I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON.
Though I just might have some rights to Sailor Jupiter since I dressed
up as her at Comic Con (a convention that goes on every year in San
Diego, CA that has comics and lots and lots of ANIME.) The Princess
of Random went as Pluto. We made a damn good team, though walking
around all day in heels SUCKS ASS.
I won't give away the plot, but this chapter ups the antee, that's for
sure. Read on.
Send any questions, comments, or concerns to KThai123@home.com
Oh
Thanx!!! And go read my other story!!
"Once Upon the Midnight Dancers: One Story from a World Called Ether"
I think it's going to be really good! Maybe.
Anyway, if I am slow later on in getting in my chapters, FORGIVE ME.
School started and I am juggling three AP (translation: Damn Hard)
classes this year, on top of everything else. I hope to get everything
out in a timely manner however.
Go now, READ.
The Queen Has Spoken.
So It Is Written, So It Shall Be.
oh yeah, I almost forgot, it's blackmail time.
ATTENTION ALL READERS:
I like comments and all that, so here's the deal, if NO ONE
writes me and tells me if they think this story has a future or not,
then no more story being posted.
I hate to do that, but I like to think that there's at least
one person reading my story!
Thanx, Ever So Much.
~*~
Chapter 10: Damien Makes His Move
"Come on, Scouts, let's do this," said Haruka eagerly; she was
itching for a fight.
The girls all said their respective magical phrases, and in the space
that regular girls once occupied, now stood eight magical girls. Sailor
Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Pluto,
Sailor Saturn, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus stood ready for battle.
They were about to run off to the battlefield to meet the enemy when
one last transformation was called out.
"Moon Eternal! Make up!" she cried, and when the storm of
feathers stopped, the super heroine, Eternal Sailor Moon stood in place
of Serena. The DBZ gang looked a little questioningly at the huge
fabric wings, but did not comment. Sailor Moon looked at her fellow
Senshi's faces, and saw the unvoiced question written plainly there.
She smiled and said, "Don't worry guys, I'm fine, really." Another
flash of light, and next to her stood a tuxedo-clad man complete with
cane and top hat.
"And I will make sure she stays that way," put in Tuxedo Mask.
"You have *got* to be kidding me," said Piccolo, looking
doubtfully at the masked man. Tuxedo Mask flashed him a dazzling
smile, and Piccolo just hung his head, muttering, "I have to be seen in
public with this guy?"
Finally, it seemed everyone was battle ready, and they were
bounding off to meet the enemy, who were still causing explosions left
and right, leaving two very worried women behind.
"Oh, I hope they'll be all right, said Bulma, chewing on a
nail.
ChiChi nodded. "I know. I'm worried about Lita. I just hate
the thought of that evil man getting her."
The two women stood there, both wishing they could help, but
knowing they could not.
~*~
Meanwhile, off in the distance, the Senshi and DBZ gang had
jumped into the thick of battle...
A bright light flashed, and Sailor Moon was blasted by one of
the numerous youma she was battling.
"No!" Tuxedo Mask cried out desperately, and ran to her.
"Is she okay," one of the Senshi asked, while still fighting.
Tuxedo Mask looked at Sailor Moon worriedly. He checked her
pulse and found it and her breathing strong. He looked still looked
skeptical, but said "Yes, she is fine, just unconscious. I'll stand
guard by her, if you guys think you can handle the rest of them." He
indicated the massive amount of monsters milling about.
"No problem, Cape Boy!" said Jupiter, almost happily. She did
love a good fight. "We'll split up into two's so we can fight easier.
Mars, you can partner with Piccolo. I know that look, and don't you
dare say anything. Your powers complement each other, and you have a
communicator in case you get into a problem." Reluctantly, Mars and
Piccolo nodded assent. "Venus, you got Yamcha. You've been sparring
with him enough you should do very well. Mercury, you can grab Gohan.
Veggie, you can go with Uranus, and for the love of Kami, please, no
fighting! You're going to have enough problems on your hands with the
youma's! Chibi Trunks, as always, you and Goten are a team. Just
don't stray too far from the nearest Senshi, because they can radio if
you need help. Pluto, you have Tien. Chaozu, you have Saturn. Tux,
you already got your girl. And Trunks, you're with me. Everyone got
it?"
"Hai!" came the chorus of replies.
"Alright, let's go kick some enemy ass!" cried Uranus.
Almost as if to accent the statement, a line of various youma's
got organized and started to charge them, finally realizing that they
should attack while the Senshi and friends were massed in one place.
With a loud battle cry everyone rushed into the fray. Tuxedo Mask
stayed behind with the unconscious Moon, and the two Lunar cats.
Tuxedo Mask watched as his friends leaped off, and stared after
them with a bad feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. "Good luck
guys. I think you are going to need it," he said softly, and the cats
frowned as only cats can.
The fight was pretty even, with everyone holding their own.
Most of the teams worked very well together, and even Vegita and Uranus
got along well enough to fry an impressive amount of youma's.
Sometime during the fighting, Jupiter and Trunks started to be
separated from the others. Unfortunately, neither of them noticed. No
one seemed to figure out that the youma's had a method to their
attacking, even if it seemed random. Trunks and Jupiter were a great
team though; their energy and lightning attacks combined effortlessly,
and they caused severe damage to the enemy ranks. But more and more
kept advancing, appearing almost out of nowhere, widening the gap
between the pair and their friends.
All of a sudden, Trunks finally looked around him and realized
that he could barley see the others in the distance. He called out to
Jupiter, but it was already too late. They heard deep masculine
laughter fill the clearing, which they now occupied. It was the
laughter of someone who had a plan fall perfectly into place, and had
known it would do so from the very start. In other words it was the
laughter of an arrogant bastard. Jupiter looked up to see, who else,
but the Prince of Darkness.
"Shit," Jupiter muttered under her breath, and moved closer to
Trunks until they were side by side.
"Ah, my ever beautiful Jupiter. May I say you look even
lovelier with the forest as a backdrop. I think it suits you. Perhaps
I shall build you a castle in the forest on my planet for a wedding
present," said Damien his tone mocking, but an undertone of a deeper
emotion could be heard in his voice. Around Jupiter and Trunks the
youma were gathering in more force. Although they left a twenty foot
gap between themselves and Jupiter and Trunks, they had the pair
completely surrounded within minutes.
Jupiter cursed under her breath again and brought up her wrist
to her mouth. "Uh, guys, Trunks and I seem to be in a tight spot. We
can't get out, and you probably can't get in cause the youma's are
packed tight, but be ready to move on our signal," she said softly into
her communicator. She held her wrist up long enough to hear a
conformation, then focused all of her attention on the man hovering
above her.
"Now Jupiter, why don't you make things easy on yourself and
just come with me?" said Damien in his most convincing voice.
"Buzz off, creep," said Jupiter, backing away a few most steps.
"You're not taking her anywhere bastard," said Trunks menacingly,
stepping protectively in front of Jupiter.
For the first time Damien saw Trunks, or rather he realized
someone else was there besides Jupiter, and he wasn't happy about it.
"And who might you be?" he asked, an iciness lacing his voice.
"It's none of your business, but my name is Trunks, and I am a
friend of Jupiter's. Now I warn you for a second time, back off," he
said, his voice deathly calm, but the threat was clearly heard.
Damien looked Trunks in the eye, and laughed! "Ha! Like you
could even touch me. And what the hell kind of name is Trunks anyway?
Maybe I should hang you up in my closet. On second thought, why would
I want a dirty, useless thing like you?" he said snickering.
Trunks looked at Damien with contempt. "Like you can talk.
It's a lot better than 'The Prince of Darkness.' I could probably take
out a Barney night light and kick your ass. Hell, now that I think of
it, all I need is to get Barney and he'd scare you away."
Damien had tapped into one of the earth television stations and
watched the show in the days he spent thinking up a plan to get Jupiter.
They called him evil, yet they showed *that* to little kids. Did
anyone else see something wrong here? Damien would never admit it, but
when Barney started to sing his theme song at the end of his show, it
disturbed the hell out of him. So he got just a little upset at being
threatened with the big purple dinosaur. "Oh yeah, well try this on
for size!" Damien yelled, throwing a huge ball of dark energy towards
Trunks before the silver haired boy could do anything. It struck him
in the chest and sent Trunks flying past Jupiter.
"Trunks!" Jupiter called out as she rushed to his still figure.
She was tense as she searched for a pulse, but relaxed somewhat when
she found he had one and was breathing strongly. Jupiter could sense
that his energy level, however, was very low. He opened his eyes and
smiled weakly at her.
"I guess my knight-in-shinning-armor routine didn't go down so
well, ne?" he said, with a deep sadness in his voice. He tried to say
something more, but he faltered and lost consciousness. Jupiter looked
up to Damien, a righteous anger brewing inside her, hot as coals, but
infinitely more dangerous.
"Why you arrogant bastard. How *dare* you do this to my
friend," she said, her hand motioning to Trunks. She took a step
towards Damien in her anger.
He could see the terrific fury welling up, and it only made her
more beautiful. "Come now darling, don't be like that. It will do you
no good to resist anymore, though I have enjoyed the hunt. Just take
my hand and it will all be over." All the time he was talking to her,
he was looking into her jade eyes, but it wasn't just for the view.
Damien was putting thoughts into her head very subtly. The only thing
was, Jupiter wasn't falling for it one bit.
"Now why would I do a stupid thing like that? You are an
egotistical son of a bitch, who not only think he can just walk into my
life and order me about, but also hurts my friends. Do you think that
wins you any brownie points? I don't think so, buddy. You need to get
the facts straight. I don't like you, I don't like who you are, and I
don't like what you do. If you know what's good for you, you'll just
go home and leave me and my friends be. I don't want any part of you,"
spat out Jupiter, not caring that this guy could probably fry her with
a single thought. "Oh yeah, and if you ever call me *darling* again, I
will be forced to drop kick your ass."
Damien threw back his head and laughed deeply. "That's why I
love you Jupiter. You're so honest and true, and you have the most
extraordinary spirit. Hell, you have a temper that would melt the
coldest planet if it suited you. But I warn you, if you do not come
with me willingly, then you must face the consequences. And there
*will* be hell to pay if you deny me." His voice grew hard as nails,
and Jupiter saw the grim determination in his beautiful green eyes.
"Once again, I think I'll have to pass," Jupiter stated simply.
"So be it." Damien held out his hand and closed his eyes. "I,
the Prince of Darkness, call upon the shadows of the world to aid me.
Capture the fair Jupiter, but leave her unharmed."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Jupiter found
herself being held in an iron grip that she couldn't get out of.
Jupiter turned her head to see her own shadow holding her hostage.
Although she knew it was futile, she tried vainly to escape its grip.
"Come with me now, Jupiter. Do so willingly, and we won't have
to go through all this. Just give me your word, and the shadow will
release you."
Princess Jupiter a.k.a. Sailor Jupiter a.k.a. Lita Makoto Kino
looked Damien in the eye and said with a perfect calm, "Well then,
before you go forward with whatever you are going to do, know this: I
will die before I go willingly with you. I will not sell myself out
because you think that you love me. If I go, then it will be by
force."
Damien saw his grim determination mirrored in her eyes and knew
that he had to pull out all the stops. He waved his hand and Jupiter's
eyes followed it until she met with an awful sight.
Row upon row of her friends, her dearest friends, were lined up,
each held by their own shadow in an unbreakable grip. The only one who
was not held by his shadow was Trunks, who still lay unconscious and
unaware of events.
"NO!" cried Jupiter, desperately wanting to go and help her
friends.
Damien had a strange expression on his face that almost looked
like regret, but then it hardened to conviction. "I hate that it had
to come to this but if you do not come willingly then your friends will
suffer for it." As if to illustrate his point, the shadows squeezed
their prizes, and a few cried out.
"Don't give in to the bastard, Jupiter!" said Goku, heaving
with the effort of fighting against his own shadow.
"Yeah Jupiter, we'll be all right, just don't worry about us,"
said Mars between gasps.
"Okay Jupiter, it's now or never. Give up, and your friends
will be set free and left alone. Refuse, and they *will* be harmed."
Damien carefully watched her for her reaction.
Jupiter looked him in the eye, and knew he was not bluffing.
Then she looked to her friends, who were still fighting a hopeless
battle with their shadows while still encouraging her to not give in.
She looked from person to person, meeting all of their eyes. "I am
sorry guys, but you mean more to me than even my life. It is worth
nothing if you guys are hurt or worse, killed," she said earnestly,
then she turned to Damien, the bane of her existence. "Very well. I
give in. Happy?" she bit out.
Damien's eyes shone. "Do you mean it? Will you promise to
come willingly?"
"Yes, damn you, I promise. But if you hurt one hair on any of
their heads, I will personally rip out your throat with my teeth."
"Done," said Damien, and motioned the shadows to release their
charges. He held out his hand and Jupiter reached for it with a bowed
head.
"No Lita! Don't go!" cried Sailor Moon, who was running
towards her. Jupiter only held out her hand, but that simple movement
made Sailor Moon stop in her tracks.
"No, Serena, my Princess, I must do this. I will not allow you
or anyone else hurt. My duty is to make sure you live, even at the
cost of my own freedom. Just promise me that you'll look after my
family," said Jupiter. Her emerald eyes were glassy with tears that
she refused to let fall. She could not keep the heartfelt sorrow from
her voice.
With tears streaming down from her azure eyes, Sailor Moon
promised her friend that she would, and then Jupiter took Damien's hand
and they disappeared in a wave of silver and green lights. The rest of
the youma disappeared shortly thereafter.
Sailor Moon fell to her knees, her eyes nearly blank from shock,
but that didn't stop the tears from cascading down her face in bitter
waves. The Inner Senshi gathered around, wrapping her in their
collective embrace. Everyone else stood just behind them, gathering in
a semi-circle, their expressions somber.
Jupiter was gone, and none of them knew how to get her back.
~*~
On the edge of the clearing, a being stood watching the scene
unfold. A curse escaped him. Well, he would have to go keep an eye on
her. Damn. This made his job harder. His body stiffened in resolve.
It would have to be done.
That decided, he padded silently off, and disappeared without
anyone knowing he was ever there.
~*~EnD ChApTeR~*~
Cliffhanger, eh?
Though I just might have some rights to Sailor Jupiter since I dressed
up as her at Comic Con (a convention that goes on every year in San
Diego, CA that has comics and lots and lots of ANIME.) The Princess
of Random went as Pluto. We made a damn good team, though walking
around all day in heels SUCKS ASS.
I won't give away the plot, but this chapter ups the antee, that's for
sure. Read on.
Send any questions, comments, or concerns to KThai123@home.com
Oh
Thanx!!! And go read my other story!!
"Once Upon the Midnight Dancers: One Story from a World Called Ether"
I think it's going to be really good! Maybe.
Anyway, if I am slow later on in getting in my chapters, FORGIVE ME.
School started and I am juggling three AP (translation: Damn Hard)
classes this year, on top of everything else. I hope to get everything
out in a timely manner however.
Go now, READ.
The Queen Has Spoken.
So It Is Written, So It Shall Be.
oh yeah, I almost forgot, it's blackmail time.
ATTENTION ALL READERS:
I like comments and all that, so here's the deal, if NO ONE
writes me and tells me if they think this story has a future or not,
then no more story being posted.
I hate to do that, but I like to think that there's at least
one person reading my story!
Thanx, Ever So Much.
~*~
Chapter 10: Damien Makes His Move
"Come on, Scouts, let's do this," said Haruka eagerly; she was
itching for a fight.
The girls all said their respective magical phrases, and in the space
that regular girls once occupied, now stood eight magical girls. Sailor
Jupiter, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Pluto,
Sailor Saturn, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus stood ready for battle.
They were about to run off to the battlefield to meet the enemy when
one last transformation was called out.
"Moon Eternal! Make up!" she cried, and when the storm of
feathers stopped, the super heroine, Eternal Sailor Moon stood in place
of Serena. The DBZ gang looked a little questioningly at the huge
fabric wings, but did not comment. Sailor Moon looked at her fellow
Senshi's faces, and saw the unvoiced question written plainly there.
She smiled and said, "Don't worry guys, I'm fine, really." Another
flash of light, and next to her stood a tuxedo-clad man complete with
cane and top hat.
"And I will make sure she stays that way," put in Tuxedo Mask.
"You have *got* to be kidding me," said Piccolo, looking
doubtfully at the masked man. Tuxedo Mask flashed him a dazzling
smile, and Piccolo just hung his head, muttering, "I have to be seen in
public with this guy?"
Finally, it seemed everyone was battle ready, and they were
bounding off to meet the enemy, who were still causing explosions left
and right, leaving two very worried women behind.
"Oh, I hope they'll be all right, said Bulma, chewing on a
nail.
ChiChi nodded. "I know. I'm worried about Lita. I just hate
the thought of that evil man getting her."
The two women stood there, both wishing they could help, but
knowing they could not.
~*~
Meanwhile, off in the distance, the Senshi and DBZ gang had
jumped into the thick of battle...
A bright light flashed, and Sailor Moon was blasted by one of
the numerous youma she was battling.
"No!" Tuxedo Mask cried out desperately, and ran to her.
"Is she okay," one of the Senshi asked, while still fighting.
Tuxedo Mask looked at Sailor Moon worriedly. He checked her
pulse and found it and her breathing strong. He looked still looked
skeptical, but said "Yes, she is fine, just unconscious. I'll stand
guard by her, if you guys think you can handle the rest of them." He
indicated the massive amount of monsters milling about.
"No problem, Cape Boy!" said Jupiter, almost happily. She did
love a good fight. "We'll split up into two's so we can fight easier.
Mars, you can partner with Piccolo. I know that look, and don't you
dare say anything. Your powers complement each other, and you have a
communicator in case you get into a problem." Reluctantly, Mars and
Piccolo nodded assent. "Venus, you got Yamcha. You've been sparring
with him enough you should do very well. Mercury, you can grab Gohan.
Veggie, you can go with Uranus, and for the love of Kami, please, no
fighting! You're going to have enough problems on your hands with the
youma's! Chibi Trunks, as always, you and Goten are a team. Just
don't stray too far from the nearest Senshi, because they can radio if
you need help. Pluto, you have Tien. Chaozu, you have Saturn. Tux,
you already got your girl. And Trunks, you're with me. Everyone got
it?"
"Hai!" came the chorus of replies.
"Alright, let's go kick some enemy ass!" cried Uranus.
Almost as if to accent the statement, a line of various youma's
got organized and started to charge them, finally realizing that they
should attack while the Senshi and friends were massed in one place.
With a loud battle cry everyone rushed into the fray. Tuxedo Mask
stayed behind with the unconscious Moon, and the two Lunar cats.
Tuxedo Mask watched as his friends leaped off, and stared after
them with a bad feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. "Good luck
guys. I think you are going to need it," he said softly, and the cats
frowned as only cats can.
The fight was pretty even, with everyone holding their own.
Most of the teams worked very well together, and even Vegita and Uranus
got along well enough to fry an impressive amount of youma's.
Sometime during the fighting, Jupiter and Trunks started to be
separated from the others. Unfortunately, neither of them noticed. No
one seemed to figure out that the youma's had a method to their
attacking, even if it seemed random. Trunks and Jupiter were a great
team though; their energy and lightning attacks combined effortlessly,
and they caused severe damage to the enemy ranks. But more and more
kept advancing, appearing almost out of nowhere, widening the gap
between the pair and their friends.
All of a sudden, Trunks finally looked around him and realized
that he could barley see the others in the distance. He called out to
Jupiter, but it was already too late. They heard deep masculine
laughter fill the clearing, which they now occupied. It was the
laughter of someone who had a plan fall perfectly into place, and had
known it would do so from the very start. In other words it was the
laughter of an arrogant bastard. Jupiter looked up to see, who else,
but the Prince of Darkness.
"Shit," Jupiter muttered under her breath, and moved closer to
Trunks until they were side by side.
"Ah, my ever beautiful Jupiter. May I say you look even
lovelier with the forest as a backdrop. I think it suits you. Perhaps
I shall build you a castle in the forest on my planet for a wedding
present," said Damien his tone mocking, but an undertone of a deeper
emotion could be heard in his voice. Around Jupiter and Trunks the
youma were gathering in more force. Although they left a twenty foot
gap between themselves and Jupiter and Trunks, they had the pair
completely surrounded within minutes.
Jupiter cursed under her breath again and brought up her wrist
to her mouth. "Uh, guys, Trunks and I seem to be in a tight spot. We
can't get out, and you probably can't get in cause the youma's are
packed tight, but be ready to move on our signal," she said softly into
her communicator. She held her wrist up long enough to hear a
conformation, then focused all of her attention on the man hovering
above her.
"Now Jupiter, why don't you make things easy on yourself and
just come with me?" said Damien in his most convincing voice.
"Buzz off, creep," said Jupiter, backing away a few most steps.
"You're not taking her anywhere bastard," said Trunks menacingly,
stepping protectively in front of Jupiter.
For the first time Damien saw Trunks, or rather he realized
someone else was there besides Jupiter, and he wasn't happy about it.
"And who might you be?" he asked, an iciness lacing his voice.
"It's none of your business, but my name is Trunks, and I am a
friend of Jupiter's. Now I warn you for a second time, back off," he
said, his voice deathly calm, but the threat was clearly heard.
Damien looked Trunks in the eye, and laughed! "Ha! Like you
could even touch me. And what the hell kind of name is Trunks anyway?
Maybe I should hang you up in my closet. On second thought, why would
I want a dirty, useless thing like you?" he said snickering.
Trunks looked at Damien with contempt. "Like you can talk.
It's a lot better than 'The Prince of Darkness.' I could probably take
out a Barney night light and kick your ass. Hell, now that I think of
it, all I need is to get Barney and he'd scare you away."
Damien had tapped into one of the earth television stations and
watched the show in the days he spent thinking up a plan to get Jupiter.
They called him evil, yet they showed *that* to little kids. Did
anyone else see something wrong here? Damien would never admit it, but
when Barney started to sing his theme song at the end of his show, it
disturbed the hell out of him. So he got just a little upset at being
threatened with the big purple dinosaur. "Oh yeah, well try this on
for size!" Damien yelled, throwing a huge ball of dark energy towards
Trunks before the silver haired boy could do anything. It struck him
in the chest and sent Trunks flying past Jupiter.
"Trunks!" Jupiter called out as she rushed to his still figure.
She was tense as she searched for a pulse, but relaxed somewhat when
she found he had one and was breathing strongly. Jupiter could sense
that his energy level, however, was very low. He opened his eyes and
smiled weakly at her.
"I guess my knight-in-shinning-armor routine didn't go down so
well, ne?" he said, with a deep sadness in his voice. He tried to say
something more, but he faltered and lost consciousness. Jupiter looked
up to Damien, a righteous anger brewing inside her, hot as coals, but
infinitely more dangerous.
"Why you arrogant bastard. How *dare* you do this to my
friend," she said, her hand motioning to Trunks. She took a step
towards Damien in her anger.
He could see the terrific fury welling up, and it only made her
more beautiful. "Come now darling, don't be like that. It will do you
no good to resist anymore, though I have enjoyed the hunt. Just take
my hand and it will all be over." All the time he was talking to her,
he was looking into her jade eyes, but it wasn't just for the view.
Damien was putting thoughts into her head very subtly. The only thing
was, Jupiter wasn't falling for it one bit.
"Now why would I do a stupid thing like that? You are an
egotistical son of a bitch, who not only think he can just walk into my
life and order me about, but also hurts my friends. Do you think that
wins you any brownie points? I don't think so, buddy. You need to get
the facts straight. I don't like you, I don't like who you are, and I
don't like what you do. If you know what's good for you, you'll just
go home and leave me and my friends be. I don't want any part of you,"
spat out Jupiter, not caring that this guy could probably fry her with
a single thought. "Oh yeah, and if you ever call me *darling* again, I
will be forced to drop kick your ass."
Damien threw back his head and laughed deeply. "That's why I
love you Jupiter. You're so honest and true, and you have the most
extraordinary spirit. Hell, you have a temper that would melt the
coldest planet if it suited you. But I warn you, if you do not come
with me willingly, then you must face the consequences. And there
*will* be hell to pay if you deny me." His voice grew hard as nails,
and Jupiter saw the grim determination in his beautiful green eyes.
"Once again, I think I'll have to pass," Jupiter stated simply.
"So be it." Damien held out his hand and closed his eyes. "I,
the Prince of Darkness, call upon the shadows of the world to aid me.
Capture the fair Jupiter, but leave her unharmed."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Jupiter found
herself being held in an iron grip that she couldn't get out of.
Jupiter turned her head to see her own shadow holding her hostage.
Although she knew it was futile, she tried vainly to escape its grip.
"Come with me now, Jupiter. Do so willingly, and we won't have
to go through all this. Just give me your word, and the shadow will
release you."
Princess Jupiter a.k.a. Sailor Jupiter a.k.a. Lita Makoto Kino
looked Damien in the eye and said with a perfect calm, "Well then,
before you go forward with whatever you are going to do, know this: I
will die before I go willingly with you. I will not sell myself out
because you think that you love me. If I go, then it will be by
force."
Damien saw his grim determination mirrored in her eyes and knew
that he had to pull out all the stops. He waved his hand and Jupiter's
eyes followed it until she met with an awful sight.
Row upon row of her friends, her dearest friends, were lined up,
each held by their own shadow in an unbreakable grip. The only one who
was not held by his shadow was Trunks, who still lay unconscious and
unaware of events.
"NO!" cried Jupiter, desperately wanting to go and help her
friends.
Damien had a strange expression on his face that almost looked
like regret, but then it hardened to conviction. "I hate that it had
to come to this but if you do not come willingly then your friends will
suffer for it." As if to illustrate his point, the shadows squeezed
their prizes, and a few cried out.
"Don't give in to the bastard, Jupiter!" said Goku, heaving
with the effort of fighting against his own shadow.
"Yeah Jupiter, we'll be all right, just don't worry about us,"
said Mars between gasps.
"Okay Jupiter, it's now or never. Give up, and your friends
will be set free and left alone. Refuse, and they *will* be harmed."
Damien carefully watched her for her reaction.
Jupiter looked him in the eye, and knew he was not bluffing.
Then she looked to her friends, who were still fighting a hopeless
battle with their shadows while still encouraging her to not give in.
She looked from person to person, meeting all of their eyes. "I am
sorry guys, but you mean more to me than even my life. It is worth
nothing if you guys are hurt or worse, killed," she said earnestly,
then she turned to Damien, the bane of her existence. "Very well. I
give in. Happy?" she bit out.
Damien's eyes shone. "Do you mean it? Will you promise to
come willingly?"
"Yes, damn you, I promise. But if you hurt one hair on any of
their heads, I will personally rip out your throat with my teeth."
"Done," said Damien, and motioned the shadows to release their
charges. He held out his hand and Jupiter reached for it with a bowed
head.
"No Lita! Don't go!" cried Sailor Moon, who was running
towards her. Jupiter only held out her hand, but that simple movement
made Sailor Moon stop in her tracks.
"No, Serena, my Princess, I must do this. I will not allow you
or anyone else hurt. My duty is to make sure you live, even at the
cost of my own freedom. Just promise me that you'll look after my
family," said Jupiter. Her emerald eyes were glassy with tears that
she refused to let fall. She could not keep the heartfelt sorrow from
her voice.
With tears streaming down from her azure eyes, Sailor Moon
promised her friend that she would, and then Jupiter took Damien's hand
and they disappeared in a wave of silver and green lights. The rest of
the youma disappeared shortly thereafter.
Sailor Moon fell to her knees, her eyes nearly blank from shock,
but that didn't stop the tears from cascading down her face in bitter
waves. The Inner Senshi gathered around, wrapping her in their
collective embrace. Everyone else stood just behind them, gathering in
a semi-circle, their expressions somber.
Jupiter was gone, and none of them knew how to get her back.
~*~
On the edge of the clearing, a being stood watching the scene
unfold. A curse escaped him. Well, he would have to go keep an eye on
her. Damn. This made his job harder. His body stiffened in resolve.
It would have to be done.
That decided, he padded silently off, and disappeared without
anyone knowing he was ever there.
~*~EnD ChApTeR~*~
Cliffhanger, eh?