Just forewarning Standard disclaimer. Sailor Moon is not mine, the idea and the show belong to people much richer than I. Please don't sue!
Dimmer however is mine.. of course if someone wants to use him or any of his transformations for ANY reason "thbbt" go ahead. You have my complete and total permission. I only request you tell me, mainly cause I'd like to read it… Hell, I don't care if you don't tell me, it's not like I could find you anyway.
Warning: mild language. Violent scenes, no worse than most action movies, but they actually sound worse when described…
"I can't believe the demon failed. Have the scouts really gotten that powerful? They have become a force not to be underestimated." Queen Beryl sneered as she walked through the dark, icy passages of her fortress. She didn't know the details of how the demon was defeated, her generals were all too wounded to stay around for the fight and report it to her. It didn't matter the evil presence vanishing upon the earth's surface told her enough.
"Yet still tonight was a large victory for us. Their spy was weaseled out, we gave them something to think about, a large portion of the crystals are now in our hands. My generals will need some time to heal, but all in all, a good night. Especially for this."
She finally reached her destination. The large plant like decoration in front of her, where they held the energy from the attacks they made against earth, was glowing with the pink, dangerous energy. In this eerie room a glass bed lie in the middle. In this glass chamber was Chad, shirtless, and gritting his teeth in pain. A dark energy swirled around him, it was obvious he was trying to fight it's presence, but his training as a priest was proven to be almost worthless when it came to these spiritual things. He was using all of his knowledge on the subject, and he was losing quickly.
"This one took on fifty lizards by himself with no powers whatsoever. He will be a great addition, especially when he receives our power to use as he wills. He will be unstoppable! Could even Prince Darien stand up to this one's strength? He wasn't in the prince's league when it came to charm or charisma, but those things never attracted Beryl to a person. She was only attracted to power, and the people that held it. This "Daybreak" held an ounce of dark energy more promising than any power she'd ever come across. She was expanding it, letting it seep through every portion of his body. He would be strong, her most powerful general, and her prince. She would rule the worlds through battle and fear, with this man at her side, she would rule all.
"We'll just have to use the mind control to help him clean up a little…" She laughed a terrible, loud laugh.
Chad was disturbed to the bone, his concentration slipped, and he felt a little more of himself falling into darkness.
Neither of them noticed the small white tail sticking out from one side of the glass bed.
Lita walked into the room with everyone else. "Okay," she sighed, "Andrew just finished picking up his girlfriend, and he's returning the cat for us too."
"And I just finished with Grandfather…" Rei said coming in behind her. It was hard seeing her grandfather as he was. She looked coldly at Darien, she knew it wasn't his fault, her grandfather wouldn't have gone down easily, that didn't make it any easier to forgive him at the moment though.
Darien looked away. He threw everything he had at Rei's grandfather turned youma, worst of all, it wasn't enough. It was her grandfather that spared him. Darien could tell the creature was fighting itself, and still it was far from an easy task bringing him down. He never truly realized how powerful Sailor Moon's wand had to be, until he had to actually knock out the youma without it.
"Please sit down Miss. Rei, and Miss Lita. We've much to discuss." Talenite offered both a seat.
"First measure of business. Dimmer, and how do we turn him back."
"There are three ways, the first way is Dimmer's werewolf form deciding to change back to Dimmer on its own. The real question is how to make it decide to. Miss. Rei."
"Just call me Rei please."
"Very well, does that go for all of you?"
"Please." they all sighed together.
"As you wish, to continue, A werewolf can only truly be hurt by silver or pure magic. That means no elemental kinds of magic, water, ice, thunder, fire, none will work against him. That is why I believe Sailor Moon's scepter may be able to heal him, for it is made of pure magic. This is the another way to turn him back, and this way may be a more permanent solution. The question with this method, is how do we slow him down long enough for Serena to use it, and how to do that without fatal injuries."
"I thought it was only during a full moon, can't we keep him distracted for two days or so?"
"No, Serena, I'm afraid that is a false truth. The last and final way is if he runs out of energy, which is unlikely, it is magic that they thrive from, and he just ate a powerful demon. Tales also tell that the full moon is what makes them change. This is only partly true, as you may have guessed, on account of Dimmer never having been changed before. He had the main symptom, I should have guessed, but I never thought that one person could have so much mystery tied to them all at once."
"Well you underestimated Dimmer than, he is, by far the most unpredictable person in our world, and he doesn't even notice it. But my question is, if the full moon doesn't trigger his transformations, what does? And what symptom are you talking about."
"Patience Luna. I will try my best to explain. First the symptoms. One symptom to begin with, is a slight greenish tint to a person's aura, representing a touch of nature. Normally not very noticeable, but it swells close to a new moon. The second symptom, and most noticeable is either a blood thirst, or the opposite, a nauseous feeling at the sight of it. Dimmer obviously had the later. What this describes is the person's willingness to become a wolf. A blood thirst means that they are willing to accept the wolf side.
For the opposite, a person may not know they may be a werewolf, and their instincts tell them to fight it. The same is true for those who do not accept their wolf forms. Another symptom might be a fascination with wolves, but the most prominent, is the scratching. As your mind has visions of the future sometimes, I believe you refer to it as de ja vu, your body can have glimpses of the future too. It knows when a change will be evident and the fur tries to get out, irritating the skin, causing the person to become incredibly itchy, especially when the light of the moon is upon the person."
"Okay than, what triggers it?" Amy was really interested now. A modern day folktale was about to be explained in full.
"A combination of things. The full moon, being one of them. Another can be hunting, the thrill of the kill, another, being desperate, the fight or flee instinct being triggered, someone fearing you, the scent of it in the air can trigger the change. Finally, a large scent of blood, which I believe, turned Dimmer. There were pools of your enemies blood all around, there might have been desperateness to add to it, but he turned the moment he entered the open. That means the first thing to hit him would be the blood."
"Okay, how do we stop Dimmer from hurting anyone for the time being?"
"For now? It's as simple as not threatening him. He already made his kill, it was large and he will not need to hunt for awhile. He, like any wolf, will only hunt when hungry. Another is to try to keep supernatural aspects to a minimum around him. Werewolves feed on any humanoid, but moreover, they are the enemies to vampires, undead, and any supernatural being. Their power attracts them.
"And last night? We were all scouts than, why didn't he attack us."
"He thrives on instinct. Think from his perspective. His instinct told him there was nothing to be concerned about, you are all familiar to him, especially Rei."
Rei blushed, and the others giggled a bit, but let him continue.
"But most importantly, he had fed. You'll notice even Rei he growled at when she came to close to his food. I'm certain if there was no demon last night; one of us would be his supper, more likely me. He obviously didn't trust me, even if he felt no threat from me. Also he smelled my fear."
"Another fact we found out last night is a fierce protection over two scouts. Rei, and Amy, he may trust me now, simply for healing them both."
"Amy?" Lita questioned her.
"Well… Dimmer is very special to me. I know I found him and everything but its like there's something more, like a connection."
"Watch it there, Amy, you're moving in on taken territory there." Lita joked.
"No guys, I think it's really true! Dimmer doesn't listen to anybody, but himself most of the time. Not even me, but he always does whatever Amy tells him like a sulky little kid. He even looks like her."
"Yes. He does a little now that I think on of it. The real give away is the blue hair." Talenite remarked curiously.
"Huh? Sorry Talenite. Dimmer doesn't have blue hair, its black. I know, I had an argument with a nurse on the subject. I got her to believe Dimmer's hair was light brown, luckily he was wrapped up in bandages and always in a dark room most of the time."
"Hmmm… no I do believe you are the wrong one Rei. Have you ever looked closely at it in the light. I was walking with him earlier today in the afternoon, It's true his hair looks a deep black in any but the brightest sunshine, but I seen a tint of blue to it today. But we are off subject."
Rei thought for a moment… maybe, she braided his hair, but it was cloudy out…
"Talenite's right, and I believe I have an answer." The wheels were slowly turning in Amy's head. "Dimmer has no idea he's in a park right now. The question is how to keep him away from people."
"I'm not sure I catch on." Mina looked downright confused.
"If we can do that, he'd starve as a werewolf, he'd turn back human as soon as he found food he could only eat as a human, especially if he runs completely on instinct. I just wish it didn't have to be this way, this is still Dimmer after all…"
"We must Amy. Using his instinct against him. Clever, but how do we get him away from human habitat?"
"We have to lure him. We have to use something he hates, something that will get his attention beyond anything, and we have to do it now that he has a full stomach." Darien surprised them with a sudden spoken thought. It was the only thing he had said that night.
"He's right, and I think I have an idea of what, but… no it would never work…"
"What is it Rei?"
"Well…"
He yawned a loud, grumpy yawn. He felt like doing something, but what? The crowd staring at him as he ate had left with their familiar scents. He wanted to follow, but there was far too many people to around. He shook out his heavy coat of fur. He buried his meal for later. He decided he would explore this new territory. He felt too out in the open here. The scent of human was strong everywhere in the trees around him. So he ran towards the other way hoping to find more density. He ran trying to expend his wound up energy. It had been a long time since he could run until he was tired. He jumped up into a large tree to have a look around. Needless to say, it was not what he was expecting. Instead of a sea of trees as far as the eye could see, the tree line ended far too quickly, and great, stone monuments made by his prey, rose above these trees puny heights. The lights of the human city blinked at him. He whimpered his disappointment, and jumped back to the ground from the tree.
His energy drained away. This wasn't what he remembered. Large expansive landscapes, running through miles of fields and wood, the scent of the seasons in the air. Above the trees in this place, there was a feeling of choking. He was captured here, in this small brush of trees left as a reminder of the once beautiful forest that must have once covered the land. Anger flooded him, he felt a need for revenge against the people that would do this to his home, but was it his home? Was it even the same place?
Yes.
These scents of plants, he recognized them from times past, There was a scent in the air he could never forget. The magic, seemed to have dwindled compared to what it once was. He remembered how the humans had tricked him into taking his alternate form. Humans just couldn't except the part of themselves created his mate and himself, so long ago. They cannot except themselves to be in the natural order of hunter and hunted. They cannot accept being a part of nature they had created together.
Maybe he should treat them the way the humans treat his fellow creatures? To hunt them mercilessly and destroy their homes without a thought! No. That was not nature's way. If he hungered he would hunt. If he was threatened, he would fight, or he would flee. That was life. That was freedom. He obeyed none, and was his own master. Besides this is what Artemis wanted, to see them flourish, to see them live, even at the expense of their world.
He travelled to the edge of the small wooded area. What were these new things? He walked over to it sniffing curiously.
It smelled of human. But as far as he could tell there were none around. He felt his clawed feet dig into the unnatural rock, as he went over to check out the funny looking thing.
The police in the squad car watched through their tinted glass as the large wolf-man made its way over towards them. It looked curious, and watchful. It could pounce on anything at any moment. They both looked at each other. No one was sure of what kind of thing could have done that to their fellow officer. John wasn't speaking to anybody, only his and his partner's wife. Pidge was still in critical condition. They were about to ready their weapons when a voice came over their radio.
"Don't do it. You wouldn't have a chance. He doesn't know you're there, I believe he's just curious about your vehicle. Operation "lights out" will begin shortly. Be patient. The worst that may happen is your car rolling."
Both policemen recognized the voice that saved their lives last night. The psychic radio guy had told all police in the ware house district to get the hell out of there moments before the whole place went to hell. They were smart enough to listen to that voice and it saved their lives when the entire warehouse was engulfed in strange lights. They both decided to listen to its advice again as they watched the large white wolf bend down under their car. The squeaking of metal started to make itself known, and they felt the car move underneath them, and the screeching of metal against metal was heard. Both were trying to hold in their screams. Suddenly one of the street lamps went out above them and it caught the wolf's attention. They were immediately glad that they followed the voice's directions as soon as they seen what it did to the lamp post.
Startled, he looked up at the light that went out. He felt a growing hatred for the thing that held a part of himself trapped inside. How dare it! He growled a loud feral growl before leaping up at it as quick as the light had went out. He left it in pieces, it would never be able to light up again. Than the strange tree next to it went out! Another one! Were all of these trees holding lights that wanted to be released?! This was going too far! Even for humans! Fine! He'd just rip them all out, human around or no!
The officers watched as the white wolf slaughtered the street lamps all the way down the street. Operation "Light's Out" seemed to be working. Throughout the city only one route had street lamps that were allowed to be left on. And they were all slowly going out one by one. The moment the wolf attacked one another would be going out.
"It's seems to be working, sir" One of the officers spoke into the radio.
"Good work boys. Keep staking out the place in case it comes back. I know it's been a long night, but we really need this."
"Will do sir, we're not going to go anywhere any way. My partner says our engine is lying on the ground right now."
"Oh. Uh… I'll see if I can call somebody for that…"
"Thanks." Was the officer's only response. The kid on the radio was right, it was long night, and for them, it was probably going to only get longer.
"What was that Greg? It's working! That's great! It's leading him how far outside the city? Mount Fuji?! Are you serious?! Well that's certainly going to be out of people's way alright. But we'll have to keep watch out for him. Alright, we're on our way down to the docks to search for any sign of Chad. Can you tell the police to let us in? We're in the vehicles the Prime Minister supplied for us, but we're not transformed right now. Our "other selves" are healing. Thanks. See you after all this is over."
Amy flipped closed her cell, and nodded to the other girls. Rei never even noticed the conversation, and in truth it was the last thing on her mind as she stared out into space. She was really worried about Chad, and her grandfather needed heavy medical care. She worried about Dimmer who, even if their plan went right, would be close to starving to death. She wondered how she was going to tell him about Pidge. John called the girls immediately, knowing Dimmer would want to be there. They had to let him know who the werewolf was. He could only answer in a steely detached voice. It was the same voice John had told her what state Pidge was in. Pidge was paralyzed from the waist down, right where the blast had struck him.
He wanted revenge.
Rei could tell, and she didn't blame him. She wanted it too. Her grandfather, Chad, Dimmer… all in one night. The Negaverse took everything from her, her entire family, and there was a chance she may not see any of these people again. She wanted to be beside her grandfather's side, she wanted to be looking after Dimmer, she was going after Chad because it was the only sensible thing to do. Chad might still be there and she might be able to help. She wouldn't be able to help the police watch the werewolf, and there was nothing she could do for her grandfather. She glared back at Darien who was getting into the car behind them.
Darien could feel her eyes upon him. He was sure she hated him. He had nearly killed Rei's grandfather for his own mistakes. Not only could he not control his own strength against Zoicite, he had no chance against Rei's grandfather turned youma. Her grandfather was holding itself back, if it didn't, he was sure he would be dead right now. He looked down at his own hands. The hands, he just realized tonight, that could kill. He should have tried in the tournament. If only he had of known…
Serena watched as Darien silently beat himself up. She held on to his hand, trying to give him comfort, but she just didn't know what to say. She was sure he hadn't even noticed her hand on his. He was hurting, and she was hurting to watch, but she couldn't take her eyes from him. She never could bare to watch someone in pain. She just kept whispering to him that everything would be okay, that everything would work out, but she knew he couldn't hear her, no matter what she said...
Luna looked at Serena with sad eyes. They lost the crystals, allies, and most importantly, friends last night. It was hard on all of them.
It wasn't long until both cars pulled up to the warehouse where the police figured out everything must've taken place. The police waved them through. There were skid marks of a motorcycle entering, but nothing suggested it went out again. There was no sign of it inside either. The scent of the corpses of burnt lizards was still in the air, though the bodies themselves were removed, combined with the scent of rotting fish, it was needless to say the place reeked horribly.
The chalk outlines told the scouts exactly where what lizard bodies had been. There was around eight killed all together, but there were signs of many more all around, and they left many witnesses that told as much, there had to been well over thirty. Daybreak would never have stood a chance. Amy walked about, doing a complete scanner sweep.
"There was a portal to the Negaverse here recently. There's no sign of Daybreak anywhere… This could be both bad and good…"
"What do you mean Amy?" Luna walked over to her.
"I don't believe he was killed."
"What?" Rei asked, suddenly a little less worried.
"Really Amy?" Mina was instantly by her side.
"Yes, unfortunately I do not believe this a good sign. This is purely speculation, but I believe that the Negaverse has kidnapped him."
"But why? Daybreak was the weakest of us! Why didn't they take one of us? Or Tuxedo Mask? Or even Dimmer?"
"No one knows the Negaverse plans Rei." Luna spoke up. "Needless to say what ever their purpose, it's sure to be evil."
"Yeah and bad news for us." Lita sighed.
"Not to mention Chad, I hope he'll be alright."
"Don't worry Serena. We know they haven't killed him, that's at least something, and that gives us the chance to save him. Right?" Mina pointed out, optimistically. "The question is how do we save him?"
"I'm not sure Mina. I'm going to do some more readings on this portal while its still fresh. I've never had the chance to hang around a battle scene before to get this good of a reading. Perhaps I might be able to find something."
"Sounds good Amy. If you don't mind though, I want to go see my grandfather."
"Oh right… I know he'll pull through Rei…"
"I know Amy. My grandfather is no quitter right?" Rei smiled, once again putting on her façade for the team. The pity she saw in her friend's eyes told her it was too little, too late.
Darien was still looking around. He had just put Rei's grandfather in the hospital, and now this. He knew how Amy came up with the assumption that Chad was kidnapped. The Negaverse was still going by its old fate. Dimmer warned them about something like that occurring. They were going to kidnap him, than turn himself against the scouts. It seems Chad now took his place. No one could know what this would mean, what powers could they give to Chad? What price was Chad going to pay because he missed out on his own destiny. He looked over at the girls all offering Rei things they could help her with. Their was a lot to do to keep that old temple going, and now only Rei was there to run it. So how could he help?
"Hmm… Dimmer… of course." Darien quickly transformed and ran out of the warehouse without even looking back at the girls to say a good bye. The limp in his footing told all that his wounds were not fully recovered.
"Darien! Tuxedo Mask?, where are you going?!" Serena turned just in time to see Darien's mad dash to the door, than ducking out of the building.
Everyone was caught off guard by Darien, and kinda stood shocked. "What happened to him?" Lita asked the unspoken question running through everyone's mind.
"Darien…" Serena breathed out a worried sigh. He was in no condition to be alone. Something else had caught her attention though, There were voices outside the door, did Tuxedo Mask cause some kind of disturbance out there? If they came in they would know their identities!
"What's going on?" Rei walked up beside Serena to see what was happening. They both could hear the voices outside as the door was slowly being moved open, as if someone was forcing their way though the officers keeping it closed.
"I know the Sailor Scouts are in there dammit! And unlike you I have a good suspicion to who they are, and I have to speak with one, now get out of my way!" John pushed his officer out of his way before trying to pull the door to the warehouse open.
"Everyone! Hide! By the crates hurry!" Rei called out as quietly as she could. Everyone snapped out of their trance and did exactly as they were told. They took off towards the tipped over and broken crates, and managed to get out of sight, just as the door opened.
"I told you, out of my way! now stay out! And get a car ready for me when I get back out. Yeah, I'll deal with the chiefs, and I'll tell him just who's responsible for getting into their own captain's way! I give the orders here, 'cause right now they are under my jurisdiction, now get." John sighed as he finally got rid of the rookie officer. "damn rookies, everything's still so by the book for them. Okay…" He shut the door behind him.
He called out to the seemingly empty where house, "I know you're here scouts, and I'm sorry to barge in on you, but I'm pretty sure one of you are a certain Rei Hino. If not, tell me and I'll be out of here in less then a second."
Rei looked to Serena who hid right beside her. Serena just shrugged. Neither knew what to say or do.
"I just came from the hospital, you know my partner's there. They've been trying to get a hold of Rei for the past little while. It's about her grandfather!"
Rei's eyes went wide as she remained stock still, that is until a shove pushed her out in the open. She looked back at Serena, who was gesturing for her to go, worriedly. Rei simply nodded and turned toward John, Dimmer's friend. She only met him a couple times, but Dimmer spoke about Pidge and John a lot, so she knew how much Dimmer trusted him, but did that mean she could?
"Rei? You have got to come with me, the hospital needs your help."
"What for, and how… how did you know?"
"I'll explain on the way, here throw my trench coat on, its should be large enough to stop anyone from recognizing you." John threw his coat over her head, grabbed her arm and took off running. Rei felt herself get thrown into the passenger side of a squad car, before she could finally find her way out of the trench coat.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"A friend a favor. Not to mention you. Hang on tight." John switched on the sirens, "and buckle up… you're in for a rough ride."
The car took off down the street, switching lanes, and sliding in and out of the way of the cars too slow to pull to the side of the road, which, going at the speed he was going, was pretty much all of them.
"You're crazy!" Rei yelled as she buckled herself in, taking his advice. She had to brace herself against the window, to stop her head from hitting it as they took turns way too sharp. She screamed as she felt the two wheels of her side of the car rise up, almost rolling the car, only to feel them slam back down as they finished the turn. "You're going to get us killed! How in the world did you know I was a scout anyway?"
"Yeah? Well that's why Pidge dri… used to drive. And to answer your question, Dimmer isn't all that great at keeping secrets. You are a priestess from the temple he lives at, he says he's close to the scouts, and you and your friends are the only people he seems to hang out with. You are all about the right age and descriptions besides that. Truth is, its me and Pidge that are trying to keep the whole station from finding out as easily."
"Great…" Rei yelped in frustration that their secret was so obvious, when they just barely missed an oncoming car as John swerved into the wrong lane. "Than what happened to grandpa? He isn't? He didn't?"
"Die? No, it's quite the opposite, the hospitals having one hell of a time trying to put him down. Keeps saying stuff like it's only a flesh wound, and he's had worse."
Rei couldn't help but let out a relieved smile. She just hoped she could make it to the hospital alive…
"Amy, I have to go. Artemis has been missing since last night's battle, he should be back to Rei's temple by now. I want to go check out there, I'm starting to get a little worried about him."
"What? Artemis is missing? I'll go too alright Mina?"
"Serena, you have responsibilities here. Are you going to leave Amy by herself?" Luna protested quickly.
"Luna! Artemis might be hurt! Lita's here to help Amy, Aren't you at least a little worried? You've been fuming about that whole cat misunderstanding for weeks! We need you, both of you. And it's not like you to be so upset about something to stop you from caring if they're hurt or not. Don't you think its about time to put it behind you? After all , we lost so many friends today." Serena sniffed a little as a tear ran down her cheek, "We can't have these fights between us, not now… not ever…"
Luna looked down. After all the times she had to reprimand Serena...She let out a pained sigh, she was right. Even in the worst moments she wouldn't want him to be hurt.
"Of course Serena. You're right. Let's go find him. Hopefully his instinct can keep him out of trouble better than his mouth can."
"Now that's the Luna I know." Serena smiled and thought to herself, "It's so obvious she cares for him, but why is she always fighting instead…?"
"Please sir. We just need you to calm down. You may aggravate your wounds further!" The nurse was doing her best to get the old man off of the curtains.
"Now you listen here, I told you. I'm fit as I ever was." He was warding her and several other doctors and nurses away with the chair they had beside his bed.
"Grandfather!"
The old man's eyes widened at the sound of the angry voice in the doorway and lost his grip on the curtain. He quickly fell to the floor landing on his posterior. The chair he was holding bounced off the old man's head, quickly sending him into unconsciousness.
Rei ran over to help the nurse pick up him up.
"Huh? Oh miss Hino! I didn't think I'd see you again so soon."
"What? Oh Nurse Kala! I didn't know you would be here."
"Well I'm about the only one around here your grandfather would even speak to." Kala giggled.
Rei sighed as she looked at Kala's figure and realized why… He's up to it again…"He's looking much better than he was. I hope he hasn't been too much trouble."
"Lets just say most of the doctors will be as glad as he will be when he's well enough to leave. Is it possible for you to stay with him for most of the next two days? We figure that should be enough time, IF he calms down a little."
"I'll see what I can do, but I'm the only one taking care our temple right now."
"Really? What happened to Dimmer?"
"He's… come down with something." Like lyncanthropy… Rei finished to herself.
"Oh dear, and what about that other one you were talking about, Chad wasn't it?"
"You're certainly good with names." Rei sweatdropped, "Chad has…haaas…umm… taken a trip! Yes! He took a trip to America. He's supposed to be a pretty well-known guitarist over there."
"Oh really? Well, we'll have to see if we can do something. Tell me, does Dimmer still wear the braids?"
- Rei couldn't help but smile. It was Kala's idea for the hair clasps for Dimmer's bangs. She suggested them to keep the hair out of his eyes, it was going to be while he was in the casts, but he had healed too quickly for that.
Rei decided to put them in anyway, it helped his accuracy a lot when he could see what he was hitting.
"He hasn't taking them out since."
Kala smiled, "I'm glad. You looked good together, or at least what little I seen of him under those bandages."
"Hey, he was only wearing an arm brace by the time he left," Rei smiled. The cheerful way Kala spoke told her, that her Grandfather would be fine. She looked up to the doorway. "Thank you John."
"Don't worry about it. I'm going back to Pidge's room now. See you after."
"I don't get it, what could have happened to him? Artemis! Artemis?!" Mina was very worried now, she checked her house, and the temple and there was no sign of her faithful feline friend. "Artemis! Where are you?!"
"What do you think could have happened to him Luna?" Serena watched the distraught girl call out for her best friend.
"I don't know Serena… I really don't know." Mina and Serena weren't the only ones worried. What Artemis had said earlier was an age-old argument between the two. It started so long ago, it was one of the memories lost to both of them now, but even now it was still going on. She hoped Artemis wasn't hurt. She did not like the idea of him getting hurt when the last thing either had done was fight, and right now, she feared something far worst. There was no sign of Artemis anywhere, and a hungry lizard was big enough to scoop him up and …" The idea made Luna shiver. And it may very well be a harsh reality. No last words, not even a chance to say good bye. "Oh Artemis, where are you?"
He sniffed the air and looked around. The lighted trees were all destroyed, and the lights released to where they wished to go, but he wasn't in the same place anymore, there were more trees here, more nature. Had the humans not come out this far? He yelped in delight and ran through the wilderness.
He had been running for several hours, and he was silently content. The moon's light was dimming and the sun would soon come out, but now he felt uneasy. For awhile he had been feeling a presence, a magic presence, watching, waiting. It meant no harm, and it feared him, so he wasn't too worried, but no matter where he went the black silhouette followed. Its scent was familiar though he couldn't place it. It's memories were so jumbled up in its mind. Memories from eternities passed mixed with the now. That thing the was making the white wolf nervous. No matter how many times he stopped to look, it managed to evade his sight. There wasn't many things out there that could do that and it unnerved him to no end. He was beginning to get hungry… He would have to find this magic creature. The hunt would soon begin.
Tuxedo Mask watched the wolf turn sharply around, he knew the wolf could smell him, yet it could not see him. His plan was simple. To stop the wolf from hunting the innocent, he would have it hunt himself instead. If the wolf was attracted to the magic in him as Talenite said, he would be its prime target. The problem was, would he be able to survive?
It was a predator, made to hunt, kill, and eat. He was human, he slept in a bed, shopped at stores. This is what he knew, and it wouldn't help him out here. So why was he risking everything for this?
He owed it to Rei. It was because of him her grandfather was near killed, and he was doing it for Dimmer. One of his officer friends had been blasted by Zoicite, because he was careless. He would never be careless again, and Dimmer's werewolf form was going to help make sure of it, or he would be its next meal. He watched it sniff the air and stalk toward the tree he was in. Than it was gone.
"What?"
He felt a small vibration in the tree, and seen the feral eyes staring up at him. It was upon him.
He jumped away only to be pulled back down, and have his breath ripped out of his throat as his cape hooked itself on a branch. There he dangled in front of the hunter. Its eyes gleamed with fascination. With lightning speed it clawed at the dangling meal, hoping to end this quick.
Tuxedo Mask pulled the material away from his throat, it was pure luck his cape strap broke before the creature could make a killing swipe. He plummeted to the ground landing on a still sore leg from earlier. It didn't matter to him though, Dimmer taught him how to ignore the pain. Now he would use that lesson, and run. This creature was much faster than him, but he was smarter. The bad thing about this was he was in its terrain not his own so he was at a disadvantage. It dropped down after him, losing sight of its prey almost immediately. Its color blind vision could see in the dark easily, but its prey wore black and had disappeared amidst the shadows of the trees. It sniffed the air once more, searching for its meal. Its scent was close, but it was injured. Of course! That's where the scent was from! He smelled that blood at the sight of its last meal. This one was lying on the ground, he presumed it would die, but it was tougher than that it seemed. Good. It had been awhile since its last good hunt. It gave a growl as it stalked after its prey's scent.
"First rule to being careful, get rid of loose clothing…" Tuxedo Mask thought to himself as he took off what was left of his cape. He jumped into a nearby tree. Trying once again to hide from the wolf.
"Shit!" The sound of the leaves might as well have been thunder.
The wolf heard it, and spotted the black clad man jumping from tree to tree. It quickly followed. The chase was on.
The police watched as the figures sailed through the sky from the tree to tree. Than as the one behind caught up to the first and smashed it toward the ground. They could feel the vibration from the impact even from on the highway the stood on far away from the two, as the first one impacted the ground. The police looked away. That man was trying to protect them. There was no way they could defeat that thing should it decide to go back to the city. This was just a diversionary tactic until it got hungry enough to ignore the lights, but than what would they have done? Than this man in a tuxedo told them he was an ally of the Sailor Scouts, and it was affirmed at headquarters. He told them to let him handle the werewolf, and just to keep out the way in case they get eaten themselves. It was obvious what he was doing. They didn't stop him because he was right. He was the only one that could handle him other than the scouts. They wondered just how long he would be able to hold out, and hoped there was something left of him to hold out after what they just saw.
Tuxedo Mask watched as the wolf stalked up to him slowly, cautiously. He quietly pulled out a single rose, feigning death, hoping to trick the beast, and allow him to get some distance between them. He could feel the sting from the claws as they near tore him in two while in the air. Most of the front of his body went numb from his rough meeting with the ground, he now knew that humans can bounce a good ways after being flung from a high enough, and from the right angle.
"Learn something new everyday…" He thought with a mocking smile meant for himself. He rolled over and flung the rose, before taking off like a bat out of hell without looking back.
He couldn't ignore the fact that his insides burned with pain. There would be no chance from escaping the wolf's sense of smell while bleeding, and he knew it. That left one option, running. But how long could he run?
The next hour felt like eternity as he prowled through the woods. The branches marked his skin with their scratches many times over, as he pushed his way through them. Each snap of a twig made him stop and hold his breath for five minutes, before feeling safe enough to press on. The wolf had howled in pain behind him after he threw the rose at it. It was still on his tail, but he didn't know how far behind. Every second step he took snapped another twig, and made him stop cautiously, to survey the area before feeling confident enough to try again. Every time he stopped he could feel more of his blood ooze out of the wound along his stomach he held closed.
"Dammit!" he cursed silently breaking another twig, and looking around again. This time he did see the creature though. It crouched low in the branches of the trees. It had caught the sound, and its ears were perked up and looking around slowly. Tuxedo Mask crouched low in the high grass. He felt the magic draining from him, the wound was serious enough, and he still hadn't allowed Tuxedo Mask to heal properly from the fight with Rei's grandfather and the demon. He felt the stinging wound close as he changed back to Darien the college student, but was hardly glad for the comfort. He wondered how long he could live out here without Tuxedo Mask's powers.
The wolf felt the presence of magic shift from powerful to nothing. Either the prey had died or he had lost it. It would be dawn soon, and daylight was no time for a hunt. The sun hurt his eyes too much. He would have to find shelter for the night, and go hunt again first thing after the sun down.
Darien couldn't believe his luck. The wolf turned around and headed back to its cave. Darien was about to start making his way back to the highway, when he realized he had no idea where the wolf was going. The thing terrified him, and he couldn't believe he was about to follow it like this. But he told the police to stay out of his way, he couldn't allow it to go with out giving them some kind of warning. So he followed, or at least tried to. There was no way to keep up with the creature, so instead he followed the scent of wet fur in the air and broken branches.
Darien walked and searched for signs for half of the day before he stumbled upon a cave. He assumed the creature went in there. After a while of following it, he had learned what the wolves large footprint were like and he was certain there were no others like them in all of the forest. But now it was too late for him to get back to his house to rest and get back to this forest. To continue what he was determined to do, he had to rest first, rest enough to heal, both his own exhaustion, and his Tuxedo Mask's wounds. To do that, he'd have to remain out here.
"Than I better make the most of this…" He smiled with an idea coming to mind. He turned around and started to make his way back through the woods.
Sailor Moon Says:
"You know, it's really hard when a loved one or best friend is hurt."
*shot of John getting steamed at rookie cop*
"but we have to remember it's no one's fault, and we really shouldn't take it out on others. It's a difficult thought to remember, and an even more difficult one to put into action. The best we can do is try, so let's do our best alright? Sailor Moon says!
Next time on:
Sailor Moon
A Change in Fate: Dimmer Chronicles!
The Moon Kingdom? Is Luna dreaming? Darien vs the werewolf! Is there something wrong with the scouts? Everyone's so sad… but now's not the time to be depressed! Everyone's counting on us!
All coming up in the next chapter:
Father Time: The Moon Council
Reality Check
Jamie looked at the tall young man in front of him. He had to only be a freshmen in college, how did a kid that young seem to intimidate him? He was used to of the toughest arguments, debates, and most importantly trying to make a profit in the Hollywood industry from outside of Hollywood. That meant getting advertisers and investors internationally, and yet the dark glare coming off this kid in front of him sent chills down his spine.
"Mitchell Mason. You've made quite a name for yourself, beating up reporters, friends with people sucked into different dimensions, and now your sudden disappearance from family and friends. I'm very curious, if you'll forgive me, about why you'd come."
"Cut the crap. What do you want. Say it now or I get back on the bus and go back the way I came. You called me remember?"
"Yes." Jamie coughed unpleasantly, he dealt with worst customers. The kid was just more challenge then he was expecting, Dimmer didn't seem to be the only extraordinary person on his island. "Well then, to get right to things I'm afraid I have to ask you a very strange question, but it's one that has been on a lot of people's minds recently. Since this whole incident with Dimmer. Only children seem brave enough to speak about it openly, that includes me. Even I have to hide up here in this office and whisper it, just in case I'm overheard."
"Are you gonna ask the question already or should I just leave?"
Jamie turned to look at the young man, his eyes suddenly black as coal. Even Mitchell had to take a step back as he whispered, "Do you believe in magic?"
"What?"
"You heard me."
"What kind of bullshit is this? I came all this way on student loan money to hear this, I'm outta here." Mitchell turned around and was about to walk out the door, before Jamie had it locked automatically from his desk.
"I'm serious."
"You're insane"
"That's precisely why I was whispering. Magic… I've been considering it a lot lately, the truth about the Sailor Moons shows, the courts agreed with us, we couldn't let it out. Would you like to hear those truths Mitchell? You came a long way at nothing more then the mention of Dimmer's name, he must mean a lot to you."
"Not for me, for… for a friend. He has a few you know, and we were there long before he was famous, before he was even liked for that matter. But for that friend… They would do anything for each other, that includes saying good bye for the other's best interest. But those two… those two shouldn't have to, they are each other's best interest." Mitchell looked as if he stared through the walls, miles and miles away, back to his island…
"Hmm? Really?"
"Meh." Came Mitchell's response as if just realizing where he was again.
"Well, be that as it may. I still can tell you the truth about these things, if you'd rather not though, I won't blame you. These truths can't be said outside of this office, you must understand, because after you hear them, and see them, you'll be telling yourself you're as insane as I am. You'll have to believe in it, because there's no other explanation. We have the proof, and you won't be able to dismiss it. You'll have to believe as much as I do."
"I was expecting you to have a way of bringing him back. If you don't got it, I walk. Get the picture yet?"
"We may very well have the way back, but… well you're just going to have to see for yourself. "
"See what?"
Jamie leaned in real close and looked at the tall, young man straight eye to eye, smiled and whispered. Afterward Jamie showed Mitchell their tries at canceling the show, made him watch as the animators near had heart attacks as they watched the show. He watched as they pointed out scenes that were never drawn, how the writers were complaining about having their story taking away from them. Then Mitchell watched as the manager lead him to a room hidden away from almost all eyes. This place where the researchers the company usually had trying to come up with new and better technologies so they could stay a major competitor in the market were instead working on some sort of math problem. It looked like a quadratical knot mixed with computer code. Jamie was saying that this was the key to getting Dimmer back.
Though they were only said as little more then a whisper that day, his words would echo inside Mitchell's skull louder then any others he had ever heard, as the manager of DiC told him…
"That magic is real…"
Endnotes!!
Himitsu-no-hi - *shot of Daybreak giving the fifty lizards an evil glare, he takes that dramatic step forward, reaches to his sides, and to the terror and surprise of every lizard, grabs out his undies and attacks! Hog tying one, as but a blur to the rest! So fast he had the underwear around the second lizards legs in the blink of an eye. The others screamed in horror as Daybreak proceeded in unmercifully giving the lizard THE ULTIMATE WEDGIE!!!
-SCUM OF THE EARTH COM ON!!-
Yep, gotta say that WAS rather interesting… but in other comments =D I'm glad to see your approval of the song part of the fic, it took me a long time to do, and I wasn't sure about including it in, despite the fact that I loved it. I just wasn't sure if other people would see it the same way I did.
Yeah the wolf thing did end up a bit cute at first, but as you know, that don't last long do it? and trust me, I know all too well about how hard it is to keep track of all the injuries I'm giving to the girls and there friends. I oughta start keep track of all the injuries I'm gonna be giving to Darien XD
The reality bits are ending up a rather big part to the story. I couldn't believe how easy it was putting them into the plot like that, oh well, guess we'll all just have to see what happens.
Okay so I grabbed the comment you made on the fic when I sent it to ya early ^_^;; you were right, it probably was goin a little to far, but it's not like didn't fore shadow it or nothing… and since I figured it's what people in reality thought, it would be good for Katie and Mike to think that, considering they're in reality
Thanks so much for all the help!
Kaji- I've heard some of your offensive jokes, I prefer them not at all, let alone in my reviews XP and would ya stop saying that? yer story is cool, if you'd just post it…. and if you don't start actually writing second chapters to it instead of rewriting the first one over, I'm gonna have to hunt you down and force it outta you. I'm not a big fan on fics on the moon kingdom, butI liked it! besides Chad plays a key part in that one later!! =D ya gotta write it now!!!
As for laying some glory Chad's way? . someone had to, the writers certainly didn't, and I hardly see any fics where the guy is anywhere as half as cool as he could be if they paid him any attention… no~oo he always leaves, for America, on gigs, with a voice and guitar playing talent that seems to suddenly pop outta nowhere. Despite the fact that he stays at Rei's temple, while being rich and obviously wanting to make his own way around there. I mean if you think about it, it don't make much sense… the dude is rich, he coulda had his start anywhere he wanted, and he chose japan. Why is he suddenly going to america again? I mean come on? Who is Chad? Who are his parents? How did they become rich? Chad don't seem like the type to lie, so why did he tell Rei he was a bit of a rock star from america? Why was he drunk on the temple steps that night? Was there a falling out between friends or family? What matter of circumstances would bring a guy to get so plastered, he'd wake up at the bottom steps of a temple? What kind of guy gives up everything he ever had or ever known, because he saw this girl, with out a second thought to anything else? I could write a book on this guy!
Gah! enough ranting on Chad. I am waaaaaaaaaaay too biased of him…
^_^;; you know kaj, I don't think that the review comment area was quite the right place to remember kindergarten songs, or theme songs to old kid shows like lambchops play along… what kind of person names a lamb lambchops anyway?!
Talk to ya later kitten!
Be safe ^-^v
Star pinky- Where do I start? I read your review and my hands wouldn't stop shaking for the next 5 minutes afterward. I usually email the people that review a thank you note, but I was so stunned by this I decided to say thank you right here.
I can't tell you how little I know about the generals/scouts match ups, I'd figure you'd have to know a bit more past the first season then I do. It's been a huge difficulty just trying to include Pluto in, cause I don't know if I'm writing in character for her or not, she'll make her cameo very soon now actually. Though not to the scouts or Dimmer or anything like that…
I can hardly believe I've had anybody hooked from the start of this, that had to be near a year ago now… ^_^;; please forgive for those first few chapters? More then once I've though of going back and rewriting some of the parts, but I'm worried about accidentally changing something detrimental to the plot….
*plugs ears on remarks about Chad before he starts rants again*
for all those wondering, I haven't made Serena and Darien heads over heels in love together simply because, they weren't. in the first season it was something that grew between them, they we're kinda rivals, then friendly rivals, then friends that pretended to be rivals, then it stemmed from there. I want to try to recapture that in this fic. It's difficult, because I'm no expert on love, and I sure the heck ain't sappy and try to avoid sap whenever possible. ^_^; I'm scared that's become a little too evident in the fic mind ya.
Gah! more commmets on Chad!
*plugs ears*
the plot? Well it was a series of dreams I had once about this certain scene with the scouts and this new guy they actually cared about, and he was… well it's much later in the chapters, and I want it to be a HUGE surprise when it finally comes up. I'll tell ya when though, but hopefully that will be self evident too. I can tell ya it was inspired by a song, and it will be going on while I write the scene.
The plot itself is filler. Interesting filler, filler that had to show how much the scouts care about the new guy, and to show the effects that he has on them. It's become much more then filler mind you. it has stories, sadness, good times, bad times, blood, sweat, and tears. i wanted it to have everything life can dish out. Originally it was meant to be written as quick as possible so I could write out that scene I dreamt about. But it's so much more now.
The reality bits I'm particularly both, proud of, and insecure about. It's the first time I've ever seen anything like them in a fic. I've read lots of fics before, about people going into their fave anime world. But they never tell about the people that cared about them in the world they were from. Don't know about you but if I got suddenly pulled into a new dimension, then my friends would be quite distraught on the subject, or at least I hope they would…
As for ego? ^_^;; I think I'd need some confidence in myself first before I developed any of them. I appreciate you trying though! XD
Thanks for the review, and the confidence booster, and for the thank you. thank you, two words can mean so much to us all can't they?
Author:
I can't thank you enough for all of the reviews people. Each and everyone one of them are more precious then gold o me. This well…. Book I guess, is going to be about 40 chapters long, and I just finished writing chapter 32. Updates will take much longer now due to story line and plot line efforts to make it all very understandable, quite a task when dealing with time and space interruptions. There isn't too much more to go. Please keep the reviews coming!
They do actually help me write faster, kind of spurring me on literally…
There's so much left to do, and the fact you're all enjoying this fic, and knowledge that it is indeed being read, and everything I'm putting into it is not in vain. For over a year I have been writing this fic, I'm not gonna stop now.
Even if it takes another.
Until next time, well actually including next time and anytime after that… everyone, be safe!