, staring at her in amazement. Topaz gulped in air and grinned cockily at him.
* * * Amethyst leaned way back and gave Jedin the hardest blow she had ever delivered in her life. Jedin groaned in pain, body jerking about like a stuffed doll. Amethyst grinned fiercely as she hit him again and again, muttering insults. "You, my friend." She said finally, leaning over him. "Have gotten considerably weaker." "I-haven't gotten weaker." Jedin said, coughing up blood and staring at Amethyst in shock. "How could-how could you have gotten so strong?" Amethyst grinned. "I'm one high-and-mighty kick-butt princess, mister." She whispered. "Not some lousy reincarnation." Jedin gasped as her words sunk in. Angrily he flung himself to a seated position, sending Amethyst flying. "You, little-" He began wrestling with her while Amethyst fought back, wondering what on earth could have caused this change.
* * * Sapphire's sweet demeanor was completely gone. She had turned into something like a wildcat. Uther found himself fighting for his life as Sapphire battered him with attacks and blows. "Do you have any idea," she asked when he was on the floor recovering from one particularly brutal shot, "what I could be doing now instead of letting you ruin my life?!?!" She smacked him hard in the face. "I could be out with the guy I love!!" She roared, punching him hard. "Instead I'm here-" kick to the head, "-with a bunch of-" blow to the stomach, "evil, blood sucking losers!!!!" She socked him hard in his solar plexus. Uther gasped in pain, and, for the first time in his very long life, was knocked out of a fight.
* * * Damon fell back as a punch from Diamond hit the side of his face. His head snapped around, and his neck would have broken had he been mortal and human. As it was, he recovered quickly to shove the girl back. Diamond went flying, skidding on the ground until she stopped near the edge of the fire circle around them. She was back on her feet in an instant and charging, a war cry tearing from her throat. Damon calmly knocked her back as she came too close. She hit the ground with a sickening crack and moaned slightly, touching the back of her head. Oooh, yeah. That was going to leave a mark, though whether on the floor or her head she wasn't quite certain. Damon was there in an instant, grabbing both her wrists with one of his, keeping them above her head. Diamond struggled violently, twisting her body to kick at him. Damon winced as her foot knocked into his temple, and quickly straddled her, desperately trying to keep the warrior still. Diamond lashed back and forth furiously until she realized just where she was. Her face went a bright red even as she continued struggling violently. Damon cursed. "Would-you-stop-moving?! He grated, trying to hold down an overwhelming feeling moving through him from having the blonde trapped under him. "Not a chance!!" Diamond retorted. Please don't give me that look. Damon glared down at her, midnight eyes flashing black. "Stop it, you minx!!" He roared angrily in her face. Diamond stopped, closing her eyes and relaxing. That stupid look of his- his stupid blue eyes-stupid beautiful blue eyes-god, she hated him- "Get off me!" She growled, eyes still closed. "No." Damon replied absently, cocking his head. "Why are your eyes closed?" "Does it matter?!" Diamond shot back, making the mistake of opening her eyes to glare at him. Their eyes locked and held. "Oh, drat it." She sighed, heart instantly melting into a puddle. "You did it again." She laid her head back against the ground and shut her eyes. "Will you please get off me now?" "You'll attack me." Damon said suspiciously. Diamond snorted. "Like I even could. You gave me the look. Darn you. Get off, I won't hurt you." "Sorry." Damon announced. "Don't believe you." Diamond sighed. "So what? You're just going to sit here on me?" "I was personally planning on killing you but, as we both know, in the past I have found this completely impossible, and so it is now." Damon ran his other hand through his hair and sighed. "Don't do that!" Diamond ordered sharply. He blinked at her. "Do what?!" "Make me-oh, gods curse it!!!" She began to swear again, wriggling a little. Damon gasped and glared at her. "Stop that!" "Stop what?" She glared at him, then realized what was happening and blushed furiously. "Oops. Sorry." Damon growled and quickly got off the girl. She happily sat up and stretched. "Thank you." "So now what?" He asked. "We're obviously not fighting anymore." "Says who?" Diamond argued, trying to be fierce, but failing miserably. Her rage was gone. She instead giggled. "Oh, god, I'm going to regret this. And I just know you're going to come out of your trance and kill me again. So, might as well enjoy this." She sat cross-legged and studied him, head cocked a little to one side, an adorable pout on her face. "Um, so." Damon hesitated. This was certainly not going the way he had planned. No other scout he had ever met acted like this. "Uh-" Diamond giggled. "Hah! You're acting like half the boys in my school do when they're caught with a girl!" She chuckled. "Relax, I won't bite! I assure you we can go back to fighting in a few minutes." Damon blinked. His mind was in total and complete confusion. "Um, okay. Right." She sighed, and rubbed her head. "God. Last time I saw you, it was in the future, and you had just jabbed a sword through my chest." "You always begin talks like that?" Damon demanded tartly. "And you think we need to work on our conversation skills." Diamond grinned. "What? Had to talk about something." "Why'd I stab you?" Damon asked curiously. "What was it like, the future?" Diamond sighed. "I told you that I had to kill all my friends, right? Your lady-" An expression of such loathing crossed her face that Damon moved back slightly. "Your lady had turned them evil. I had to kill them. And then of course, you and your friends got on my case-but then I signaled to you what would send me back-breaking my charm-and you understood so you rammed your sword through it and I got back!" She grinned brightly at Damon. "Whoa, back up, back up." Damon put a hand to his forehead. "I-helped you?" "Yup!" Diamond beamed. "You said you liked fighting more than ruling. Or something like that. Oh, and before that I met you on the street and you said not to go to Rubian because you knew about the scouts being evil and you wanted to spare me-" "Jeez." Damon muttered. "I'm a class-A traitor." "It was a very nice thing to do!" Diamond protested. "But, of course, you haven't done them yet-and you never will, by the way, just to remind you that we're going to win-" "You talk way too fast." Damon muttered. "And you don't talk enough, aside from spouting evil lyrics and such!" Diamond said gaily, standing up. "Come on! Fighting must continue, now!" Damon continued to sit on the ground, blinking up at her. "That was fast." He muttered, standing as well. Diamond smiled, a dazzling smile that lit up inside him. "We can continue talking, if you like." She said softly, smiling at him. "I know we're enemies, but there's something about you. We could be good friends, I think." "More than friends." Damon whispered, so softly she couldn't hear. Out loud, he said, "And how, pray tell, would we manage that? We are indeed the two most opposite people in the universe." "No idea." Diamond replied cheerfully. "But I think you're not as evil as you believe yourself to be." "Am so!" Damon protested, trying to look angry. God, this was impossible. "Are not." Diamond said with a giggle. "You were when I met you, I know that. But-something's changed." She quickly brushed a strand of hair away from his face to gaze deeply into his eyes, a small frown on her face. "You're different, now. You're not as cold. You're talking to me, almost like a human." "I resent that." Damon said quietly, wishing she would stop touching his hair. "I'm not human. I can never be human. We're born enemies, if you'll remember." "You were born a human." Diamond told him sternly. "You were made evil. Therefore, you are not evil by birth." "I don't think of myself as a human." Damon muttered, half to himself. Diamond looked at him, sensing something of importance was about to happen. "I don't remember anything. I have no idea about who I am or where I come from. I could be a prince, or a pauper, or some bastard's forgotten child. I can't remember anything." He did not sound self-piteous, rather cold and calculating again. "I-I'm sorry." Diamond said quietly. "It's bad not knowing who you are. At least I know who I am, even if I have no recollection of my true past." Damon swung to look at her. "You're not some reincarnation, are you? You're the genuine article." "Yes." Diamond answered softly. "I am the same princess who stopped you all ten thousand years ago. Though I most assuredly cannot remember it." A look of something close to awe came into Damon's eyes. He abruptly moved away from her. "I didn't hear that." He told her sharply. "And I'd advise you to make sure I don't hear it again." "Huh?" Diamond asked eloquently, completely bewildered. "What's wrong?" "You little idiot!" Damon hissed, massaging his temples. "Do you realize what Ithengil would do to you if he found out you weren't just reincarnations?! You'd beg for death to come!" Diamond blinked. "See? You're worried about me! Another sign of humanity!" "Would you mind taking this seriously?!!" Damon demanded, raising a hand as if to slap her. "Ithengil-he's insane. He would kill you lot already without a single qualm in the world, but if he finds out you're the Jewel Princesses." Diamond blinked. "Okay. I didn't tell you that. Fine." She was completely extremely calm. He wanted to hit her. Didn't she know what kind of peril she was in?? "Chill." Diamond told him, reading his face clearly. "I'm in danger, I get it. But I can handle myself, and I believe I can handle Ithengil, whoever he is." "You don't even know who he is?" Damon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Jeez.." "Just another general, right?" Diamond asked. Damon looked at her, not knowing whether to kill her, knock her upside her ditzy head, or hug her. "Ithengil is the High Priest for our Lady. He has more power than all of us combined." "Ah." Diamond said, a sweat drop appearing on her forehead. "That explains a bunch." She sighed. "Guess we'd better figure out a group attack soon." "F-freeze!" Damon glanced over to the outside of the flame circle. A fat, sweaty security guard stood there, pointing a small gun at them, shaking. "D- don't m-m-move!! Don't m-move or I-I'll-" "Shoot." Diamond finished. "Don't move or you'll shoot." The man nodded, arms shaking up and down. "G-get out of here! Y-you gang m-members or w-whatever-" "Sir, listen to me, please." Diamond began, walking towards the man with her hands up. The man backed away, looking terrified. "One more step!" He screamed in fear. "And I'll blast your brains out!!" Diamond froze, smiling serenely. "Hey, sir, listen, we'll be out of here soon, I'm so sorry about all this-" "Who's the human?" Spike asked from behind them. Diamond whirled to see him standing on a table, Topaz's bruised form lying beside him. She was sitting up even as Diamond watched, and gave her a wink. "Um, sir!" Diamond said, urgency etched in her voice now. "Sir, I'd recommend you really get out of here!!" "A guard, I guess." Damon responded to Spike. Spike sneered at this and glared at the guard. "Well, I don't like spectators." The man waved his gun around, clearly petrified out of his wits. "P- please! G-g-go away!!" Spike sneered, and raised his hand to point at the man. A ball of black electricity formed at the tip of his fingertip. It steadily grew to the size of an Oldsmobile. With a shout, Spike flung it at the security guard. The guard stared at the oncoming bolt, heart stopping in his chest, eyes filling with terror- A shape hurled itself in front of the blast meant for him. The man collapsed, mercifully fainting. Diamond screamed in pain as she took the whole blast of it. The lighting struck at her back and chest, frying her clothes and her skin. She arched her back as the pain reached its climax, and sank to her knees, sizzling slightly. "Dimes!!" Topaz yelled, kicking Spike out of the way. He hit the ground and lay there, momentarily stunned. Topaz ran to her leader, gritting her teeth as pain lanced into her also. She grabbed Diamond by her shoulders and stood, ignoring the stings of pain from where she touched her friend. "Come on, Diamond, let's get out of here!" "Can't." Diamond growled. "Must-protect-man." She jerked her head at the man lying on the ground behind them, out in a cold faint. Topaz swore. "Do you have to be all high-and-mighty save-every-little- person?!" She demanded, taking a firm stance beside her friend. "It's my lot in life." Diamond said, smiling gratefully at her comrade. "Are you guys enjoying the pain??" Obsidian asked cheerfully, suddenly popping up on Diamond's other side. "Completely." Topaz assured her. Then she muttered to Diamond, "I wish it would stop, already!! What kind of long-lasting blast did Spike put into this one?!" "New long-lasting minty-fresh flavor!!" Obsidian said ecstatically. "It keeps on shining so you can feel great about yourself!!!!" "New whitening toothpaste!" Diamond suggested, falling into rhythm. "Makes your teeth brighter all day long!" "Kotex fits." Topaz muttered with a giggle. Diamond swatted her arm. The pain was fading away along with the electricity by this point. Diamond stretched and smiled. "That was relatively painless." "Says you." Topaz groaned. "God, I hate getting hit." "Sockem Boppers!!!!" Obsidian cheered, skipping over to the prostrate man and tapping his forehead. "Hello in there!!!" "Obi, have off." Diamond ordered, kneeling by the man and placing a hand on his wrist to check his pulse. She blinked in shock and drew her hand back like she had touched a hot pan stove, rubbing it slightly. "Dimes?" Topaz asked, concerned. "He's-he's sick." Diamond whispered, not realizing she was almost crying. "His blood-there's something so wrong inside him-cancer, I think, in his heart-oh, god." She gingerly touched his hand again, tears falling down her face. "And it's so bad.his death is so close..I've got to heal him!" She said suddenly, raising her hand. "Diamond, I don't think you can." Topaz said uncertainly. But Diamond had already opened her mouth and was beginning to speak. "Everlasting Love Purify!!!!" The light swirled around the three girls, healing the burn marks on their skin. Diamond frowned and pointed at the man. The light seemed to hesitate, then swirled down and into his nose and mouth. The man was jolted with spasms, rocking back and forth, small gasps escaping him. Then he suddenly relaxed, and the light poured out of him again to vanish. Carefully Diamond laid a hand on his wrist again. She smiled in relief. "H-he's okay! He'll be already! The sickness is gone!! I did it!!" She leapt about and hugged Topaz and Obsidian. "God, I'm so happy! I-I saved a life!" "Don't you every day?" Obsidian asked, freeing herself from Diamond's tough grip. "But he would have died anyway." Diamond said, wringing her hands ecstatically. "And now he won't!! I did that, Obsidian! I changed his life!! He could live to be a hundred years old, now!!" She knelt by the man again and pressed two fingers to his forehead. The man groaned, and his eyes fluttered open. He stared at Diamond's face hovering above him, then at Topaz and Obsidian who were just behind. "What the." He began to reach for his gun, then stopped, an expression of awe coming onto his face. He touched his chest and his arms, poking and pinching himself. "The pain." He whispered. "The pain.my pain.all gone." "Did you have some sort of heart cancer?" Diamond asked gently, sitting back a little as the man struggled to sit up. "I do, miss." The man replied, still shaking himself. "I believe it's gone." Diamond said, smiling reassuringly. The man blinked at her. "Gone? That's impossible. It was incurable. but I feel so great.like I haven't in years." He touched his chest again, then stared at Diamond in amazement and wonder. "Who are you.what did you do.are you the one who-saved me?" "I am." Diamond answered. "And you-cured me?" She nodded. The pudgy man's eyes grew even rounder. "Are you an angel?" Diamond laughed then, sounding for all the world truly like an seraph. "No, I'm no angel." She chuckled. "I'm just a Sailor Senshi. As are they." She gestured to Obsidian and Topaz, who waved and smiled, one brightly, the other kindly. "I've heard about you!" The man gasped. "The police force says the mayor thinks you're either juvenile delinquents or gang members." He paused, and stared at Diamond with eyes bright and intelligent. "But-you're not, are you? You're for real. You're real superheroes." "We are." Diamond said with a smile. "You've got more brains than a lot of people around here." The man grinned as his head bobbed up and down. He hesitated, then got to his feet and bowed low to all three girls. "I'm just a lowly security guard who's not really getting paid enough, and I have no idea what's happening beneath the surface of this town, but I sense it's big and supernatural. I'd just like to say, though, that I trust you ladies completely." His red face looked shyly at them. "If ever you need any help at all, just call on Stan Miles. I'm always here." Diamond smiled at the man, already liking him. "Thank you, Miles. I might be wrong, but I believe you might play a part in our future." Grinning broadly, she turned back to her friends and began walking back towards the still ongoing battles, leaving the balding man spluttering and blushing. "I like him." Obsidian announced softly. "He reminds me of Santa Claus." "He did seem nice." Topaz agreed. "You really think he'll play some part in our future, Diamond?" "I'm not sure, but I do sort of have a feeling." Diamond confessed. "Besides, we need allies outside of our little group. If we ever get through this fight, we have got to set ourselves up as international superheroes. Fight street crime or something. He might be able to help us set up a job." "Or he could just be a friend!" Obsidian suggested. Diamond grinned. "Yes, there's that too." Sapphire walked up to them, grim triumph outlined on every corner of her face. "Uther is officially out of the fight." She informed them with an evil smile. "I hit his head several times after his eyes closed, just to make sure." All three girls sweat-dropped. "You are getting as bloodthirsty as Amethyst." Topaz commented. Sapphire merely cracked her knuckles, winced, then grinned again. There was a roar of frustration from a few meters away. "Damn you!!!" Amethyst yelled, pounding Jedin's face and arms. "Just-get- knocked-OUT!!!!!!!" Jedin was struggling fiercely, hitting Amethyst back in her stomach and shins. "Get off, brat!!" He snarled, grabbing Amethyst by her shoulders and throwing her away. Amethyst hit the wall, crumpled, and was on her feet again in an instant, charging Jedin again. "Need any help?" Topaz called. Amethyst glared at her. "No! I'll fight my own battles, thank you!!!" She resumed hitting Jedin's temples. "Touchy." Topaz muttered, stung. A final punch, and Jedin's head was snapped sideways and he also was out of the fight. Amethyst cracked her knuckles and looked apologetically at Topaz. "Sorry, but I don't like fighting with someone else. How can I face these guys if I always need some help?" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly under Topaz's glare. "I'm sorry." Topaz's face finally softened. "Accepted. But no need to snap next time." "Gomen." Amethyst apologized again. "DIE, YOU EVIL RED-HEADED FRUITCAKE!!!!!!!" Emerald screamed from a few feet away. Katrina and Emerald had holds on the other's hair. Both were yanking furiously, clumps of hair littering the floor around them. Obsidian calmly walked over, yanked Katrina's hand off Emerald's hair, and slugged her hard in the stomach. Katrina collapsed to the ground and began whimpering, the wind torn out of her. "That was easy enough!" Obsidian said brightly as Emerald massaged her scalp. "Thank you, Obi." Emerald said, making sure most of her hair was still intact. "That witch. She wouldn't stop hurting me. Grrr!" She half- grinned at the group. Sapphire pointed over to a glowing mass of energy where Garnet and Ivy had previously stood. "I wonder how Shellie's doing." "Hope she's okay." Diamond said nervously. "That dome's radiating major powerful energy rays." As she spoke, red lightning sizzled inside the glowing energy dome, striking out into the air about it. Dimly Garnet's and Ivy's shrieks of anger and pain could be heard. There was a sudden crash, and the energy arena broke into thousands of pieces as Ivy sailed through it and landed several yards away. Garnet, bleeding and burned, eyes blazing, was glaring after her and shouting threats. "Don't you ever penetrate my mind again, yah hear me, you psychotic witch?!? Don't ever do it again!!" "Garnet! Chill!" Topaz said soothingly, walking over and patting her head. "It's okay! Ivy's knocked out! Be calm!" Garnet clenched her hands into fists. "She tried to penetrate my mind! Tried to read my secrets and found out who I was! Ooooh, I gave her a piece of my mind, I can tell you!" "Looks like you gave her most of your mind." Amethyst said with a whistle, lifting Ivy's head by her hair. "Jeez! Out like a light bulb!" "Everyone realized what just happened, right?" Obsidian asked. The others gazed blankly at her. "We just won." Obsidian said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We beat each bad guy on our own. We're warriors!! We kick butt!" "She's right!" Emerald said in surprise. "Well, we're missing one general, but who cares?! We actually have won a fight!!" "CELEBRATION DANCE!!!!" Obsidian crowed, doing 'jazz hands' and prancing around. "Does-this mean-our work's over?" Garnet asked hesitantly. "Not until all these creeps are dead." Amethyst said firmly. "But, then, we can fix that." She grinned maliciously down at Ivy. A large hand grabbed Amethyst's hair and yanked her away from Ivy. Spike stood in front of her, breathing hard, anger blazing in his eyes. "You stay away!" He roared, keeping well in front of Ivy. "You didn't knock him out?!" Amethyst asked Topaz indignantly. "I was a little busy trying to protect Mr. Guard!!" Topaz shouted back. "Doesn't matter, Amethyst, look!" Garnet said, pointing. All around the room, the unconscious or injured generals were rising again and standing beside Spike, glaring at the Senshi in total and complete hatred. "So much for winning." Sapphire said with a sigh. "Wait-where's Diamond?" Diamond was with Damon, across the room from them. The two were staring at each other, Diamond with a few tears in her eyes. "We have to go back to fighting now." She told him softly. Damon nodded. "I know." Diamond smiled a little, biting back a sob, then as quick as a wink, she threw her arms around him and for the briefest instant, embraced him. She let go very quickly and stepped back, blushing. To her astonishment, Damon was blushing slightly also. He didn't look at her, and stammered a little as he turned to walk back to the generals. Spike watched him with crafty, narrowed eyes. He noted the color on Damon's face, and the somewhat goofy smirk. "It appears," He murmured to himself. "That we have a problem." "We definitely have a problem." Emerald whispered to Topaz, looking at the smile on Diamond's face. "A very, very, very big problem." "Get out of here." Diamond told the generals, voice high and clear and firm. "We have won this fight. Most of you were knocked out. Some of you injured. All of you beaten. Go back to your hell-hole." "You have not beaten us." Jedin said angrily. "We have not called on our full reserve." "As we have not also." Diamond said calmly. "Go home." Jedin spat on the ground. "We're not leaving, Princess Diamond." He growled, voice full of triumph. A gasp echoed from generals and Senshi alike. "He knows?" Damon muttered to himself in disbelief. "How do you-how do you know?!" Diamond stuttered. One by one, the Senshi turned to stare at Amethyst. Amethyst blushed and faltered. "Well, you know-to make us seem scarier-ten thousand years old-" "Oh, Kami-sama." Diamond breathed. "Lord help us." "What's so bad about it?" Topaz inquired. "Tell you later." Diamond said, looking across at Damon, eyes bright with worry. His eyebrows were narrowed, and he was biting his lip. They know. Diamond told him in her mind. I know. Damon replied, mind-voice like velvet. Your Senshi let it slip. What happens now? You all are in very grave danger. "The-Princesses?" Katrina gasped. "Not-not reincarnations? The real ones?!" "Right." Diamond confirmed, throwing her head back and glaring at the group opposite them. "Wanna make sometin' outta it?!" Obsidian giggled. "Might I inquire why on earth you are talking like a gangster?" Diamond grinned. "What the heck? Might as well have fun." "You think this is some joke?!" Spike demanded. In synchronism, all the generals raised their hands. "DARK TITANIC DESTRUCTION!!!" The girls screamed as wave upon wave of black energy poured down on them, cutting them, scarring them, wounding every inch of their bodies. Diamond blindly reached to either side of her, and felt Obsidian and Sapphire grab her hands. "Come on, everyone!" She cried, tears slipping from her eyes. "Join together! We can beat this!" Haltingly, the Senshi drew together under the rain of evil energy. Hands were clasped. Garnet tripped and fell to the ground only to be picked up by Amethyst. Garnet smiled gratefully at Amethyst, who smiled back. "Come on, everyone!" Diamond called again. "We can beat this!!" Her voice was getting stronger and older, with the resonance of thousands of years slipping in. "We are the High Princesses of the Planet Opal!" "We are the Defenders of Justice!" Obsidian added. "We are the Fighters of Peace!" Sapphire cried. "We are the Ladies of Light!!" Emerald screamed. "We are the Soldiers of Love!" Garnet shouted. "We are the Scouts of Legend!" Topaz yelled. "We are the Promise of the Future!!" Amethyst finished. An incredibly bright golden light swarmed out from the girls, beating back the darkness. The pain began subsiding as the light ones fought back, directing their powers at the evilness plaguing their planet. Diamond's face grew older and more beautiful again, as did the rest of the Senshi. Obsidian's black hair flew out behind her as she remembered Diamond's recount of the future. I'm not evil. I'm not going to let my world fade. I can be strong. Garnet whispered. For myself and for the ones I care about. My power comes not from death and destruction, but from rebirth and creation. Amethyst murmured. I am afraid, but as long as my friends are near, I know we'll triumph. Emerald thought. I can't give up. Sapphire said softly. I have too many things worth living for. Too many things will be lost if we don't prevail. Topaz murmured. Too many beautiful creatures. I will fight and I will win, whatever the cost, Diamond whispered, for those that I love. "JEWEL SENSHI PLANETARY ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The entire room seemed to explode with incredibly strong energy. The Senshi were completely alien, now, faces beautiful and strange, eyes bright and glowing, hair flowing back from some unfelt breeze. The darkness vanished, and the generals could only stare at the golden power shooting at them. The cafeteria walls and ceiling began crumbling with the power of ten thousand years of living coming out in pure energy. Large blocks of cement and stone fell towards the girls, only to be incinerated when they got within five feet. The generals were hit square-on by the debris, making them have to blast it out of the air while enduring the pain of a thousand shots of power. "How the hell are they doing this!?!?" Jedin demanded, blasting a particularly large block out of the air. "Maybe we can stop them!" Katrina suggested. The Senshi spoke as one, voices coming from somewhere far away. "You will never uncover the source of our power." "I'm all for going home." Damon said, wincing as gravel rained down into his eyes. "Excellent idea." Uther said, disappearing with a pop. "Cowards." Spike muttered, firmly rooting himself to the spot as Katrina left also. The light slowly drained from the room back into the Senshi's bodies. Their faces changed back to normal, though very pale. The invisible, unfelt breeze that had been lifting their hair vanished. As the last glow faded, all seven girls fell to the ground, too drained to be unconscious, too weak to move. Diamond was worst of them all. She lay gasping for air, bones clearly showing through her skin. Her blue eyes seemed weak and pale also as they fluttered open and shut. "Everyone alive?" She asked finally. There were murmured replies of "Yeah" and "Mostly" from the majority of the scouts, one half-hearted "Whee!" from Obsidian. "What. Was. That?" Emerald asked weakly. "God, I feel so drained-but pretty alive at the same time. Weird." "Stop talking." Amethyst groaned. "Oh, my head." "Are they gone?" Garnet whispered, struggling to rise slightly and failing. "I'm afraid not." Spike said coldly, standing over the fallen scouts and looking down in hatred. Topaz sighed. "Do you mind making quick? I'm very tired and would like to rest now." "Not a chance, Miss Topaz." Spike swore, raising his hand that was filled with black electricity. "We're going to make this long and painful." "Painful, maybe, but not long." Sapphire murmured, closing her eyes and waiting. Spike began to bring his hand down- A silver rose rooted itself in Spike's hand. He swore and backed away, cursing. Tuxedo Onyx landed in front of the Senshi, eyes blazing. "Are you all right?" He asked, looking down at Obsidian in concern. Obsidian shook her head. "So sleepy." She murmured before finally and serenely passing out. "Good timing." Diamond told him, smiling a little. "But-I've got to get up-you can't handle them by yourself-" "Didn't say I had to." Onyx said, jerking his head back. Diamond twisted her head slightly to see Storm, Bullet, and Thunder standing behind them also. "Why-where'd you find them?" She gasped. Thunder smiled slightly. "We felt the energy, here. And it was a bit of a hint when the whole cafeteria top exploded." Diamond laughed, then closed her eyes. "Take care." She murmured in a tone of voice that was more whimper than whisper. Storm looked at her, concern flashing behind cold eyes. Then he shook his head and turned to glare at Spike, Jedin, Ivy, and Damon, all who were watching them expressionless. Damon's eyes never once left Diamond's incredibly white face. "You don't have their power." Jedin said calmly. "Perhaps not." Bullet replied, eyes cold. "But we are their protectors." He drew a rose, a deep red-orange, out of his own cloak. Damon choked back a gasp. More guardians?! This seemed to be true, for Storm produced a yellow rose from thin air, and Thunder a peach one. Onyx had his own silver rose clasped tightly in his hand. "We might not have our transformations, memories, or powers." Thunder said, green eyes icy. "But we'll protect these girls. We do know the future." "More-Tuxedoes?" Amethyst asked, sitting up slightly and laughing a little. "Jeez, aren't we so special." Thunder looked at her, a mysterious affection deep in his eyes and something else-strange and foreign. Then he turned away, leaving Amethyst to stare at him in wonder and confusion. "This is so stupid." Spike sighed. "God, this world has far too many self- sacrificing idiots. Jeez." "It's what keeps us going." Storm said in agreement. Then, like a wave crashing on the shore, he leapt at Spike. The two rolled over and over, pounding each other's face and chest, hatred and anger outlined in every movement. Thunder and Jedin began to throw different blasts at each other, Thunder purplish ones that looked somewhat like roses, Jedin black ones that looked like fire. Flames and lightning flew back and forth between the two as they batted it out, fighting for the length and breath of the room. Ivy seemingly did nothing. Bullet, however, gritted his teeth, feeling as wave after wave of mental power swarmed into his mind, plucking into his secrets-and his identity-oh no-he fought back fiercely, desperately forming a mental shield with his own power. Damon and Tuxedo Onyx stared at each other, neither moving or speaking. "You're hiding something." Onyx said at last, narrowing his eyes. Damon nodded, and looked at the still golden girl lying in the middle of her friends. "I can't fight her." "Why not?" Onyx asked, suspicion a clear vein in his voice. "I have no idea!" Damon raged suddenly. "I hate her! I hate her, and yet- god help me-" He ran a hand through inky-black hair and stared at the girl who was watching him from underneath half-closed eyelids. "She sees something in me." He says finally. "She does. In me. It means her death if we get too close. I can't be with her. I won't be with her." Diamond, listening to this, felt her heart break in her torso. Her face was motionless as she fought back a wail of pain that Damon felt in his own chest. Tuxedo Onyx stared at him, uncertainty and anger fighting in his heart. Something was wrong between these two, he could sense it. Sworn enemies, as willing to kill each other as soon as look, they had fought each other so many times-and now there was a look of almost tenderness on Damon's face that Diamond could not see through her tear-ridden eyes-she looked like she wanted to cry-He shook his head. This was far too confusing. "So now what?" He asked finally. Damon looked up at him, coldness masking into his face. "We'll fight. It's likely you will die, or at least be injured. I'll retreat, like we always do. Meanwhile, Diamond and her friends will grow stronger and stronger, until the day comes when we'll face them and they'll win, truly and completely, and Rubian will be destroyed forever, and us along with her." "You believe you will lose?!" Onyx gasped, wondering if he needed his hearing checked. Damon chuckled blackly. "With her in command? We don't stand a chance." Without another word, he launched himself at Tuxedo Onyx. The two raged back and forth, alternating sending attacks and blows at the other. Damon was like a tiger, eyes burning black in his cold face, teeth bared slightly. Grimly, Tuxedo Onyx fought quickly, ignoring stabs of pain when a shot would tear into his tuxedo and the flesh beneath. Diamond's tears were flowing underneath her eyelids, but she did not let them fall. She had been unable to hear or see anything after "I won't be with her." Her heart was breaking deep inside her, and she had no idea way. The thought that had occurred to her only a few days ago-it seemed like a lifetime-the one she had thought on the balcony after dancing with Damon came back in full force. I wonder-oh god-can I be in-She swallowed hard, and dared to finish. Love? Damon growled as Tuxedo Onyx's cane lashed out to strike him hard in the stomach. Expertly he grabbed the cane and tossed it away before grabbing the long ponytail and yanking it hard, making Onyx crash to the floor. He rolled as Damon's fist came down and cracked the floor where he had been two seconds earlier. "Onyx-chan!" Obsidian cried, sitting up slightly, face pale but determined. She began to rise up shakily, then fell back with a moan. Tuxedo Onyx abandoned the fight. He knelt by Obsidian and helped her sit up, concern on his face. "She'll be all right." Emerald assured him. All the Senshi were beginning to rise again. "We're all just exhausted." There was a crash, and Bullet fell to the ground beside them, a large spear sticking out of his shoulder. He grimaced as he wrenched it out. "Hey, you okay?!" Topaz gasped, seeing blood beginning to pour from the wound, drenching the black cloth. "I'm fine, I'm fine!" Bullet growled, forcing himself to stand. Ivy was walking towards him, grinning slightly. Diamond and Topaz, leaning against each other for support, stood in front of Bullet. "Beat it, Ivy!" Diamond growled. Ivy stopped suddenly and stared at Diamond, eyes glowing green. She seemed puzzled. "Death." She whispered in her sing-song voice. "Death floats around you." Diamond blinked, staring at her. "What are you talking about?" "Like a specter." Ivy murmured. "It's everywhere around you. Your clothes.they're drenched with blood." She gasped suddenly and fell backwards, wailing. "Spike!" Spike abandoned his fight with Storm in an instant and raced to Ivy side just in time to catch her as she fainted. He glared at them, then looked at Damon. "I'm leaving." He said coldly, disappearing with Ivy. Damon evaporated also, with a last glance at Tuxedo Onyx. Jedin, finding himself alone, flew up into the air, hovered a moment with a glare at Amethyst, then vanished. Obsidian sighed and rested her head on her knees. "Jeez.I feel like I'm someone's sponge, all wrung out." She grinned a little at this thought. The rest of the Senshi unsteadily got to their feet. Tuxedo Onyx, Storm, and Thunder watched them, reaching out a hand when they seemed a little too unsteady. Bullet groaned suddenly, reaching up to clutch his shoulder. His hand came away a bright red with blood. "We've got to get him to a hospital." Thunder murmured to Storm. "I can heal you-" Diamond began, then with a graceful move, she ended up on the floor. "Or not." She struggled up again and shrugged her shoulders apologetically. "Sorry, my magic's tapped dry for the moment." Bullet nodded weakly in acceptance, leaning on Thunder and Storm's shoulder. Quietly he whispered in Storm's ear. "Ivy-she plowed through my mind. I believe she knows who we are." Storm swore softly, then quickly grabbed Bullet as he swayed again. "We're getting you out of here." He told him. "We'll worry about that later." Supported on either side by Storm and Thunder, Bullet was lifted into the air. The trio bounded away, Bullet being carried by his friends. "Are you all right?" Tuxedo Onyx asked Obsidian as she swayed back and forth a few times. "I'm fine-I think-oops." Obsidian leaned a little too far one way and began to fall, fortunately towards Onyx. He grabbed her a moment before she would have hit the ground. "Neo?" She gasped before fainting away. "Obi!" Amethyst gasped, walking carefully over. Tuxedo Onyx put his head close to her mouth, then looked up. "Still breathing. Unconscious only." Amethyst sighed in relief, then looked around at the destroyed cafeteria. "We better get out of here before the police arrive." She warned, walking shakily towards the door. The rest of the scouts followed, jerky and unsure in their movements. Tuxedo Onyx gently lifted Obsidian in his arms and followed, thinking deeply about the dark-haired mortal that was snuggling into his side.
Eh-heh-heh-heh.*pokes the computer screen* Hallo! Wow, I have 18 reviews! Which is rather not a lot, but I'll take what I can get, yes? ^_^ Please review!