Libertine was not expecting a power
up from anyone, but didn't show her surprise. "Big deal. Sir
Grety-sama will just want you that much more." With that,
Libertine threw a black globe of energy at StarMoon; it was
designed to take the newly transformed Senshi much like Grety had
the first time. StarMoon, however, was not going to do this again.
She simply placed her StarWand in front of her face and the globe
was absorbed into the Star part. She couldn't help but give a
little smirk.
Everyone was taken aback. It was so simple, so. .
.well, quick. If you hadn't seen it, you wouldn't have known it
had happened. "Well, I can see this will not be in my favor.
Until we meet again." Libertine turned to escape out the back
door.
StarMoon looked back at Jupiter and Venus and noticed
they were each nursing someone: Venus was taking care of Jim and
Jupiter was helping Mamoru. "Stay with them!" she cried.
"I'll get her!"
Over her shoulder, Libertine saw
StarMoon heading towards her at top speed. She herself started to
sprint towards the exit. However, she quickly realized that she
would not be leaving this way as she opened the door to find
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in her way. "And just where do you
think you're going?" asked Neptune.
"Grrrr. . ."
Libertine started to back up and turned only to find Sailor Moon
and ChibiMoon standing in another doorway. "You're not
leaving, I hope," said Moon.
"Yeah!" added
ChibiMoon.
Libertine noticed another exit and tried to use
that, but as she neared it, the door opened and in stepped Mercury
and Saturn.
Now all the exits were blocked, leaving Libertine
with no physical way out. However, to teleport out of the fight
this quickly, she felt, would be cowardly. So, she decided to
stick it out a little longer. "Well, well, well. You little
girls want to try me out, huh?"
"Us? Little girls?"
StarMoon took a step towards Libertine. "I was the one who
powered up when faced with adversity; you're the one who tried
to run off."
"Oh, shut up! Corruption Beam!"
Libertine pointed at StarMoon and fired. StarMoon simply used her
wand to absorb it as well and used it to power up her own attack.
"Moon Starlight Attack!"
Libertine blocked the
attack. "I may have tried to leave, but I could fight if I
wanted to."
"Why don't you want to?" asked
Jupiter as she transferred nursing powers over to Moon and
ChibiMoon. "You scared?"
Libertine pointed at
Jupiter. "Not of you. Corruption Beam!"
StarMoon
tried to use her Wand to again block the shot, but accidentally
miscalculated and the beam hit her wrist instead. The pain was so
sudden and so intense that she instinctively dropped the wand,
grabbed her wrist, and got down on her right knee. Jupiter rushed
to her aid. "Are you okay?"
StarMoon looked at
Jupiter with a very confused look on her face. "What's
going on? Why am I in this outfit? Do I know you?" She
started to hyperventilate.
Jupiter blinked twice as she was
confused herself. It took her a few seconds to figure out that
whatever mood StarMoon had been in before had just been
interrupted by the attack. "Candra-chan? Candra-chan, calm
down. It is going to be okay."
Libertine tried to take
advantage of this distraction, but Uranus put a stop to that.
"World Shaking!"
StarMoon didn't know what had
happened; one moment, she was looking at rings with Mamoru and the
next, she was on the ground. She had blackedout, had missed
everything. She looked down at her outfit again and noticed her
brooch. That's when she remembered the letter and what it had
said. StarMoon looked up at Jupiter. "Is this my StarMoon
outfit?" she whispered.
A little worried as to what
response she would get, Jupiter answered, "Uh, you
bet."
"Okay. Could you get me my wand, then?"
"Uh,
sure." Jupiter was now very surprised at how quickly
StarMoon's mood was changing. Still, after she made sure StarMoon
could support herself, she went after the wand.
"Deep
Submerge!"
"Shabon Spray!"
"Where are
you, twerps?" yelled Libertine as she recovered from
Neptune's attack.
Jupiter managed to grab the StarWand before
the fog set in. It was a good thing that she still had a grip on
StarMoon's arm. Mercury's fog seemed to get thicker with every
use, but this was ridiculous. "Here. I got your
wand."
"Thanks." StarMoon waited patiently for
Jupiter to find her hand. The second StarMoon's hand touched the
wand, a bright, pure white light emanated from it. It cut through
the fog with such brightness, everyone had to cover their eyes to
keep from being blinded.
"Happy Birthday!"
five-year-old Sailor Jupiter chirped from the doorway to the
bedroom.
Princess Cynthia looked the object Jupiter was handing
her: a crescent shaped brooch. "Oh, Jupiter! Thank you!"
"I
couldn't get Mercury to do it, so I had to figure it out. Let me
tell you, it is a lot harder than it looks." Taking the
object out of Cynthia's hand, Jupiter opened the brooch and
pointed out, "Now, you will be more powerful if you can get
the Ginzuishou to fit into this little hole here. The brooch works
without it, but if you can obtain it, it would help."
"I
did not actually think you would do this for me!"
"You
are my best friend. I would do anything for you."
Cynthia
looked at the brooch and started crying. "Everyone else says
I am not suppose to be here and they do not like me. I have never
had someone tell me I was their friend."
"I know a
lot of people make fun of you. I also know that you are a nice
person. You are a lot like your sister." Jupiter looked over
her shoulder, then leaned closer to Cynthia. "Only
cooler."
Cynthia started giggling. "Thank
you."
Jupiter walked into the bedroom and closed the door
behind her. "Okay, all you have to say is 'Moon Starlight
Power Make Up'."
"Okay!" Cynthia took a few
steps back and yelled out, "Moon Starlight Power! Make
Up!"
"Wow! Your fuku is pretty! What is that in your
hand there?"
"Huh?" The new Senshi hadn't
noticed the StarWand in her hand. "I do not know. Maybe it is
like Sailor Uranus's sword and I can use it to attack people. .
. .What do I say?"
"I think it just comes to
you."
"Oh, I got something!" The Princess
pointed at her nightstand. "Starlight Supreme
Thunder!"
Nothing happened. "Well, dang. I wonder
what happened." Jupiter walked over. "Let me
see."
Cynthia, very interested to make it work, handed to
her. When Jupiter's hand touched the wand, it started to glow.
"Um, what is happening?" asked Jupiter, alarmed.
"I
have no clue," Cynthia replied.
The glowing of the Wand
started to pulsate, then suddenly shot out a lighting bolt
surrounded by a chain of crescent moons. The attack didn't do
much damage to the wall, but it still surprised the girls enough
to make them gape at the dent for a while.
"Whoa!"
they said together. They looked at each other. "This thing is
cool!" the Princess squealed.
"Hey, Jupiter!
Do you think. . .?" asked StarMoon.
"Yes, I do!"
Jupiter interrupted. "And I hope we do a better job this
time!"
Through the extremely bright light, they managed to
aim the attack at Libertine just in time. Instead of just making a
dent in the wall, though, it hit Libertine in the chest. Uranus,
Neptune, and Pluto had to get out of her way as she flew past
their heads, missing them by inches. She hit the doorframe, taking
part of the building down with her. She knew that she had to leave
now or she would never get the chance. "You may have won this
time, girls. I will be back, though."
"Mars Flame
Sniper!" If she hadn't been across the room, Sailor Mars may
have hit her target; however, Libertine managed to transport out a
split-second before the arrow hit the wall.
"Oh, so now
you get here," said Moon sarcastically.
"Shut up!
sigh I'll call the EMTs." Mars picked up a cell phone.
"You don't mind me using this, do you?" she asked the
owner. The owner just looked at her before passing out again.
"I'll pay you back if I go over." Mars started dialing
the number.
"StarMoon, you've gone Super!" said
Uranus.
"Congratulations!" added Neptune.
StarMoon
looked at her outfit, then at them. "Thanks," she
replied. Then she remembered. "Jim!" She turned to find
him being nursed by Venus and Saturn. "Is he okay?" she
asked.
Venus placed her finger over her lips. "Shhh. She's
trying to concentrate."
Saturn had her hand over Jim's
arm with her eyes closed and her mind focused. Gradually, her
hands started to glow a light purple. Jim winced, but held his
sister off as she started to come to his aid. "It just
surprised me, that's all."
Saturn slowly removed her
hands and revealed that the cut was gone; the only evidence left
behind was a faint scar. "I can never seem to get rid of the
scar," she said as she removed her blood-soaked
gloves.
"That's alright; I'd rather have a scar than
that cut any day," said Jim.
"Plus, he's not as bad
as I am," added Mamoru. He hobbled over with Sailor Moon's
help and lifted his pant leg to show the scar that went up half
his leg.
"Now, I just healed it," Saturn told Jim.
"And you lost some blood. Not a lot, but enough so that
you'll need to snag some cookies and juice soon."
"Thanks,
Saturn. We'll have watch them for a while," Venus told the
others. "Just in case."
"Here, let me get you
now," Saturn said to StarMoon as she stood up. StarMoon let
Saturn take off her glove and put her hands around StarMoon's
wrist. StarMoon winced in pain as Saturn's hands started to
glow. However, it was quick and over before she knew it. "Thanks,
Saturn," she said, rubbing her wrist.
Sirens were heard in
the distance. Venus and StarMoon helped Jim out and Moon and Mars
carried Mamoru out while the others waited for the ambulance to
arrive.
"I
am very disappointed in you, Libertine," Grety growled. While
his appearance was nothing to be afraid of, Grety's voice, when
he was angry, was a different ballgame. He could strike fear into
any heart. Shoot, sometimes, this guy could make Satan want his
mommy. So, it was no surprise that Libertine backed up when Grety
spoke. "I had extremely high hopes for you! I made you to be
my strongest minion so this could not happen. And don't give me
any of that I-underestimated-them crap! Everyone says that and the
enemy is never to be underestimated!"
Libertine kept her
head bowed. "I am sorry, Master. I am ready to receive my
punishment now."
Grety smiled has he sat back down. "You
are different than the others. They did not even make it back and
here you are, willing to receive your punishment. I like that. I
will be generous; you will not be punished. I feel the shame of
your defeat is enough. However, do not think this will happen too
many more times or you will not be able to think. Got
it?"
Libertine quietly breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes,
Master. Thank you, Sir Grety-sama."
"Good. Now, let's
move on to Plan B."
"Plan B, Master?"
Grety
sighed. "Yeah. I don't know what it is,
either."
While
the EMTs and police were distracted with the scene, Candra
slithered in and started searching though the damaged display
case. "It was right around here.. . .There it is."
Candra grabbed the ring Mamoru had chosen. Remarkably, although
the box was opened, the ring had survived the battle without a
scratch. She checked to see if anyone had seen her, then slipped
the box into her pocket and a check for 25,000 yen into the
clerk's vest pocket. She then stood up. "Hey! Back
here!"
Two officers rushed over, checked the man, and then
called over doctor. "It is a good thing you two saw him; he
needs surgery now or he will never make it."
"Actually,
it was this young lady right. . ." Both police officers
scratched their heads as their Good Samaritan had suddenly
vanished.
Usagi
looked over at Mamoru. "So what were you and Candra-chan
doing there anyway?" she asked.
"Uh. . ." Mamoru
didn't know what to say. He couldn't come right out and say it
because, in the wake of the attack, he had forgotten the ring.
However, why would he have been there anyway?
Candra walked out
of the bathroom and into the living room. "When he came over
to visit, he, like, drags me out of the house to take me to the
arcade. When we passed the store, though, I begged him to let me
look around. He was all, like, 'Okay.'" She sighed
heavily, trying to impersonate Mamoru.
Everyone laughed. "Hey,
it got her out of the house,?" said Mamoru. Arigato,
he mouthed to Candra.
No problemo, she mouthed
back.
"So, what excatly do you remember, Candra-chan?"
asked Mako.
"Diana had a letter with her when I found her,
but I never opened it until last night. It explained what was
going on. I remember up to explaining my Senshi history to all of
you, but the letter says something about being held hostage and I
don't remember that. I do have this feeling of liberation,
though. It's really weird."
"Well, you just take
your time," said Rei.
"And if you never remember
those things," added Michiru, "it's probably for the
best."
"Maybe." Candra started to drift off. Jim
recognized this and said, "I think it would be best if you
all left for the day. I think Candra needs some time to herself
tonight."
Everyone agreed. "Call me later and let me
know how she is," Minako told Jim.
"No problem."
Jim leaned over, kissed her on the lips, and led everyone out the
door.
"Man, I can't wait until this is all over,"
said Haruka.
They continued to talk, unaware that they were
being watched. .
.
Candra
rolled her eyes. "How movie is this?" she mumbled as she
threw the rope of bedsheets out the window. However, there was no
way she was going to get out the front door. If she did, she would
have to turn off the alarm, and that thing was as noisy as heck
just to turn off. Then, she knew she would have to turn it back on
because she knew that she would feel extremely guilty if something
were stolen because the alarm wasn't on. So, although this
"escape" was cliche, it worked.
She climbed down.
Once she was through the tree limbs, she dropped to the ground and
checked for witnesses. With none to be found, she pulled out the
directions to Mamoru's apartment.
Mamoru closed his
textbook and turned off the desk light. Yawning, he pushed back
his chair and stretched. "Man, I hope I remember all of this
tomorrow."
After he brushed his teeth, he changed into
pajama bottoms and prepared to climb into bed. That was when he
heard someone knocking at his door. "Now who at this hour. .
.?" He opened the door to find Candra, hair filled with
leaves, spots of sap on her shirt, and dirt on her legs. "Candra?
What are you doing here?"
"You forgot this," she
answered. She handed him the ringbox.
He took the box from her
and opened it. "When did you. . .?"
"Just take
it and be thankful," she joked. "And don't worry; I
didn't steal it. It's paid in full."
"I . . .I
can't take it then."
"Chiba-san. . ."
"It's
supposed to be from me and now it's from you. I can't do
that."
"She doesn't have to know. Besides, I don't
want to get engaged to her. You do."
Mamoru closed the box
and handed it back, shaking his head. "I can't do it. It
doesn't feel right."
Candra wouldn't take the box
back. "Then you can pay me back. Whenever you want. However
you can. If you don't take it, what the heck was I fighting
for?"
"Messing with a love is your mission! Shame
on you for accepting! No one should try to break apart a love
that's true. As Pretty Solder Sailor StarMoon, I will not let
you!"
"Candra!" She stopped walking down the
hallway and turned around. He sighed heavily. "Okay."
She
smiled and started to laugh, mindful of the neighbors. "'Night,"
she
said.
"You
WHAT?!" Grety sprang from his chair. "You discovered
their identities?"
Libertine bowed and smiled. "Yes,
sir. And it was a lot easier than I had anticipated."
"Well,"
said Grety, sitting back down, "that should make Plan B a lot
easier to formulate."
Chapter Fourteen: Will the Girls Split Again? Questions about Candra and Jim's relationship.
