I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic, nor do I claim to. The idea, however, is mine.
AN - I've noticed I've been getting a lot of reviews for both An Ancient Evil and This Time Around, and it's inspired me a little to continue with the series. Some things have been pointed out to me, and I will eventually get around to revising some mistakes I've made, as well as perhaps revising the entire series. But for now, I will continue with things as they are. So, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
Dealing Fate's Hand
Chapter 7
"Is something wrong, Rini?"
Rini looked over towards Mia, who had spoken to her. Offering a weak smile, she looked down at the ground, where White Blaze was slowly regaining consciousness. "I was just worried about White Blaze," she lied. Mia seemed satisfied with the answer, however, and returned her attention towards the group.
"I think it will be okay if we all let our guard down for now," Sailor Moon spoke to everyone, as her henshin reversed, and her sailor fuku was replaced by her normal clothing. The other Sailors followed her example, and she smiled as she looked at the four strange girls. She opened her mouth to speak however a groan from the still-unconscious Ronins gained everyone's attentions. It was Sage, who sat up first.
"What happened," the blonde teenager asked, running a hand through his disheveled hair. Rowen and Sai sat up as well, even though they, like the other Ronins, were still weakened from Parapara's attack.
"It was Parapara," Kento answered, anger creeping into his tone. "She's stolen our powers."
"Not completely, your Highness," Celeste stated. "They will return to you in time, just as Sailor Pluto's powers will return to her."
"Who are you," Sai asked, looking at the girl strangely.
"Yeah, would someone mind filling us in on what's going on," Rowen stated, as he and the others noticed the girls for the first time. "Who are you girls?"
"Don't you recognize your own children," Kitiana asked, a small smile gracing her features. She knelt next to Ryo and Rei, placing a hand on Ryo's shoulder. The guys' eyes widened, as they looked at the girls.
"Perhaps you should introduce yourselves, girls," Setsuna suggested. The three girls looked at each other, and shrugging, one of the girls stepped forward.
"I am Princess Lillian Mouri," she stated, curtseying slightly. She wore dark blue culottes and a plain, white blouse. Brushing aside a lock of her curly, brown hair, her sea-blue eyes gleamed with joy as she looked at Amy and Sai. "I'm so glad to be able to come back to the past and meet everyone!"
"Don't be so formal, Lily," the girl next to her laughed, sweeping her long, golden hair off her shoulder. She wore a white skirt, and a thin, orange sweater. Turning towards her parents, her blue eyes sparkled with the same mischief her mother was known for. "I'm Alyssa. Alyssa Hashiba." Smiling in Mina's direction, she looked at Rowen, and pouted slightly. "Are you feeling any better now, Daddy," she asked.
"Y-yes, thank you," Rowen replied, a small blush staining his cheeks. Laughing, Alyssa ran to her parents, throwing an arm around each of them.
Looking at the girl that strikingly took after her own image, Lita smiled broadly. "And are you-"
"Yes," the girl interrupted, returning Lita's smile. "I'm your daughter. My name's Torrence." She paused, and glanced at her future father. "Torrence Date." Her chocolate-brown hair was partially pulled up into a bun on the top of her head, while the rest flowed just past her shoulders. Her outfit was similar to Alyssa's, only she wore green shorts, and a white T-shirt.
"And what was your name again," Serena asked, directing her question at Celeste. The girl looked at her, bowing in respect.
"My name is Celeste, my Queen," she answered, standing back up with practiced grace.
"Celeste," Serena repeated. "Are you one of our daughters, as well?"
Celeste gasped with a start, and paled just slightly. Regaining her composure before anyone noticed, she smiled slightly. "I'm afraid, I can't answer that," she offered apologetically.
"It must be true, then," Serena pressed. She studied Celeste for a moment, and then clapped her hands together. "Could you be Lady Kayura's daughter?" Celeste glanced over at Kayura, whose cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Princess," Setsuna began in a warning tone. "Do not forget that the girls reveal only what they can, without jeopardizing the future. If she will not say, then-"
"Please, do not scold her," Celeste interjected. Smiling in Serena's direction, she paused in thought. "I can only say that I work closely with the Ancient Shrine guardians and Sailor Pluto. I serve as a messenger between the two." Serena sighed, however seemed to accept the answer, as an awkward silence fell over the group.
"Are your brothers here, too," Mina asked suddenly, her eyes widening in wonder. "Have they come back to help?"
The reaction from the girls was not what they expected. Kitiana clenched her jaw, while Torrence balled her fists tightly at her sides. Tears stung at Alyssa's eyes, and Lillian hung her head, staring hard at the ground. It was Celeste, who answered for the girls.
"We don't know where the young Ronins, and Prince Lotus, are," she stated quietly. "One of the other reasons we escaped to the past, was because the Princess had gone missing, and we suspected that she may have escaped here."
Serena pulled away from Kento slightly, as her eyes widened. "You mean, Lotus and the others are missing," she asked.
"We're going to find them, though," Lillian stated forcefully, her stormy sea-blue eyes flashing with determination.
"Rini," Kitiana asked suddenly. "What happened? How did you get separated from the others?"
"I-I can't remember," she replied, shaking her head. A sudden anger flashed in her eyes, as she looked at Kitiana accusingly. "Are you trying to say that I ran or something?"
"No, of course not," Kitiana snapped. She hung her head, staring down into her lap as she dug her fingers into her thighs. "I just thought, that with Lotus there with you, you and the others would have been safe," she whispered. As her vision blurred, a gasp caught in her throat as she felt the furry muzzle of Ryo's faithful pet nudge at her elbow. "White… Blaze," she whispered wonderingly.
"It looks like he trusts you now, Kitiana," Yuli exclaimed. Kitiana gave a wavering smile, before she leaned towards White Blaze, burying her face into his neck.
"We should discuss this more at length at a later time," Setsuna suggested. "Small Lady, perhaps after some rest, you will be able to remember some detail." Celeste watched as Rini turned her gaze upon Setsuna, sending her a narrowed look. Raising an eyebrow she was about to speak, however Serena interrupted her.
"You have to try to remember, Rini," she exclaimed. "They could be in trouble."
Rini began to shake visibly, before she turned a teary gaze on her future mother. "Why is everyone on my case," she demanded, wiping her eyes angrily. "If I can't remember, then I can't remember! None of this is my fault!"
"Rini," Kento began in a firm voice. "No one is blaming you for anything. Just take in a deep breath and relax." His words seemed to calm her down, however as she caught the confused looks from Lillian, Alyssa, and Torrence, her anger flared once again.
"None of this should have ever happened," she exclaimed, motioning around her with her arm. "Things should have never changed!"
"Rini," Darien began. "What-"
"Just leave me alone," she cut him off, before turning on her heel and running towards the house.
"Hey, Rini," Yuli exclaimed, as he ran to follow her. "Rini!"
"What's wrong with Rini," Alyssa asked. "Did you see that look she gave us?" Shaking her head with determination, she stood from the spot she shared with her future parents to follow after the princess. "I'm going to-"
"Alyssa," Rowen interrupted, grabbing her gently by the arm. "Let her be. If anyone can get through to her right now, it's Yuli."
Looking down at him, she smiled gently. "Okay, Daddy," she said. "If that's what you want me to do..."
"Lady Kayura," Celeste began, "I think it would be best if the other Shrine Guardians are here with everyone else."
"Thank you for your concern, but I think that Dais, Sekhmet, and Kale will be able to handle themselves," she replied.
"Perhaps you don't understand," Celeste continued. "Mistress Aislyn can control the armors at will. If she gets the armors of the former Warlords as well, I fear an evil from the past will resurrect."
"It's already too late for us - she has our armor," Sage stated. "But, the armor belongs to us. How is it that she was able to take the power of the armors, without our willingly giving up that power?"
"It has to do with what happened in the future," Torrence replied. "In the future, our fathers fought against Aislyn's minions."
"But that doesn't explain how she could just take the armor from us," Sai insisted.
"It's because the power of the armor is connected, even through time," Setsuna answered suddenly. "That's the most obvious explanation of how she was able to acquire the armors in this time. She must have defeated the Ronins of the future."
"That's almost correct," Celeste said thoughtfully. "When she took the powers of the armors from the Ronins of this time, she was really drawing upon the powers of the future armors. So, if you use the power of your armors again, she will completely take control of them… and you will forever lose the ability to call upon their powers."
"What," Kento demanded, as the other Ronins echoed their shock and anger.
"This is why you must not take upon yourselves, this fight," Celeste stated, a regretful tone to her voice. "And Anubis, Sekhmet, Dais, and Kale must not wield their armors, either. If Aislyn gains the powers of their armors in a similar manner, then her purpose will have been fulfilled."
"Then, we will fight against her," Serena exclaimed. "We'll fight her, and she'll never get her hands on the other armors!"
"Yeah, Serena has a point," Lita exclaimed. "We'll take on this fight!"
The sound of a man laughing was heard, and suddenly, the figure of a man appeared before the warriors. He wore all white, and a dark, blue cape draped over his shoulder. "My future Queen, you are as optimistic as ever," he spoke, as his blue oculars scanned over the group. He shook out his short, blonde hair as Serena and the other girls gasped in recognition, and a small smile graced his handsome features. "I see I have not been forgotten," he chuckled, raising an eyebrow as nearly every warrior gathered took a stance in front of Serena. "And I see that your guard has extended as well. Much has changed."
"Jadeite," Rei hissed out venomously. "How-"
"Jadeite," Celeste asked, interrupting Rei in the process. "You're putting yourself at risk. Why are you here?"
Yet another small, wry smile crossed his face, as he looked at the girl questioningly. "I could ask the same of you, Celeste," he replied.
"Will someone tell me what's going on," Serena asked suddenly. "Jadeite, how… how are you alive?"
With Sailor Ceres supporting Sailor Juno, and Sailor Pallas supporting Sailor Vesta, the Asteroid Scouts made their way towards Mistress Aislyn's chambers. The doors swung open as they approached them, and they could see her standing within the dimly lit room.
"She's going to be angry with us," Juno stated, a grim tone to her voice.
"No," Ceres replied. "We got the power of the Ronin Warriors. There are four more to get, so our work isn't done yet."
"But what about those brats from the future," Vesta asked. "How did they get to the past?"
"They are of no consequence, girls," Aislyn's voice floated in their direction. "Come and take a look." As they approached Aislyn, they could see she stood in front of a phantom image of a man. The girls looked down at themselves as they felt the magic of their henshin reverse. Looking back up, Aislyn was looking at them.
"Mistress," Cerecere began. "Is this the Dark Lord?"
"Yes," Aislyn responded with a smile. "This is Master Talpa." The man before them was a ghost of a figure. He had shoulder-length, white hair, however he also possessed human features. His skin was pale, and presently, his eyes were closed. "However," she continued, turning back to face the sister, "he is not strong enough to regain his physical form completely. He needs the power of the other Armors. Your job is not finished."
"How will we get the armor from the former Warlords," Junjun asked, a frown crossing her face. "It won't be easy."
"They will give them willingly," Aislyn began. "They will feel it's the only thing to do, once I set into motion their Fate."
"What do you mean," Cerecere asked. The four sisters watched as Aislyn turned, walking towards where five figures floated, suspended in the air.
"It's time to take back the Ronin armor completely, girls," she started. "I want you to take these children, and confront the Queen and her warriors once again."
"My lady," Junjun exclaimed. "The other warriors-"
"I know that, Junjun," Aislyn yelled, causing the girl to cringe slightly. "They will be distracted, and Small Lady will be left alone. When you take these children there, she will want to help them. The Sailor Scouts, are too weak to defeat you. I know what the Queen will attempt to do." Aislyn paused, smiling gently at the girls. "Fate is working how I want it to. Look." She waved her arm, and an image of Serena and the others appeared. Everyone seemed to be arguing; Serena, Rei, Amy, Mina, and Lita were arguing with Jadeite, the girls and Celeste seemed to be trying to calm everyone down, and Mia, Darien, Setsuna, and Kayura were talking amongst themselves quietly.
"Why are they fighting," Vesves asked, as an amused smile playing on her face.
"The wheels of Fate move in my favor," Aislyn answered. Once again, she moved her arm over the image. The image changed, to show Rini locked in the bathroom. She sat with her back against the door, crying. "Soon," she continued, "they will separate, and it will be time to take Small Lady, and retrieve the armor."
"Pallapalla and her sisters will make their mother proud," Pallapalla asked.
"Yes," Aislyn answered. "I will be very proud."
To Be Continued…
I looked this over, and decided I might as well post the chapter! It was pretty much done already; I just added a little, and edited it a bit - not much, mind you, lol. I'm really not sure when the next part will be out, but I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!