The Trials, by Boyce
Chapter 4 : Are We Stuck?
Gamex : Hmm They are pretty good. Now they'll be getting to the 2nd part!
Gamex : All right players! You'll be happy to hear that every team passed the first trial, and pretty easily. You'll soon get to the 2nd Trial. Don't give up. You're giving a great show. Hahahahahahaha...
/ 1st Team - 2nd Trial \
(Mars still had pain in her arm, but the bleeding had stopped. Sailor Moon was worried about her friend, but she didn't tell her, because Mars said she was ok. They were getting closer to the 2nd Trial)
Moon : I'm tired of walking... My feet are killing me!
Mars : Oh Serena! You'll never change. My arm is killing me too, but I'm not complaining.
Moon : I knew your arm wasn't ok. What if we have to fight again?
Mars : Don't worry. I'll be fine if that...
Moon : NO! I don't want you to fight in a condition like this. I'll fight for you, while you rest your arm.
Mars : But...
Moon : No "But"s! I'm the leader, and that's what I say.
Mars : You're the Princess... It's my duty to protect you, even if I'm hurt!
Moon : (A tear falling from her eye) Yeah, but I don't want you to suffer for me.
Mars : Serena... You're my friend. If it weren't for you, we would not be all friends. You grouped us together. You're important to us. We can't let anything happen to you.
Moon : (Crying) But... But...
Mars : I'll be careful for you Serena, I promise!
Moon : (Smiling) Thanks Raye!
Mars : Alright, now can we continue? I think I see something up ahead.
Moon : (Turns her head) Yeah, me too. What could it be?
Mars : Only one way to find out. Let's go!
(They advance toward the light they saw in the tunnel. Finally, they got real close to see what it was)
Mars : It's a wall of Fire! How are we suppose to get through this?
Moon : (Thinking) Hmm... Maybe if you use your power?
Mars : We have nothing to lose... MARS FIRE IGNITEEEEEE!
(The fire from Mars entered the FireWall... But nothing happened)
Mars : Now what? I hate that Gamex!
Moon : Hmm... Maybe it's not real fire...
(She gets closer and closer to the fire... She extends her hand)
Mars : I wouldn't do that if I were you...
Moon : I'll be okay! I think this is not real... (She puts her hand into the fire) OWWWWWWWWWWWW HOT HOT HOTTTTTTTTTTT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WATER WATER!
Mars : (Tear Drop) Oh what a clutz! I told you not to do that!
Moon : AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH My poor lovely hand! It's burning! Do something!
Mars : What do you want me to do? My power is Fire! You want me to burn your hand again?
Moon : Oh you're so mean Mars!
(Sailor Moon decided to sit in a corner, and wait for her hand to get colder... She saw a nice little "Square" where she could sit. Just as she sat on it, the Square got into the ground... The ceiling opened, and cold water felt on her)
Moon : AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH COLD COLD COLDDDDDDDDDDDD! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I NEED FIRE TO WARM UP! FIRE FIREEEEEEEEE!
Mars : (Tear Drop)... ... ... Wait a minute... Water kills Fire. Hmm It's risky but what if... Yeah it might work. Sailor Moon?
Moon : COLDDDDD AHHHHHHHHHHHH FREEZING HERE! ... ... What is it Sailor Mars?
Mars : (Fall face first to the ground) Oh You're impossible! Give me one of your gloves!
Moon : What? Why? (Hands over her right glove)
Mars : Thanks (Gets close to the FireWall) Here goes nothing...
Moon : Hey Wait... MY GLOVE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
(She threw the glove into the FireWall... There was some kind of reaction, as the Fire turned all blue, before completely disappearing)
Mars : TADA!
Moon : Wow! How did you know you needed a glove to close the fire?
Mars : (Tear Drop) Not the glove, but the water on the glove. Water gets Fire out, remember?
Moon : Hmm Yeah... SOOOOOOOOOO If I didn't burned myself, and didn't go to the corner, we would still be stuck here, because we wouldn't not have the water that fell on me right?
Mars : (Tear Drop) Hmm I guess you are right...
Moon : Woohoo! So I helped you solve the riddle! (Dances around) Come On Raye, let's keep moving! (She starts walking in the new path, left by the Firewall)
Mars : Hey Wait up! (She follows Sailor Moon)
(So as they brilliantly pass the 2nd Trial, Mars and Moon continue their progress onto the next Trial that's waiting for them)
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/ 2nd Team - 2nd Trial \
(Mercury and Venus were continuing their progress into the WaterZone. They were happy to hear that everybody passed the 1st Trial. The rain also stopped)
Mercury: I wonder if we are far from the 2nd Trial? We have been walking for a long time now.
Venus : Yeah. At least, it's not raining anymore.
Mercury: (Laughing) Well, It didn't bother me.
Venus : (Smiles) I know, but I'm not use to walk in these conditions... Especially with no shoes.
Mercury: It's true that it's not a good thing for our feet... At least we don't walk on rocks or else.
Venus : Please don't even think about it. My feet are hurting more just thinking about that.
Mercury: (Smiles) Ok
Venus : When I think back there... Losing my special Red Ribbon.
Mercury: It was very special to you?
Venus : Well, kind of... There this very cute guy who said I would look better wearing a Red Bow in my hair. He was so hunky that I decided to listen to him. That's why it was special...
Mercury: Ok... I'm sorry!
Venus : You don't have too. It wasn't your fault Mercury. But look at my hair now! They look so down. I guess I'll have to wash them when I get back.
Mercury: Hmm ... Maybe you won't have to wait that long. (Stop walking)
Venus : What are you talking about? (Stop walking too)
(They arrived in what seemed to be the end of the path. There was a wall blocking the path with weird signs on it. There was only a little opening with water in it, going under the wall)
Venus : You mean we have to get through the water to go to the other side?
Mercury: Well let me see... (She looked at everything that seemed weird. She didn't find anything related to the signs) I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I think we have to...
Venus : Well, I'm good at swimming. And since I didn't have the time to get into the pool, I won't mind a little swim... even if my hair gets a little wet. (Smiles, and Winks)
Mercury: I'm glad you take it that way. But these signs here... I didn't find anything, but they must have some kind of use. Maybe in the water...
Venus : What? Not only must we swim, but do something under the water?
Mercury: There's only one way to find out: I'll go take a look into the water, and come back to tell you what I saw.
Venus : ... ... Alright... But please, please be careful Mercury!
Mercury: I will... I promise.
Venus : Okay I'll be waiting for you here.
(With these words, She took a very deep breath and dove into the water... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Time passed 1 minute... 2 minutes. No news)
Venus : Amy... Amy... What are you doing? Please get back! Maybe I should go look for her
(Finally, some bubbles reached the surface, and the head of Mercury popped out of the water)
Venus : Mercury! I was worried! What happened?
Mercury: Let me catch my breath... ... ... Okay... Well, I saw the signs that you see on this wall under the water. And they seemed to be another path that was close a little further into the water, with a red button and 4 hands on it.
Venus : Wow, you can hold you breath for 3 minutes? I won't be able to do that...
Mercury: Are you crazy? There is a little opening on the way to the other side of the water. You can get your head out, and breathe the air that's there... Like an air pocket.
Venus : Cool. Can I take a little peak, while you analyse what you saw?
Mercury: Sure. Just remember the opening.
Venus : I will.
(With these words, she took a breath and dove feet first into the water. She felt very light. She started swimming like the frogs do, her long hair followed her every movement. She continued swimming and looked for the air pocket Mercury told her about. She saw it and let her air out, and went into the bubble)
Venus : (Breathes) Ahhh air (Hair in her face) Stupid hair... Well, I guess I should go back and see what Amy's up to
(She took another deep breath, and her head disappeared again into the water. While swimming back, she saw some numbers on a wall. She stopped and looked. She saw a serie of 4 numbers that could be changed. She scratched her head. Her hair was dancing all around her... She finally decided to go back)
Mercury: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Thats not good!
(Venus's head appeared in the small opening)
Venus : Wow, I enjoyed that swimming. I know now why we were dressed with swimsuits. What did... AHHHHHHHHH! The ceiling wasn't that low when we got here wasn't it?
Mercury: (Tear Drop) Well no... I kinda discovered a green button, and pushed on it... And the ceiling went down like that... Hehe
Venus : (Gets out of the water) I see... And those signs?
Mercury: Well, I saw 4 of these signs on a total of about 10 down there... But there's this combination here that I don't know what to do with it :(VII/I/IV/II) which probably means 7142... But what must we do with it?
Venus : While swimming back, I saw a combination of 4 numbers... I think, but I didn't see the signs you were talking about.
Mercury: Really? Weird... Maybe thats the key! But I'm sure I didn't see any numbers while I was down there.
Venus : I didn't see your signs either.
Mercury: Maybe we can only see one each... So we have to work as a team.
Venus : Okay. Well, listen to this: we'll both go down, going to our respective combination. We'll enter what you discovered on the wall. But... then what?
Mercury: Well, one of us should come back here, and see if this button is functionnal. We'll see after, ok?
Venus : Okay. Maybe you should come back here since you must be better than me in swimming.
Mercury: (Smiles) Okay I will.
Venus : Then let's go!
(Venus dove first, and Mercury followed her. Venus began swimming to her numbers, and Mercury to her signs)
Mercury: (Looking at her friend) Hehe she's not bad in swimming
(Mercury arrived faster to the signs. She arrived there, and let out some bubbles which got tangled in her short blue hair. She pushed on the four signs she saw on the wall... She then heard a little "Beep" when she pushed on the last one. She then looked at Venus. She was entering her combination "7142". She also heard a little "Beep". She turned to look at Mercury, but she was already besides her, which made her lose some bubbles. Mercury smiled, and pointed at Venus and then at the air pocket. Venus nodded, and began swimming into the air pocket. Mercury swam back to the green button)
Mercury: (Breathes) Ahhhhhhhhhhh Air... (She looked at the green button which was flashing. She got out of the water, and pushed on the button. She heard a little "Beep") OK, that's done... Now what? ... I'll go see Mina
(She dove back into the water, and swam in the direction of the air pocket, kicking her legs rapidly)
Venus : I wonder what Amy is doing?
(Just then, she felt a tickle under her foot, which scared her to death. Right after that, she saw a blue mass come out of the water, just besides her)
Venus : MERCURY! Please don't do that again! You scared me to death! I thought it was an octopus or worse...
Mercury: (Laughing) Sorry I couldn't resist. Listen the big red button is flashing. And since I saw 4 hands on it, I think we must both go press the button together. I sure hope I'm right though, because the button is a bit far from here. If it doesn't work, we may not have the time to reach the air pocket again...
Venus : I believe in you Mercury... You're very smart, and that must be the solution. What else could it be?
Mercury: Thank you Venus... But this is serious. We may drown if we fail...
Venus : Yeah, but we must try... Let's go!
(With these words, her head disappeared into the water, her long hair following her head. Mercury did the same thing, following her. Venus was in front, kicking her legs and feet. Mercury was swimming right behind her. Finally, they arrived at the button. Venus put her hands on the button, while some bubbles got out of her mouth, disappearing in her long blonde hair floating all around. Mercury finally arrived right after her, and she also put her hands besides Venus. They heard a "Beep", and a big rock moved right besides them. An opening appeared. Venus quickly left the button, and swam into the new path, feeling the need for air. Mercury smiled, and followed her slowly, enjoying her last moments in the water)
Venus : (Breathes) AHHHHHHHHHHHHH Air... ... I thought I wouldn't make hit...
(Mercury appeared right besides her)
Mercury: (Breathes) That was fun! We should do it again.
Venus : (Hair still in her face) Swimming is fun, but that was more a "Trial" than fun to me.
Mercury: (Smiles) You swim pretty well Mina. Maybe I should race you someday.
Venus : (Getting her wet hair out of her face) Yeah, well we'll see when we get back home.
Mercury: (Laughing) Alright. Well, catch your breath, and we'll continue our trip after! There is a path over there for us to follow. Looks like we have to continue on ground again.
Venus : Okay (Breathes) Oh Sweet Air... Water is fun, but air is better...
(With this long swim ends the 2nd trial of the WaterZone. Mercury and Venus must continue their journey to the 3rd Trial)
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/ 3rd Team - 2nd Trial \
(After their unpleasant meeting with old enemis, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Jupiter continue their journey, hoping to reach the end of their trials soon)
Jupiter: These bright lights are getting on my nerves! Even with these stupid sunglasses, my eyes are getting tired of all these lights!
TMask : Wow, you're getting in a bad mood. You should be happy to know that everybody passed the 1st Trial.
Jupiter: I know, but these lights are still annoying!
TMask : (Smiling) I know, but don't let them bother you... I'm sure it's part of these trials, to support these lights.
Jupiter: I guess you're right Darien... I'll try not to think about it. Maybe they'll stop bothering me...
TMask : That's the spirit!
Jupiter: I wonder what was the 1st trial of the others... If we fought some old enemis, did they fought them too? And what does it means? Why battle old enemis?
TMask : I wish I had the answers too... It's really weird. And they were way weaker than the real ones...
Jupiter: Yeah! Anyway, We would have beaten them even if they were the real ones!
TMask : (Tear Drop) I guess so...
Jupiter: But without Sailor Moon, it would have been tougher
TMask : I wonder what we'll have to do this time... I hope we won't have to fight older enemies again.
Jupiter: I think we won't have a long time to wait before we have the answer... I see something directly ahead of us in the path.
TMask : Huh? You're right... I see it too!
(Even with the lights of the "LightZone" coming from everywhere, they could see something blocking the path... It didn't look like an enemy, as it was very colorful... But what is it?)
TMask : It looks like a rainbow...
Jupiter: What ever it is, it has plenty of colors... Lets go and see what it is... But let's be on our guard!
TMask : Okay Jupiter!
(They advanced carefully along the walls, until they got really really close to that "Rainbow")
Jupiter: It looks more like lasers than a rainbow to me...
TMask : Yes. But they are blocking us. We can't go forward with that in the way!
Jupiter: Well Maybe they are not harmful.
TMask : We'll see about that!
(With these words, he got out of his Tuxedo a red rose. He threw it right into the first laser beam with great power. As soon as the rose hit the laser, the rose started to get colorless... Until it was drained of all it's color... and then, it shattered completely)
Jupiter: I guess this is not good news...
TMask : You bet! The same thing might happen to us if we try to get across the lasers.
Jupiter: So what do we do? We have to try and do something.
TMask : Well, let's look around! There must be a switch or something else somewhere in here.
Jupiter: Okay!
(Tuxedo Mask started looking around in this weird place, while Jupiter was thinking, watching the lasers. The lasers were made of 6 colors : White, Blue, Red, Green, Orange and Black)
Jupiter: Great colors! But what does it means!
(She then decided to go help Tuxedo Mask who was still looking around for some clues)
TMask : If we only knew what we were searching for... I wish Sailor Mercury was here. I'm sure she would have some kind of clue to solve this mystery.
Jupiter: Yeah. My speciality is my strength... Not my brain!
(They continued looking at the walls, hoping to find something... Without any success)
Jupiter: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm tired of this! What are we suppose to do to pass these lasers?
TMask : I don't know...
(With frustration, she decided to punch one of the few rock walls. She put her fist right into the rock... But her fist encountered nothing, and she passed right through this "wall". With the power she had put in her fist, she passed right through, and fell on her face, losing her sunglasses)
Jupiter: (Falling) AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
TMask : Huh? Jupiter? Where the hell are you?
Jupiter: I'm on my butt!
TMask : And where's that?
Jupiter: (Getting up) Right here! (She passed her hand through the wall again)
TMask : (Seeing her hand) What? Another illusion? You're a genius Jupiter! How did you find that out?
Jupiter: Well, lets just say that my force was better than my brains. (Putting her glasses on)
TMask : (Laughing) Okay! Well, what do we have here?
(At the end of this short new path was a wall, with the 6 colors of the beams, a little panel under each color, and a big KeyBoard was below the colors)
Jupiter: What is that?
TMask : (Thinking) Hmm Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I'm not an Amy, but I'd say we have to enter something corresponding to each of the colors. What do you think?
Jupiter: I guess you might be right! Wow, you're really smart Darien.
TMask : (Smiling) Well, let's not think about that... Let us concentrate on what to write!
Jupiter: Okay. Hmm... Maybe the answer is Rose! A Rose can be any of those colors.
TMask : Well, try it... I'll go see what it does on the lasers!
Jupiter: Okay.
(He went just outside the fake wall, and observed the lasers, while Jupiter was at the Keyboard)
Jupiter: How do this think work? Think Jupiter Think... I guess I have to write the word "Rose" on the KeyBoard. But why is there a button corresponding to each of the colors?... Hmm Well, I'll try pushing the Red one (She pushed the Red one... Nothing happened, and then, she wrote "Rose", which appeared beneath the color "Red" on the wall. As soon as she pushed "Enter", she heard a big flash sound...)
Jupiter: What was that? Maybe it wasn't the good word... This is complicated!
(Tuxedo Mask returned to where Jupiter was)
Jupiter: Darien? You seem pale! What happened?
TMask : (Trembling) Well... I saw... a big red beam... pass right... by my nose... I guess rose... is not... the answer!
Jupiter: I'm sorry... We should have discuss more on this riddle before entering anything... It's all my fault.
TMask : No Jupiter. You did what you think was right. People who gets decision on their own are people that I respect. Even if it was a mistake, you tried. That's what important.
Jupiter: (Blushing) Wow! Thank you Darien!
TMask : No problem! Now let's try to solve this thing together!
Jupiter: Right!
(They thought and they thought and they thought... Entered some words, but still kept hearing the same noise as before)
Jupiter: We'll never find it... I give up (She went in a corner, and sat down)
TMask : We musn't give up... But I guess we could use some rest... (He went and sat in front of Jupiter)
Jupiter: I wonder what the others are doing now?
TMask : I don't know (He was looking around, thinking of what to write... He then looked at Jupiter. And then, like magic, it clicked) THAT'S IT!
Jupiter: AHHHHHH Don't do that! What's it?
TMask : The colors! The others! Jupiter, you saved us!
Jupiter: What did I do?
TMask : Look at the colors... White, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Black!
Jupiter: Yes... So?
TMask : Look at your outfit... What color goes with you?
Jupiter: Huh? Green I guess... ... ... ... You mean that every color is for a Scout?
TMask : Exactly! Blue is for Mercury, Red is for Mars, You have Green, Orange is for Venus and Black is for me! That leaves White for Sailor Moon!
Jupiter: Well we have nothing to lose! Let's try that!
(Jupiter got up to the Keyboard, and entered the names of her friends with the right colors. After each word, they heard a little "BEEP" sound)
TMask : It's working! The lasers are shutting down one by one!
Jupiter: Alright!
(After entering the last name, Jupiter got out of this little room, and looked at the lasers)
Jupiter: All gone! Woohoo!
TMask : Yes! We can finally continue our journey!
(And with these words, Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask passed where the lasers where, and continued their travel in this weird world)
End of Chapter 4