Battle for Power Book 1: "Testing Ground"

By: Jay'a

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Up in the highest tower of the Crystal palace, the four Sailor Soldiers stood, their backs to each other, holding hands. They focused their powers through the tall power crystal in the center to create the energy dome protecting the palace. Sailor Mars was getting restless. "We should be out there," she muttered. The other three exchanged worried glances.

"What do you mean Mars?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

"Well, here we are up here in this tower while something is attacking the city. I just think that we'd be more useful out there."

"But Mars, we're protecting the Royal Family!"

"Yeah, but we didn't even check it out before came up here. We didn't check in with Luna and Artemis; we didn't even check to see if the Royal Armed Protection Force was doing its job!"

"I didn't think the RAPF was officially commissioned yet."

"It's not," Sailor Mercury said. "I understand what you're saying Mars," she continued, "but if we left now it practically be inviting an attack on the palace and the family."

"I guess you're right," Mars said.

Sailor Venus broke in. "Quiet Scouts! Somebody's coming!" They all tensed. They couldn't fight an enemy, if necessary, and keep the dome going. They all turned their heads to the staircase to look. They saw two people coming up the stairs. The taller one, probably a man, was wearing a top hat and a cape; the shorter one, a woman, had two long thin strands of hair that were balled up on the top.

The female spoke. "Alright Scouts! Form up!"

"Queen Serenity?" Venus asked.

The two stepped fully into the room. "It's Sailor Moon!" Jupiter said.

"Quit putzin' around with that energy dome. We're going after the root of the problem," Sailor Moon said.

Sailor Mars was about to let her hands go, but Venus stopped her. "Wait a minute Sailor Moon. You haven't trained since we were kids. You can't just lunch yourself into a battle. Tuxedo mask are you seriously letting her do this?"

Tuxedo Mask shrugged. "She didn't give me much choice."

Venus frowned and continued. "What about Rini? Is she just going to stay in the palace by herself?"

Sailor Moon lifted her head. "Rini is perfectly capable of taking care of herself," she said.

Sailor Venus frowned ad looked back at the Scouts. They all gave her small assenting nods. Venus said, "Sailor Moon, this is not a good idea."

"I have to agree with her Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask said. "It's just not safe for you. Stay here and let us protect you."

Tuxedo Mask couldn't have known that he'd said the exact wrong thing. Sailor Moon glared at him and exploded. "Let you protect me? Do you have any idea how sick I am of that? Our city is getting trashed and I'm going out their to protect whether the rest of you deign to join me or not!" She turned and ran from the tower.

Tuxedo Mask and the rest of the Scouts stood there in shock. Sailor mars was the first to recover. She let go of Venus's and Jupiter's hands and the energy dome died. Venus was about to protest but Mars cut her off. "It'd be worse if we let her go out there alone!" She raced after Sailor Moon and the other four were not far behind.

*****

Rini stood up and scratched her head. The stick had the star shape at the top with a small teal crystal embedded in the top point. The symbol, also teal, was a raised circle cut into quarters by two raised lines. "If I use this," she said out loud, "and turn myself presumably into Sailor Earth and go to the battle, Mom will yell at me for not staying out of trouble. Then again, they may not even recognize me." She smiled as she remembered when she was five in twentieth century Tokyo and Jay'a would relate her versions of early Sailor Scout adventures. "And besides, they might need my help."

She frowned and stared at the stick. After a few moments, she saw the energy dome go out. "With that gone, it might even be safer to transform and go out there. I'll just transform and go, but stay out of sight unless they need my help." She stepped back from the pedestal and took a deep breath. She held up the stick and yelled, "EARTH, STAR, POWER!"

Just as with the other Scouts, she got an instant ail job just to be covered up by white gloves. She held her power stick and in flashes of light and ribbons of energy, Princess Rini became the Sailor Soldier Sailor Earth. She wore a white body suit with a teal bow, and her tiara had a teal stone. Her skirt was typically short, and she had low teal boots like Jupiter's. Without stopping to look at herself, she ran out to the battle.

*****

Randy stood at his window. The energy being attacking the city was not in his district, but he could see it very clearly. He had been concerned ever since his connection with Rini had been broken and was relieved when the energy dome had gone up.

He relaxed a bit and thought about Rini. They'd been best friends since they were seven. They had grown really lose but had agreed not to date each other so as not to destroy their friendship. Their parents had called it a "mature decision." They could tell each other anything. Her parents liked him, even though after eight ears he still felt extremely intimidated by the King and Queen.

He had been pacing in his room so he went back to his window. Just then, the energy dome went out. He was about to panic when a sharp, agonizing pain him. Randy gasped for breath as he sunk to the floor in pain.

*****

Quetan also saw the energy dome go out. Well, it's about time, he thought. I was getting bored.