You guys, my computer is screwing up. It isn't letting my update my bio or
my fics! So, even though I can't update, I'm still writing. That way when
it's finally fixed, you guys will have a present for waiting so patiently.
Hee hee! To help you guys get a feel for the length of this particular
stores, 12 episodes and an epilogue are planned. And this here is episode
8! After this episode, the real action begins. We left off at the end of a
battle and Uranus has just called a Level Four. Immediately, Sailor Moon
teleported them all away.
Episode 8: Separated
Level Four.
The words sent a biting chill up Darien's spine; he shuddered hard. He couldn't see his wife through the void of teleportation, but he sensed her resign. It radiated from her.
He sensed fear. But, of course, it wasn't fear for herself. It was her fear for her unborn child that had led her to allow this.
This was very, very bad.
It is generally understood among the Senshi that the fierce Scout of Uranus was in charge of security and protection of the Princess and Prince. And it took only the worst situations to break her confidence. When this happened, she tripped Code Four, if she really felt true danger haunted the Princess.
Uranus hadn't called Code 4 since the attack on the Moon Kingdom.
Over a millennia ago.
And that one failed.
Darien vaguely wondered where his wife was taking them through the windy void of teleportation. They had to leave and relocate immediately. The Scouts' families would panic; no word could be left behind. He and his wife would most likely be separated and hidden in remote areas. Communications would be shot. The Senshi would be on full alert at all times.
Darien was used to a constant Level 2 of security. They were all ready to stop what they were doing to fight at any moment. Level 1 only occurred if they lost their memories. Sometimes Level 3 was called. That meant a Senshi was on constant guard by the Prince and Princess. This didn't even touch the horrors of Level Four. Uranus never panicked. She sometimes lost her temper, but never her cool. Something terrible had happened. Never had the words "Code 4" spilled over her tight lips. Not in a thousand years.
Suddenly, Darien could see again. He found himself in the bottom of a narrow icy canyon. He looked around and saw Neptune, Saturn, Mercury, and Mars shaking off the effects of teleportation.
Neptune immediately took charge. "We have instructions to hide within the canyon wall until Uranus contacts us. We are to release as little power as possible and turn off all communicators. The Aqua Mirror and Mercury's computer will remain active, but the Silence Glaive, the Bow of Flames and the Harp of Ice must not be activated until dire need because the strong power signatures are easily traced."
She looked around, locking eyes with each person one by one. When she raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him, Tuxedo Mask bowed his head slightly, allowing her to give him orders. She shook her head just as slightly, demonstrating her reluctance to command him. He merely smiled a smile of weariness, and followed her and the others into a hole in the canyon wall, quickly sealed up by Mercury's ice.
***********
When her vision cleared, Sailor Moon willingly folded into Pluto's arms, exhausted from the teleport.
"Where did you send the others?" Pluto asked quietly, looking around as the memories took hold.
It took a moment for the Princess to respond.
She was fighting tears.
When she composed herself, she answered softly. "They are safe, hidden in an icy canyon wall in Antarctica."
"And the guys?" This was from a slightly dizzy Sailor Venus. Dizzy from teleportation, but more from memories flooding her.
Serenity smiled. "I transported them, my family, and the rest of the Scouts' immediate family members to Elysion. They're in a deep sleep and will remember nothing of it when they awake, when the enemy is gone."
"That's safe?" Jupiter wondered, relaxing a moment to imagine Ken's sleeping figure.
"The safest."
Uranus quit looking around and glanced sharply at Sailor Moon. "Then why aren't you there?"
"Two reasons." The Senshi of the Moon's smile was a tired one, but tolerant. "One: I don't need to. I have you guys and my own powers to fight back with. I'm not helpless and eventually, I will be needed to defeat the enemy. I don't even like hiding in the first place. You guys could do it alone, but you most likely die in the effort. Two: Look around. this is a very safe place with many places to hide if need be. It's the last place anyone would expect. And here, my power is at its height. As long as my power is strong, my child is safe, and the longer I'm here, the stronger I will be. I am already recovering from the complicated teleport."
"What about those tracking devices? Darien had one too, we believe." That was Neptune again.
"I removed both before teleportation."
They stood, and began to walk slowly, drinking in each detail. Soon, Venus began to cry. Jupiter's face was red with restrained tears and long repressed anger. Uranus was pale in her ancient fury. Pluto was deathly silent.
"I don't want these memories..." Venus whispered.
Serenity paused in her compassion, the only one at peace with their surroundings.
"Of course you do." she murmured maternally. "Remember all the good times!"
She used her powers, amplified by this place, to remind them of all the good times they spent here together, so, so long ago.
Here, in the now-desecrated, now-deserted, Moon Kingdom.
With something kin to a smile in her eyes, Uranus gently pushed Sailor Moon on. "Of course, Princess. So out of sight you go. Now."
***********
Three days passed very slowly in a hole in a freezing canyon wall. Of course, it didn't feel freezing. The fire of Mars was more than enough. It burned in the center of the bedroom-sized hole, warming even the ice to the touch. And the ice did not melt due to the subtle powers of Mercury. Mercury, when she had to take a break from staring at her computer, experimented with her icy powers, drawing shapes in the ice with snow from her fingertips. Saturn took it upon herself to guard the entrance to their hideout, Glaive at the ready. And Neptune, who shared the separation from her own lover, sought to comfort their Prince. Not with words, but with her constant presence.
"I wonder where they went and where she sent the guys..." Mars muttered, playing with flames on her fingertips.
"Any word at all, Neptune?" Tuxedo Mask wondered. The plan was for the Princess or Uranus to contact them via the Aqua Mirror when the rest of the plan was formed. Neptune shook her head.
"Why do you think she sent you four specifically with me?" He asked them, curious.
"I can answer that," Saturn answered from the doorway, back still turned. "She knew that she would have to be separated from you for safety, and she knew you would miss her. She also know that Uranus needed to stay with her, so she Neptune, who would share your pain and be able to comfort you. She sent Mars to keep us warm since she picked this spot, and she sent me because I can act as a constant guard and emergency healer."
"What about me?" Mercury wondered. "Wouldn't she need me to help trace the enemy's activity or form a plan?"
Saturn was silent for a moment. Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath. "She can do a little tracing on her own and she has Pluto to help with the plan. Plus, you are keeping the ice from melting. The fact is that she was planning for the worst when she sent you, Amy. Yes, she would need you to do those things, but she sent you in case that she was captured so that you might be able to find her again."
Left with these morbid thoughts and nothing but worry to aggravate them, the Scouts were silent.
*****************
As she had grown, Serenity had gained more and more of her memories by way of dreams and flashbacks. The Scouts retained very few memories, and many were only of the horrors of their last days. She led the antsy Senshi through the remains of the Moon Palace. They passed the Prayer Tower, which glowed for a moment when Serenity passed by. Venus and Jupiter passed the remains of their bedrooms, near Serenity's chambers. Sailor Moon still tried to feed them more memories of the good times to relax them, but progress was slow.
She led them into the basement of the Palace, a small room with a camouflaged trap door as the only entrance.
It was easy to forget that Sailor Moon was seven months pregnant, but when she struggled to go down the ladder, first facing it, then back to it, and struggled for a moment until giving up and using her wings to fly down, the Senshi remembered it with both a smile and a frown.
****************
A month passed in the ice with no word from the Princess. Darien remained their hope, because he could always sense her feelings and if she was in trouble. And he felt nothing of the sort. He did sense something strange from her; it was a kind of rejuvenation that he felt in Elysion. His eyes widened with realization, but he could say nothing for safety, not even to the Scouts. They weren't permitted to talk very often, with Neptune in charge of them. Darien spent most of his time worrying about his wife. The exhaustion would be unimaginable if she had to remain transformed for much longer. She was always tired when she powered down, depending on how long she'd remained transformed. Now, Serena would be in her eighth month of pregnancy. He longed to see her, but dared not ask Neptune to use her mirror for that. It could be traced. He sensed her feelings; most of them consisted of boredom, regret, reminiscence, and occasional mirth.
Mars was restless. She was miffed that she hadn't been put with the Princess and that amused Darien. She glanced at him, aggravated. "You know, even if the Senshi powers take away the need for food, water, sleep, and going to the bathroom, a girl would still enjoy some chocolate or something!" she whispered.
Darien only smiled in response. He closed his eyes and tried to see from his beloved's eyes. He saw blurred images from the past month, of the Moon Palace, the gardens, the balcony he always climbed to see her, the Prayer tower, the sword she'd driven through her heart all those years ago. Many were good memories, but some were not.
At the moment, he sensed that she was thinking about her child and –hee- him. She was missing him.
Suddenly, he sensed pain in her. Pain in her abdomen. He felt her sudden panic, and without thinking, he teleported, violating the single most important rule in a Code 4 situation. He heard that shadow of Neptune's shocked yell as he flew through the void.
He reappeared at her side. The Scouts had gathered around her, fanning her and such. Her face was scrunched up and he made his way to her aggressively, ignoring the surprised gasps and outrage of Uranus.
"Love?" he asked her, wiping her forehead.
She was happy to see him, but worry instantly filled her face. "It isn't safe for you to be here!" She scolded softly, between breaths. "It's just some false pains. Don't worry! Quick, we should all relocate!"
The words had no sooner left her lips than a figure kicked open the door trap door. It splintered and several youma and two cloaked figures entered. Before anyone could move, a harsh white sword's point lay at the neck of the Prince and the scythe blade of a violet staff was millimeters from the exposed neck of the Princess.
Just as the other Senshi arrived, recognition dawned in the eyes of the Princess as their enemies teleported them instantly away. Along with recognition were two comrades never seen in the eyes of Princess Serenity.
Hate.
And fear.
------------------
See you next time! So who is it? The only likely partners in evil will be revealed next time! Sorry about being two weeks late!
-Moon Pie
Episode 8: Separated
Level Four.
The words sent a biting chill up Darien's spine; he shuddered hard. He couldn't see his wife through the void of teleportation, but he sensed her resign. It radiated from her.
He sensed fear. But, of course, it wasn't fear for herself. It was her fear for her unborn child that had led her to allow this.
This was very, very bad.
It is generally understood among the Senshi that the fierce Scout of Uranus was in charge of security and protection of the Princess and Prince. And it took only the worst situations to break her confidence. When this happened, she tripped Code Four, if she really felt true danger haunted the Princess.
Uranus hadn't called Code 4 since the attack on the Moon Kingdom.
Over a millennia ago.
And that one failed.
Darien vaguely wondered where his wife was taking them through the windy void of teleportation. They had to leave and relocate immediately. The Scouts' families would panic; no word could be left behind. He and his wife would most likely be separated and hidden in remote areas. Communications would be shot. The Senshi would be on full alert at all times.
Darien was used to a constant Level 2 of security. They were all ready to stop what they were doing to fight at any moment. Level 1 only occurred if they lost their memories. Sometimes Level 3 was called. That meant a Senshi was on constant guard by the Prince and Princess. This didn't even touch the horrors of Level Four. Uranus never panicked. She sometimes lost her temper, but never her cool. Something terrible had happened. Never had the words "Code 4" spilled over her tight lips. Not in a thousand years.
Suddenly, Darien could see again. He found himself in the bottom of a narrow icy canyon. He looked around and saw Neptune, Saturn, Mercury, and Mars shaking off the effects of teleportation.
Neptune immediately took charge. "We have instructions to hide within the canyon wall until Uranus contacts us. We are to release as little power as possible and turn off all communicators. The Aqua Mirror and Mercury's computer will remain active, but the Silence Glaive, the Bow of Flames and the Harp of Ice must not be activated until dire need because the strong power signatures are easily traced."
She looked around, locking eyes with each person one by one. When she raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him, Tuxedo Mask bowed his head slightly, allowing her to give him orders. She shook her head just as slightly, demonstrating her reluctance to command him. He merely smiled a smile of weariness, and followed her and the others into a hole in the canyon wall, quickly sealed up by Mercury's ice.
***********
When her vision cleared, Sailor Moon willingly folded into Pluto's arms, exhausted from the teleport.
"Where did you send the others?" Pluto asked quietly, looking around as the memories took hold.
It took a moment for the Princess to respond.
She was fighting tears.
When she composed herself, she answered softly. "They are safe, hidden in an icy canyon wall in Antarctica."
"And the guys?" This was from a slightly dizzy Sailor Venus. Dizzy from teleportation, but more from memories flooding her.
Serenity smiled. "I transported them, my family, and the rest of the Scouts' immediate family members to Elysion. They're in a deep sleep and will remember nothing of it when they awake, when the enemy is gone."
"That's safe?" Jupiter wondered, relaxing a moment to imagine Ken's sleeping figure.
"The safest."
Uranus quit looking around and glanced sharply at Sailor Moon. "Then why aren't you there?"
"Two reasons." The Senshi of the Moon's smile was a tired one, but tolerant. "One: I don't need to. I have you guys and my own powers to fight back with. I'm not helpless and eventually, I will be needed to defeat the enemy. I don't even like hiding in the first place. You guys could do it alone, but you most likely die in the effort. Two: Look around. this is a very safe place with many places to hide if need be. It's the last place anyone would expect. And here, my power is at its height. As long as my power is strong, my child is safe, and the longer I'm here, the stronger I will be. I am already recovering from the complicated teleport."
"What about those tracking devices? Darien had one too, we believe." That was Neptune again.
"I removed both before teleportation."
They stood, and began to walk slowly, drinking in each detail. Soon, Venus began to cry. Jupiter's face was red with restrained tears and long repressed anger. Uranus was pale in her ancient fury. Pluto was deathly silent.
"I don't want these memories..." Venus whispered.
Serenity paused in her compassion, the only one at peace with their surroundings.
"Of course you do." she murmured maternally. "Remember all the good times!"
She used her powers, amplified by this place, to remind them of all the good times they spent here together, so, so long ago.
Here, in the now-desecrated, now-deserted, Moon Kingdom.
With something kin to a smile in her eyes, Uranus gently pushed Sailor Moon on. "Of course, Princess. So out of sight you go. Now."
***********
Three days passed very slowly in a hole in a freezing canyon wall. Of course, it didn't feel freezing. The fire of Mars was more than enough. It burned in the center of the bedroom-sized hole, warming even the ice to the touch. And the ice did not melt due to the subtle powers of Mercury. Mercury, when she had to take a break from staring at her computer, experimented with her icy powers, drawing shapes in the ice with snow from her fingertips. Saturn took it upon herself to guard the entrance to their hideout, Glaive at the ready. And Neptune, who shared the separation from her own lover, sought to comfort their Prince. Not with words, but with her constant presence.
"I wonder where they went and where she sent the guys..." Mars muttered, playing with flames on her fingertips.
"Any word at all, Neptune?" Tuxedo Mask wondered. The plan was for the Princess or Uranus to contact them via the Aqua Mirror when the rest of the plan was formed. Neptune shook her head.
"Why do you think she sent you four specifically with me?" He asked them, curious.
"I can answer that," Saturn answered from the doorway, back still turned. "She knew that she would have to be separated from you for safety, and she knew you would miss her. She also know that Uranus needed to stay with her, so she Neptune, who would share your pain and be able to comfort you. She sent Mars to keep us warm since she picked this spot, and she sent me because I can act as a constant guard and emergency healer."
"What about me?" Mercury wondered. "Wouldn't she need me to help trace the enemy's activity or form a plan?"
Saturn was silent for a moment. Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath. "She can do a little tracing on her own and she has Pluto to help with the plan. Plus, you are keeping the ice from melting. The fact is that she was planning for the worst when she sent you, Amy. Yes, she would need you to do those things, but she sent you in case that she was captured so that you might be able to find her again."
Left with these morbid thoughts and nothing but worry to aggravate them, the Scouts were silent.
*****************
As she had grown, Serenity had gained more and more of her memories by way of dreams and flashbacks. The Scouts retained very few memories, and many were only of the horrors of their last days. She led the antsy Senshi through the remains of the Moon Palace. They passed the Prayer Tower, which glowed for a moment when Serenity passed by. Venus and Jupiter passed the remains of their bedrooms, near Serenity's chambers. Sailor Moon still tried to feed them more memories of the good times to relax them, but progress was slow.
She led them into the basement of the Palace, a small room with a camouflaged trap door as the only entrance.
It was easy to forget that Sailor Moon was seven months pregnant, but when she struggled to go down the ladder, first facing it, then back to it, and struggled for a moment until giving up and using her wings to fly down, the Senshi remembered it with both a smile and a frown.
****************
A month passed in the ice with no word from the Princess. Darien remained their hope, because he could always sense her feelings and if she was in trouble. And he felt nothing of the sort. He did sense something strange from her; it was a kind of rejuvenation that he felt in Elysion. His eyes widened with realization, but he could say nothing for safety, not even to the Scouts. They weren't permitted to talk very often, with Neptune in charge of them. Darien spent most of his time worrying about his wife. The exhaustion would be unimaginable if she had to remain transformed for much longer. She was always tired when she powered down, depending on how long she'd remained transformed. Now, Serena would be in her eighth month of pregnancy. He longed to see her, but dared not ask Neptune to use her mirror for that. It could be traced. He sensed her feelings; most of them consisted of boredom, regret, reminiscence, and occasional mirth.
Mars was restless. She was miffed that she hadn't been put with the Princess and that amused Darien. She glanced at him, aggravated. "You know, even if the Senshi powers take away the need for food, water, sleep, and going to the bathroom, a girl would still enjoy some chocolate or something!" she whispered.
Darien only smiled in response. He closed his eyes and tried to see from his beloved's eyes. He saw blurred images from the past month, of the Moon Palace, the gardens, the balcony he always climbed to see her, the Prayer tower, the sword she'd driven through her heart all those years ago. Many were good memories, but some were not.
At the moment, he sensed that she was thinking about her child and –hee- him. She was missing him.
Suddenly, he sensed pain in her. Pain in her abdomen. He felt her sudden panic, and without thinking, he teleported, violating the single most important rule in a Code 4 situation. He heard that shadow of Neptune's shocked yell as he flew through the void.
He reappeared at her side. The Scouts had gathered around her, fanning her and such. Her face was scrunched up and he made his way to her aggressively, ignoring the surprised gasps and outrage of Uranus.
"Love?" he asked her, wiping her forehead.
She was happy to see him, but worry instantly filled her face. "It isn't safe for you to be here!" She scolded softly, between breaths. "It's just some false pains. Don't worry! Quick, we should all relocate!"
The words had no sooner left her lips than a figure kicked open the door trap door. It splintered and several youma and two cloaked figures entered. Before anyone could move, a harsh white sword's point lay at the neck of the Prince and the scythe blade of a violet staff was millimeters from the exposed neck of the Princess.
Just as the other Senshi arrived, recognition dawned in the eyes of the Princess as their enemies teleported them instantly away. Along with recognition were two comrades never seen in the eyes of Princess Serenity.
Hate.
And fear.
------------------
See you next time! So who is it? The only likely partners in evil will be revealed next time! Sorry about being two weeks late!
-Moon Pie