Chapter 18: Bob-Omb Battlefield

As the beam of light washed over her, Akane Aino clutched her wheelchair tightly. She shut her eyes tightly from the intense light that gave off an iridescent glow, and when it faded she opened them again, gazing around her with awe. She was sitting in a flower patch, green grass and blue skies surrounding her. The strangest things, to her, seemed to be what looked like walking bombs that were roaming the area.

"Strange. This looks like one of the video games I used to play with Shingo," came the familiar voice of Neo-Queen Serenity, who was standing behind Akane, "I wonder if whoever that mysterious Senshi is, is she a fan of video games and anime shows?"

"Why was your daughter screaming so much more than anyone else was?" asked Akane.

"Because that Sailor Senshi has the aura of the Black Moon, Nemesis. Don't you remember the attacks that occurred? Small Lady was caught in the middle of those attacks; they even made her one of them once, Black Lady," Neo-Queen Serenity explained.

"Yes, I do remember, though not very well since me and most of the other civilians were sent to live in the safer areas of Japan," Akane answered, "So I didn't experience them first-hand, though it was hard being away from Mom."

"Since we're in this video game, why don't we try to get the stars? Maybe that's how we can get back to the palace," suggested the Queen.

"Get the stars? What do you mean by that? I've never played this video game before, actually, I don't play many video games," Akane admitted, "I usually think they're either too violent or encourage greed."

"Huh? I never thought about that before. But they can't be all bad; they're a lot of fun. At least I always thought they were, and the Sailor V one helped me when I was just starting to be a Sailor Senshi..." Serenity trailed off, then remembered something, "Oh right! The stars in the game are the things you have to collect in each of the 15 worlds that Mario travels to. You get them either by finding them, by solving a puzzle, or by beating a certain enemy. Like that giant black monster over there with the snapping teeth. I think there's something you have to pound on to defeat it."

"Okay...um, but what is that? It looks like a weird pink walking bomb thing," Akane asked.

"Oh, that's a Pink Bob-Omb. They're the nice ones. They help you by opening up the cannon. Then you can get in the cannon and fly high up in the sky," Serenity explained.

"Um, isn't that dangerous?"

"No it's not! It never hurt Mario! See, I'll show you!" Serenity giggled. Being in this video game world made her feel like she was teenaged Usagi Tsukino again and she didn't want to ruin that feeling with pessimism. So she talked to the Pink Bomb-Omb, who kindly opened the cannon door for her, and then she slipped inside. Akane stared, then thought of something.

"How are you going to shoot yourself out of there? Since we're IN the game, neither of us is holding the game controller." In response, the Pink Bob-Omb touched its silver top to the bottom of the cannon. There was an explosion sound, and Serenity went flying through the air, Akane quickly wheeling after her. Serenity came down with a squishy bounce as she not only managed to land on a Goomba, but also on a giant blue bubble.

"That was fun!" she giggled.

"That was dangerous! What if you hadn't landed where you did? What if you landed on one of those giant rocks?" Akane exclaimed in shock.

"Look out!" Serenity suddenly shouted as she shoved Akane out of the way. Nanoseconds later, another bubble came crashing down, nearly hitting them.

"What was wrong that time? It's just a bubble," Akane shrugged.

"Usually the bubbles in the game hurt when they fall on Mario's head...OW! Like that!" Serenity gasped as something hard and wet smashed into her, knocking her to the ground.

"Hey, this looks like a pretty place! And I found one of the Sailor Senshi!" giggled the person who had landed on the Queen, namely, Hikaru Shidou.

"You're a Magic Knight! Well, you're not stealing MY powers without a fight! Lollipop Prism Power, Make Up!" shouted Akane. Hikaru stared at the indigo lightshow, a vapid smile on her face.

"Wow...I never realized how pretty you Sailor Senshi are. Can I please have your powers so I can be pretty too?" she asked.

"Sure. Lollipop Tiara Action!" snapped Sailor Lollipop. Hikaru fell down on her butt as the energy disk smacked her.

"Wait, Akane, shouldn't we just talk to her? Maybe we can convince her to give up and go back to her world without killing her," Serenity pleaded.

"No way! You weren't there at the school! The red Magic Knight is really evil; she tried to kill Madoka, and Madoka was helpless and knocked out!" Sailor Lollipop retorted.

"Me? I'm not evil, silly. Who's Madoka?" Hikaru asked ditzily.

"Madoka! Sailor Bubble Gum! That one you captured at the baseball field!"

"Who? All I know is that you are a Sailor Senshi and that I'm supposed to have fun with you!" Hikaru squealed, "Now let's push you around and give you a fun ride!" She ran around behind Sailor Lollipop and began to push her wheelchair at a high speed.

"Lollipop Tiara Action!" Instead of aiming in front of her, this time the rainbow-haired Senshi swung her arm behind her back, causing Hikaru to let go of the handles. She then pressed a button on her armrest, and her wheelchair moved backwards, running over Hikaru. Hikaru stood back up, still with that eerie stupid smile on her face.

"That was fun! I love being run over! I also love doing this! Flame Arrow!" she squealed, shooting a stream of fire at Sailor Lollipop. A fourth bubble bounced down on the flaming Senshi, putting out the fire.

"Maybe I can try something," Serenity suggested, and she took a shining crystal out of her dress pocket.

"The Silver Crystal! Ooh, glittery! Can I hold it?" pleaded Hikaru, jutting her lower lip out and trying to make her red eyes as big and sorrowful as possible, which was difficult since it was obvious she wasn't sad.

"No. I must use this to purify you of evil. Silver Crystal Power!" called Neo-Queen Serenity as she held up the sparkling rock. Akane decided to help.

"Lollipop Prism Power!" Indigo mixed with the Silver Crystal's white light, and a lavender beam of energy washed over Hikaru. She glowed for a second, then it faded. Serenity seemed confused.

"I don't think she's evil. It didn't do anything to her," she said.

"WEEEEE! Ruby Lightning!" cheered Hikaru as red electricity shot out of her.

"Lollipop Tiara Action!" countered the Senshi; it blocked some of the attack but Sailor Lollipop and Serenity were still hit. Hikaru then spotted another cannon nearby; on top of a rock.

"That looks like fun too!" she exclaimed. She ran over and slipped inside. Serenity jumped out of the way as the Pink Bob-Omb rushed to the cannon and started it up. Hikaru went flying out into the air, finally landing on top of an island that was floating in the sky. She then looked down at them, waving.

"Maybe we should find a way to leave, now that she's stuck up there," suggested Sailor Lollipop.

"I'm gonna come down there now!" called Hikaru.

"What?! Jump all the way down here?! You'll be really hurt if you don't land on something squishy!" called Serenity. Hikaru just giggled, she didn't listen and she leapt over the edge of the island. Unfortunately, she landed on a sharp rock and was beheaded in a bloody mess. Serenity whimpered, shielding her eyes from the sight.

"We WERE supposed to kill them, you know. Look, she's disappearing. She's probably going back to her regular dimension," Akane pointed out as she detransformed.

"Oh. So does this mean that we're stuck here?" Neo-Queen Serenity asked. Before Akane could respond, a flash of indigo light came out of where Hikaru had fallen, and struck the two of them.