Chapter 27
Reaching the Castle
Usagi and Chibi-usa were still locked in battle with Queen Neherenia as the evil queen of the dead moon was determined to defeat Sailor Moon and her younger companion. The evil Queen was hurling bolts of dark energy at the two Sailor Senshi while trying to strike them down.
Sailor Moon was doing her usual thing by running around trying to avoid each of Neherenia's attempts to destroy them while dragging Chibi-usa around with her. At the rate Neherenia was attacking Sailor Moon would get fried before she would have a chance to use any of her attacks on the evil queen.
Usagi and Chibi-usa had to drop to their knees to avoid getting hit by a sphere of energy Queen Neherenia threw at them, but it destroyed a stone wall instead of the two Sailor Soldiers. Sailor Moon pulled out the sword Tetsusaiga and sent a wave of energy towards the evil queen, but Neherenia blocked the attack by covering herself with an energy field.
"The sword it didn't work." Usagi exclaimed in surprise.
"Do you think that sword has enough power to defeat me? You are sadly mistaking moon princess." Neherenia warned as she threw another bolt of energy at two Senshi.
Chibi-usa and Usagi screamed as they scrambled to get out of the way of Neherenia's attack. The two girls jumped out of the way just in time to avoid getting hit. The evil queen of the dead moon had a strong advantage over the two Sailor Soldiers. She was just about ready to finish the two off once and for all.
"It ends here." The queen said as she raised her hands ready to deliver the final blow, but suddenly a beam of pink energy appeared and it stuck Queen Neherenia in the back. "What is happing to me?" Neherenia screamed as something was happing within her body.
"Say good bye to the evil within you!" Chibi-Chibi said as she used her power to vanquish the evil from the Queen body. The result of purging process also caused the queen to transform from the evil queen she was into a small child.
"Chibi-Chibi!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
Soon appearing next to the small child was with Kagura, Kanna, Kohaku and Mouryoumaru. The child queen had collapsed on the ground because she was exhausted from her transformation. "It's a good thing we found you other wise that woman would have been the end of you two." Kagura said as she looked down at Sailor Moon and Chibi-usa.
"Where were you two and what is she doing here?" Chibi-usa asked the five while looking at Kanna.
"Oh Kanna has a soul of her own and she is on our side now. We had a little run in with some of Naraku's minions. His men are probably out and about causing trouble." Kohaku informed the small pink haired girl.
"Well…that's good." Usagi said with a uncertain smile as she looked at Kanna who had a smile on her face.
Suddenly little Queen Neherenia got up from the ground and she turned to look at everyone. "Thank you for freeing me from the evil that had poisoned my heart. Now if you excuse me I must leave this place." The little queen said as she turned to leave, but Sailor Moon ran up to her.
Usagi stopped her by saying "Wait do you know what Naraku is planning?"
"I do not know what he is up to, but all I heard him say that might be of any importance is that he mentioned something called the Galaxy Cauldron. What it is I do not know. Thank you again for saving me and good luck against Naraku" Queen Neherenia said as she disappeared.
"What is the Galaxy Cauldron?" Usagi asked her friends.
"Your guess is as good as mines?" Kagura replied as the others weren't sure what the Galaxy Cauldron was, but Chibi-Chibi had a worried expression on her face.
Elsewhere Shippo, Rin, Kilala and Jaken were walking towards Naraku's castle when they saw Luna, Artemis and Diana up ahead on the path. The group ran up to join the cats as Rin shouted "hello kitties!"
"Well hello you guys…I am glad to see that you four are still alight." Artemis said with a cheerful expression.
"We were worried about you guys." Shippo said with a smile.
"Likewise…did any of you four see any of the others?" Luna asked the group.
"No you're the only ones we have seen so far." Jaken replied stepping into the conversation.
"I see, in that case we better not linger here. Lets get moving." Artemis suggested as everyone else simply nodded their heads in agreement.
The group continued their way towards the castle, but along the way they came across a large basket full of delicious food with a note attached to it. The basket was filled with fruits and all kinds of snacks that no one child in their right mind would refuse. Shippo walked up to it and started examining it as he said "I wonder where this basket came from?"
Shippo pulled the note off the basket and started reading it "Dear foes…we have decided to surrender and leave the moon. As a way to show that we have surrendered we have left this wonderful basket of food for you. Good day from Sailor Iron Mouse and Sailor Tin Nyanko."
"How isn't that nice of them." Rin said as she was standing behind Shippo looking at the note.
"Wait this could be a trap?" Shippo and Jaken said together as Rin was looking for a good piece of fruit to eat.
"I don't think so…I don't smell anything wrong with this food?" Diana said as she started examining the basket.
"But Shippo might be right this basket might be." Luna was saying, but her daughter stuffed a chocolate bunny into her mouth. Luna ate it and swallowed it.
"Wait Rin!" Jaken was shouting at the small child, but like Luna Jaken stuffed an apple into the little demon servant's mouth. The demon had no choice, but to swallow it.
"I guess there is nothing wrong with." Artemis said as he and everyone else started eating the food in the basket. Once it was finished everyone began to feel drowsy as all of them fell to the ground and they fell asleep. A moment later Sailor Iron Mouse and Sailor Tin Nyanko jumped out from behind some ruins and ran up to their tricked prey.
Sailor Tin Nyanko started laughing as she said "My brilliant plan worked. Little children are so cute, but yet so easy to deceive."
"Excuse me, but who supplied the snacks and the sleeping potion?" Sailor Iron Mouse said with an eye brow twitching expression on her face.
"Oh fine whatever…lets just get their star seeds and let's be done with it." Sailor Tin Nyanko said scornfully as she and Sailor Iron Mouse took the Star Seeds belonging to Shippo, Rin, Kilala, Jaken, Luna, Artemis and Diana. Once they were gone they vanished with everyone's star seeds.
Meanwhile Inuyasha and Kagome were still pursuing Naraku, but after they passed some ruins the two saw the castle gates leading into Naraku's new castle ahead of them. The two cautiously approached the gates as Inuyasha and Kagome examined the large black doors that kept intruders out of the castle.
"Well I guess we are the first ones to make it here." Kagome said as she pulled out her bow and an arrow.
"Maybe because Naraku's other minions are probably slowing everyone down." Inuyasha said as he slowly walked up to the doors while alert for any kind of traps that may be present in the area.
Suddenly seven men jumped down from above to block Inuyasha's path. All seven men stood up and both Kagome and Inuyasha were shocked to see who their foes were. "The Shichinin-Tai!" Kagome exclaimed with a surprised expression.
"Well, well, well look who we have here guys. Inuyasha and Kagome." Bankotsu said as he held out his sword in front of him in an offensive pose.
"But you guys are supposed to be dead!" Inuyasha said as he took a few steps back.
"As you can see we're alive and prettier than ever!" Jakotsu said as he drew his favorite weapon.
"You guys are working for Naraku again huh. Well I'll bet your looking for a fight then." Inuyasha said as he cracked his knuckles.
"That's right and as you can probably guess that we also want a little pay back for our past defeats as well." Mukotsu said as he readied some of his powders and some other weapons he had.
"Then come and get some!" Inuyasha shouted as he charged to attack the group of mercenaries.
Bankotsu, Ginkotsu, Kyokotsu and Suikotsu moved to engage Inuyasha while Jakotsu, Mukotsu and Renkotsu moved towards Kagome intent on attacking her. Elsewhere on the moon Sailor Mercury and Koga were almost to the castle when suddenly three figures appeared before them. It was Jadeite, Rubeus and the Doom Phantom.
"Congratulations on getting this far Sailor Mercury." Jadeite said with a cruel grin.
"What are you three doing here?" Koga shouted at the trio.
"We are going to take your Star Seeds. Once we have them you can join the others who have already fallen." The Doom Phantom informed the wolf demon.
"The others!" Ami thought in her mind as a dreadful feeling that something had happened to her friends.
"Enough talking already. I am going to take you bastards down right here…right now!" Koga shouted as he charged the trio ready to punch his foes into submission.
Ami went on the defensive as she used her bubbles to blanket the area in a thick fog that provided Koga and herself with some cover. Koga attacked Rubeus first as he ran up to the red haired man and punched him in the face. Jadeite threw a spear made out of energy at Koga, but the wolf demon sensed the attack was coming when he noticed Jadeite's scent.
Koga jumped over Rubeus to avoid the attack as the wolf demon ran up to the former member of Queen Beryl's minions to give him a kick to the face. Meanwhile Ami located the Doom Phantom in the fog and launched an attack on him. The Doom Phantom was confused because he had some difficultly detecting Ami and Koga due to the fighting between Koga, Rubeus and Jadeite.
The next thing the evil creature knew that he was hit in the face by Ami's new attack the Mercury aqua rhapsody. The attack turned the Doom Phantom into a block of ice. Ami walked up to her foe and said "You're not so tough without the dark crystal aren't you." Ami finished the Doom Phantom off by kicking him over and as a result the creature hit the ground and shattered into a hundred pieces.
With the Doom Phantom defeated Koga and Ami only had Rubeus and Jadeite to deal with now, but unfortunately that was about to change. While Koga was busy punching and kicking Jadeite senseless Rubeus was right behind the wolf demon. "No one strikes me!" Rubeus declared as he shot Koga in the back with a beam of yellow energy. Koga disappeared and all that remained was his Star Seed. Koga's Star Seed was claimed by Rubeus.
When Sailor Mercury's fog cleared she saw that only Rubeus and Jadeite remained. She saw no sign of Koga; she feared the worst had happened to him. "What happened to Koga? What did you two do to him?" Ami shouted at the two minions of Naraku.
"Nothing really. Expect we took his star seed." Rubeus said as he held Koga's star seed in his hand.
"I want it back!" Ami demanded.
"Well if you want it so badly then you can duel me for it. How does that sound?" Rubeus said with an evil smile.
"Fine I will accept your terms." Ami said boldly as she stood ready to fight Rubeus.
"Then let us begin!" Rubeus shouted as he sent several spheres of purple energy flying towards Ami. Ami jumped to the side to avoid getting hit. Ami retaliated by attacking Rubeus with her attack Shine aqua illusion. Rubeus flew into the air into avoid it, but unknown to Sailor Mercury Jadeite was preparing to attack Ami from behind.
While Ami was preoccupied with Rubeus Jadeite stuck her from behind with the same beam of yellow energy that took Koga's star seed. Ami was stuck down as her Star Seed was claimed by Jadeite. "Ha…maybe she should have waited for us to explain that that this wouldn't have been a one on one duel." Jadeite said as he and Rubeus returned to the castle to give Naraku the Star Seeds they claimed.
Deep underground at that moment Marik was forced into battle against Hotaru as the Sailor Senshi of Destruction tried to strike her half-brother with her Silence Glaive. The two continued fighting one another as Marik stopped her attacks with her Glaive with his sword and retaliated with a dead scream. Hotaru wanted to defeat Marik so he wouldn't be able to create any more demons. Marik on the other hand was busy defending himself.
Unknown to Hotaru while she continued attacking Marik only now she was using her Silence Glaive surprise against him someone was standing right behind her. Sailor Saturn's attack hit Marik in the chest sending the half demon crashing into a pile of equipment on the far side of the room. Just when Hotaru had gained the upper hand she was suddenly Hotaru was hit in the back by a Star Seed extracting beam. Within moments she vanished and only her star seed remained.
"Marik. That girl was giving you a bit of trouble I see." Hakudoshi said as he picked up Hotaru's star seed.
"I almost had her." Marik replied as he stood up and he dusted himself off. "What brings you to my little shop of horrors?" Marik asked as he put away his sword in its sheath.
"Something happened to Kanna. That small red haired girl traveling with our foes did something to Kanna that I cannot explain. It is almost she was given a soul of her own. I believe you noticed something similar with Mouryoumaru." Hakudoshi informed Marik.
"Yes…I did, but I am unable to figure out what kind of power that little child has. She may be the light of hope Naraku has been searching for. We must inform my father at once." Marik answered while he had a look of interest on his face while he held one hand to his chin.
"That may be it. I will leave you to inform your father, but while you are at it you can take Hotaru's star seed to him." Hakudoshi said as he gave Marik Hotaru's Star Seed. "I will keep an eye on the rest of our foes in the meantime." Hakudoshi said as he disappeared.
After Hakudoshi left Marik thought about Chibi-Chibi for a few moments then the young half demon disappeared into a tunnel that lead out of his lab. Marik left to go and find his father. Elsewhere Sesshomaru was still fighting against his mother. Overall the battle was tied, but that could change at any time. Soon the battle would reach its climax.
