ESCAPE FROM THE MOON
Book Three of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon CosmicStars
by Nashie (aka ShadowSamurai)
October 2000 – February 2001
Revised - Winter 2001
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and her friends belong to Naoko Takeuchi. The author takes no credit for any of the original storyline. However, all the new characters belong to me and I'd appreciate it if you didn't take any without requesting permission.
Episode 237: The enemy appears. The performance of Sailor Earth
"Are you sure you're okay Minako-chan?" Usagi asked for the hundredth time. The senshi had calmed down after they had awakened and were trying to keep from losing sense. Usagi refused to leave Minako's side until the girl had promised she was okay.
"I'm f-f-fine," Minako whispered, though her pale face and shaking frame proved otherwise. Ami had just screamed from shock and hadn't been as shaken up as Minako. "Really. Just scared."
"So everyone had the same dream," Setsuna whispered. "Am I correct?" Michiru nodded, her stature nearly resembling Minako's. Haruka held her gently, trying to make her feel better.
"Yeah," Michiru whispered. "God…it was so…real…it was so real." Rei stood up and then turned to Setsuna.
"Setsuna-san, what was that dream about?" Rei asked. Her violet eyes were sharp. "I can't…I can't get any readings on it." Setsuna said nothing, but lowered her head. Her burnt-cherry eyes filled with regret and she bit her lower lip.
"Setsuna-san?" Usagi asked, looking towards the young woman curiously. "Are you okay? Rei-chan asked you a question."
"I know she asked me a question, Usagi-chan. It's just…oh, I don't know."
"Hey, it's okay, Setsuna," Haruka replied, her green eyes full of worry. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out." Setsuna turned to her, something like remorse filling her eyes. Haruka turned away, the emotion in the green-haired woman's eyes too powerful. Setsuna stared at the blonde sadly. Something was going to happen to Haruka…she felt it in her heart and from the dream she had. Something was going to try to break her will…and it might succeed.
"Maybe we should go back to the Hikawa Jinja and try to get a reading on the dream," Mako suggested, standing up. She helped Minako get to her feet as well. The blonde was a little shaky and being on skates didn't help much.
"Yeah, let's go," Usagi said, grabbing Minako's right arm. The other girls stood up. Chibiusa had just listened to the speculation since she hadn't had the dream. She had awakened to Minako's screaming and had been scared out of her wits.
The inner girls began skating towards the park entrance, murmuring among themselves about the dreams. Chibiusa looked up at Ami in worry. "Why were you guys so scared anyway?"
"It was horrible, Chibiusa-chan," Ami replied. "We were all back in the Silver Millennium, but older than we are now. Maybe early or mid twenties. We were in the palace, during a ball of some kind. It was all fine and everything in the beginning, but then, the palace seem to blow apart and there was fire and screaming and…and…"
"There were men…destroying…breaking…" Minako began sobbing. "There was fighting and destruction and complete desolation. And we couldn't transform! We were helpless! We couldn't transform and people died because of it! People DIED! We couldn't…" Mako grabbed the blonde and shook her hard. Minako just choked back tears and buried her head on Mako's shoulder, her body shaking with each sob.
"It's okay, Minako-chan," Usagi whispered, stroking the girl's arm softly. Her own blue eyes looked a little torn. "We'll figure out what it means." Rei didn't say anything. She just skated in front of the group, her mind only focused on the dream.
What does that dream mean? Rei argued furiously in her mind. What was that? Is that our future…or one of our past lives? Why haunt us now? What's going on here? My mind is so cluttered and I feel nothing. Something awful is going to happen to us. Something…I don't know what. This world might crumble. Minako was right. We couldn't transform. Is that the key? We couldn't…
The outer girls were silent, for the most part, occasionally casting Setsuna worried glances. Hotaru held her arm and said nothing, looking up at Setsuna every now and then.
Setsuna's mind was jumbled with old memories, trying to resurface and claim the dream. But each time a memory became clear, it would suddenly disappear back into the depths of her mind. She hadn't meant to snap at Rei or Usagi. Her thoughts were too messed up to even begin sorting.
Something awful claimed their future. And nothing was getting better. It was going to get worse before any answer came to them. Until then, they would wonder about blindly. And that's what scared her. She wanted to know the answer so everyone could be safe.
There would be no right answer this time.
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"Earth," someone whispered, the feminine voice echoing dimly in the darkness. "Such a beautiful planet. How I want it to be mine. All mine." The speaking figure appeared from the darkness. Her deep silver eyes focused mainly on the blue green planet in her view. Her long, dark hair was held up in a bun, some of it spilling down her shoulders.
"Sister, you wish to add this planet to your collection?" a deep, steady voice asked. A handsome, blue-haired young man walked next to her. "It is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. And the creatures that walk upon it are extraordinary. Never have I seen anything like them." The woman smiled, revealing numerous white teeth. She would have been beautiful, given the fact that nearly all of her body parts were human. Her pointed ears could mistake her for an elf. Large and dark wings like a crow spread out from behind her.
"The dominant species are called humans," the woman pointed out bluntly. "A rather weak species…but, they seem to have forces on this planet."
"Forces? What may they be, pray tell?"
"Hmm, I hadn't really paid that much attention in class," the dark-haired girl said, rather unenthusiastically. "But, it seems that anyone who has tried to take over this planet as failed. Queen Beryl, Death Phantom, Pharaoh 90, Nephernia, even Chaos and Galaxia have failed. And that's not all. Most recently, the Sailor Twins and the Sailor Constellations have failed as well."
"Forces, eh?" the young man mused. He cocked his head to the side. "I guess these forces are more formidable then they seem to be. What do your propose to do, sister Rhea?"
"I want that planet," Rhea said. "Please. Give that planet to me, brother Orion." Orion smirked.
"Ah, so I must give you this planet under what condition?" he asked. Rhea looked at her brother, silver eyes blazing.
"I do wish that you not vex me, brother Orion," she said, her Aedon accent coming on strong. She kept the accent in her voice, but it was mostly hidden from her suppressed wrath. It sounded off like lightning in distance. "Thy own little engagement had caused thee to slow down in our mission. If this little planet can be the key to our success, so be it. Until then, thou art on dangerous waters."
"So, you wish not to take this planet into your collection?" Orion asked smoothly. "My wish is only to please you, younger Sister." The two were not really actual brother and sister, but partners on a conquest of the universe. Their parents' wishes and a stroke of bad luck had teamed them up. They showed each due respect by placing the sibling title before their names.
"Thy wish is to annoy me, brother Orion," Rhea retorted, her accent strong. "Why couldn't I have been teamed up with a rather likable young man instead of this wayward boy?" Orion laughed heartily.
"A boy no more, dear Sister," he said. "I am three years your senior and have been chosen due to a stroke of bad luck. And might I say that those strokes seem to be far less efficient then they once were."
Rhea said nothing, but looked out the ship window. "Such strong power comes from such a little planet." Her accent had died down. "I wonder if it'll be easy for the taking, brother Orion. I want it and you must retrieve."
"Under no such command will I do a thing for you," Orion replied, sitting down on the bench facing the window. It was a small viewing room in the front of the ship. A long cushioned bench sat in the back of the room, facing the floor to ceiling viewing window. Earth floated in its view, the moon floating in the planet's wake, shining radiantly. Besides the door left of the bench and the two young people in the room, the viewing chamber was empty.
Orion sighed. "But 'tis a beautiful planet to go to waste. I say, Sister, let's have some fun and go after it."
"Just an all out attack?" Rhea asked, frowning. "I prefer playing with my new gift before setting out for conquering. Let's make our presence known." The black-haired girl raised her hand above her head and stretched out her fingers. In a liquid movement, she brought her hand down to her heart and closed her eyes. "Ancients of times long forgotten, bestow onto my heart power of the divine. Release the power and forgive not my deeds, for the ensuing scenes afterwards shall be in your name."
Rhea was swarmed with dark green light. Orion watched solemnly as the light enveloped him as well. The two young people momentarily disappeared from each other's sight. When the light dimmed down, Rhea and Orion stood in Katsura Academy uniforms.
"If I'm correct, the most powerful energy readings seem to come the group of islands west of the largest body of water on the planet," Orion said, looking distastefully at this outfit. "Rhea, you sure have a interesting taste in clothing."
"It's a uniform, dear Brother," Rhea replied. "School children wear them to their learning facilities. I do like the color though." The uniform was deep gray, black, and blue. The pleated skirt to Rhea's outfit was deep gray with two rows of black piping at the bottom. The sailor-like collar was also gray, with three small rows of black piping and the long sleeved blouse was white. The bows were blue with a black button in the middle of the chest bow.
Orion's outfit was not as colorful, but it seemed to make his attractiveness stand out even more. The pants and jacket were both black with dark blue buttons. There was no tie, but the collar was opened around the neck. The 'student' sighed unhappily. "I still don't like it."
"I'm not here to satisfy your moods," the dark-haired girl snapped back. "We have a job to do. And if thou wish to not complete it, then I will leave thou be." Her accent was vibrating with anger. Orion shook his head sadly.
"I will go, sister Rhea," he said. "But you must calm your temper or you will surely give away our identities." He paused and looked at Rhea for a second. "I do think you need to do something about the wings and the ears, Sister. We'd stand out greatly if we kept them." Rhea snorted in distaste and waved her hand in the air. The pointed ears diminished to regular size and the dark wings simply evaporated.
"Ah…art thou happy, dear Brother?" Rhea asked, her silver eyes burning with impatience.
"I suppose," Orion replied in a mocking tone. "Let's go and claim this planet." Rhea smiled. She turned towards the blue and green planet floating and rotating ahead of them. She always got what she wanted.
Always.
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"Nothing!" Rei shouted, burying her head in her lap. "I received nothing! The fire is completely blank. It tells me nothing of the dreams we've had." The girls had made it back to the shrine after changing back into normal attire and were waiting outside for the answer to Rei's sacred prayers in the fire room. She came out in complete frustration.
"Is it that a good sign?" Hotaru asked worriedly. She was wringing her hands nervously. "I mean, if you can't get a reading?" Rei shrugged and sat down on the porch, her legs swinging over the side.
"I don't know," she replied. "It's just making me more nervous." Usagi gave her friend a tight hug.
"Oh, don't worry Rei-chan," she said. "I'm sure we'll find out what it means." Rei nodded simply, not wanting to worry Usagi about those feelings she had. Instead, she gave the petite blonde a grateful smile.
"So until we do find out what it means, we wait?" Mako asked. "We can't just wait! We have to do something. The world as we know it may be at stake here and we're sitting around, waiting? I don't think so!"
Michiru sighed heavily, resting her head against the temple wall. It was confusing, she couldn't agree more. If they wait, something bad might happen. If they do something too rash, the consequences might be deadly.
Something will happen. Don't worry about it. It will happen and then you'll know what to do. Somehow, this didn't make Michiru feel any better. It made her scared at thoughts of the 'something'. Something would happen…but it wouldn't be good. For some reason, Michiru gave Haruka's hand an extra squeeze. It was scaring her, whatever it was.
"You okay?" Haruka whispered into her ear. Michiru shook her head. No need to lie. No one was okay here.
"I'm just worried," Michiru responded. "We're supposed to be normal people living normal lives and suddenly, a new battle is teasing us and not giving us any clues whatsoever on who or what we're dealing with." Haruka remained silent. What was there to say? Nothing could change that fact that they were dealing with something they knew absolutely nothing about.
Nothing.
"She warned us about this," Setsuna whispered suddenly. Everyone turned to her in surprise.
"Who warned us about what?" Usagi asked, her blue eyes curiously staring at the older girl. "What are you talking about?"
"Capricorn," Setsuna said calmly, though anger seemed to be hidden in her voice. "She said that the previous battle might have been our last one. She said that something was going to happen after that battle that might alter the course of time. Something about two new figures and something of the past, like a ghost, coming to warn us of something." Minako recognized the words immediately.
"Yeah!" she exclaimed. "She did mention something to that extent. So maybe she was warning us of this new bat-"
CRASH!
The senshi spun around at the sudden noise. Usagi let out a shriek as she saw the cartons holding the shrine's good luck charms falling all over the place. Rei groaned as the two culprits stood in the midst of the boxes. The girl was glaring at the boy furiously.
"Look what you did!" she shrieked. "Now we're going to have to clean up this mess."
"It's not my fault," the boy responded. "You're the one who wanted to come to this place first!" Rei cleared her throat and the two young people turned around and blushed. Minako looked at the boy and her eyes became two huge hearts. Mako joined her as her eyes became dreamy.
"He looks like my old boyfriend," she swooned. The boy was almost unnaturally handsome. His dark blue hair framed a handsome face that held emerald colored eyes. "Wow, he's so cute!"
"Yeah," Minako whispered. The other girls just stared at him and the girl with frowns on their faces.
"Excuse me," Rei snapped. "What are you doing here?" The girl turned to her and seemed to be infuriated. The boy shook his head and laid one hand on her shoulder. The girl frowned at him and stuck her nose up in the air.
"We came to get some good luck charms," she said in a prissy voice. "We looked over the counter to see if anyone was here, but obviously, this little shack has no customer service." Rei's anger grew.
"What are you calling a shack?" she screeched. Usagi sighed.
"Rei-chan…" The girl walked right up to Rei. She was about the same height and seemed to match Rei's anger and priss perfectly. Her silver eyes gleamed with amusement.
"I was asking for a good luck charm," she said. She stuck out her hand American style. "My name is Dai Himeko. This is my guardian and brother, Taichi-chan."
"Nice to meet you," Taichi said slowly, and then grimaced at the name. "We'll leave if you wish." Himeko turned to her brother angrily. She wasn't leaving until she got what she wanted.
"I wish," Rei replied. She turned back to the girl. "I don't want to see you back here, little Dai-chan."
"Little?" Himeko screeched, her face turning red. "For your information, I am seventeen!"
"Ooooh, big surprise. I'm seventeen too."
"Why art thou so annoying?" Himeko yelled back. Rei looked a little surprised at the change of accent, one in which she never heard before. Taichi slapped his hand over Himeko's mouth and sighed.
"Sister, I think we ought to be getting back to the dorms now," he hissed. Himeko struggled in his arms, trying to shout something at either him or Rei. Finally, she gave up, staring at Rei with perfect silver eyes. Rei felt a little scared from that look and smoothed down the sudden goosebumps on her arm.
The couple left and Rei sighed impatiently. She turned back to the group and facefaulted when she saw Minako and Mako staring after Taichi with hearts in their eyes. She shook her head sadly.
Haruka frowned. "Those uniforms are for Katsura Academy. I've never seen those two before." Michiru giggled a little, relieved to be thinking about something other than the dream.
"Of course not," she said. "We're a year higher than that girl. Maybe not her brother, but definitely her." Hotaru frowned, but said nothing. The girl was older than her, at lease. She knew that. But something about those perfect lustrous eyes seemed to haunt her. She had gotten goosebumps at the sight of those eyes. The girl had been almost unearthly beautiful.
Himeko and Taichi seemed almost…perfect.
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Himeko waited until she was out of sight and earshot to began cursing out Rei. Her silver eyes were raging in anger. "How dare that little wretch decided to ruin my perfect plan! She just got in my way!" Taichi sighed.
"Hey, you almost gave us away back there, sister Rhea," he hissed. "That accent of yours nearly broke away our identities." Himeko/Rhea turned to Taichi, her loose dark hair flailing across her face. Taichi grinned a little.
God, she is one of the most beautiful creatures in this entire universe. She seems to be perfect…except for that little temper of hers. If only she could be mine…
"Brother Orion, we have a mission to do," Himeko screeched, snapping the blue-haired boy out of his daydreams. "That girl got in our way! She must be eliminated! I want her out of my way forever!" Taichi frowned.
"Isn't that a little rash, sister Rhea?" he asked. He hated always being the sensible one. "She isn't part of the main plan. We don't need to worry about a little miko who happens to ignite your temper." Himeko broke her identity then. The uniform disappeared into her regular two-piece black dress that clung tightly to her body. The skirt was long and full, covering her high-heeled feet. The neckline of the shirt was incredibly low and the entire top revealed her stomach. A black choker hung around her neck and her black cape revealed bare shoulders.
"She must be taken out of the picture entirely, dear Brother," Rhea hissed. Silver bracelets with precious gems embedded in them clamped onto her wrist. "I do not want her spoiling my plans. Thou will grant my request at once."
"You need to learn how to control your temper," Taichi said as he transformed into Orion. His uniform disappeared into a loose, black long-sleeved shirt and black pants. His pants were tucked into dark, heavy boots. A long dark cape with two rows of blue piping swelled from behind him. He sighed impatiently. "Sister Rhea, killing the girl will result with nothing." Rhea glared at him.
"Didst thou feel it?" she asked, her silver eyes growing large, making her almost look innocent. Almost. "Didn't thou feel the radiant energy pouring from those girls? Ah, they must be the key to this entire mission, dear Brother. Have them destroyed and we shall finally have this planet as part of our collection!"
"Fine, sister Rhea," Orion grumbled. "Whatever you wish, shall be granted to you." Rhea hugged Orion tightly.
"Thou spoil me, Orion," she said with a giggle. Orion sighed and then looked up towards the sky.
"Youma, arise!" he shouted. Seconds later, twisted beings rose from in front of them. Some had eyes and other body parts where no one would have thought imaginable. Others looked as though their intestines has exploded and covered their bodies. All the creatures were black with red eyes, no matter where they were placed.
"Hungry," the assumed leader said. He was larger and the most horrible looking of the group. His eight mouths opened and closed irregularly, causing distraction among the rest of the group. "Want eat."
"You'll get eat," Orion said. "Beyond that gate are humans. Do NOT eat them. Destroy them and then you'll get your eat." The leader nodded his three heads and staggered off towards the entrance of the gate. The other nine followed his lead, crawling off behind him.
Rhea looked incredibly pale. "What are those?" she gasped and for an instant, a touch of sympathy for the girls touched her heart. But it was gone the moment it arrived.
"The youma of bitter darkness," Orion stated. "They are very powerful. One blast from them can knock any normal human out in a second." A seductive smile appeared on Rhea's face as she tugged on Orion's arm.
"Let's go watch the fun!" she exclaimed. Orion sighed. He was going to discipline Rhea after this little adventure was over.
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"He was SO cute," Minako whispered, her eyes filled with stars. Mako agreed. "I don't know which planet he came from, but he seemed too perfect to be here on Earth." Rei snorted out a laughed.
"You two need to keep your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds," she said, shaking her head. "He goes to Katsura Academy. Your chances of seeing him again are as slim as my chances of visiting Mars one day. Possible, but highly unlikely." Mako sighed.
"You're right," she said and then glanced over at Hotaru, Haruka, and Michiru. "Oh, guuuys." The three turned to look at her and immediately knew what was going to happen.
"Oh, no!" Hotaru said, backing away from the brunette. "I'm not playing spy and I'm not playing matchmaker. You can do that on your own, but do not get me involved." Minako grabbed Haruka's arm.
"Oh, come on!" she said, her pale blue eyes pleading. "You guys attend school at Katsura Academy. Please, please, please do us this one little favor." Haruka shook Minako off her arm.
"I don't think so," she replied. Minako sighed and pretended to get emotional. Chibiusa sighed in the background. Those three were in for the show of their lives.
"Oh, this is horrible," Minako wailed. "I'll never meet that cute boy, who may be my one and only destined love. I'll live alone for the rest of my life, never knowing if he was really the one for me. And I'll die an unhappy, old woman alone." Michiru smirked.
"And then you'll get reborn and have another crack at winning love," she said. Minako paused briefly and stared at her. She laughed nervously as she scratched the back of her head.
"Oh, right," she said. "I forgot about that whole rebirth thing. Sorry." Everyone facefaulted. Rei laughed nervously, but then stopped. She looked behind her shoulder and narrowed her eyes.
"Huh?" she asked. She turned towards the front entrance. "I feel an evil presence." She turned to the others and quickly silenced them with a motion of her hands. "I felt an evil presence nearby. From the entrance, it's coming quickly." The others quieted down and listened with the ears and hearts.
Usagi shivered and Ami put a calming hand on her arm. Usagi gave her blue-haired friend an uneasy smile. Setsuna frowned and then felt the evil presence, so strong she nearly staggered. Slowly, she turned around.
And saw the youma climbing over the gate.
"Oh, my god," Chibiusa whispered, backing away. "Youma!" The other senshi felt the dread that was crawling up their spines. The girls sitting on the porch jumped off and their hands went instinctively to their pockets.
Only to realize that they were powerless without the henshin pens.
"What are we going to do?" Ami whispered as ten youma jumped from the north wall. The others were speechless. Without their powers, they were just normal citizens. "We can't…we can't fight…"
Mako turned a brilliant shade of green as the leader of the pack stepped forward. "I think I'm going to be sick," she mouthed to Setsuna. Setsuna turned back towards the advancing enemy. The leader drooled from its eight mouths, the black saliva dripping onto the ground. All the senshi turned a little green from the sight.
"Eat," the leader exclaimed. "Get eat. Kill and get. Get kill, get eat!" Chibiusa hugged Usagi tight, shaking desperately as the girls backed up. Rei was even more worried.
Grandpa and Yuuichirou are in the shrine! I can't let them get hurt! What am I going to do? I can transform. We can't die…we have to save this world…
But no power was left in Rei to bring out a transformation phrase. All of her power was gone. They weren't going to make it. There was no way.
Ami began rapidly typing into her computer. Her blue eyes were huge. "I can't lock onto one of their weaknesses. They don't seem to have a weakness!" Usagi suddenly began crying.
"I don't want to die!" she screeched, burying her face in her hands. "Why can't we transform? Capricorn, why'd you take away our powers?" The leader looked confused for a moment as Usagi began crying. Minako stared it, trying to figure out something. Something was nagging her in the back of her mind. Something someone had said. She think it might have been…
Who? Her mind seemed to race from the baffled memories of their fight against the zodiac. Water. She remembered water. A pool? Yes! There had been a pool and they had fallen in…but, what did that have to do with anything? They had gotten wet, big deal.
"Minako-chan!" Michiru suddenly shouted and the next think the blonde knew, she had collapsed on the ground, Michiru next to her. Behind her, some of the south wall had been destroyed. Minako gasped as Michiru glared as her. "Where were you? That attack was coming straight at you and you didn't even realize it!" Minako gasped again.
"I wasn't…I was thinking about something," she finally replied. Michiru dragged her behind the shrine, which was only inches away. They were hidden from view. Minako's eyes grew larger. "The others! Usagi-chan!" Michiru shook her head.
"After they shot the attack at you, everyone scattered," she said. "Don't worry about Usagi-chan. She's with Mako-chan and Ami-chan." Minako brought her knees to her chest and began rocking back and forth. They were safe from the fighting, in this little squeeze between the back of the shrine and the south wall.
"You're not going back out there?" Minako asked. Michiru looked up. Her turquoise eyes were incredibly torn.
"If I did, what would I do?" she asked. "We've been stripped of our powers. I couldn't go out there and not risk getting killed." Minako frowned. That didn't sound like Michiru.
"You're worried about Haruka-san and Hotaru-chan and Setsuna-san, aren't you?" Minako asked, more of a statement than a question. Michiru stared at the blonde sadly and rested her chin on her knees.
"Yeah," she finally said.
Minako frowned again and stood up. Michiru stared at her in surprise. The girl clenched her hand into a fist as she looked back out at the temple courtyard. She had a clear view. Ami was huddled behind a tree, Mako and Usagi nearby. Rei had grabbed Chibiusa and they were trying to dodge the attacks the youma were sending out. Hotaru and Haruka found themselves in the same position. Setsuna was the closest to them, facing off against a youma. "We have to help them!"
"We can't!" Michiru hissed, tugging the girl's blonde hair. She stood up too. "We might be killed trying to help them." Minako turned to her.
"We have a duty to protect the princess," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. For an instant, Michiru could have sworn the princess of Venus was speaking. "We made a vow that her life would be spared at the cost of ours, Lady Neptune. We must keep that vow and protect her at all cost. Do you understand me?"
"Lady Venus, nothing will be accomplished if we go out there recklessly," Michiru responded. Her vision seemed to distort for a second. The next thing she knew, she was talking to Lady Venus, who was clad in a pale yellow dress. A golden crown shimmered on her head. Her red bow was gone, only to be replaced by an ornate gold ribbon.
Minako stared back at Michiru…no, Lady Neptune. She was wearing a teal dress, making her far more elegant than she already was. A golden crown was placed on her gauzy hair. For a moment, they stood there, staring at each other in surprise. Then, it was over. The vision disappeared and they were back at the shrine.
"That was weird," Minako mumbled. She shook her head. "Anyway, my mind is made. I'm going." Michiru stared at her for a second and then nodded.
"Me too," she agreed and two bounded out into the temple courtyard.
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Usagi stared at the battle from behind a bush. Chibiusa, Rei, Haruka, Hotaru, and Setsuna were still trying to get away from the youma. Michiru and Minako had dodged safely behind the shrine, the safest place it seemed to be.
"Mako-chan…" Usagi sobbed, grabbing the taller girl. "I don't want to die. I don't want anyone to die." Mako patted the petite girl's hair, trying to comfort her.
"It'll be okay," Mako replied. "We've been in tough situations before. And since we're still alive, we must have gotten out of those situations all right."
Usagi was about to respond when she heard a warning yelled from across the temple courtyard. She spun around, only to see Michiru and Minako dart from their hiding place. Rei had shouted the warning and the two newcomers had to hastily dodge out of the way before an attack would have finished them off.
"Why'd they leave?" Mako gasped. "The idiots!" Usagi just stared as Minako looked around, searching for her. She couldn't call out, or their hiding place would be blown from cover. She just grabbed Mako's hand firmly and stared at the raging battle.
Minako spotted the girl after numerous searches and breathed a sigh of relief. She was still alive and well. Taking a deep breath, she looked at the others. The ten youma had spread around, firing blasts at the senshi who remained in the courtyard. Rei's home was getting demolished quickly.
The leader of the youma was looking around, wanting to get someone out of the fight. But the prey was fast and agile and every blast seemed to miss. He would have to get one, at least one, out of the game.
The mass of body parts turned, and through red vision, saw a person standing just behind him. Her back was turned and he could easily knock her out. He opened all eight mouths, saliva dripping and red eyes blazing, and got ready to fire…
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Haruka watched Hotaru scamper across the courtyard, just barely missing the most previous attack, which had slammed into one of the walls, destroying it. Dust spread up from the wreckage, now one of the numerous piles across the courtyard. She breathed a sigh of relief as the girl finally was able to find shelter behind the good-luck charm booth.
She saw, closer to her, Rei and Chibiusa darting around. Everywhere they turned, a youma would be waiting for them. Chibiusa let out a couple of natural screams until Rei accidentally ran into a wall, Chibiusa in her arms. Then she had begun yelling at Rei for not watching where she going.
Haruka sighed. This was turning ugly. She wondered why Michiru and Minako had ran from their hiding place and back into the battle. They had been safe and now they were putting themselves in danger. They could be killed.
Michiru looked around the not so deserted courtyard and struggled to catch her breath. The youma were strong, but they weren't fast or agile, something she could relate to. This was going to be tough. They could only hope to wear the youma out before they won.
Michiru looked up after a second of hard breathing and her heart nearly stopped again. The leader youma and Haruka had almost come back to back, only five feet apart. She struggled to say something, but her own scream was caught in her throat. Slowly, she stood up and fear nearly brought her back down again. Her eyes remained locked on her partner.
No, Haruka, she thought, her deep turquoise eyes getting larger. Look behind you! Look behind you, Haruka!
But it wasn't Haruka who finally turned around. It was the leader youma. He turned to face the unaware young woman and his eyes sparkled with glee. Michiru struggled once again to say something. "Haruka…" But nothing strong enough would come out.
It was Usagi who finally looked up in time to see all eight mouths open. Her blue eyes grew larger as she struggled out of Mako's arms. "Haruka! Behind you!" she screamed. Haruka spun around to see what Usagi was yelling about.
Too late.
The blast released wasn't directed toward a wide area. The leader youma had been so close, the explosion still had the brutal force it had been charged with. Haruka felt the blast sear at her skin, burning and boiling the blood inside. At first, she was almost too shocked to cry out. But the increasing pain sent through her body finally released a tortured scream. The blast sent her slamming into the wall that had been behind her. She barely heard the sickening sound of flesh against pavement and sudden screaming. Her vision clouded over and turned black as she slumped to the ground.
Michiru and Usagi let out twin screams before racing over to their fallen friend, not caring what youma saw them. Michiru reached her first and dropped to knees. She was sobbing hard and shaking in complete shock and horror.
Usagi reached the couple next and just stared at the scene in disbelief. The blast had hurt Haruka pretty good. Usagi just prayed that it wasn't too good. She slowly sank to her knees and shook Haruka hard. Michiru had gone quite pale as she stared at the fallen racer.
"She's not breathing," she whispered as if she couldn't believe it. "Oh, god, no. She's not breathing!" Usagi struggled to keep her head leveled. She looked over at the leader youma who was signaling his allies to leave. He had done this to her. He couldn't…he would have to die. He couldn't do this to one of her friends and live.
Slowly, Usagi turned her attention back to Haruka. "Come on, Haruka-san," she breathed slowly, her blue eyes slowly being covered with grief. "You have to breathe. Please!"
There was no response. Usagi refused to let herself think that Haruka was gone. There was no possible way that would happen. She wasn't and couldn't be gone.
"Usagi-chan!" Rei called from across the courtyard. The youma were still there, feeling very haughty now that they were able to get one of the enemies down. "Michiru-san! Get out of there, NOW!" Usagi stared at Rei as if she was crazy. She expected her to leave Haruka?
"Get out of there!" Hotaru added, waving her arms. "Move!" Michiru cocked her head to the side and then frowned. There was a red orb-like weapon nearby. She assumed one of the youma had thrown it. Michiru stared at it for a second and then grabbed Usagi's hand firmly and pulled her away.
"What are you doing?" Usagi shrieked, realizing what was happening and trying to pull away. "We can't leave her…" Michiru didn't say anything. She just pulled a protesting Usagi to the other side of the yard.
Usagi suddenly stopped protesting when she felt an explosion behind her. The wave of heat took her by surprise as she hit the ground. She spun around and saw the place where they had been sitting go up in flames. Usagi stared at the fire in disbelief. She sank to her knees and buried her face in her hands. There was no more…she was gone.
In the midst of the flames, like the heart of a fire, a pair of aqua-green eyes opened, staring at the fire blankly.
Michiru collapsed to the ground and buried her face in her arms. She was too shocked to cry. Haruka…couldn't be gone. She couldn't! No! She just got her back…
Setsuna turned away, anger and regret rising within her. She had known something would happen to the blonde racer. She had known something and hadn't done anything in her power to try to tell her. And now…everyone would pay the consequences.
"Earth Star Ribbon Windstorm!"
The strangely hollow voice seemed to fill the yard. Everyone froze and began looking around them, surprised. Out of the middle of the fire, silver ribbons shot out and spun around to create a cyclone like attack. The hurricane went towards the youma, cutting them into millions of pieces. The girls stared on in shock and horror as the cyclone exploded into stardust, falling to the ground. There was no sign left of the youma.
They had been completely removed.
"What was that?" Ami finally asked as the other senshi stood up from their hiding places. They looked at each other and shrugged, except for Usagi and Michiru. They were staring intently at the fire where the attack had come from. Everyone saw their looks and followed the gaze.
"Water Orb," the same voice called out again. "Disperse the inferno caused from the Fire Orb!" A deep blue orb floated above the fire and seemed to explode over the flames. The fire simply disappeared and the red orb disappeared in which it came disappeared as well.
Haruka gently caught the water orb as it fell back into her hands. "I'm getting better at this," she said, her voice unusual. She was speaking in some sort of accent and the accent itself was strangely hollow. She was pulsating with a white illustrious light. The water orb disappeared in a shower of blue sparks.
The other senshi stared at her, wide-eyed. Usagi's jaw had dropped considerably. "Haruka-san?" she asked. Haruka looked up and stared at all of them, frowning.
"Legendary sailor soldiers?" she whispered. Sadly, she shook her head. "Sensei will not be happy."
"What is she talking about?" Hotaru asked, her face paler than usual. She looked at Mako, who simply shrugged. Hotaru turned to Haruka. "What are you talking about, Haruka-chan?" The blonde sighed.
"She is always on my case," she muttered. "I'm getting better at controlling the orbs, really I am. Either way, she'll scold me." The others exchanged worried glances. Haruka smiled at them.
"You have no idea what I'm talking about," she stated. "I don't blame you. I'm still confused myself. I wasn't sure it was going to work." Michiru glared at her.
"You were nearly killed!" she yelled. Haruka frowned and then held out her hand, palm up. A white orb appeared floating above her hand.
"Lady Oceanna, I'm sure you're confusing me with someone else," Haruka told her. She tossed her the white orb. Michiru caught it and stared at it. It seemed nothing more than a white orb.
"What is this?"
"Oceanna, don't tell me you don't remember." Seeing the confused look in Michiru's eyes, Haruka sighed. But there was a smile on her face. "Never mind. I must have made it. Your memories are completely gone." Minako gave Ami a look and then turned back to the blonde.
Something's wrong here. I don't think that's Haruka. I can feel it. It's someone else. I know it.
"Oceanna," Michiru finally whispered. "In case you forgot Haruka, my name is Michiru." The others shared a look. Something was definitely not right in this scenario.
"Listen," Haruka said harshly, her voice cross. "This is it. I can't tell you any more than this right now and if you don't get it, tough. The past is being destroyed and the present and future are at stake here. The senshi of my time have not been awakened and we cannot fight this new evil."
Usagi ran right up to Haruka. "What are you talking about, Haruka-san? What's going on with that past?" Haruka stared at the shorter girl distastefully.
"Didn't you hear me, Serenity?" she yelled. "The past will die away and the future will be destroyed! Time itself with end! The past needs your help, don't you understand? They need your help! We need your help. If you can't help, then everyone will die!" Usagi frowned, uncomprehending.
"I don't understand," she mumbled. "This isn't funny, Haruka-san! Stop acting like th-" Haruka suddenly lashed out and struck Usagi hard on the cheek. Usagi fell to the ground from the force. The inner senshi ran up to their fallen princess and stared at Haruka in anger and surprise.
"Haruka-san!" Chibiusa yelled. "How could you?" Slowly, Haruka looked up at Setsuna and smiled. Setsuna had turned quite pale and was staring at Haruka as if she had seen a ghost.
"She knows," Haruka whispered. Idly, she turned her back. "She knows." Hotaru turned to Setsuna, frowning. She was still a bit shaken up over the fact that Haruka had actually slapped Usagi.
"What is she talking about?" she asked the taller girl. "What does she mean by that?" Setsuna didn't respond. She just continued staring at Haruka, her face pale. Haruka glared back at her, but then seemed to sway a little, as if she was fighting to stay conscious.
"I'm leaving," she said. "I don't have enough energy to stay this long. Maybe we'll meet again. Sayonara." And with that, the white light around the racer diminished and she collapsed to the ground.
Michiru shrugged off all that had happened and ran to her partner. She quickly checked her pulse and let out a sigh of relief. "She's breathing again, at least." Usagi was rubbing her cheek where she had been slapped. She stared at Haruka for a second.
"That was way too weird," she mumbled. "Something was going on. I don't think that was Haruka-san." Rei turned to Usagi, dumbfounded.
"What do you mean?" she asked incredulously. Usagi shrugged and then stared back at the unconscious girl. Something was not right.
Not right at all.
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"Ugh!" Rhea shouted, slamming her fist onto the black wall. "How could a bunch of little girls destroy those youma? It's impossible!" Orion shook his head and simply leaned back against the chair. The two had returned back to the ship after realizing their youma weren't coming back.
"Maybe you've underestimated them, dear Sister," he said simply, running a hand through his sleek blue hair. "They're more powerful than they look."
Rhea said nothing, but continued to pace back and forth. How could someone defeat her? It was unnatural! Those girls were just normal citizens. Where did they receive such enhanced skill? Her mind was ablaze with all sorts of possibilities. But none seemed all too likely.
Orion stared at the dark-haired girl and sighed. "Maybe you should keep an eye on those ten pretty girls. They might be the key to conquest." Rhea stared at him.
"The key?" she screeched. "How can they be the key? They are normal citizens of Tokyo! They possess no special powers."
"Are you so sure of that?" Orion asked, his tone harsh. "Are you sure they have no special powers? You said yourself that they were radiating some special energy." Rhea said nothing, but simply stared at the older young man with hate. She hated being told that she wasn't right.
"So, what kind of energy do thou speculate them having?" Rhea finally asked, looking out the large planet. "Anything worth taking?"
"Well, it's nothing we can pass up, if that's what you mean. I think their power is one of a kind. Their auras are extremely strong as well. We should pay those ten a little visit this week. See what they're really made out of." Rhea stared at Orion for a second and then nodded.
"A little energy gathering," she cheered. "Enough to give me power to conquer this flimsy planet." Orion was quiet. He wondered deeply about where that power came from. And why those girls, of all people? Why did these girls manifest such enhanced and skillful powers, and yet, they didn't seemed to have used them doing battle. They had run away, but had been extremely agile and fast in their doing so.
The blue-haired young man finally turned to the viewing glass and watched as the pearl-like moon orbited gracefully around her sister planet.
Author's Note: Much OOC-ness. So much for epic story-telling.