"Now, parry!" the instructor shouted. "And, counterattack!" the students did as they were instructed. Galaxia was on the defensive against another aspiring Sailor Soldier named Sailor Enyo, whom she had befriended soon after she and Cosmos joined. It has been many months since the two sisters had joined, and they passed the initial training, which consisted of meditation and conditioning, quickly. Now, Galaxia was honing in on her sword skills, as Cosmos practiced the art of White Magic.
"Good!" the instructor shouted. "That will be all for today!"
Every student now made their way to the exit to the room. They weren't in the large training room; that room was reserved for "individual training", or training without an instructor. Rather, they were in a fairly large room at the back of the building. Galaxia shook hands with Enyo, who was from a section of the galaxy called Aries. Enyo had told her that in Aries, Sailor Soldiers had an absolute undying loyalty to whomever they served. Because of that, they had far too many Shadow Soldiers, including her twin sister, Sailor Pemphredo. That was why Enyo was training here, so she could avoid becoming one herself.
"Good workout, Galaxia," Enyo said.
"Thanks," Galaxia responded. Enyo had been almost like another sister for Galaxia and Cosmos when they joined. Enyo had said that they were also like new sisters. Before she'd meet the two princesses of Sagittarius, she'd been in despair and was thinking about killing herself because she couldn't keep her own sister from falling. She always thought of Galaxia and Cosmos as her saviors.
"Now, let's go find Cosmos, shall we?" Enyo offered.
"Okay," Galaxia said.
The two women walked out of the room and into the long hallways. The building was very much a labyrinth for those who didn't know the layout. Chi had told Galaxia that this was supposed to be a defense in case of an attack. Actually, Galaxia and Cosmos both had gotten lost on many occasions, and sometimes in rather embarrassing situations. (For example, let's just say that the bathrooms didn't have male/female signs on them.) However, Galaxia and Cosmos, both quick learners, soon grew used to the layout, and now they couldn't get lost even if they tried.
The room where magic was honed was not very far from the sword training room. When Galaxia and Enyo arrived there, a sign was placed on the doorway:
Training in ProgressNO TRESPASSING
Exception: Emergency Situations
"Looks like we have to wait for a bit," Galaxia said; this building didn't have a bell schedule like the schools that Galaxia had attended on Sagittarius, nor did it really have any kind of schedule at all. Training in the different sections took as long as the students took. The system was quite new to Galaxia at first, but she quickly grew used to it.
"What do you want to do while we're waiting?" Enyo asked. Galaxia thought for a moment.
"Well," Galaxia thought for a moment. "How about we go outside for a little fresh air?"
"Galaxia, there isn't much air on this ice cube!" Enyo joked; the planet really didn't have a whole lot of oxygen in the atmosphere, so it was rather difficult to breath sometimes. Galaxia thought it was a miracle that there was life anywhere on the planet.
"Oh, shut up!" Galaxia smiled. Right about then, the door opened.
"What are you two talking about without me?" Sailor Cosmos asked. "I hate being left out." The other students pushed past the trio.
"About time," Enyo grinned. "We've been waiting here for hours already!"
"I thought we were waiting for minutes," Galaxia pointed out. All three friends laughed. In fact, they laughed so hard that they didn't notice that they were being attacked until someone told them.
"Get to the shelters! We're being attacked!" someone shouted.
Galaxia and Cosmos looked into each other's eyes. Then, Galaxia grinned. Enyo noticed it.
"No, don't," she said quietly.
"Cosmos, you take Enyo to the shelters. I'm going to fight," Galaxia said.
"No, Galaxia, you can't!" Enyo begged.
"I'll be fine. It's not like I'll fight alone."
Cosmos nodded. "Be careful, sister."
-----------------
Galaxia held a sword ready, as the first of the bad guys came into sight. This person seemed to be a woman, but it was hard to tell under all that armor.
"Hey!" Galaxia called. The bad guy turned and when he(she?) saw Galaxia, a laughter sounded from underneath the armor.
"You've saved me the trouble of looking for you," came a very feminine voice.
"What? Who are you?" Galaxia demanded.
The woman took off her helmet. Long red hair flowed in the air before settling. A face that was as white as snow grinned at Galaxia with yellow eyes. A smell of death came from her.
"I am the general of the Undead Army of the Dark Kingdom and the right hand woman to Queen Diamond herself. I am Beryl."
"Well then, Beryl," Galaxia began. "why were you looking for me?"
Beryl grinned, showing long rotten teeth. "The Queen has asked me to take you and your sister in with us."
"Well," Galaxia taunted. "You may tell your Queen that I am not interested in becoming a zombie, but thanks anyway."
"Oh, but this is not a request. It's an order."
"Forget it. Don't make me say it so many times."
"Very well. If you won't accept, we'll see how your sister answers," Beryl turned to leave.
"Running away? If you want a fight, then I'll be your opponent!"
Beryl turned her head and stared at Galaxia. "You think this wise?" she drew a sword. "Crossing blades with a zombie?"
"I have good training, and I bear the White Crystal." Galaxia readied her sword.
"Fine. But on one condition," Beryl said.
"What?"
"If I win, which means if I kill you, then you will have no choice but to join. If you win, or survive the fight, then I'll leave you and your sister alone for now."
Galaxia stared at Beryl. But just as she opened her mouth to speak, something slammed into Beryl, knocking her to the ground as well as the wind out of her.
"Oh, no you don't!" Sailor Phi yelled.
"Phi, what the hell are you doing?!" Galaxia demanded.
"Saving your life, that's what!" Phi shouted back. "General Beryl is quite possibly the greatest swordswoman since Sailor Chaos!"
"At least my reputation precedes me!" Beryl spat, picking herself up.
"General, pull your army back! Right now!" Phi ordered.
"At least someone has some manners," Beryl grumbled. "But why should I listen to you?"
"Because the leaders of this facility are the greatest fighters in this section of the Galaxy. As am I and my sister. You wouldn't stand a chance!"
"Uh… hello?" Galaxia tried to cut in. "What about me?"
"You join your sister in the shelters! Your not ready to fight!"
"Fine!" Beryl spat, taking Galaxia's line. "I'll back off for now! But know that I will find you wherever you go, and I promise you that these children will join us!"
Beryl turned and ran down the hallway. Phi turned to Galaxia. "Galaxia, you must not let your conceit get the better of you!"
"But I can fight!" Galaxia shouted.
"I know you can fight, but you're not even in Beryl's league. She'd kill you in one swipe!"
"But-"
"No buts! Now join your sister!"
Galaxia hung her head and slumped in the direction of the shelters, grumbling.
-----------------
"Galaxia?" Lethe said quietly.
"Yes?"
"Don't EVER challenge General Beryl again. If you see her, just run away!"
"Fine," Galaxia looked down.
"Now, I know that you are a great fighter. But you aren't ready. Now, get to bed."
That was not the first time that Galaxia was scolded for challenging Beryl. Mnemosyne and Chi had also given her a lecture. Nevertheless, she reluctantly listened to all of them.
She went to her sleeping chamber, fell on her bed, and suddenly realized that the invaders may have disturbed something very precious. She leaped out of bed and ran outside the building towards her mother's grave.
It was still there, intact. It was as if the invaders had overlooked it.
"Sailor Alpha was indeed a great warrior," came a voice behind Galaxia. She whirled around and saw General Beryl standing there.
"Why haven't you left yet?" Galaxia demanded.
"Sailor Alpha was the only Sailor Soldier to ever best me in a match," Beryl said. "That is something that I respect with all my heart. Her death saddened me as well, and I was going to pay respects, same as you."
"Well, since you could have killed me from behind, and you didn't, I guess I'll believe you," Galaxia said.
"Sailor Alpha was your mother, and she was my superior in swordsmanship. While on the premises of her grave, we both have equal status, and thus we should have a truce here."
"Agreed," Galaxia didn't lie, nor did she have any negative tone in her voice. "Mother's grave and the surrounding land will be a sacred ground where there will be no fighting."
And the two women, side by side, paid their respects to one of the greatest warriors who ever lived, Galaxia's mother and Beryl's superior.