Here's today's chapter! Enjoy it...or else!
Elphie Muse: Or else what?
Spork chasing!
Elphie Muse: oo;;;;
Ahem. I'm still looking for ideas for the soul-sucking creatures, so if you got any ideas, be nice and share them. My brain still isn't working.
Elphie Muse: There's a big surprise.
Ha freaking ha. Anyways, this chappie is part of another one, so yay for that! Now go read it while I sharpen my sporks. It's a spoon and a fork! It's Sporky!
Elphie Muse: Um...Very good. You get an A.
Hurrah! And I own nothing!
The six looked around the forest, unsure of where they were. There was something mysterious about the forest they were in. It was quiet, no birds or animals making any sound. Aside from the trees, all the six could see were strange lights swirling around several nearby trees.
"Where are we?" Hotaru asked softly.
"A mystical forest?" Sam returned uncertainly. Why do I feel like I know this place? she wondered to herself.
"Anything less vague?" Haruka asked.
"Being surrounded by people pointing sharp, dangerous things at us?" Jack supplied, his hands up. The six fighters stood in a circle, carefully eyeing the situation. Several people had emerged from the trees aiming bows and spears at them. The people stepped forward and the Senshi and Jack could see them better. Each wore dark colored pants, shirts, and cloaks. Quivers bristling with arrows stuck up over some of their shoulders. Dark furred boots covered their feet.
"What now?" Michiru whispered.
"We come in peace," Jack started to say when one of the people rammed the butt of their spear into his gut. Jack doubled over in pain and struggled for breath.
"Naz shite morau?" another demanded in an angry voice. "Hi adan na aru ernil!" Despite the tone of anger, the words and the voice were almost musical.
"Arienai!" the other said in disbelief.
"Any ideas on what they're saying?" Haruka whispered.
"I've never heard this language before," Setsuna said.
"Ishnu-dal-dieb," Sam said. Her arms were lifted away from her body and her palms were facing the strangers. "We mean no harm to you."
The one who had spoken first stood in front of Sam and stared her in the eye. "How can we be certain of this? It is surprising you know our language, but it has happened before. Who are you?"
"Why should we tell you anything?" Haruka demanded. The strangers gripped their weapons tighter at Haruka's tone.
"Dar!" Sam snapped. "This is who we are," she said, lifting her left forearm. The bracer glinted in a beam of sunlight.
"Arienai…" the leader whispered in awe. "Ishnu-dal-dieb Ara Hiril."
"What happened?" Jack demanded.
"Please, come with us Lady Phoenix," the leader said. She made a quick motion to the other strangers and they faded back into the forest.
"Sam, how the hell do you know their language?" Jack asked.
"I don't know," she said. "I just…know it." They followed their guide into a clearing. They frowned when they didn't see any buildings.
"Excuse me, but where are the buildings?" Michiru asked.
"These are our buildings," the woman said, gesturing to several large, hollowed out trees. As they came to a stop, dozens of the villagers came out and down from various trees.
An older woman came up to them, strange runes on the cloak she wore. A staff was in her hand and topped with a large white crystal. "Ishnu-dal-dieb Kathris," she said.
"Ishnu-dal-dieb Priestess Tygra," Kathris returned in greeting.
"Who are these outlanders?" Tygra demanded.
"This is Lady Phoenix," Kathris returned.
The one called Tygra looked at Sam. "Why have you come here?"
"Honestly, we're not even sure where we are," Sam returned.
"You are in the sacred Forest of the Phoenix," Kathris answered.
"That doesn't help us figure out where on Earth we are," Michiru said.
"We're not on Earth," Sam said.
"Then where exactly are we?" Jack demanded.
"The sun," Sam answered. She took a closer look at the clearing they were in. "I…it can't be…" she whispered.
"You all right?" Hotaru asked.
Sam looked at Tygra. "You're the Tribe of Feathermoon," she said.
Tygra nodded. "We are Lady Phoenix. We are all that remains of our people."
"What happened to your people?" Setsuna asked.
"They were killed…by Beryll…" Sam said softly.
"How do you know this?" Kathris demanded.
"Because Beryll took and enslaved a child from this tribe," Sam said.
"You were that child," Tygra realized. Sam nodded. A smile appeared on Tygra's face. "It was said that the next Phoenix would be of humble origins."
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about who my parents are, would you?" Sam asked.
"Such things should be discussed inside," she said. She led the group to a large tree and they walked in. They sat down on various cushions. Sam looked expectantly at Tygra, half afraid of what would be said.
"Your real parents were reborn with those of the Silver Millennium. When your mother learned she was with child, their true memories returned. They made a path to this place so that when you were ready, you could be trained as the Phoenix."
"But why did they give me up?" Sam asked.
"They knew it was the only course of action they could take so that you might fulfill your destiny. So they gave you to your mother's sister and husband to be raised. They were instructed to raise you as their own."
"And then they died in the plane crash…" Sam whispered.
"I have a question," Haruka said. "If the path was only meant to be traveled by Sam, why are we here?"
"You are here for the training as well," Tygra said.
"What training?" Michiru asked.
Tygra settled herself down on a pile of furs and crossed her legs. "We have sensed that a terrible evil is approaching Earth. The Inner Senshi are already preparing for the battle. They know what their powers are when they combine it. You four, however, focus on fighting alone, even when you're in a group."
"So you're going to teach us how to reach our full potential," Hotaru said.
Tygra nodded. "Indeed." She smiled at them. "I recommend you familiarize yourself with our land today, for tomorrow, the training will begin."
Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon SG-1 Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon SG-1 Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon SG-1 Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon SG-1 Bishojo Senshi
Sam grunted as she landed heavily on her back, the wind knocked out of her lungs. She glared at Kathris and flipped to her feet. "I already know how to fight," she grumbled, brushing herself off.
"If you knew how to fight, I wouldn't stand a chance," Kathris returned. She easily flowed around Sam's attack and knocked the blonde's legs out from under her. "Your thinking too much like a human."
"I am a human," Sam grumbled.
"No your not," Kathris snapped, flipping Sam back onto the ground as she tried to get up. "You're a daughter of Feathermoon and the Phoenix. You have untapped greatness within you, but you're too afraid to use it."
Sam rose to her feet. "How does that affect my fighting?"
Kathris side-kicked Sam in the stomach and the blonde went sprawling onto her back. "You focus on too many things."
"So what?" Sam shot back angrily. "That's how I fight." She rose to her feet and charged Kathris.
"And that's how you lose," Kathris retorted. She slammed her wooden katana into Sam's face and the blonde dropped to the ground, blood oozing from her nose. Kathris shook her head and stormed away.
"How is she doing?" Tygra asked.
"She won't learn," Kathris answered. "How she became the Phoenix is beyond me," she said, taking a sip of water.
"It is not our place to understand the will of the Anorhir."
"I know Priestess, but she refuses to listen. I know the power she has within her, but she refuses to use it for some reason."
Tygra looked thoughtful. "Then perhaps I should train her." She slowly made her way over to Sam.
Sam looked up and rose to her feet, wiping the blood from her nose. "Priestess," she greeted with a small bow.
"I will train you from this moment on," Tygra said. "Now come." She walked past Sam and they walked for several miles. Tygra had led them to a shallow river. She waded into the water and faced Sam. She slammed her staff into the ground and pulled out a wooden training sword. Sam walked into the water, the wooden sword in her hand.
"Why are we out here?" Sam asked.
"We are here because this is the power that the Phoenix wields. The Phoenix is constantly aware of nature," Tygra began and swung at Sam. The two began fighting as Tygra spoke. "She hears when the wind is barely whispering. She can feel the heartbeat of any animal she wishes."
Tygra easily blocked an attack from Sam and kicked Sam on the side of her thigh. Sam collapsed into the water, clutching her numb leg. Tygra pressed the wood blade against Sam's chin, forcing the blonde to look up at her.
"But more than that, the Phoenix is nature. She can hear the cry of a planet in pain. And in time of great need, she can draw upon the spirits for strength. But you are too afraid and cowardly to be responsible for such a power," Tygra hissed.
"So take the power away from me if you think I'm so unworthy," Sam said.
Tygra removed her training sword from Sam's throat. "You were chosen to wield this power. It is not our place to remove it from you, merely train you to use the power given to you. But we can't do that if you're too afraid to even tap into that power. Power is something to be careful of, but don't let fear rule you. That fear will ultimately come true if you never master what you are given." Tygra turned and began leaving.
Sam rose to her feet and started to follow when Tygra whirled around, staff pointed at Sam. "You are to remain here," Tygra ordered. "I will return in several days to see if you have learned anything from nature."
"This is ridiculous!" Sam suddenly exploded. "While I'm wasting time out here, more people could be hurt or worse because of the Priors on Earth!"
"My order stands Phoenix. If you do not obey it, you will suffer the consequences," Tygra said in a soft, but firm voice. She vanished in a flash of light.
Sam sighed angrily and slumped down on the bank of the river. She picked up a rock and threw it over the water, watching it skip. "This is ludicrous. I'm a decent enough fighter. Why do I need more power?"
"Because you are the only one who has a chance to stop the Ori," a voice said. A woman in a white skirt and jacket appeared in front of Sam, standing on the water. Sam stared at the woman, her eyes wide.
Cliffie! At least it isn't an evil cliffie. Now go review! If you don't, I won't stop running around with sporks!
Elphie Muse: You could poke an eye out.
You're point?
Elphie Muse: It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
Then it's hilarious.
Elphie Muse: oo;; Someone please help me...