Over the next few days, the remaining Neo-Sailor Senshi had never known Selina to express as much emotion as she is now, bouncing around in agitation and beeping shrilly! While giving her the ability to detect others than just Jewel is a success, she seemed to be fretting over something much more severe! Without a voice of her own to tell them so, Jewel had to rely on reading Selina's movements and sounds to decipher what she was trying to say. Over time, Jewel became skilled at this and knew Selina was worried about something to do with Christen and Ariel, but it still was not clear enough. Everyone did their best to soothe Selina as they did not like seeing her like this, but her moments of calm never lasted long.
Well, they know where Christen and Ariel are now. That's progress.
"Everyone, take a look at this!" Crystal rushed into the den with her supercomputer.
"What is it, Crystal?!" Chibiusa asked.
Everyone crowded around the girl. On the supercomputer screen is a news report about the Skinwalkers now having control over the powers of fire and thunder! Of course, the girls knew what this meant.
"Why can't the Navajo say what they mean? The Skinwalkers don't have control over fire and thunder. They have two captive girls, who have powers over fire and thunder." Holly sighed at the fact they still did not know how to save Christen and Ariel.
"In a roundabout way, they're right." Alexis countered.
"More people should be aware of the actual situation," Trisha stated sadly.
"Hey, do you think killing the Skinwalker controlling Christen and Ariel would release them?" Jewel questioned and, though she got horrified looks from the Neo-Sailor Senshi, they knew there was no other way to deal with a Skinwalker.
"There has to be another way!" Chibiusa cried.
"Chibiusa, the rule is they have to be killed," Gracie advised.
"What If I just used Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss?" Chibiusa suggested.
"While it's good to think of alternatives, we're not looking to heal," Trisha replied.
"Pink Moon Crystal Ex Machina?" Jewel jokes, a grin on her face.
"Huh?" Everyone looked at her.
"Chibibusa's Silver Crystal, the one item that solves EVERYTHING." Jewel hated having to explain a joke.
"On its own, it only heals. I can't..." Chibiusa whispered.
"Don't fret, Chibiusa. We'll figure something out." Emily wrapped her arms around Chibiusa to hold and hug her.
All the girls came together in a group hug.
"You girls always find new ways to disgust me." Queen Beryl gagged.
"What is it going to take to make you act pleasant?" Jewel picked her up, holding her at arm's length.
"Ruling the galaxy." The kitten-woman replied coldly.
"You couldn't start smaller than that?" Holly asked jokingly.
Queen Beryl did not answer and turned her head away, but this was common for her as she hated talking to anyone other than Jewel or other villains through Selina. However, this is considered an upgrade from her old habit, attacking them when they annoyed her! Jewel knew her mother only acted like this because she has to witness the man she loves with the person she loathes the most daily, and she cannot use magic in her kitten form. Still, she was "indirectly" helping out a bit more. That night, Tyee's Skinwalker group celebrated their control over Christen and Ariel with feasting, dancing, and singing in Mitena and Mato's honor!
"Brothers! Sisters! Tonight the spirits celebrate with us! Thanks to Mitena and Mato, we are closer to exacting revenge on those who wronged us and achieving what should be rightfully ours. Honor your life as a Skinwalker and respect those of our ancestors, who came to it before us." Tyee preached wisdom, respect, discipline, self-control, and honor.
"We should spy on the Neo-Sailor Senshi and make sure we know what they are planning," Mitena announced.
"I'll send grandmother." Nokomis, meaning "daughter of the moon" for this girl, is a friend of Mitena's, volunteered.
In addition to being Skinwalkers, Nokomis's family had a connection to owls, though the exact kind of connection was unclear to Nokomis. It just so happened Nokomis's grandmother did everything she could to ensure her soul would transfer over to an owl after death to watch over her descendants. Ironically, Nokomis's Skinwalker form is often a coyote as she frequently joins Mitena, who is usually in wolf form. Nokomis's owl grandmother is white with grey, spiderweb-like patterns across her wings and amber eyes. Nokomis gave her instructions and a few loving strokes before she flew off.
Despite white owls' population decreasing on Earth, though not at concerning levels, the Moon had quite a stable population. So, Nokomis's grandmother fit right in! She sat on a windowsill where a window is slightly open, and she heard the girls STILL talking about how to deal with the Skinwalkers! Apparently, Ariel owned a greenhouse, which she shared with Emily. Gracie had designed it with her landscaping skills, Trisha often picked up her green tea leaves from there, and the rest of the palace, including the Neo-Sailor Senshi, who liked to cook, used it for easy access to certain fruits and vegetables!
Other than that, there is a restricted section in the very back. Being one of the most responsible, only Ariel was allowed to go there as questionable plants, such as cannabis, also known as weed, which you smoke, are grown here. However, weed is now legal on Earth and the Moon for medical purposes, so Ariel is allowed to grow it as well. While the girls could make white ash themselves, they will need the weed-grown with organic soil, which only Ariel knew, lots of water, which Crystal provided, and a slow, long, yet high burn, which was usually Christen's expertise. Without two of those components, there is no way the girls could figure it out in time!
"I wish you had the authority to grant us access to the greenhouse, Emily." Crystal said sadly.
"Because of my powers of death, I'm not that great of a Gardner. I've been trying rebirth, but it's only been partially successful." Emily admitted.
Suddenly, Elizabeth hissed at Nokomis's grandmother, but the owl-lady seemed unconcerned with a kitten's threat! Chibiusa considered it a Skinwalker, but though owls can attack humans, it is not known to kill them. Yet, the eyes...so intelligent. Regardless, that did not stop Holly, being the most impulsive member, from transforming and yelling, "Space Sword Bazooka!" Of course, she missed as the owl-woman took flight! "Damn it!" Holly cursed.
"Should we follow it?!" Gracie asked.
"No, it's not safe to go out by ourselves at this time of night. I want to rescue Christen and Ariel too, but we still need a plan." Chibiusa elaborated.
"The only way you children are going to save your easily susceptible friends is to fight." Queen Beryl replied.
"I'm afraid, moms, right." Jewel stated.
When Nokomis's grandmother returned, and Nokomis relayed the information to the Skinwalkers, Mitena, and Mato wanted to go again and abduct more of the Sailor Senshi.
"No, you two have already proven yourselves. Besides, I want to see the full extent of our recruits." Of course, Tyee meant Christen and Ariel, but he did send a young Skinwalker boy named Nahele with them.
Nahele means forest, and he prefers the form of a panther. That night, Emily awoke to what sounded like claws scraping against the walls and roof over her and Trisha's bedroom. While many cats live in the palace, it was unlikely any of them would be doing this. Emily tried to creep out of bed without waking Trisha, but the Guardian of Space and Time had been awoken by the sound as well.
"Emily?" Trisha yawned.
"Of course, you heard that too?" Emily knew there was NO WAY Trisha could not have heard that.
Trisha nodded, but her eyes told Emily what they both feared: Skinwalkers! Tiptoeing outside, Emily and Trisha saw Nahele, in his panther form, on his hind legs, sharpening his claws on the Crystal Palace walls! The girls looked up to see if they could spot which Skinwalker animal is on the roof, but whatever it is, it is too out-of-sight.
"We're going to have to transform and fight," Trisha told Emily.
"But that will give us away." Emily worried.
"What choice do we have?" Trisha asked, but she did not expect Emily to respond, and the dark-skinned girl did not reply but took out her pendant.
Together, Trisha and Emily transformed. As expected, this caught Nahele's attention!
"Silent Shield!" Neo-Saturn called, just in time to block a combined attack of fire and thunder for hitting them from above!
Looking up, there were no Skinwalkers on the roof. Instead, it was Eternal Neo-Mars and Eternal Neo-Jupiter! Jumping down, the two possessed soldiers tried breaking through the shield with their most powerful attacks. Neo-Sailor Saturn braced herself but knew she would not be able to sustain the barrier. Luckily, Neo-Sailor Pluto used her Garnet Ball, and it strengthened the shield. After the assault, both guardians were left with slight burns and a paralyzed muscle or two, kneeling on one knee as the barrier wavered and broke!
"You're supposed to be these legendary guardians, and your friend's attacks are a bit too much for you?!" Nahele mocked them.
Neither girl responded, just helped each other up.
Neo-Sailor Pluto hissed, "Dead Whisper..."
Nahele jumped in front of Eternal Neo-Mars and Eternal Neo-Jupiter, taking the attack as the other two girls rushed forward, grabbing Neo-Sailor Saturn and Neo-Sailor Pluto's arms! Neo-Sailor Saturn realized Eternal Neo-Mars is trying to force her glaive downwards, which would kill them all, and Eternal Neo-Jupiter is trying to force Neo-Sailor Pluto to use Time Stop. While it is likely Emily and Trisha would be re-born, if this happened, it was not likely the others would! Neo-Sailor Pluto stomped on Eternal Neo-Jupiter's foot, causing the karate girl to let go, then Neo-Sailor Pluto kicked Eternal Neo-Mars off of Neo-Sailor Saturn!
"Silence Glaive Sneak Surprise!" Not giving Eternal Neo-Mars a chance to recover, Neo-Sailor Saturn attacked.
"Typhoon Wave!" Neo-Sailor Pluto turned and attacked Eternal Neo-Jupiter with a cyclone-like wave of energy, even though this was more of an attack for someone like; Neo-Sailor Uranus to possess.
Though Eternal Neo-Mars and Eternal Neo-Jupiter are battered, bruised, and beaten, this souped-up Senshi would not stop attacking, though now it was their elemental attacks again!
"I can't get close, only if I use…." Neo-Sailor Saturn knew using Death Reborn Revolution would solve this easily, but she vowed that she would never use it no matter what.
Inside, Emily loved her family, friends, love, light, and life too much to waste.
"Saturn, I can use Time Stop so that you can get away." Neo-Sailor Pluto whispered.
"No, you'll die." Neo-Sailor Saturn whimpered.
"You know, I wouldn't mind if it were to save someone I care about." Neo-Sailor Pluto smiled sadly.
Neo-Sailor Saturn shook her head: Emily would not let Neo-Sailor Pluto sacrifice herself!
"Neither of you nor anyone else has to die. Look at Christen and Ariel. They are alive and in Eternal form, isn't that what you Senshi strive for? Were you under the assumption we killed them? So powerful allies of ours are kept safe and sound. The only reason they'll be hurting is that YOU beat them up. If you join us, we can end this." Nahele said.
"I don't know what you did to them, but they aren't truly Eternal as that haven't EARNED it. They had no qualms about beating us up, and you won't stop." Knowing if they did not join, Neo-Sailor Saturn would have to use Death Reborn Revolution, and Emily is still unwilling, and Trisha de-transformed and surrendered.
Emily followed suit, but not without sending a telepathic warning to Holly and Alexis via their Planetary Symbols. Even if the Skinwalkers could, it would not be in their best interest to remove the Senshi's Planetary Symbols as they wanted them to access their power to serve them. So Nahele halted Eternal Neo-Mars and Eternal Neo-Jupiter and even let them de-transform. Sustaining light injuries from Neo-Sailor Saturn and Neo-Sailor Pluto, Christen and Ariel helped Emily and Trisha back to a cave, where they were healed and infused with black magic, forcing their energy to rise to the level of Eternal as part of their initiation beginning.