Sailor Moon: Dark Rage
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Episode 2: What now? Another Sailor Senshi Falls!
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Rei finally arrived at the college, just in time to make it to her first class. Fortunately for her, Usagi had managed to actually remember her excuse for not being in homeroom. Smiling longingly, Rei reminisced about the last time she missed homeroom.
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"Hino-san, Tsukino-san here says you missed homeroom because a rabbit jumped on your head and threw you into a table." Kazuna-san, Rei's old Japanese teacher had said.
"She did!? No, I missed homeroom because I was attacked on my way to school by a gang of thugs, not because a rabbit attacked me." Rei said, while thinking, "Usagi-chan told Kazuna-sensei that a rabbit attacked me? Usagi-chan-no-baka!"
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Unfortunately for the girl also known as Sailor Mars, she had to wait a while before she could tell the other senshi about her vision. She didn't have any classes with them besides homeroom, and she couldn't sneak out.
However, they finally had a free period, so they all met in the park next to the college's grounds.
"So, Rei-chan, what did you find out?" Ami asked.
"Well, the vision only showed one possibility, although I now know the appearance of one of our new enemies. It looks like a giant, black orb. What it could mean, I don't know. But it seems that we should try to avoid letting it grow in power. According to my vision, it can effortlessly destroy the city if it finishes it's energy collection. Therefore, we must kill it before the enemy has the chance to grow stronger." Rei said, a very serious expression on her face.
"We still don't know why they attacked Hotaru. Do they merely want her out of the way, or are the shadows used to drain energy? And will we be targeted to?" stated Kino Makoto, also known as Sailor Jupiter. She is tall, with brown hair that she keeps in a ponytail, and blue eyes (A/N: Basically, all of the senshi still have their old appearances.).
"That's true, Mako-chan. We also don't know what form the enemy will take. After all, we only know that they use shadows. If they are even close to Queen Beryl's forces, they can be anyone." Ami said.
Suddenly, Rei began to act slightly distracted, staggering wildly around.
"Rei-chan, are you all right?" Usagi asked, but Rei didn't seem to hear her. Then, Hino Rei fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Something's wrong. Everyone, transform." Luna, the black cat who acted as Usagi's assistant as Sailor Moon, said.
"Right. Mercury Power, Make Up!" Ami yelled, and immediately a tornado of water surrounded her. The water then contracted, forming the clothes of Sailor Mercury, a white-and-blue fuku. Then, Ami, now in her Sailor Mercury suit, attempted to track down Rei's attacker. "Mako-chan, you stay behind and take care of Rei-chan. I've found the attacker."
"Right." Everyone said, and transformed into their various transformed forms.
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"Okari-sama, the second Sailor Senshi has been eliminated from the field, and my loyal youma is making his getaway from the others. The energy from Sailor Mars will be collected in a few minutes." A dark figure said to another. They were standing in a room that looked almost like the Milky Way from outside the cluster of stars. One of the stars flared, and revealed the identity of the unidentified speaker.
It was Hotoke Misari.
"So, I trust the plan is moving according to plan, Ryuuji." The other figure, Okari, replied.
"Yes, it is, Okari-sama. Although Sailor Mars's action to save Sailor Saturn was unexpected, it did not affect things in the long run." Misari, who was really a youma named Osana Ryuuji, replied.
"Yet I find your miscalculation strange, Ryuuji. You, who was around humans for millions of years, failed to take into account the Sailor Senshi's bonds?" Okari said.
"It will not happen again, Okari-sama. Still, the gesture of friendship will not affect the plan. Sailor Saturn will not survive, unless her healing powers are that strong, which I doubt."
"You are right, Ryuuji. It won't happen again, and I'll make sure of it. I picked you for this job because you have the most experience with dealing with humans. One more such miscalculation, and you will face the worst punishment possible: Eternal Pain."
At the mention of this, terrible, nervous voices gasped. Eternal Pain was a punishment in which the victim would spend eternity having painful things occurring to them. They would be burned, stabbed, punched, kicked, and mentally abused. Suicide was not an option, as the construct of that world would not permit death.
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"Good, I'm almost at the gate." The youma thought, who was now completely visible. He was about six feet tall, with a lizard-like mouth, bear-like body, and eagle-like feet. On his forehead was a diamond-like growth Suddenly, the pursuing Sailor Senshi stopped him in his tracks.
"You'll pay for attacking our friends! In the name of the moon, we will punish you!" the Sailor Senshi said in unison.
"Hah. You can't do anything to me, foolish girls. Midnight Doom!" the youma yelled, and a black ray flew out of his forehead growth. Most of the senshi dodged it, but Sailor Venus, also known as Aino Minako, a blonde-haired Sailor Senshi who wore her hair down with a red ribbon in it, was hit in the chest. She flew into the wall, and her sera fuku vanished.
"Sailor Venus!" Sailor Moon gasped.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" the youma laughed, and vanished into thin air.
"Oh, no… This is getting worse." Sailor Mercury muttered, as she transformed back into her non-Sailor Senshi form.
"What should we do?" Usagi asked, returning to her form.
"I'm not sure what we can do. I'm not even sure the Outers can do much to even the odds…" Ami said.
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"Ryuuji-sama, I apologize for my delay in returning, but I was attacked by the Sailor Senshi. However, they will not be troubling us anytime soon." The youma that was responsible for the attacks said.
"I accept your apology, Risune. The important thing is that the plan is moving well." Ryuuji replied.
"What are your next orders, Ryuuji-sama?" Risune asked.
"You say that the Sailor Senshi followed you? That means that they know that you're hunting them… My orders are as follows: Stay low. When they drop their guard, attack Sailor Moon. We'll see how they fair without that one." Ryuuji replied.
"Yes, Ryuuji-sama."
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"So, we're being picked apart by a youma of unimaginable power. Something tells me that someone even more powerful is behind this. Rei-chan's attacker did not appear to be that intelligent beyond simple, on-the-job calculations, such as those necessary to pick a target. He does not strike me as a leader capable of performing such a calculated assault." Ami said. They were back in the hospital, waiting for the information on Rei's condition.
"What should we do, Ami-chan?" asked Makoto.
"I don't know yet. Still, we should stay on our guard." Ami said.
"Right." The rest of the Inner Senshi replied.
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"You are doing very well, Ryuuji. Three of the Sailor Senshi in two days. We are ahead of schedule, and our master is already at half-strength. We will end this waiting soon, and reawaken him." Okari said, once again talking to Ryuuji. "I am most pleased."
"I live to please you, Okari-sama." Ryuuji responded.
"Just avoid any mistakes in the future. I need not remind you of your punishment for any further stupid mistakes."
"Yes, Okari-sama."
"Well, anyway, what is the next phase?"
"I ordered Risune to stalk the senshi and take them down. There won't be as much speed, but the enemy has already discovered him. Still, there won't be any problem, since we are halfway done with the mission."
"Not bad, Ryuuji. Still, if he fails, it will be your head."
"Understood, Okari-sama. Itekimasu."
"Farewell, Ryuuji." Upon those words, Ryuuji vanished.
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A/N: Well, another chapter down.