Crossover to Save Time and Space:

The search for the gems

By Tonz82

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, Magic Knights Rayearth, Ronin Warriors, or Dragon Ball. Each are owned by respective companies. Do not sue me because you won't get anything anyway. I mean that literally in every sense. I'm broke okay

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Chapter Twenty-three

Across a now chaotic cosmos in various dimensions…

Bulma stared out the window emotionlessly, but deep down inside she was in shock. She just didn't know how to physically respond to what was happening. She turned to stare at the television sitting on the stand in the corner of the room. The visual transmission was hazy and the audio report from the news reporter kept being interrupted by static interference.

**On the television**

A young girl of about 10 years of age looks about at the chaos around her, while standing in the middle of the street. She watches as a building on her right crumbles to the ground. She looks up at the sky above her and sees a black cloud spreading across the sky. Purple lightning bolts shoot from it in all directions. They crackle through the sky and travel to the ground moving wildly in random paths. People scream in terror as they try to flee the area for their lives. She turns around sharply when she hears a crash come from behind her. A large bolt of energy is now heading in her direction. As it travels along the ground it leaves a deep fissure in the pavement. Her body shakes and her muscles tense so tightly that they freeze. People run frantically out of the bolt's path of destruction. A child falls down and cries but his mother quickly picks him up and continues to run.

She let out a short breath of air as a man tackled her from the side, thus saving her life. Realizing that it's her father and she wraps her arms around his neck. He picks her up and they disappear into the rest of the evacuating crowd.

Suddenly, a man hiding behind a car holding a microphone is shown. His black hair is disheveled and windblown. He uses one of his hands to cover his ear as he speaks.

News reporter: Ladies and gentlemen…local authori…declared state of emergency… You… advised… stay in your homes… If you are able to take shelter underground please do so. The origin of the calamity is unknown, but other reports show similar events happening all over the planet.

Another explosion is heard and the news reporter lets out a cry as he ducks from flying debris.

FZZZ!

**Television Transmission cuts**

Bulma turned away from the television screen to stare back out the glass window. Black clouds continued to roll through out the sky and blowing winds turned over small vehicles.

'And the guys are still out there somewhere in the middle of all this,' she thought.

"Vegeta," she said softly.

"Bulma!" yelled a voice, "Bulma! Answer me!"

He got no response.

Suddenly, Mr. Briefs came running into the nursery.

"Bulma! What are you doing?" he cried.

Seeing her standing by the window he immediately ran forward and pulled her away.

"Bulma, my dear, have you lost your mind? It's too dangerous to be standing next to windows at time like this!" Mr. Briefs scolded.

Bulma didn't answer.

"Your mother and I were worried. I left Trunks with her to come find you. What's been taking you so long? You said you were just going to grab some of Trunks' things and meet us back in the shelter," Mr. Briefs continued. "I don't know what I was thinking letting you leave."

"I got sidetracked," Bulma replied, "I wanted to call Chi Chi to make sure that Goten and her were okay."

"Are they?" Mr. Briefs asked.

"Yes, and the Ox-King is with them. They all went down into their cellar to wait this thing out. She wanted to know where Gohan was. I didn't get a chance to answer her because the phone line went dead," Bulma explained. "I was about to go meet you guys, but then…then I looked outside…"

Her voice trailed off for a moment. There was a long pause.

"What's happening, Dad?" she asked suddenly.

Mr. Briefs stared into his daughter's frightened face and for a moment she looked like a little girl again. His eyes softened and he grabbed her in warm embrace.

"I'm not sure Bulma, darling, but we can't figure it out up here. We need to get to a safer place, " he said comforting her.

As he lead her out of the room he reached down to grab Trunks' baby bag.

"What about the others?" she asked, referring to Krillin, Mirari Trunks, Vegeta, Gohan, and Yamcha.

"I don't know," he answered with uncertainty, "but where ever they are, I have no doubts that they can take of themselves."

*****

In the downtown area of Tokyo…

Darien glanced upward at the falling debris from a crumbling building as it tumbled towards him. The young teenage girl in his arms screamed fearfully. Still holding on to her he began to spring forward and then leaped into the air. He landed on top of a building across the street. Seeing that they were out of immediate danger he jumped down to the building's side. The young girl still held on to him tightly. Her entire body trembled.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She nodded her head in response.

"Good. Will you be okay on your own?" he questioned further.

"Ye-yes," she answered shakily.

"All right. Hurry and get as far away from here as you can," he instructed while setting her down on her feet, although a part of him wasn't even sure if there was anywhere left safe to go.

"Right," she said nodding and then began to run.

She stopped and looked back.

"Thank you, Tuxedo Mask," she replied gratefully, before continuing on.

He watched her until she was out of sight. As Darien turned back around he began to think of Serena. Ever since that day in the park he had heard no word from her or any of the other sailor scouts. They had all vanished.

He searched for Serena for days, but was unsuccessful in his attempts to find her, especially since he didn't have any clues to go on. Her family had come to him for help, but he couldn't tell them what had really happened, so he told them that they had been robbed. The mugger knocked him unconscious and when he came to Serena was gone. Serena's mother believed Darien when he said that he didn't know where she was, but her father was angry and doubtful of him. Darien wouldn't be surprised if the police came knocking on his door in the future to take him away on suspicion of foul play.

He clenched his gloved hands into tight fists as he thought about how he had been unable to protect her. She had stared back at him terrified as she called his name and then disappeared before his eyes. It scared him to think that that may have been the last time he would ever see his beloved. He didn't think he could bear it and refused to give up hope of her return to him.

He only knew that all the inner scouts had been abducted by the same mysterious woman dressed in green. Luna had been with Ami and Lita when the woman attacked them on their way to the library. The girls transformed to defend themselves, but the woman easily evaded all of their attacks and then made off with them. Artemis reported the same thing about Rei and Mina as they were leaving Rei's place to go to the movies. Darien tried to contact the outer scouts, but he received no response. He could only assume that the same thing had happened to them as well.

"Tuxedo Mask, come quickly! There's some people trapped in the art gallery. The doors have been blocked by falling debris!" Luna cried, interrupting Darien's thoughts.

Darien looked down at the talking black cat and nodded. The gold crescent moon on her forehead gleamed as light reflected off of it. She ran ahead of him in order to lead the way.

"Where's Artemis?" Darien asked.

"He's already there. That stubborn flea brain wouldn't wait," she snorted, "He's trying to dig a hole through the rubble and unsuccessfully I might add."

Suddenly a bolt of purple lightning struck down a few feet ahead in their path. Both Luna and Darien skidded to a halt. The electrical bolt began to make its way in their direction. Darien quickly grabbed Luna in his arms and then jumped to the side. Kneeling down on the ground, Darien uncovered them from his protective cape.

(AN: But then when you really think about it, how protective is that thing anyway? *shrugs* just thought I'd ask)

They both listened to the thundering crash of lightning. They could hear the cries and panic of people through out the city. Darien sensed that this wasn't just occurring here in Tokyo, but all over the world. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he figured it had something to do with him being the earth senshi.

"Luna, what's happening?" Darien asked completely baffled.

The cloud of darkness continued to grow, stretching out across the sky.

"I don't know. I wish… I wish I knew," she said shaking her head in defeat.

"I'm starting to feel like I'm in over my head," he replied, "I don't have a clue of what's causing this or how to stop it."

His voice contained a hint of despair.

Luna sighed.

"If only the girls were here," she said softly.

*****

In the throne room of Cephiro's Crystal Palace…

"Mage Clef, we have deployed five more royal units on monster assaults," Lafarga reported while kneeling down on one knee. His cape flowed down his back, leaving a trail of fine fabric behind him.

"Is it that bad out there?" Clef asked looking at both Lantis and Lafarga.

Lafarga nodded looking up into the magician's child-like face with his serious, dark eyes.

"These shadow creatures are appearing all over Cephiro," Lantis answered, "They multiply quickly and fight more fiercely then any other monster that I've ever faced."

"We have been unable to pinpoint their origin. All I can tell you for is that they don't originate from here," he continued in his deep tone.

"I'll have to agree with Lantis, Mage Clef," Ascot said nodding, "I have seen similar creatures like these before, but they can only be conjured by someone with extremely powerful magically skills."

"Have you ever conjured such creatures, Ascot?" Caldina asked.

Ascot blushed with embarrassment from her question.

"Oh, no, no, no, " he answered quickly, putting up his hands and shaking his head, "These creatures are an evil manifestation of their conjurer's heart and react to their conjurer's wishes."

"So, it's really a matter of figuring out who called forth all these monsters," Caldina replied thoughtfully, "and then stopping them."

"Right," Ascot nodded, "but don't ask me how, though."

"Well, you use to be evil when you worked for Zagato," Ferio pressed harshly, "So surely you know something more about how to stop these creatures."

"Jeez, you really know how to put pressure on a guy, Ferio, " Caldina cried.

"And your so subtle, too," she added sarcastically.

She didn't like being reminded of her past days when she worked for Zagato. It made her think of the person she once was and the horrible things that she had done. Ascot felt the same way. He made an uncomfortable face at Ferio's comment.

"I wasn't evil, Ferio," Ascot countered looking back at the prince with solemn green eyes to match his serious tone. "Just misguided. Give me a break I was a little kid. Besides it takes a very dark and twisted heart to be able to do something like this. I would never withhold information vital to saving Cephiro."

Ferio relented in his inquisition. Ascot and Caldina had been trusted allies of Cephiro for some time now. He looked away from them both, embarrassed by his behavior.

"What do we do then?" Caldina asked.

No one said anything.

"Was this the evil that you spoke of earlier, Clef?" Ferio asked.

"Yes," Clef nodded.

"And it finally rears its ugly head," Caldina replied acidly while placing her hands on her hips. .

The all cried out as they felt the entire castle shake roughly.

Clef brought up his staff and made a visual orb appear before all of them. They all stared down into it as it showed them various locations all over Cephiro.

"A black cloud of an ominous and dark power is descending over Cephiro. It is the cause of these monsters. Unfortunately, I am unable to determine who is causing these disturbances," Clef replied.

They all watched as the black cloud that Clef described continued to roll across the sky.

"What will happen if this cloud continues to grow," Ferio asked.

"If the cloud is allowed to spread, entire dimensions will begin to meld," Clef answered.

"The magic knights. Can you tell us anything about them master mage," Presea asked in a voice with concern.

Clef saw particularly strong looks of concern and worry in the faces of Ascot, Ferio, and Lantis.

"I don't know," he said, "It's like they've vanished. I can unable to discern their whereabouts. They are neither here in Cephiro nor Tokyo."

Lantis stared at Mage Clef closely. Clef stared back with unblinking eyes.

"You knew didn't you," Lantis asked, "You've known for a while that the girls have been missing."

"Yes," Clef answered.

Everyone stared at the magician in disbelief for withholding such crucial information.

"I believe that not only is a great evil at work, but a greater good, as well." Clef responded. "Do not be angry with me for holding back this information. You must all have faith that Hikaru, Fuu, and Umi will return."

The faces of Ferio, Ascot, and Lantis did not change to anywhere near comfort.

Clef could sense some resentment from all three of them and the tension was thick enough for everyone to feel.

"What do you mean a greater good?" Ferio asked.

"It is difficult for me to explain. They are more like strong feelings," Clef clumsily explained.

"Feelings," Ferio cried, "Well, how do you know the girls are okay and not in some kind of danger."

His eyes flashed anger.

Ascot and Lantis held their tongue, but their faces showed that they felt the same way.

Clef sighed.

"Even if I had told any of you what I knew about Hikaru, Fuu, and Umi, what would you have been able to do?"

Ferio clenched his fists in frustration.

"There is nothing any of us can do right now, except do what we can to protect the people of this land," Clef said addressing everyone in the room now. "Have faith in the girls and your love for them. Never forget that even in the greatest of crisis that Cephiro is still a land of the will."

Suddenly the entire castle shook violently.

"One of the energy bolts from the dark cloud have hit the castle," Clef replied a little bit less coolly.

A soldier came running into the throne room.

"Captains!" he cried coming to a halt in front of Lafarga and Lantis.

"What has happened, Noel?" Lafarga asked.

"A herd of the shadow demons are approaching the castle gates and they are being led by a man," he informed.

"A man?" Presea cried.

Caldina threw her red cape back over her shoulders and took out two large daggers from behind her back. Ascot, Ferio, Presea, Lantis, and Lafarga did the same, unsheathing their weapons as well.

"Until then we'll hold down the fort," she said determinedly, "As for Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru; let's make 'em proud."

****

At the Golden Elysium Palace in the Netherworld…

A woman walked briskly down an open corridor. Her captain of the guards walked by her side matching her fast pace. Her long regal gown made swishing noises with each step she took.

"Tell me more about the reports that you received," she replied, "I want to know as much as possible about what's going on out there."

"I have received messages from all of the Netherworld Lords. Phantom creatures have descended on to their lands and the lords have deployed their armies in defense," he answered through his armored mask.

He paused.

"It will not be long before they penetrate our lands as well," he finished.

"Tell me Vortrel, where do they come from. I do not recall seeing shadow creatures such as these here in Netherworld or at least not in so much abundance," she inquired.

"I am not exactly sure, Lady Kyra" Vortrel answered, "I have seen shadow demons before here in the spirit realm, but these creatures are different. They seemed to be getting their energy from an indiscernible source."

"What is the status the battles with Lord Daeious, Secment, and Kael," Kyra asked. "I want to know at what speed this enemy force is moving."

"The armies of all demon kings are being led in conjunction with Lords Daeious, Kael, and Secment's direction. But we have lost contact with them. I fear the battles are not going well."

Kyra stopped suddenly feeling immense dark energy. She looked up at the sky as darkness covered her palace like an eclipse, caused by black clouds moving with a graceful intelligence.

"It's almost like its alive," she said softly.

Slowly some of the clouds began to drift down to the ground like a fog. She and the captain jumped back as purple electrical energy shot forward at them and other parts of the castle. Kyra and Vortrel backed away as the fog moved to engulf them.

"Lady Kyra run!" Vortrel yelled.

The both ran, but came to a stop when the fog surrounded them. It began to shape itself into the figures of warriors. Seeing there was no place left to run, Kyra brought forth both hands.

"Starlight Swords! I summon you!" she called.

A lavender colored light similar to the energy crackling around the shadow warriors illuminated around her and two daggers appeared in her hands. As she prepared herself for battle the blades grew into long twin swords. Her gown disappeared and instead she adorned the armor of Anubis. Vortrel stared at her in surprise. It had been a long time since he had seen her call forth her armor.

"Desperate times…" she said to him.

He nodded and took out his own weapon.

They both let out a battle cry as they rushed forward to properly greet their new enemy.

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AN: Don't you just hate cliffhangers? *Laughs evilly* Hang in there though. I'm currently working on chapters 24 and 25.