Greetings everyone and welcome back to my fic! Sorry that once again it took me so long to write this chapter…my most profound apologies. I tried to get this out before Ash Wednesday, but I was having some issues with ff.net, oh well. Thanks to Sailor Bubs, magicgirl10, and Synea-Aja Maccynt for reviewing for the last chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own Sailor Moon.
Dedication: To the men and women who serve in the US military.
Enjoy!
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Book I: Alone
Chapter X
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I knew something bad was going to happen before three weeks were up. Already over two weeks had gone by and there wasn't a single attack on the city. Even though I was relieved that I didn't have to fight, the lack of any fights made me uneasy.
Day after day I found myself staying after school to finish my homework. I managed to not get any grade below a B. My teacher was thrilled at my sudden improvement and was actually willing to allow me to take some short naps during class. Even my parents let up on me because of the good grades. They allowed me to stay out longer since I was getting my work done and any tiredness they dismissed as over-studying.
After my school work was completed I would wander over to Raye's temple and sneak over to my training place. Everyday I pushed myself harder and harder to prepare for the attack I knew was coming.
'My skill with my staff has improved greatly. I'm able to us the sharp points on the crescent moon to slash into things, and my speed and grace is helping the force and effectiveness of all of my attacks,' I thought proudly as I examined a gash a tree trunk, the result of my most recent attack.
I went from examining the tree to looking closely at the staff in my hands. Up until this point I had never realized how deadly this thing could be. The moon on the top of it was extremely sharp and the bottom end of the staff came to a deadly point. The stick part of it was sturdy and I had a feeling, that no matter what it impacted against, it would not break.
Next I took in all of my surroundings. There was a heap of ruined trash bags sitting next to a mound of dirt. I had long since destroyed the last bags with my staff. Next I noted the saplings that were now missing their tops. And lastly I observed about ten sticks dangling, a few feet apart, from some of the trees.
I had hung the sticks there so I could practice hitting multiple targets. I grinned and positioned myself to being to bombard the sticks.
My eyes narrowed in concentration for a brief second before I spring into action. I knocked the first few stick out of the way with my staff. I continued to skillfully either knock the sticks aside or slash them down.
With a quick motion I turned to hit the sticks that were swinging towards my backside. Before I could turn to defend myself against the other sticks that were coming toward me I was struck on the side of the head. That hit made me lose my concentration and a second later I was clobbered in the back of the head by a second branch.
"Damn," I cursed aloud while I dropped to the ground, away from the swinging sticks.
I looked up at the remaining sticks as I massaged the tender spots on my head. 'There are only five sticks left hanging and I was hit by two of them. That's just sad. I should be able to keep five lousy sticks away from me without a problem,' I though angrily.
I continued to train until I had used up almost all of my energy. I could feel my forms flicking back and forth between me as Spirit Sailor Moon and me as Serena. Finally I stopped fighting my fatigue and allowed my Spirit Sailor Moon form to disappear completely.
I managed to take a wobbly step in the direction of my house, but when I tried to take another, my knees gave out and I hit the ground with a nasty thud.
The world around me blackened, but I didn't care. I was ready to give in to the blissful darkness that was eating into my mind. I was prepared to leave reality to face my awful nightmares. The blackness filled my mind and I remember no more of reality.
The stars shone brightly against the black velvet sky. The moon hung amidst the twinkling stars; its rays danced across the surface of the Earth and cast its silvery light on the trees and lake below.
Two lovers sat wrapped up in each others arms. A sudden, horrible scream in the night broke their tender embrace. Seconds later the young couple came face to face with a hellish looking monster.
The beast had grayish scales covering its mutated body. Two red glowing spots were fixed where its eyes should have been, and two nasty claws were attached to abnormally long arms.
The two teens let out a piercing scream and tried to run from the monster. The beast laughed evilly and began to toy with the fleeing couple. It extended it claws so that the came within inches from the teen. Each time that the claw almost hit them the lovers let out a terrified shriek.
"You amuse me," the monster said in a shrill mocking voice, "but Lord Deivic would be angry if I let this game go on any longer."
The monster made its final attack by extending both its claws toward the frightened teenagers. But, a flash of green and brown came between the claws and their target and knocked them aside.
A tall brunette with dazzling green eyes dressed in a white bodice with a green skirt stood in between the monster and the younger lovers.
"How 'bout you pick on someone else." The brunette said rather than asked the beast.
The monster cackled in response to the girl's words. "Who are you to think that you can challenge the power of the might Lord Deivic and his faithful army?"
"Me? I'm Sailor Jupiter, champion of love and justice. In the name of Jupiter I will destroy you," Sailor Jupiter said with smirk of determination on her face.
The monster once again laughed almost giddily at her words. "Ohhh! One of the planet's defenders. How nice of you to stop by and let me be the one to kill you. First, I'm going to kill you. Then, I'm going to find the rest of the defenders and kill them and make them suffer too."
"Whatever," Jupiter snorted as an answer. "Jupiter thunder clap."
Sailor Jupiter's attack flew with lightning speed towards the hideous monster, but the attack was knocked aside with ease by the beast.
Once again the beast's shrill laughter rang through the air. A look of dismay flashed across the warrior's face, but I was soon replaced with a look of pure determination.
In a swift motion, she unleashed a series of punches and kicks at the monster, but the monster skillfully dodged each one of the girl's assaults.
More evil laughter filled the night as the beast unleashed its own attacks. After a few quick and skillful extensions of its claws, the monster had managed to land a solid blow on the sailor scout.
Sailor Jupiter let out a cry of pain as she collapsed to the hard earth. The monster's claw hovered inches above her fallen form.
"What a boring fight…I hope that I can get a better challenge from a different defender," the monster taunted right before it plunged it claw into Sailor Jupiter's body.
Jupiter let out another cry of pain as her spirit was ripped from her body.
"Venus Love Me Chain."
A golden chain of energy shot at the monster and lashed into its back. The sudden attack caused the monster to release its grip on Sailor Jupiter's spirit.
Three more girls in different colored skirts came into the beast's view. With out a word of introduction they began to prepare their attacks.
"Mars Fire Ignite."
"Mercury Bubbles Blast."
"Venus Love Me Chain."
The three warriors' attacks speed through the air with astounding speed. The three different energies combined in mid attack and hit the monster head on.
The monster screamed in pain but still remained standing.
"So the rest of you did decide to show up. I now get to kill you all at once."
Unseen by the distracted beast, Sailor Jupiter rose to her feet and prepared to attack once again. Instead of her normal attack phrase, new, unfamiliar words came to her lips:
"Jupiter Spirit Thunder."
Jupiter collected lighting in her hands, but before she released the attack her spirit came out of her body and conjured her own lightning attack. The apparition added her lighting to Sailor Jupiter's original energy. With the added strength Jupiter released her attack and it hit the monster with enough force to make the thing disintegrate on the spot.
The monster left the world with a painful cry of protest. Then, the night held only silence.
I awoke with start. My aching muscles protested the sudden movement, and my head throbbed and tried to make my world go dark again. But, I had only one though on my mind:
"Lita…Lita as Sailor Jupiter was in my dream and she seemed so real and…alive."
Ignoring my protesting muscles, I stood and began to walk home from where I had passed out on the shrine's grounds. My thoughts were consumed by my dream of Sailor Jupiter for my entire trek home.
I entered my house still in a dazed state of mind. I hardly remember answering my parents worried questions of my whereabouts earlier in the day. I think that I muttered something about the library, but I honestly can't be sure. My mother offered to reheat my supper but I declined and made my way to my bedroom so I could go back to sleep.
I was hoping that I could reenter that dream. I wanted nothing more at the moment than to see my dead friends, even if it was only a dream that I would see them in.
I allowed darkness to consume my mind once more, but this time I dreamed of nothing – no nightmares or blissful dreams of dead friends – just darkness.
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I'm so happy that I finally got this chapter out and I can't wait to write the next one – all hell is going to break lose. Look for updates on Sundays (as Sundays aren't included in the 40 days of Lent *does happy dance*). I hope to get another chapter out soon (inspiring reviews always make things go faster) and I want to thank all of you who are still reading even with my infrequent updates.
Happy Easter (if you don't hear from me before then)!
-The Golden Lady