Hey gang! We're almost to the end of THE UNEXPECTED! It's coming soon!
These next few chapters will be a wild ride, too! I hope you enjoy reading
them as much as I enjoy writing them! Feed back is always welcome too! As
soon as I'm done with this project, I will throw myself into the Sequel to
IN HAPPY HIDING! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about it! It will come!
We left off just where the Prince and Princess were captured! But by who? And what will the Senshi do about it?
Standard Disclaimers apply.
The Unexpected: Episode 9
---------------------------------------------------------
Uranus swore loudly, slamming her fist into the wall. Cracks appeared. Venus immediately whirled to order Mercury to start searching, but the young woman's fingers were already flying over the small keyboard.
Pluto, by far the eldest and wisest Senshi, immediately took charge. "We must relocate immediately!" She ordered. "Join hands and prepare to teleport. I will direct us in place of Sailor Moon."
"Matte, Sailor Pluto."
They turned slowly towards the small column of white light.
****************
When the void of teleportation faded, Sailor Moon found herself in a room she longed to forget. The elegant bed lay in the corner. There was no window, no door. The room was pleasingly decorated and would have been very inviting had Sailor Moon forgotten what had happened here years ago.
She turned around slowly. She was alone. She reached out with her senses. Still alone. She looked over herself. She was glad to know that she was still transformed. Who knows what the enemy would do if they knew she was eight and a half months pregnant with the child of Endymion.
Endymion. Darien! She reached for her link with him. She found he was unconscious. She also sensed that he was in the same time, but not on the same planet as she.
The bed was the only piece of furniture, and there was no way under the heavens that Sailor Moon would willingly go near that thing. So, she settled herself on the floor, Indian style, and closed her eyes, meditating, slowly awakening the Silver Crystal and preparing it for the battle that was soon to come.
*********************
Tuxedo Mask was slowly called back to consciousness. The Golden Crystal inside him was slowly awakening and powering up.
Why?
He wasn't awakening it consciously.
Serena. He reached for their link. She was in deep concentration, preparing the Silver Crystal for battle. He wondered where she was, but remembering the ominous white sword at his neck, he feared the worst.
He found himself in a familiar room, in a familiar castle. With a sickening sensation in his gut, he realized he was in the Dark Kingdom. When he tried to move, he discovered chains on his wrists and ankles were shackled to the wall. "Swell."
He leaned against the wall, and closes his eyes. The Golden Crystal forever acts in sync with the Silver Crystal, and its response to the Silver Crystal's activity was automatic. Darien adjusts his mask, then begins to help it along.
****************
Sailor Moon smiled as she sensed Tuxedo Mask powering up the Golden Crystal. Suddenly, she sensed that she was no longer alone.
She opened her eyes to find Prince Diamond's third eye glowing in her face.
Sailor Moon stood and flexed her wings rebelliously. "I warn you, Diamond, that I am much stronger now than when we last met. Your feeble mind games have no effect on me."
It dissolved, and the light faded to reveal the White Prince gazing appreciatively at her. The black moon symbol was prominent on his forehead. He traced her stiff, unsmiling cheek. "That makes you all the more desirable, Serenity. All the more pleasant to break."
Sailor Moon ignored his words, seething at his touch. But something was wrong. Diamond's pupils were fully dilated; blank and almost unseeing. He was obviously under someone else's control. She recalled that Diamond had not been evil when he'd "died." But perhaps this Diamond was from a different time? Only one way to find out.
"I thought you were dead," She stated blandly.
Diamond laughed his sick, perverted laugh. "Why, that would be all too convenient, ne? No, Princess. I was flirting with death, leaning on the open door, but I was rescued by an angel of a woman equally close to death. Together, we came back here to the Black Moon and slowly revived the remains of the Dark Crystal. And we fed off of it for years, regaining our strength. And it seems my rescuer desires to rekindle a long-lost fetish with your prince, my lady. I found that oh, so convenient. Sounds like providence, ne? She will keep him occupied until you have fully seen the light, and he will not be around to distract you."
Sailor Moon paled visibly. "No... no, no, no!" she whispered. "No! It's just as I suspected all along!"
Diamond looked sickly compassionate as he pulled her into his arms.
******************
The Scouts immediately hit one knee as soon as they saw who had spoken, not only for reverence, but to see her on eye level as well.
"Queen Serenity!"
The miniature hologram of the Queen shimmered. She smiled. "Be at peace, Senshi."
"Queen." That was Uranus. It was not a question, simply a statement of suppressed panic and anger.
Serenity nodded solemnly. "Yes, Uranus, I know. Peace! Where is your faith? Don't you know there is a specific reason my daughter chose to bring you here?"
They were quiet for a moment. Venus spoke, finally, quietly, ashamed. "Queen Serenity... we don't know who took them or where they are."
Another calm smile. "Providence, Venus. Providence brings you here. Here you will find what you need."
She began to glow. The hologram faded into a small column of white light. It split, and changed to each Senshi's specific color, then shot towards them, dissolving into their chests. Each Senshi closed her eyes in the bliss of the power, each glowing for a moment, before the power became dormant and slept. They opened their eyes. The Queen was gone, but her voice echoed through the deserted Moon Kingdom.
"Your enemies are he of misguided love and she of undying vengeance! Faith, Senshi! Faith in your future, and your Prince and your Princess!"
Then, silence.
Without a word, the Senshi again joined hands, and teleported.
***************
Tuxedo Mask opened his eyes. The Golden Crystal was completely revived within him. He sensed that the Silver Crystal was as well, but sensed agitation from his princess.
Angrily, worriedly, he struggled uselessly against the chains that held him. They were chains of energy as well, preventing him from teleporting. Plus, he sensed she was too far away to teleport.
Great. He sagged against the wall, thinking. He was frustrated when he could think of nothing to do but wait.
*************
The Senshi reappeared in Elysion. Helios waited, and bowed shortly before them. "Greetings, Sailor Senshi. You are safe here."
Jupiter clenched her fists, grumbling, "We not the ones to keep safe." Her fists sparked with electricity. Mercury laid a hand on her shoulder to calm her.
"Please, Senshi. Feel free to use all resources here for they are all available to you. Our computer database is over there, and there, Lady Mars, is the Sacred Fire of Earth. Here you can rejuvenate until a plan of action is formed." Helios bowed, using his hand to show them the way.
"Thank you, Helios," Neptune said diplomatically as the Senshi dispersed. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Jupiter, both red from suppressed anger, stormed off to the sparring center of Elysion, where the Prince had trained long ago. Sailor Mars went to the Sacred Fire and Mercury to the computers. Venus walked around, checking on everyone and progress. Neptune took her mirror and went off to the side with Pluto and Saturn.
Neptune activated her mirror, searching for an image of the Prince or Princess. She received only static. Her composure faltered for a moment when she looked up at Pluto and whimpered, "Pluto... they are beyond me!"
Pluto was silent.
Saturn was thinking quietly. "Pluto?" The taller woman did not respond. "Did you know this was coming? As Time Guardian, don't you know all that was, is, and will be?"
Pluto let loose a soft sigh, and sagged, as if the answer deflated her. "No, little one. I did not know. As Time Guardian, it is my job to guard the gate. And I don't always watch Time flow while I stand guard. I do know all that was. The past is always made known to me, and every second of the present become the past in the second next. I know most that is. I make it my business to know. But the future? No one can know the future, because the future is not always certain. Anyone can change the future; anyone can make it better and anyone can make it worse. Therefore, it is best not to know the future. I wish I didn't know what I do. Because once you know the future, you spend your whole life worrying if you have changed it."
Neptune looked deep into her comrade's eyes. There was a small taste of the infinite wisdom of Sailor Pluto, and the infinite stress and worry. That was why the Time Guardian was always so solemn.
"Pluto... Sailor Moon knows parts of her future the way it should be. And she does not spend time brooding over it. How?"
For the first time in a long while, Pluto smiled. "Princess Serenity is all that is good. She cannot know fear, at least not fear for herself. She cannot know anger, besides righteous anger. She cannot know hate in any form, despite all she has been through. Once, when she was younger, she asked me what her purpose was. Who am I to tell such things? But I told her, her purpose is simply, to be."
Pluto's eyes hardened again. "And our purpose is to protect her, all that is good, from all that is evil."
"Right."
******************
Sailor Moon gently pushed Diamond away. "Do not touch me."
Diamond didn't look hurt in the least, just all the more enthused. "You will see the light Serenity! You will!" His other hand came from behind his back holding a damp cloth, and before Sailor Moon could deflect it, it was pressed against her mouth and nose. She foolishly gasped surprised, and a sickly sweet odor filly her nostrils and mouth.
"You can't fight me, Serenity! Just sleep for a while, weaken, and then, see the light!"
The energy she'd built up immediately drained from her. Her eyelids felt heavy, and her breathing slowed. She looked around dizzily, then, as her eyelids fluttered shut, and she fell into a deep, energy draining sleep, she whispered against the cloth, one word.
"Endymion..."
***********
And he heard her.
Serenity! he yelled with all his mind.
No answer. He felt the Golden Crystal reaching towards its Silver counterpart. The Silver Crystal was asleep, and slowly being drained of power.
"Kuso!"
Suddenly, he heard the click of high heels against the stone floor.
**********
Mars jerked out of her meditation at the anguished cry from the fire.
Serenity!
Helios and the Senshi came running over.
"What was that Mars?!"
She did not answer. She was lost in a vision. A short picture showed the woman who'd haunted her dreams; the woman who'd murdered her before her princess's eyes; the woman who'd caused her prince and princess more misery than any other foe.
Mars leapt to her feet, reached for her bow of flames, and fired a flaming arrow at the image as it disappeared. She whirled to face the others, rage like fire in her eyes.
"It was Darien. Beryl has him."
********************
Well! That's it for this Episode! Kudos to everyone who guessed the enemies before they were revealed. Now what? What will Beryl do to Darien? What is Diamond planning by draining Sailor Moon's energy and making her sleep? How will the Scouts save them both? What will happen to Serena's unborn child! Find out next time!
-Moon Pie
We left off just where the Prince and Princess were captured! But by who? And what will the Senshi do about it?
Standard Disclaimers apply.
The Unexpected: Episode 9
---------------------------------------------------------
Uranus swore loudly, slamming her fist into the wall. Cracks appeared. Venus immediately whirled to order Mercury to start searching, but the young woman's fingers were already flying over the small keyboard.
Pluto, by far the eldest and wisest Senshi, immediately took charge. "We must relocate immediately!" She ordered. "Join hands and prepare to teleport. I will direct us in place of Sailor Moon."
"Matte, Sailor Pluto."
They turned slowly towards the small column of white light.
****************
When the void of teleportation faded, Sailor Moon found herself in a room she longed to forget. The elegant bed lay in the corner. There was no window, no door. The room was pleasingly decorated and would have been very inviting had Sailor Moon forgotten what had happened here years ago.
She turned around slowly. She was alone. She reached out with her senses. Still alone. She looked over herself. She was glad to know that she was still transformed. Who knows what the enemy would do if they knew she was eight and a half months pregnant with the child of Endymion.
Endymion. Darien! She reached for her link with him. She found he was unconscious. She also sensed that he was in the same time, but not on the same planet as she.
The bed was the only piece of furniture, and there was no way under the heavens that Sailor Moon would willingly go near that thing. So, she settled herself on the floor, Indian style, and closed her eyes, meditating, slowly awakening the Silver Crystal and preparing it for the battle that was soon to come.
*********************
Tuxedo Mask was slowly called back to consciousness. The Golden Crystal inside him was slowly awakening and powering up.
Why?
He wasn't awakening it consciously.
Serena. He reached for their link. She was in deep concentration, preparing the Silver Crystal for battle. He wondered where she was, but remembering the ominous white sword at his neck, he feared the worst.
He found himself in a familiar room, in a familiar castle. With a sickening sensation in his gut, he realized he was in the Dark Kingdom. When he tried to move, he discovered chains on his wrists and ankles were shackled to the wall. "Swell."
He leaned against the wall, and closes his eyes. The Golden Crystal forever acts in sync with the Silver Crystal, and its response to the Silver Crystal's activity was automatic. Darien adjusts his mask, then begins to help it along.
****************
Sailor Moon smiled as she sensed Tuxedo Mask powering up the Golden Crystal. Suddenly, she sensed that she was no longer alone.
She opened her eyes to find Prince Diamond's third eye glowing in her face.
Sailor Moon stood and flexed her wings rebelliously. "I warn you, Diamond, that I am much stronger now than when we last met. Your feeble mind games have no effect on me."
It dissolved, and the light faded to reveal the White Prince gazing appreciatively at her. The black moon symbol was prominent on his forehead. He traced her stiff, unsmiling cheek. "That makes you all the more desirable, Serenity. All the more pleasant to break."
Sailor Moon ignored his words, seething at his touch. But something was wrong. Diamond's pupils were fully dilated; blank and almost unseeing. He was obviously under someone else's control. She recalled that Diamond had not been evil when he'd "died." But perhaps this Diamond was from a different time? Only one way to find out.
"I thought you were dead," She stated blandly.
Diamond laughed his sick, perverted laugh. "Why, that would be all too convenient, ne? No, Princess. I was flirting with death, leaning on the open door, but I was rescued by an angel of a woman equally close to death. Together, we came back here to the Black Moon and slowly revived the remains of the Dark Crystal. And we fed off of it for years, regaining our strength. And it seems my rescuer desires to rekindle a long-lost fetish with your prince, my lady. I found that oh, so convenient. Sounds like providence, ne? She will keep him occupied until you have fully seen the light, and he will not be around to distract you."
Sailor Moon paled visibly. "No... no, no, no!" she whispered. "No! It's just as I suspected all along!"
Diamond looked sickly compassionate as he pulled her into his arms.
******************
The Scouts immediately hit one knee as soon as they saw who had spoken, not only for reverence, but to see her on eye level as well.
"Queen Serenity!"
The miniature hologram of the Queen shimmered. She smiled. "Be at peace, Senshi."
"Queen." That was Uranus. It was not a question, simply a statement of suppressed panic and anger.
Serenity nodded solemnly. "Yes, Uranus, I know. Peace! Where is your faith? Don't you know there is a specific reason my daughter chose to bring you here?"
They were quiet for a moment. Venus spoke, finally, quietly, ashamed. "Queen Serenity... we don't know who took them or where they are."
Another calm smile. "Providence, Venus. Providence brings you here. Here you will find what you need."
She began to glow. The hologram faded into a small column of white light. It split, and changed to each Senshi's specific color, then shot towards them, dissolving into their chests. Each Senshi closed her eyes in the bliss of the power, each glowing for a moment, before the power became dormant and slept. They opened their eyes. The Queen was gone, but her voice echoed through the deserted Moon Kingdom.
"Your enemies are he of misguided love and she of undying vengeance! Faith, Senshi! Faith in your future, and your Prince and your Princess!"
Then, silence.
Without a word, the Senshi again joined hands, and teleported.
***************
Tuxedo Mask opened his eyes. The Golden Crystal was completely revived within him. He sensed that the Silver Crystal was as well, but sensed agitation from his princess.
Angrily, worriedly, he struggled uselessly against the chains that held him. They were chains of energy as well, preventing him from teleporting. Plus, he sensed she was too far away to teleport.
Great. He sagged against the wall, thinking. He was frustrated when he could think of nothing to do but wait.
*************
The Senshi reappeared in Elysion. Helios waited, and bowed shortly before them. "Greetings, Sailor Senshi. You are safe here."
Jupiter clenched her fists, grumbling, "We not the ones to keep safe." Her fists sparked with electricity. Mercury laid a hand on her shoulder to calm her.
"Please, Senshi. Feel free to use all resources here for they are all available to you. Our computer database is over there, and there, Lady Mars, is the Sacred Fire of Earth. Here you can rejuvenate until a plan of action is formed." Helios bowed, using his hand to show them the way.
"Thank you, Helios," Neptune said diplomatically as the Senshi dispersed. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Jupiter, both red from suppressed anger, stormed off to the sparring center of Elysion, where the Prince had trained long ago. Sailor Mars went to the Sacred Fire and Mercury to the computers. Venus walked around, checking on everyone and progress. Neptune took her mirror and went off to the side with Pluto and Saturn.
Neptune activated her mirror, searching for an image of the Prince or Princess. She received only static. Her composure faltered for a moment when she looked up at Pluto and whimpered, "Pluto... they are beyond me!"
Pluto was silent.
Saturn was thinking quietly. "Pluto?" The taller woman did not respond. "Did you know this was coming? As Time Guardian, don't you know all that was, is, and will be?"
Pluto let loose a soft sigh, and sagged, as if the answer deflated her. "No, little one. I did not know. As Time Guardian, it is my job to guard the gate. And I don't always watch Time flow while I stand guard. I do know all that was. The past is always made known to me, and every second of the present become the past in the second next. I know most that is. I make it my business to know. But the future? No one can know the future, because the future is not always certain. Anyone can change the future; anyone can make it better and anyone can make it worse. Therefore, it is best not to know the future. I wish I didn't know what I do. Because once you know the future, you spend your whole life worrying if you have changed it."
Neptune looked deep into her comrade's eyes. There was a small taste of the infinite wisdom of Sailor Pluto, and the infinite stress and worry. That was why the Time Guardian was always so solemn.
"Pluto... Sailor Moon knows parts of her future the way it should be. And she does not spend time brooding over it. How?"
For the first time in a long while, Pluto smiled. "Princess Serenity is all that is good. She cannot know fear, at least not fear for herself. She cannot know anger, besides righteous anger. She cannot know hate in any form, despite all she has been through. Once, when she was younger, she asked me what her purpose was. Who am I to tell such things? But I told her, her purpose is simply, to be."
Pluto's eyes hardened again. "And our purpose is to protect her, all that is good, from all that is evil."
"Right."
******************
Sailor Moon gently pushed Diamond away. "Do not touch me."
Diamond didn't look hurt in the least, just all the more enthused. "You will see the light Serenity! You will!" His other hand came from behind his back holding a damp cloth, and before Sailor Moon could deflect it, it was pressed against her mouth and nose. She foolishly gasped surprised, and a sickly sweet odor filly her nostrils and mouth.
"You can't fight me, Serenity! Just sleep for a while, weaken, and then, see the light!"
The energy she'd built up immediately drained from her. Her eyelids felt heavy, and her breathing slowed. She looked around dizzily, then, as her eyelids fluttered shut, and she fell into a deep, energy draining sleep, she whispered against the cloth, one word.
"Endymion..."
***********
And he heard her.
Serenity! he yelled with all his mind.
No answer. He felt the Golden Crystal reaching towards its Silver counterpart. The Silver Crystal was asleep, and slowly being drained of power.
"Kuso!"
Suddenly, he heard the click of high heels against the stone floor.
**********
Mars jerked out of her meditation at the anguished cry from the fire.
Serenity!
Helios and the Senshi came running over.
"What was that Mars?!"
She did not answer. She was lost in a vision. A short picture showed the woman who'd haunted her dreams; the woman who'd murdered her before her princess's eyes; the woman who'd caused her prince and princess more misery than any other foe.
Mars leapt to her feet, reached for her bow of flames, and fired a flaming arrow at the image as it disappeared. She whirled to face the others, rage like fire in her eyes.
"It was Darien. Beryl has him."
********************
Well! That's it for this Episode! Kudos to everyone who guessed the enemies before they were revealed. Now what? What will Beryl do to Darien? What is Diamond planning by draining Sailor Moon's energy and making her sleep? How will the Scouts save them both? What will happen to Serena's unborn child! Find out next time!
-Moon Pie