Sorry I didn't update this one sooner! I'm glad many enjoy the generals and I hope you enjoy this extra loooooong chapter.
Chapter 22: Fate has her own ideas
Serena ran to the arcade. Not her usual running-to-school-because-I'm-late run, but a I'm-very-happy-and-excited run. Bursting into the arcade she practically sang out.
"Andrew! A triple chocolate milkshake!"
Andrew grinned and prepared the milkshake.
"What's up?"
Serena bounced up and down in her chair.
"It's spring break! Today I was early to class, and since today was the last day of school, Mrs. Haruna couldn't give me a detention for daydreaming! I got a B on my math test, and a whole week of no school! Nothing can ruin my happiness today!"
Andrew chuckled. A whisper in Serena's ear made her shiver involuntarily.
"Not even me? … Odango?"
Serena forced herself to not look back and turned her back toward Darien, who sat in the stool next to her, and lifted her head in the classic I-don't-care look.
"Even you can't ruin my day today Jerk!"
Darien laughed.
"Andrew, may I have-"
"Black coffee, no sugar, milk, or cream."
Darien smirked.
"Thanks Andrew."
Serena slurped her milkshake happily. The rest of the girls came in and they talked. It was a normal day… until night fell.
"Jupiter Thunder!"
The youma agiley dodged Sailor Jupiter's strike. It had a human woman shape. The scouts grimly fought on with no bickering among themselves or jokes. They were serious, for this youma had a hostage. And that hostage was Andrew.
The girls had no idea how Andrew was in the park, but the youma captured Andrew. Now Andrew was currently pinned to the wall with needles. A negative energy shield had formed around him. He was alive and not drained, but unconscious.
Sailor Mercury now analyzed everything.
"Watch out girls. This youma is a poison-fighter youma. It deals with needles and thorns. It drains energy using vines."
"What is its weak point?"
"In progress!"
They dodged needles.
"Will Andrew be okay?"
"If we get him out of the shield he should be fine. The needles haven't punctured his skin, only his clothing."
"Sailor Moon… Tiara!"
The moon tiara flew straight and true but the youma simply reflected it back with it's thorns. Needles flew and Sailor Mars was pinned to a wall.
"Mars!"
The youma leapt with inhuman speed and vines from its hands coiled around Sailor Mars. White light left Sailor Mars, and Mars was drained. The youma was even faster now. Sailor Mercury ran to Sailor Mars to try and revive her. Sailor Venus, Jupiter, and Moon tried to hold the youma off.
"We have to do something quick! We can't hold off much longer!"
"I call upon the stars!"
Pure power launched toward the youma, but the youma dodged it. The generals had arrived. They fought side by side. The youma managed to pin and drain Nephrite. It couldn't be seen anymore because its gained power enabled it ultra speed. Sailor Venus and General Malachite were trapped in a cage of vines that slowly drained them, making the youma progressively stronger. Soon all the senshi and generals were trapped or pinned.
Darien felt the headache hit him hard. The pain throbbed harder than usual and he groaned.
"What now?"
When he awoke, he was Tuxedo Kamen, as usual. A wave of urgency swept over him and he rushed to the park. He was delayed by bat youma. They were small and a well-placed rose killed dusted them, but they took precious time. By the time he reached the park the situation was dire.
The senshi and the generals struggled from their binds, the youma smiled sickly. It first walked slowly to Andrew. Releasing the shield, the youma emitted its vines. They wrapped painstakingly around Andrew and drained him, slowly. It let out a laugh as its power grew. It seemed to like torturing them.
Tuxedo Kamen arrived and immdiately was in action. A volley of roses attacked the youma. The youma dodged it and looked around. It found Tuxedo Kamen. The generals were wary. General Malachite, half-drained, called from his prison.
"Who are you?"
Tuxedo Kamen sighed.
"It is not who I am that you need be concerned with, but what I do."
He fought single-handidly trying to find a weak spot and attacking steadily. The youma however, had grown more intelligent. It steadily forced Darien close to a corner and then swiftly leapt behind him. Darien twisted to block when the thorn hit him. It pierced into his stomach. The youma hands had turned into thorns dripping with poison. Sailor Moon screamed.
Darien felt something surge within him.
Serena watched in awe, as Tuxedo Kamen seemed to transform before their very eyes. Tuxedo Kamen wore armor and a sword instead of a cane was in his hand. Top hat was replaced with a helmet and the cape grew thicker and larger.
Malachite saw Tuxedo Kamen change into Prince Endymion of Earth and his Prince swung a long sword around and cut the thorn and stab the youma straight throught the chest. It screeched, white light flying from it and returning to its previous owners. Then the only thing left was a pile of dust.
"My liege…"
The vine trap above Malachite disintegrated and Sailor Venus stirred. Malachite felt his energy return to him in a flood and he stood up along with the others and rushed to Endymion with a cry.
Darien had no idea what was going on. Perhaps the poison had already taken its toll on his head, but he felt he imagined himself in armor and with a sword. Playing along with the hallucination, he swung his sword into the youma. It dusted. Unsure of what to do, Darien turned to examine his surroundings. A hammer of pain knocked him down. He lay on the floor gasping. He saw a woman, kneeling over him. Tears in her eyes. She wore a white dress with blonde hair cascading to touch his cheek.
"Endymion!" She cried," Tuxedo Kamen!"
She disappeared.
Serena was the first to reach Tuxedo Kamen. Tears formed in her eyes. General Malachite was next.
"Endymion!"
Serena knelt beside him, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Tuxedo Kamen!"
His eyes were glassy and he seemed to not see her. His body trembled and his hands clutched at his chest. General Zoicite arrived and took his pulse. Zoicite's pale face grew even paler. Sailor Mercury quickly pulled out her mini-computer, talking fast as she typed.
"If the poison is injected into you, you have approximately two minutes to live-if you are strong. It spreads quickly within the bloodstream and is very painful."
Tuxedo Kamen jerked with no warning. Malachite and Jadiete had to hold him down so he wouldn't hurt himself.
"Signs of poison are convulsions, hallucinations, and glazed eyes. The antidote must be injected as soon as possible."
Saior Mercury finished typing and a slot in her computer slid out. On it was a syringe. She quickly took it and injected it into Tuxedo Kamen's bloodstream. Malachite and Jadiete held him down with dificulty. Tuxedo Kamen was thrashing now. He moaned.
Sailor Mercury put the syringe back and spoke evenly to everyone.
"The antidote is not guranteed to work, and even if its does, he still has to recover. The best thing we should do now is get the injured to a place where they can be treated. I doubt the hospital would be able to help. The best place to go is to this certain place…"
Sailor Mercury glanced over her.
"It would be best… not to spread the poison..."
Serena murmured something. She and the three men were gone.
Sailor Venus picked up Andrew. Sailor Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars headed to the arcade, with Zoicite carrying Nephrite following them. They entered the arcade with Andrew's key and locked it securely upon entering.
Serena silently turned on the lights in the arcade. Tuxedo Kamen fell quiet, shuddering once. Malachite took his pulse.
"He's hanging in there."
His eyes closed ad his transformation fell away. A familiar man lay on the arcade bench. Serena gasped, her world falling apart.