DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon and its characters are not owned by me, blah blah blah, and other legal junk. Sparrow Migoto is owned by my friend Christina, and used with her permission.
Author's Note: This fanfic is a direct sequel to Looking Up To You, a Sammy/Ami romance fanfic that I wrote about a year ago. It's still on my profile, so I recommend that if you haven't read Looking Up To You, it would be best to stop, don't pass GO, don't collect $200, and go immediately to my profile to check it out. Otherwise, you'll be kinda confused.
Second Author's Note: This fanfic takes place after Sailor Moon Sailor Stars. (Serena, Ami, Rei, and Mina are 17. Lita is 18. Sammy is 14. Darien is older than all of them.) Also, if you're confused about some of the Senshi's attacks, that's because they got a whole set of new ones in Looking Up To You. So like I said, go check it out.
Reviews:
Saberpilot: Yanno, I always thought that movie was the Dark Tower, but that's a Stephen King book series. Dark Crystal was a muppet movie, wasn't it? _ I'd have called the crystal something else, too. Welp, too late now! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Gracedangel1854: Thank you! And hope ya like this chapter!
Jster1983: Yeah, I guess he did sound like Courage... but Chad just thought it, he didn't say it. ^_^ And it was intentional.
Sparrow Migoto (yep, character's named after her): Thanks for reading the story! And even though Ceyazaka got killed, she's still pretty cool... hope you like the Sparrow flashback sequence in this chappie!
Happygolucky111: Nope, Vestibule wasn't in the little girl... she just likes Ami's cookies. ^_^ I'd pick Ami's cookies too, no matter what Sammy thought! But I'm mean like that.
---
The next Monday, at school, Miss Haruna was handing out the results of the math test from a few days earlier.
"Sammy Tsukino," Miss Haruna said, calling Sammy up to the desk to receive his graded test. Sammy walked up to the front of the classroom, where Miss Haruna handed him the test. "Nice work, Sammy."
Sammy looked at the score on the top of the test. Out of a possible 100, he'd received a 93. Not bad for having daydreamed away half of the test. He went back to his seat and sat down, gazing over the small errors that Miss Haruna had pointed out.
"Sammy, how'd you do?" asked the girl who was sitting behind Sammy's desk. Sammy turned around and smiled, then showed her the score on the top of his paper. "Oh... gee, I only got a 75."
"That's okay, Mei-Lin," Sammy said reassuringly. "You'll do better next time..."
"But my parents are gonna be so mad," Mei-Lin replied, her face wrought with despair. "They'll probably put me on punishment for a whole week... I won't get to see my friends or anything."
"Sammy, Mei-Lin, would you please pay attention?" Miss Haruna said, causing the two students to quickly turn around.
"Sorry, Miss Haruna," Sammy said apologetically.
"That's alright, just try to be more quiet when I begin my lecture," Miss Haruna said. "Now, who can tell me the cosine of a 30-degree angle?"
"That's easy," Sammy thought, raising his hand. "The cosine of a 30-degree angle is-"
"Radical three over two," came a voice from the corner of the room, the seat farthest away from the door. Sammy turned his head to see who had answered the question. Sitting at the corner desk was a tall, black-haired boy wearing a bright red sweater. As his eyes met Sammy's, his smile curled into a sneer, but then turned into a frown as he was sharply rebuked by Miss Haruna.
"You're correct, but you should raise your hand when you answer a question!" snapped Miss Haruna. "There were several other children with their hands up, and you should show more respect for them and me by raising your hand."
"I'm sorry, Miss Haruna, but I'm new here," said the boy, "and in my old classroom, the teacher-"
"I know that your old teacher may have had certain ways of doing things, but in this classroom, we raise our hands when we want to answer questions," said Miss Haruna. "I haven't learned your name yet-"
"It's Mikhail," said the boy. "Mikhail Serenden."
"Well, Mr. Serenden, now that you know to raise your hand, we'll go on to the next question," said Miss Haruna. Sammy, who had remained silent throughout the entire episode, sat up and got ready to answer the next question, making sure to raise his hand if he knew the answer.
---
Later that day, Sammy, Rick, and Mika sat together at lunch in the small courtyard on the school's roof, set up a couple of years back to accommodate students during break and lunch periods. Mikhail, who was also in the courtyard for lunch, was leaning up against the fence surrounding the edge of the roof, with a stern look on his face. He wasn't eating. Instead, he was simply looking up into the clear, blue sky, an unusual sight in the winter.
"I wonder what he's doing?" Mika asked, holding an apple in her hand. "He's just... staring off into space."
"Maybe he's still a little bummed that Miss Haruna yelled at him," Sammy said. "I mean, he seems like a pretty smart guy, and he's probably not used to getting yelled at."
Sammy stopped looking at Mikhail and turned back toward Rick and Mika.
"How are you two doing, anyway?" Sammy asked. "I haven't seen you guys since the Festival a couple days ago... Rick, are you holding up alright?"
"My temperature's been normal for two days, dude," Rick said. "Don't sweat it, I'm fine... I'm just glad that Mika's okay."
"Thanks, Rick," Mika said warmly. "Sammy, that double date that you and Ami set up for us to go on this afternoon... it's still on, isn't it?"
"Of course!" Sammy said. "It's gonna be great... spending time with Ami and my two best friends in the whole world!"
"And it'll help take our minds off of what happened at the festival," Mika said. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm still a little shaken up... I mean, not about my ice sculpture getting broken, that's not it... I feel bad about my sculpture, but... something else. After I was pulled out of the lake, everything went black, but... I had this dream."
Mika's lips began trembling, and she shook her head slightly, as if not wanting to remember the painful vision that had apparently crept into her head. Rick started to move his hand up to her face in an attempt to comfort her, but Mika shook her head again, and Rick pulled back his hand.
"Mika, it's okay," Sammy said softly. "You don't have to tell us anymore..."
"Okay," Mika said, her expression starting to revert back to normal. "It's just... in the dream... all the pain felt so real, and-"
Before Mika could recall her vision again, the bell rang to end lunch. Sammy and Rick stood up from the table where they were sitting, with Mika standing a couple of seconds later. Rick turned back toward Mika and gazed into her eyes with a look of concern.
"Are you sure it's okay, Mika?" Rick asked. Mika nodded.
"I'll be just fine, Rick," Mika replied. "I'm sorry I scared you like that..."
"If anything's bothering you, just tell me or Sammy, alright?" Rick said, even more concern appearing in his voice. "I promise, anything at all... okay?"
Mika nodded again, but this time, she didn't say a word. As the three young pupils walked back to their classes, the orange-haired woman whom had been speaking to Jekelai was floating several hundred feet above, watching with her keen, scoping eyes, silently stalking her intended prey.
"The perfect time to strike is approaching," said the woman. Her eyes quickly gazed over the roof, but when she saw Mikhail, walking just a few feet behind Sammy, Rick, and Mika, she recoiled slightly, a tiny gasp emanating from her lips. "My gosh, I'm getting some vibes from that boy that I don't like... I don't like them at all... but I mustn't let anything distract me from my mission. Tonight, Rick and Mika... you will be mine."
---
After school, Serena, Rei, Lita, and Mina immediately went to Darien's apartment to help him clean up. It had been several days since Ceyra and Yeika's attack, and the apartment was just starting to return to the condition that it was before it was turned into an impromptu battlefield by the Senshi.
"So, any new developments with Jekelai and his hordes?" asked Rei, as she sat a potted plant down next to Darien's television. "It's been two whole days since any sort of attack has occurred..."
"They're planning something, I just know they are," Darien said, with a hint of anger in his voice. "But I just wish I knew what..."
"Probably another attack on Sammy," said Serena. "Hey, you guys... maybe we should transform and follow Sammy and Ami on their little double-date thing. I'd think that it would be the perfect time for bad guys to strike."
"You mean back them up? Like bodyguards?" Lita asked. "Isn't that a bit... I dunno, intrusive?"
"Well, we wouldn't follow right behind them," Serena said, sliding one of Darien's couches into place. "We'd follow so that they wouldn't be able to see us. And if any bad guys attacked, we'd kick their butts!"
"That's a great idea, Serena," Mina said. "But... one problem. What if they've already left? I don't have a clue where they would go."
"Probably to the movies or something," Serena said. "That's where every couple goes on a date."
"Not every couple, Serena," Darien replied. "We don't even go to the movies every time we date. Usually we just walk around in the park... or sometimes I follow you to the arcade."
"The arcade!" Serena said, smiling. "Sammy and Rick LOVE the arcade! They're probably there! I mean, Ami's great at arcade games, and-"
"Sammy can be annoying sometimes, but he's not a cad," Rei said. "No boyfriend that loves his girlfriend as much as Sammy loves Ami would drag her to the arcade with him. I don't even think Rick's that mean, and I don't really even know him."
"So... I guess we should probably just start looking in places, then," Mina said. "If we find them, we'll run off to the bathroom or something and transform. Would that be alright?"
"Yeah," Lita said.
"Then, first stop... the arcade!" declared Mina. The other girls and Darien gasped, a confused look appearing on each of their faces.
"But we just said that they wouldn't be in the arcade," Rei groaned. "Mina, were you even listening?"
"But... but Andrew's going to be there!" Mina said. The other girls sighed dejectedly.
---
But instead of any of the places the girls and Darien had brainstormed, Sammy, Ami, Rick, and Mika had decided to have their double date at a rather casual location... the local ice cream parlor, just outside Sammy's school. The ice cream parlor was nearly empty, as not very many people were keen on the idea of eating ice cream in the winter. Sammy didn't seem to mind.
"You know, any time of year is right for ice cream!" Sammy said, taking a big bite out of his chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cone. Ami simply smiled and nodded.
"I have to agree with you, Sammy," Ami said, lightly licking the strawberry ice cream that she had decided to eat. "And I like that it's quiet here... this is a much more intimate environment than a lot of other places."
"Yeah, it really is," Mika said. "I'm really enjoying this little date, you guys..."
"I'm glad, Mika," Rick said, smiling at her. "Anything to calm down after the rough time we've been having these last few days... what with the monster attacks, and all. You know, not at this ice cream parlor, but another one... Sammy and me were attacked by a really scary monster!"
Mika gasped.
"Really?" she said, her eyes widening.
"Oh, it's not as good as some of the other stories I've got," said Sammy. "Anyway, the monster attacks, and-"
"Hey, Sammy, I was telling the story," Rick said indignantly.
"Sorry," Sammy replied. "Continue."
"Anyway, this monster attacks, and Sailor Mercury rushes in and freezes the monster!" Rick said. "She saved both of us, that day..."
Mika looked over at Ami, who simply continued to lick her ice cream cone, a look of quiet humility on her face. She turned back to Sammy and Rick.
"Sounds pretty exciting," Mika said, smirking. "Hey... after this, do any of you want to go down to the carnival? It's only going to be in town for a few more days..."
Sammy and Rick looked at each other, then looked back at Mika. It was clear that neither of them had really thought about going, and honestly, neither of them really wanted to go. Before they could say anything, Ami broke the silence herself.
"I'm sure that would be great!" Ami said. "But maybe we should ask Sammy and Rick first..."
"Sure!" they both said at the same time, both wanting to be the first to agree and oblige their girlfriends.
"I guess we could go to the amusement park, if Ami really wants to go..." Sammy thought.
"Whpsssht...." thought Rick. "Whpsssht whpsssht whpsssht..."
---
"And how are you today, Andrew?" Mina said, leaning over the counter of the arcade's reception desk and talking to Andrew as Serena, Rei, Lita, and Darien watched helplessly.
"Sammy and Ami could be getting tortured right now," Serena said angrily, "and she's talking to her boyfriend."
"Well, Sammy and Ami could've been here," said Lita. "And Andrew isn't Mina's boyfriend... well, yet, anyway."
"It's not been very good, Mina," Andrew said, sighing. "After the women's restroom got trashed, we had to shut the men's room down too, since a bunch of girls started complaining and stuff. We'll be without bathrooms for two weeks until the women's restroom is fixed... which isn't very good for customers who like to play games a long time."
"That's terrible!" Mina said, feigning a sad expression. "But... you're doing okay, right?"
Andrew started to blush, and Rei began gnashing her teeth together.
"How long is Mina going to keep this up?" Rei growled.
"Shhh!" Serena said, putting her finger to her lips. "Mina will be done soon..."
"Where are we gonna go next?" Darien asked. "We should probably check out the movies... that's the most likely place they'll be."
Rei and Serena each grabbed one of Mina's arms and began pulling her away from the counter.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Mina shouted, flailing her arms in protest.
"Say bye-bye to Andrew," Rei said sternly. "Sorry, Andrew, but Mina's got some important business to take care of... come ON, Mina!"
"Guys, maybe you shouldn't...." Andrew stammered as Mina was pulled out the door.
"If you guys don't stop," Mina said as she was dragged outside, "I'm going to shout that I'm being kidnapped, and then you two will be in BIG trouble. Andrew was just about to ask me out!"
"Quit whining, Mina," said Serena. "You'll have plenty of time to talk to Andrew later... Sammy and Ami, and Sammy's friends, are really vulnerable right now, and we have to find them so we can make sure they don't get hurt!"
"I know," Mina protested, "but-"
"Guys, I'm getting some evil vibes here," Rei said, her fingers pressed against the sides of her forehead.
"Rei, what's the matter?" Lita whispered. "Sensing anything big?"
"I'm not sure," Rei said. "Let me concentrate..."
"Over there!" Darien shouted, pointing to the roof of a nearby building, a medium-sized office directly across the street. There, on the edge of a roof, was the mysterious orange-haired woman, her back facing the four girls and Darien. Though there was no wind, her emerald-green dress flowed behind her, as if being blown by a strong breeze.
"That's just some chick on the roof," Serena said. "That's no-"
"The evil forces are coming from that direction," Rei said. "We should transform!"
Serena, now understanding the potential threat that the orange-haired woman posed, led the other girls and Tuxedo Mask into a nearby alley. After looking around to confirm that no one could see them, they quickly transformed and began pursuing the woman. As they approached the building, the woman leapt down off of the roof and began walking briskly down the sidewalk, garnering stares and gasps from several bystanders.
"We should definitely follow her," Sailor Moon whispered. "But let's try not to confront her in public unless we absolutely have to..."
---
But Sammy, Ami, Rick, and Mika still continued to be far away from both the Senshi's suspicions and Jekelai's ambitions, as they walked around the carnival and gazed at the various rides.
"I wonder which one we should go on first?" Mika asked. "Wait... I know what we should go on! Let's go on the Ferris wheel, you guys... it's such a romantic ride, and it's not really very fast..."
"I want to go on that ride!" Sammy said eagerly, pointing at a large, spinning ride that resembled a flying saucer and was decorated with hundreds of colorful, flashing lights. "It's called the Gravitron."
"That ride is awesome, Sammy!" Rick said. But as Mika saw the ride, with its incredibly fast rotational motion, she shook her head.
"I can't, you guys... it's way too fast," Mika said.
"I'm not so sure I want to go on the ride either," Ami said, looking over at Mika. "I'm sure that it won't hurt any of us, but... I don't want to leave Mika all by herself."
"But it's such a fun ride!" Sammy said. "Mika, you'll love it..."
"No, no, I won't," Mika said. "I won't like it, and I won't go on the ride, end of story."
"Mika, pleeeeeeeease?" Rick pleaded, facing Mika while taking one of her hands in both of his own. "I promise that it won't hurt you... and it's not really that scary..."
"Now, you shouldn't push Mika into going on a ride that she doesn't want to go on," Ami said. "Let's just ride the Ferris wheel, like Mika wanted."
"No, no, that's okay," Mika said. She looked up at Rick. "Alright, I'll go... but the moment that it starts to get too scary, I want off, do you hear me?"
Rick nodded.
"I promise, Mika, it won't be scary," said Rick. "I'll stand next to you the whole time."
"Stand?" Mika asked, confused. "Wait, this is a standing ride?"
"When we get inside, I'll show you," Rick said. The Gravitron stopped spinning, and a small door on the front of the ride opened up, allowing the people that were inside to step back out. As Sammy and Ami climbed into the ride, Mika poked one of the people leaving the ride on the shoulder, causing them to turn around.
"Um... is this ride scary?" Mika asked politely. "I mean, how scary is it? It's not scary, is it?"
"Of course it's scary!" said the person Mika had tapped, a tall, muscular looking boy about two or three years older than Mika was. "The Gravitron is the scariest ride in the whole carnival!"
The boy laughed and re-joined his friends, a group of muscular young men who were wearing letter jackets, indicating their affiliation with athletics of some sort. Mika turned back toward Rick, but he was already inside the ride, leaning up against the wall of the ride and pointing to a spot next to him.
"Mika, I saved you a spot, c'mon!" Rick said. Mika quickly ran over to Rick as the ride's door closed. She leaned up against the wall of the ride, where a bed of padding had been placed there to rest one's head and body during the ride. The inside of the Gravitron was simply a dark, enclosed space about ten feet high, with space for about thirty people to lean up against the wall.
"Rick, the person I asked said that this was a really scary ride," Mika said nervously.
"Mika, it's alright," Rick said, trying to comfort Mika. As he looked at her, he could see a genuine look of fear on her face, and for a second, he wondered if it was really a good idea for Mika to be on the ride with him. But he put that question aside and simply tried his best to reassure Mika.
"It's about to start!" Sammy said, standing inbetween Ami and Rick as a man dressed completely in black, wearing Goth-like white makeup and adorned with several body piercings stepped into the small control console at the center of the ride. He picked up the small microphone in the control console and began to speak into it.
"Is everybody ready?" the man shouted.
"No," Mika whispered silently.
"This ride is gonna go as fast as I can crank it, and it ain't gonna stop for nothin'!" shouted the man. Several cheers and shouts sounded from the ride's passengers. Mika's eyes widened, and as she frantically turned toward Rick to tell him that she wanted off of the ride, an extremely loud song, Metallica's 'St. Anger', began to blare through the ride's speakers, drowning out Mika's voice. The Gravitron began to spin.
"**** it all and (Mika: Rick...) no regrets, I've hit (Mika: I....) the lights on these dark sets (Mika: want....), medallion noose, go (Mika: off!) hang myself, St. Anger 'round my neck..."
"Mika, what did you say?" Rick shouted, trying to hear her over the blaring speakers as the ride became faster and faster.
"Rick, I said I want... oh my God, oh my God, oh my God..."
As the ride neared its top speed, the floor seemed to drop out from under Sammy, Ami, Rick, and Mika. As Sammy and Rick shouted in excitement, Ami gasped, and Mika let out a loud scream.
"Rick, now you've done it!" Mika shouted, struggling to be heard over the song. "I told you I didn't want to go on this-"
"Mika, it's okay," Rick said, gripping Mika's hand as the platforms that they were leaning against hit the ceiling of the ride.
"I think I know what's going on!" Ami shouted. "Mika, you see, this ride operates on centripetal forces. As the ride spins and gains in velocity, the centripetal force grows strong enough to push you against the wall so that you don't fall down when the platforms lift up. That's also why it feels like you weigh about 500 pounds..."
Mika nodded, seemingly hearing Ami's explanation. But as she did, a different sensation began to course through her body. As the ride gradually slowed down, and the platforms dropped back down to the bottom of the ride, Mika clutched her stomach and put her other hand to her lips. Once the ride finally stopped and the music switched off, Mika groaned loudly.
"Rick, I think I'm going to throw up," Mika said, her face beginning to turn green. "I told you we shouldn't have gone on this ride!"
"Oh dear," Ami said quietly.
"Mika, I'm sorry," Rick said as he and Mika stepped off the ride. "I shouldn't have-"
"You're absolutely right you shouldn't have, Rick!" Mika shouted, angrily marching down the stairs that led down from the ride. "Ugh... I'm gonna be sick..."
Mika ran behind the Gravitron. Rick began to follow her, but Sammy's hand in front of his chest formed a barricade, stopping Rick in his tracks.
"Mika needs to be alone," Sammy said.
"You wanted to go on that ride just as much as I did, Sammy!" Rick said defensively. "Geez, Sammy, you're just as responsible for Mika being sick as I am."
"Both of you need to stop fighting," Ami said. "Let's just let Mika have a couple minutes alone, and then you can go apologize to her, Rick... okay?"
Rick nodded, his face weighted down with sadness and regret.
"How could I do that to her..." Rick thought. "I made her go on that ride when I should've just went on the Ferris wheel like Mika wanted... I'll be lucky if she ever wants to even speak to me again..."
---
Meanwhile, the Senshi and Tuxedo Mask continued to pursue the orange-haired woman through the city. After making several turns, and walking down several streets, the woman finally walked toward an old, abandoned factory building. The building was boarded up, but as she reached the main entrance, she fired a blast of magical energy at the boarded door, opening a large entryway into the building. As she walked inside, the Senshi gasped.
"She IS one of them, I knew it!" Sailor Mars shouted. "My visions never lie..."
"Quick, let's go after her!" Sailor Jupiter shouted. The four Senshi and Darien quickly pursued the woman into the building. Once they got inside, they looked around. The entryway led to a large, empty, dirty-looking room with several broken windows. Pieces of glass lay strewn about the floor, and the Senshi were careful to watch their step. As they began to walk, the barely made it a few feet when the woman leapt down in front of them, smiling from ear-to-ear.
"Alright, you... you'd better tell us who you are and what you're doing in Juuban, right now!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"Fine, fine, be that way," the woman said casually. "My name is Pyretta... I am one of the Pale Mercenaries, working exclusively in Jekelai's employ."
Not satisfied with Pyretta's answer, Sailor Venus offered up another question.
"We know that you guys are here to hurt Sammy's friends, since that's all you've been doing since you've gotten here," said Sailor Venus. "The jig is up! What are you going to try to do? Don't try and escape... we've got you cornered!"
"Girls, girls, girls, haven't you heard of innocent until proven guilty?" Pyretta asked. "I'm offended. And besides, it's not me you should be going after..."
Suddenly, a huge blaze of fire engulfed Pyretta's body, temporarily blinding the Senshi and Tuxedo Mask, who had to look away to avoid hurting their eyes. When they looked back, Pyretta was gone.
"What does she mean by... not her?" Sailor Jupiter asked. "Strange..."
"Senshi, she's probably already found Sammy!" Tuxedo Mask shouted. "We've got to find Sammy and Ami before it's too late!"
---
"Jekelai... you look as if you're troubled by something."
Jekelai, who had been reading from an ancient, brown-covered book, looked up to see the face of his employer, whose identity remained a secret to all but Jekelai.
"I sent Pyretta out two days ago, and she still hasn't reported back to me," Jekelai said in a monotone voice. "What has she been doing?"
"She's one of your mercenaries, Jekelai... you tell me."
"She typically is cold and calculating... well, hot and calculating is what I should say, her being a fire element and all."
"Jekelai, I should be the troubled one. I have yet to receive any sign that you are closer to getting me that Dark Crystal, besides the fact that I know who it belongs to."
"Drawing out the crystal takes time, I already told you that," Jekelai said. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to return to my reading."
As Jekelai looked back down at his book, his employer stared straight into his eyes.
"It's something else troubling you," said Jekelai's employer. "She's close. This girl following you, Sparrow Migoto... she has found you, Jekelai. You know it, and I can sense it. I can sense it in your eyes."
---
"And how is my little slave girl today?" Jekelai asked, looking down at the chained-up Sparrow with a glare of contempt.
"Go to hell," Sparrow replied. Without a word, Jekelai backhanded Sparrow across the face. Then, he struck her again, causing a thin stream of blood to slowly trickle down from Sparrow's lip.
"I will not tolerate any sort of disobedience on your part, do you understand?" Jekelai shouted. "You WILL be my assassin, Sparrow... and until then, you will remain a slave, nothing more than scum to me. I am more than willing to break you completely... even kill you. Without you, my life is absolutely no worse than it would be with you alive."
"Without me," Sparrow said, "you don't have an assassin."
In less than a second, a large, curved blade was placed at Sparrow's throat. When she realized what the blade was, she gasped.
"That's my sword..." Sparrow whispered, observing the intricate runes on the well-crafted blade. "But how did you-"
"That is none of your business," Jekelai said. "You have lived by this sword, Sparrow, and unless you are willing to wield it for me and ONLY me, you will die by this sword. Do I make myself clear?"
---
As the weeks passed, Jekelai tormented Sparrow. He beat her almost every day, and every thirty-six hours he would replace the Ultinius seal on Sparrow's forehead, sealing her powers. One day, however, he placed a different seal on her forehead.
"This is the seal of Lunacius," Jekelai said. "It will not strip you completely of your powers. Instead, you will retain 10%, which is enough for you to train but not nearly enough for you to escape, so don't even try. It will also be insufficient to break through these..."
Jekelai pointed to large, silver manacles, which he had placed on Sparrow's wrists, chaining them together in front of her.
"Though that metal may appear to be silver, it is, in fact, Naiusinum, one of the strongest substances in the universe," Jekelai said. "You will not be able to break them, even at 10% of your full power."
"Watch me," Sparrow said through clenched teeth. She struggled with the manacles for several minutes, desperately trying to break them. But they held strong, and Sparrow received bruised and bloodied wrists for her efforts. Jekelai smiled, and then dragged Sparrow, who was now thrashing and cursing, into a large, thickly-walled room inside the castle. The room appeared to be a training area, and sure enough, several of Jekelai's toughest mercenaries were busily working out with various weapons. He pushed Sparrow into the room, and then, with a flick of his wrist, tossed her sword in with her. She picked it up in her hands just as Jekelai slammed and locked the door behind her.
"If you can kill all of my mercenaries, you will survive, Sparrow Migoto!" boomed Jekelai's voice throughout the room. "Show no mercy!"
---
Outside the amusement park, Sammy and Ami were saying their goodbyes to Rick and Mika. After throwing up behind the Gravitron, Mika had scolded Rick a second time, and then refused to talk to him for the rest of the time that the two couples were in the park.
"Rick, I really hope things between you and Mika go well," Sammy said, as he and Ami turned to walk back toward Ami's house.
"Yes.... Mika, Rick, please try to patch things up," Ami said sweetly. "And thank you both for coming... it really was a great afternoon..."
"Bye, Sammy," Rick said dejectedly. "Bye, Ami..."
"Goodbye, you guys," Mika said, walking off in the other direction. "And goodbye, Rick."
"Mika..." Rick said quietly, watching her as she walked down the sidewalk. He turned around to try and call out for Sammy and Ami, but they had already turned the corner, heading for home. Rick sighed, and turned around to walk across the street, hoping to cut through some of the parking lots and lawns to find the shortest way home. But as he began to walk down the street, a large, blunt object smacked across the back of his head. Before he even had the time to scream, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he passed out, his limp body smacking against the asphalt of the road. Mika, having heard the attack on Rick, quickly turned around. When she saw Rick's limp form on the road, she quickly ran toward him.
"Rick!" shouted Mika. "Oh my gosh, what happened to... mmph!"
A damp rag was pressed against Mika's nose and mouth from behind. The rag was being held by a tall, cloaked man, one of Jekelai's mercenaries. As the sweet smell of chloroform entered Mika's nose, and as she began to fall unconscious, she could see another cloaked man, holding a large two-by-four in his hand. He grabbed Rick by the legs and began dragging him across the road. That was the last thing Mika saw before she passed out as well.
And watching the abductions with a large smile on her face was Pyretta, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"That's it," Pyretta said. "You're both mine, now... but don't worry. You'll have a front-row seat to witness the emergence of the Dark Crystal from the body of your foolish friend, Sammy Tsukino!"
---
Poor Rick and Mika... poor poor Rick and Mika... will Sammy save them? Will the clueless Sailor Senshi find Sammy and Ami before they're attacked as well? Or will Rick and Mika die a horrible death? Poor, poor Rick and Mika...
