Disclaimer: All original characters belong to my cousin and me. Only the Sailor Moon stuff belongs to someone else. Yup. Also, I decided to take someone's advice and broke these chapters up to make them shorter. It's easier for the reader and for myself.
Episode II, Part IV: Monsters Galore and More
Special Halloween Edition
The four hooded men sat around the wooden table. The luminance of the candles provided the only light in the room. One of the men lifted his hand to speak.
"How could this happen? I thought we were in control of the situation."
"As did I. However, it exceeded our expectations," another answered him.
"What proof do you have that we aren't in control? This might be just another false alarm," said the third.
The fourth cleared his throat, "There was a theft in the church today."
A sharp intake of breath could be heard from the other three.
"A-A theft? In the church? How could this be? What has the world come to?"
"It was not the theft that was astonishing. It was the objects of the theft."
"What were they?" the first said.
"Two full casks of holy water," the fourth said slowly, emphasizing each word.
The first and second gasped.
The third nodded, "I see... what must be done."
XXXXX
The five girls walked into the school building. Just as they were expecting to find quiet, empty halls, a mass of zompires appeared from out of nowhere.
"Okie, so what's the plan now?" Veronica asked.
"Split up!" Angela commanded.
Without a thought, Veronica and Vivicka dashed off toward the stairs.
"H-Hey! You guys shouldn't go alone!" Maddy yelled.
It was too late though. The two had gone up the stairs and a wall of zompires blocked the other three from getting to them.
"Geez, we should've discussed who would go with who," Annie said.
"Point taken," Angela replied as she evaluated their situation.
The three were encircled by zompires...
XXXXX
Veronica and Vivicka ran up the stairs. Veronica was determined to find Azure and end his painful grip on her cousin. She didn't want her to suffer anymore.
They reached the door to the next floor. Before entering it, Vivicka sat down on one of the stairs and panted in exhaustion.
"Yo Viv, you okay?"
"Yeah... Just... need... to catch some air..." Vivicka replied. She rested her head on her knees and kept breathing hard.
"C'mon, I'll carry you," Veronica said, her anger rising, "and when I find Azure, I'm gonna beat him to a bloody pulp."
"W-wait!" Vivicka shouted, "I'm fine! Don't carry me! I have to get him back for what he did to Miss Tencho."
She got up. She looked like she was refreshed now and ready to go. Veronica saw the determination in her eyes. That would propel her. It always did and Veronica knew she couldn't do anything about it.
"Alright," Veronica nodded with a smile, "Let's get this bastard."
Vivicka raised her hand in the air and said, "Single Star Power!"
Veronica did the same and said, "Double Star Power!"
A white light engulfed them and they were transformed into Star Buds.
They opened the door.
XXXXX
"How much more of them are there?" Annie asked. "I hope not much because I don't think we've got enough holy water for 'em."
"Don't worry An-chan," Maddy said nervously, "We'll get out of this. We're Star Buds!"
The three were back to back in the center of a zompire circle. More zompires seemed to fill the halls as time went by. They didn't attack, initially. They stood there, groaned, and scared the wits out of Annie and Maddy.
Angela, on the other hand, was unphased. She was trying to devise a plan for their escape.
"Maddy and Annie, start splashing holy water on them. I believe our best option now is to get up those stairs," she said.
"Already on it," Annie said as she took out her squirt gun and sprayed a zompire point blank. It squealed in pain as it fell to the ground, covering its face with its hands.
That seemed to trigger something in the other zompires. They began to inch closer to the three and their moaning groans turned into angry growls.
"I don't think they like us leaving them out of the fun," Maddy said as she took out both her squirt guns, one in each hand, and looked at them all, "Come get some."
Annie grinned and Angela nodded in approval.
They splashed the zompires and even kicked some back. It seemed to be working as the wall of zompires began to fall to the ground.
"Hey, this is easier than I thought it would be," Annie said as she threw a bottle of holy water at a nearby zompire.
"Hey, you're right!" Maddy said.
"Somehow, I knew it would not be this easy," Angela said in trepidation.
More zompires appeared. They were walking slowly towards the three. The pile of knocked out zompires surrounded them.
"I don't think they wanna play anymore. What now Angela?" Maddy asked.
"I'm running outta this stuff too! We're not going to last long," Annie added.
"Go to the stairs! Give me the rest of your supplies!" Angela demanded.
The two gave her their last bottle of holy water, but hesitated in leaving.
"Hurry! The zompires will close the gap again," Angela said.
"We can't leave you here by yourself Ange," Annie said.
"There is no time! Go!"
"But Ange!" Maddy protested.
"Go!"
The two saw she wasn't going to go back on her words and left to go up the stairs.
After they left, Angela looked at the ceiling of the halls. The school was equipped with a sprinkler system. She had the perfect idea of what to do.
"Sagittarius Power!" she yelled as a bright light surrounded her and she became Star Bud Sagittarius.
The bright light caused the zompires to pause for a few moments. She carried out her plan as the zompires shook out of their daze and continued to surround her.
XXXXX
Double Star Bud Virgo got to the staircase of the next floor. They have traveled four flights already and there didn't seem to be any zompires coming after them. Maybe they had gone the wrong way, she thought.
"Yo, Viv! C'mon!"
Single Star Bud Virgo caught up to her cousin and they ran up the next stairs.
"Where is he?"
"I dunno Viv, but we'll find him."
XXXXX
"What whacko would think of doing this? What did we ever do to them?" Annie complained.
"Stop!" Maddy said as she stopped running up the stairs.
"What?"
"There are no zompires around. Why is that?"
Annie shrugged, "Maybe they're all on the first floor. It seems that way because they just kept poppin' outta nowhere down there."
Maddy was unconvinced but she remembered that they had to go find Veronica and Vivicka.
"I was just wondering. That's all. Let's go get those munchkins."
"We better change right now. We've gotta be ready for anything. Plus, we don't have anymore holy spray."
With that, they transformed into Star Bud Leo and Star Bud Aquarius.
XXXXX
Azure was still on the rooftop. He noticed a change in something. He had concentrated all of his zompires on the first floor because he wanted to snatch the Star Buds before they could get anywhere. However, there was something wrong. There were two strong energy forces heading towards the rooftop. Two more, though further away, were heading upwards as well. One was still on the first floor. He hadn't seen anyone else come in besides those five girls...
"Aha! Brilliant, I have some information for dear Levita ... maybe she'll lighten up..."
He could feel the presence of the two beings come closer.
"I see one of them is on the edge of change. Interesting..."
Azure vanished from the rooftop.
XXXXX
Double Star Bud Virgo and Single Star Bud Virgo stood in the hallway. They had gone up three more floors, but they still couldn't find what they were looking for. Suddenly, Single Virgo felt a shock go up her spine and it got worse when it reached her head.
"Itai!" she cried. (Itai means ouch)
"Viv!"
"Why does it hurt so much?" Single Virgo said as she sat on the ground with her shoulders slumped and head down.
"Hey, snap out of it! We gotta keep going!"
"Y-you go on without me Ver... I think... I've gotta rest... here..."
She could feel a coldness take over her. Something was trying to get a hold of her and she couldn't stop it.
"No Viv," Double Virgo said quietly. She clenched her fists and stared hard at the wall. "I'm not going to leave you."
The halls were quiet.
Single Star Bud Virgo looked up. Her sight was hazy. Everything had a fuzzy outline. The dimness and lack of light was overwhelming.
"Did you hear me? I'm not gonna leave you! I made a promise to mom that I'd look after you!" she said louder.
Single Virgo's eyes widened as a solid outline appeared. It was Double Virgo. Her arm was stretched out in front of her and in her hand, she held her wind spear. The spear point was pointing straight up to the ceiling and the bottom of the spear was right next to Single Virgo's hand, almost calling out for her to grab it.
For some reason, she began to remember those times when they were living on the streets. Veronica would always find a way to get them food or shelter, no matter what the cost. They had pulled through some pretty tough times on Earth and they always did it together.
Single Virgo saw her cousin's face. Her eyes were glowing and she could see the fiery determination in them. They were the clearest she had ever saw them.
"Viv, I will never leave you behind. You know that. Take the spear, or we'll both stay here until that damn bastard and his creeps find us. I'm fine with either choice!"
Single Virgo smiled weakly and her shaking hand slowly moved to grip the spear.
"Thanks Ver," she said as she forced herself up, utilizing the spear for help.
"No prob."
As they were about to get to the stairs, they both felt a strange vibe. Turning around, they saw him. It was the pure-zompire they were so adamant in finding.
"I didn't want to intrude on the moment, but I guess this would be the best time seeing as you were all emotional and such," Azure said as he walked toward them. "I do believe that my 'creeps' are now converging on one of your friends. Oh dear, I don't think she can take them on alone."
"You! You'll get the beating of your life today!" Double Virgo shouted. "Don't come any closer or I'll kick your ass!"
Azure stopped walking, "You sure do have a mouth on you. Aren't you the least bit worried about your friends?"
"What did you do to them?" Single Virgo asked.
"Well, it seems one is still on the first floor with a full force of my minions. Two are... moving upward. They won't get very far. You see, I've got some of my minions waiting for them too."
"That can't be! We didn't see any on the way up!" Double Virgo exclaimed.
"I can easily remedy that. All I have to do is teleport a bunch of them to the floor that your friends are on. It'll be so much tidier after that first one is gone on the first floor."
"No... they must have some sort of plan," Single Virgo whispered.
"They do, don't worry," Double Virgo said to her.
"If it comforts you to know, I do believe the solitary soldier is the one named Angela."
The two young Star Buds gasped. He knew their identities.
"That's right, I knew who you all were the moment you stepped in here. Did you think I was bloody stupid?"
"Of course we thought you were stupid!" Double Virgo yelled.
"A bit hasty, don't you think? I'll meet you two on top of the building, if you can make it. It'll be so anticlimactic. Lovely, just lovely," Azure said as he disappeared.
"Angela!" Single Virgo said, "She's alone! We've got to help her, Ver!"
They got to the door that led to the staircase. However, it wouldn't budge open.
"What? Lemme try to kick it down," Double Virgo said.
She tried a kick but it didn't do anything to the door.
"What about Annie and Maddy? We should contact them and tell them to go back and save Angela."
"Good idea."
They both looked at their communicator watches. Single Virgo tried to contact Star Bud Aquarius while Double Virgo tried Star Bud Leo. They both got busy signals. Their receptions were being blocked.
"What now?" Single Virgo said worriedly.
A bell sounded and the elevator doors opened.
"I guess, that's the only way now," Double Virgo said.
Images of Miss Tencho's mangled body flashed in Single Virgo's mind. The blood sprayed everywhere and she could almost smell it again. The shock began to run up her spine again, but Double Virgo's hand on her head stopped it. She ruffled Single Virgo's hair a bit.
"Yo, let's make it to the rooftop to save our buds."
Single Virgo nodded and they stepped into the elevator.
The doors closed.
XXXXX
Star Bud Leo got to the door first and turned the knob. The door didn't open. She tried again, but it wouldn't move.
"Ma-chan! We've got a problem! The door isn't cooperating!"
"Did you ask it nicely?"
She looked at Star Bud Aquarius, "Mad, I always ask nicely. Besides, this door is a serious problem here. Pick the lock with your sword!"
Aquarius laughed at the suggestion, "Use my magnificently unique and powerful sword as a tool for that lowly task? Are you crazy? Move aside and lemme take a whack at it."
"Be my guest."
Leo stepped away as Aquarius raised her sword and struck down at the knob. It broke off the door and clattered on the ground. Aquarius smiled as she gently nudged at the door. It didn't budge. She nudged the door again, this time with more force. It still didn't budge.
"What is up with this?"
"I think we're officially screwed now," Leo said.
"Nonsense An-chan. We just gotta bust the door down with your Reflection Beam."
"No, I mean turn around see what just popped in to greet us."
Aquarius turned around and saw a crowd of zompires at the end of the hall, heading toward them.
"Yeah, you're absolutely right."
"Good. I'm glad the last thing I know before I die is that I'm right," Leo said, holding her mirror staff in front of her.
"Right at the wrong times and wrong at the wrong times. How can you beat that?" Aquarius said with a smile as she brandished her sword.
The zompires were actually moving faster than they were on the first floor. It seemed they were now programmed to do something besides mindless wandering and blocking off people.
"Wait, we can't actually kill them," Leo said.
"Then, what do we do?"
"What floor are we on?"
There was a large glass window next to them.
"Jump?!" Aquarius exclaimed.
"I asked what floor we were on! Not jump! But since you suggested it, you jump first!"
"Well, if we have our barriers on right before we hit the ground, I'm sure it won't hurt as much," Aquarius said as she edged closer to the window.
"Good thinking. Ange actually taught you something?"
"Yeah, I'm going now!" Aquarius said as she took her sword and thrust it at the window. The glass shattered and created an opening big enough for her to dive out of. She jumped out and Leo followed her.
As the two were falling, they saw the zompires congregate at the broken window and then vanish.
They were freefalling to the ground.
XXXXX
Azure was surprised at first but then grinned.
"So, they chose death over life in my kingdom. They truly are interesting specimens. I should check up on the one on the first floor..."
XXXXX
The circle of zompires surrounding Star Bud Sagittarius inched closer and closer to her. She was, literally, two feet away from death.
She wasn't afraid, however. She looked up at the sprinklers on the ceilings. She had attached the last three holy water bottles to the sprinkler right above her. She rigged it to burst open when the sprinkler went off. The holy water would get an extra boost of water when the sprinklers were activated.
Sagittarius knew exactly how she would set them off.
Her bow and arrow materialized in her hands. The zompires only need to get within another foot and the water could reach all of them.
"Chop, chop now!" she taunted them, "I had lab experiments grow faster that you!"
They came closer and closer.
"Fire arrow!" she said as the tip of the arrow ignited in flames.
She fired the arrow next to the sprinkler, just close enough to signal it to turn on.
The zompires didn't take notice of Sagittarius's action until the water started to pour down on them.
"Ha! Now I have more holy water than ever!" she said triumphantly as the zompires began to moan again.
Sagittarius was about to retrieve her arrow when she noticed that the zompires were still coming closer. The water kept raining down on them.
"My calculations... were wrong?"
They crept closer. A zompire grabbed her arm and another grabbed her head. She could see the fangs of the zompire that prepared to bite her.
Closing her eyes, she waited for it. She could feel the water soaking into her hair and splash over her skin.
XXXXX
"Amusing! But holy water is the purest of waters. Mixed with any other water, it becomes diluted and useless. I'll have another one, eh?" Azure said to himself.
He turned around to the elevator. The light flickered and the door opened. The two Star Buds stepped out.
"Welcome!"
"Cut the greetings. We're here to fight you!" Double Star Bud Virgo said as she pointed her spear at him.
Single Star Bud Virgo had her thunder staff ready to go.
"Fine. If you wish it that way, but I must inform you that you were brought here to be taken away by someone else."
"Cram that cape in your mouth! We ain't gonna be taken away by nobody!"
"That's right!" Single Virgo yelled.
"Dear Levita will be happy with these young ones."
"Levita?" Single Virgo said.
"That's right. Now let's get going, shall we?"
He raised his hand up, palm facing at them.
"Join me now."
Single Virgo fell to her knees. She could feel the shock again.
"V-Ver... It hurts..."
Double Virgo bent down to her cousin, "Viv, it'll be alright! We'll defeat this creep."
Single Virgo's sight began to blur and she collapsed onto the ground. Double Virgo stood up and looked at Azure. Her eyes were set ablaze.
"You bastard!" she yelled as she charged at him with her spear.
He laughed at her, "She'll be better off this way."
As she got closer to him, he flicked his wrist, as if he were flicking away a fly and Double Virgo was sent crashing to the ground.
"Arise!" he commanded.
"What the--," she said as she turned around and saw Single Virgo getting to her feet. Her eyes were closed and she was paler than ever.
"Viv! Fight it! Fight him!"
Single Virgo's eyes opened. They weren't their normal blue, but instead, a lifeless gray. She looked straight at Double Virgo and flashed her sharp fangs.
"You see, she's much stronger than she was before."
"Shut up!" Double Virgo yelled and charged at him again, "Go to hell!"
Azure's cold eyes stared at her as she ran at him. He remained motionless. As Double Virgo's spear shot out at him, she felt something zoom by her.
The sound of metal against metal rang through the air.
"Viv! What're you doing?"
Single Virgo had deflected Double Virgo's attack against Azure.
"She no longer responds to you, dear."
Double Virgo stumbled backwards. She couldn't believe this was happening. She couldn't hurt her cousin. She had to defeat Azure.
"Viv, don't do this! I know you can fight it!"
"Dear Vivicka, show her that you're no longer the bloody Star Bud you once were."
Single Virgo got into a fighting stance. Double Virgo was too horrified to respond. Single Virgo rushed at her and punched her. She still didn't respond. Single Virgo took her weapon and charged it up with lightning.
"You better do something," Azure said teasingly, "She doesn't look too happy to me."
Double Virgo saw the crackling, green energy come at her and she was blown backward, closer to the edge of the rooftop. The electrical shock pulsed through her body. She was paralyzed for the moment.
"Listen to me Viv! You're not like this! Come back!" Double Virgo said as she breathed heavily.
Single Virgo slowly walked up to her cousin. She grabbed Double Virgo's spear from her immobile hand and pointed it at her neck.
"I will show you that she is only a zompire now. She will kill you!" Azure declared.
"Bull!" Double Virgo cried out, "Vivicka is still in there somewhere and she ain't gonna kill me! I know she won't!"
There was a flash of light in Single Virgo's eyes but it soon dissipated.
Double Virgo felt her body coming back to normal. She would be able to move again. Single Virgo brought her arm back, preparing to jam the spear into Double Virgo's throat.
"No, Viv!" Double Virgo shouted as she gathered all her energy into grabbing Single Virgo's arm.
Single Virgo gasped in pain. Double Virgo saw that her arm was still bandaged and it still retained some holy water on it. The spear dematerialized as she held onto her arm tighter.
"Viv!" she yelled repeatedly.
Single Virgo, with her free arm, touched her forehead as she tried to sort out the two consciousnesses residing in her head.
"Kill her! Do as your master commands!" Azure shouted.
"V-Ver, you gotta get out of here. I don't know how long I can stay human."
Double Virgo said in anger, "Don't you dare tell me what to do Viv. I ain't leaving you and I know you're stronger than this! Fight it damn it!"
Single Virgo saw her cousin's eyes and the fiery determination in them again.
"I made a promise..." she remembered her cousin saying.
Those eyes were clear and she knew she had to fight. She had to.
"Get out!" she screamed.
Double Virgo released her grip. Single Virgo pressed her hands over her forehead. She was struggling to stand up straight. Azure was startled at this.
"Fight it Viv!"
Single Virgo stumbled away from her cousin and toward Azure.
He laughed once again, "I told you. The old Vivicka is no longer."
Her eyes were closed and her arms had fallen limply to her sides. She stood in front of Azure, as if to defend him.
Double Virgo frowned but realized what she had to do. She held her hand out and her spear appeared again.
"Fine," she whispered.
XXXXX
Star Bud Sagittarius waited for the fangs to puncture her skin. A loud crash caused the floor to tremble. The zompires were caught off guard. She took that time to kick away the zompire that was about to bite her.
She looked around for the cause of the noise and saw, to her amazement, a large red fire truck in the middle of the hall.
"You two!" she yelled, "What is going on?"
"Help is on the way!" Leo shouted back.
Star Bud Aquarius and Leo were hanging off the side of the fire truck. They held a hose in their hands and blasted it away at the zompires. A man in robes got out of the truck and assisted the two.
The zompires were all soaked in water, along with Sagittarius, but they all reacted violently and fell to the floor.
Sagittarius looked around and then at the newly arrived saviors.
"Well now, how in the world did you—"
"No time to explain. We got to get to the rooftop. We felt some serious vibes up there," Star Bud Aquarius said.
"Right."
"Hey padre," Leo said to the man in robes, "Let us borrow that nifty ladder, will ya?"
"Anything to help those who would stop the pure-zompire from domination," he replied.
"Thanks. C'mon guys, we can't let the two little ones have all the fun!"
"Hurry! This is no joking matter! They might be in serious danger," Sagittarius scolded them.
"Yeah, it's nice to know that saying thanks after we save your life is out of fashion," Leo said.
"Let's just go, huh?" Aquarius said as they prepared the ladder.
XXXXX
Azure began to laugh, louder and louder. Double Virgo glared at him. Single Virgo still stood in front of him.
"You see? She's gone," he said.
Single Virgo turned around and threw a lightning punch at him.
"Not yet!" she screamed as her fist connected with his jaw.
Azure, taken by surprise, cursed his carelessness. He grabbed Single Virgo's wrist and threw her at Double Virgo. She crashed into her and they were both on the ground again.
"I'm done playing," he said as he wiped the blood from his mouth, "Bloody hell..."
A blue force field generated around him. He walked up to them and stood over them. From his hands emerged a blue sphere of energy. He was ready to blast them off the rooftop.
That is, until a beam of light smashed into his barrier.
Azure turned and saw three Star Buds facing him. They stood on the ledge of the roof.
"Stop right there!" Star Bud Leo said.
"Hey guys! Get up!" Star Bud Aquarius yelled out to the two Virgos.
"Step away from them or else we will be forced to harm you!" Star Bud Sagittarius said, with her bow ready.
"You? Harm me? I don't think so dear," he said as he now aimed the blue energy sphere at the three, "Well, Levita has all of you in one big package now, though I'm really tempted to blast you all away... She better hurry."
"This guy's too cocky," Leo said, "What do we do to make him stop talking?"
"Triangle formation!" Sagittarius ordered.
Leo and Aquarius looked at her in surprise.
"Triangle formation!" Sagittarius repeated.
"Umm..." they both said while twiddling their thumbs, "What's that?"
Sagittarius almost fell off the ledge when she heard their response, "Are you telling me you forgot your training?"
"Enough of this!" Azure said in irritation, "I officially have no idea what Levita wants with you children, but I'll have some fun with you before she whisks you away."
"Levita again?" Aquarius exclaimed, "Why us?"
"I told you! I don't know why!" he replied angrily, "To hell with it... Demon Fury Blast!"
The blue energy sphere flew from his hands and charged at the three. They fled in different directions, however, the sphere split as well.
"Reflection Beam!" Leo yelled as a light beam emerged from her mirror staff and headed for the energy sphere that came at her.
The beam hit the sphere and it caused a huge explosion of light.
Taking Leo's lead, Sagittarius fired three fire arrows at the sphere and it too erupted in light. Aquarius sent a tidal wave of water at the last sphere and it flew back at Azure, but disintegrated when it met his barrier.
"Yikes, that's one horrific defense he's got," Aquarius said.
"That's not the end of it dear," Azure said as he readied two more energy spheres, "Let's see how you do with more blasts."
As he charged up again, he suddenly felt something impact the barrier. He looked behind him and saw a fist pressed up against it.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!" he yelled, "Do you really think that could defeat me?"
Double Virgo grinned, "I didn't know holy water worked on you too."
She yelled in fury as she sent another powerful punch to the barrier. She kept her fist locked on the barrier and put all her weight into pressing against it. Blue sparks began to fly out at her.
Single Virgo appeared behind her and cheered her on.
"Good thinking Ver!" she said as she touched her forehead. It still had the bandages on it, just like Double Virgo's arm.
She took a couple of steps back and charged at the barrier, head first.
"Do not do it!" Sagittarius yelled.
Single Virgo's head made contact with the barrier and blue sparks started to come out as well.
"C'mon Viv, we can break through this barrier!"
Azure aimed the two energy spheres at the two, "Back away or die!"
The two Star Buds continued to press against the barrier. The blue sparks became brighter.
"Veronica! Vivicka! Stop, you'll kill youselves!" Leo yelled.
"Stop!" Sagittarius yelled as she shot an arrow at Azure.
The arrow hit the barrier and broke.
"It won't work!" Azure said angrily.
The blue energy spheres continued to rotate in his hands as he looked from the two Star Buds trying to break into his barrier and the other three, who stood poised to attack.
"I understand now!" Sagittarius said.
"Understand what Ange?" Aquarius asked.
"As long as he has his barrier up, nothing can penetrate it and nothing can come out of it!"
"You're right!" Leo said, "He hasn't fired at Ver or Viv yet because once he does, we can shoot him from this side!"
"Bingo!" Sagittarius said.
"Bingo? Who says bingo?" Aquarius said.
Azure growled in anger, "That may be right, but how long will these little ones last? This barrier is too strong to be broken."
"Like hell it is!" Double Virgo yelled as she continued to push against the barrier. Her bandages were starting to deteriorate and the blue sparks were starting to singe into her flesh.
Single Virgo let out a pierce scream as she rammed into the barrier again.
"S-should we stop them?" Aquarius said in horror.
"No matter what we do, they will not," Sagittarius replied.
"It is no use!" Azure said.
The blue sparks became an eerily bright white light and then subsided. The only thing left was the blue outline of the barrier. Cracks began to form under Double Virgo's fist. More cracks began to appear where Single Virgo's head crashed into.
"No..." Azure whispered.
The barrier began to shake and the two Star Buds pushed passed it. The barrier shattered like glass. Its blue shards flew everywhere and vanished into the air.
"Think again bucko," Double Virgo said as she yelled, "Holy Punch!"
"Sacred Headbutt!" Single Virgo yelled.
Azure was sent backwards, falling on his head. The impact of the attacks was too overpowering.
"Now!" Sagittarius yelled.
Aquarius made a swift downward motion with her sword. A wave of water came at Azure. Leo aimed her mirror at him and a beam shot out. Finally, Sagittarius shot five arrows out.
The triple combination attack fused together and formed one concentrated white beam with blue and red spirals around it.
Azure screamed in pain.
"Help me Levita!" he yelled out as the beam engulfed him.
Levita appeared on the rooftop.
"I knew you were too arrogant to pull of this job. What happened to crushing them?"
"Help me, love!"
"What use would that be?" she said, "You sicken me... I'll take my leave now and I'll get you Star Buds some other time."
She disappeared and Azure was no more.
Double Virgo helped her cousin up from the ground, "Way to use your head, monkey."
"Thanks Ver... Ow... It hurts... But at least I don't have that weird zompire part trying to take over. Oh, I hope I didn't hurt you too much when I attacked you..."
"Oh that? I was just acting! You know you can't beat me up, Viv! You're too short!"
Sagittarius hurried to Single Virgo and looked at her head, "I cannot believe your skull did not fracture. The healing rod could lessen the pain, but only rest could heal it completely. That means no school until you are fully back to health."
Single Virgo didn't protest this time. Her head wasn't going to allow it.
Aquarius and Leo shouted at them.
"Hey, let's get off the roof! The ladder's waiting for us!" Leo said.
"C'mon guys! It's fun!"
Sagittarius went down first and then Aquarius.
Before Single Virgo climbed down, she asked Leo, "How'd you get this ladder? How'd you get a firetruck?!"
"Some padre was heading here with it and he kept rambling about how there was a holy water theft in the church and that he was part of some zompire hunter society."
Single Virgo and Double Virgo looked at her and was about to crack up.
"What?"
"N-nothing," Single Virgo said as she climbed down.
The other two followed her.
The school was safe from the undead, for now
XXXXX
"Levita," Sinistogi said in the darkness, "You have failed me once again."
"I am sorry Master," Levita said as she bowed down to him.
A cold wind passed through the cave.
"Will I have to call on one of the other Sinistar Warriors?"
Levita, still bowing, clenched her fists. She didn't want the others involved. She knew she could save them by herself.
"No, Master. Though I have not captured the Star Buds, I have at least procured enough energy to keep this place running."
Sinistogi nodded, "You are correct in saying that. There was a lot of energy released when those humans transformed into zompires. Yes, this dwelling that resides in the depths of time requires much energy, but it is necessary to conceal ourselves."
"Will you grant me another chance, Master? I don't want the others to be pulled into this," Levita said.
"I know you so badly want your freedom and the freedom of your siblings, but you cannot do everything alone."
"Yes, I can," Levita thought to herself.
"Go now and execute your next plan."
"Yes, Master," Levita said as she disappeared into another part of the cave.
After she left, three figures stepped out of the darkness behind Sinistogi.
"Master, Levita is too unstable. She will kill all the humans before capturing the Star Buds. Let us help her," one said.
"She has too much pride. She will not accept the help of one of her subordinates," Sinistogi said. "I must attend to other matters now. I feel something approaching this planet."
He stepped into the darkness and vanished.
The other three Sinistar Warriors stood in silence.
"Why are we enslaved by him?"
"Don't talk of such insolence! He saved us from the humans!"
"Come now. Don't argue. Let's check up on Levita."
With that, the three also vanished.
XXXXX
"Well, it looks like another day saved by the Star Buds," Maddy said.
The five sat at a table at the McJujo's.
"Yeah, but it was tiring!" Annie said as she sipped on her drink.
Veronica patted Vivicka on the head, which caused her to wince, "We should have more fighting during school. It's funner than writing and thinking."
"I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy having my head almost split open by some zompire's barrier!" Vivicka said as she stole a french fry from Veronica's tray.
"I am still worried that Levita and the one she is working for will come back for us. We need to be more alert from now on," Angela said seriously.
"Come to think of it," Vivicka said, "Azure figured out our identities."
Veronica nodded in agreement.
"What?" Annie exclaimed. "Do you think he told her?"
"I cannot be sure, but remember, we are on the alert," Angela said.
"Hey Angela!" called a voice from afar.
"Oh no, that isn't..." Annie and Maddy said.
"Sofia! Come join us!" Angela said as she waved her over.
The other four shook their heads and motioned for Angela to stop. However, Sofia arrived at their table and sat down, squeezing in between Annie and Maddy.
"Hey gang! Sorry I didn't make our meeting, Angela. I was... sleeping on the ground of the school for some reason," she said as she grabbed a fry from Annie's tray, "Isn't that weird? Most of the school was like that. They blamed it on the fact that there was some chemical in the school's sprinkler system and it caused everyone to be knocked out."
"Really?" Angela asked.
"It's true!" Sofia replied.
The other four looked at each other blankly. Sofia and Angela looked at them, bewildered.
"What's gotten into them?"
"Oh, they are just zombies sometimes," Angela answered with a smile.
End: Part IV of Episode II