Chapter 2
Mercury had Rei's head in her lap, and she was gently trying to shake the Senshi awake. Minako was relieved to see that the light blue samurai had moved front of her fallen friend, yari loose and limber in his hand, ready to protect. She didn't know him from the next guy, but she trusted in her gut that he'd help Mercury keep Mars safe.
She turned hard, assessing eyes back onto the monster. It gave her the creeps, but now it was personal. "Jupiter, with me!" she snapped. The Senshi of Storms nodded once and began whirling like a top. Minako winked and began her own slow spin. They unleashed at the same time with the ease of decades spent battling together.
"VENUS….WINK CHAIN SWORD!"
"JUPITER…..COCONUT CYCLONE!"
They watched as their combined attacks barreled across the road.
"RAIIIIKOZANNNNN!" Minako whipped her head around to stare at the green samurai as he launched an attack that joined up with their own.
"SHINNNKUUUHAAA!" The dark blue samurai joined him.
The quadruple attack rammed into the zombie and the resulting explosion shook the earth, sending a small mushroom cloud into the sky. Venus cringed a little. Hopefully that hadn't done much collateral damage.
When the air cleared, the thing was down again, but it got up quickly. Venus saw the attack coming, but like Rei, she was too slow to stop it. She yelped, and tackled the green samurai to the ground, shuddering once as the dark cloud flew by just over her head. She cautiously lifted her head when it passed, looking over her shoulder at the monster. It was glaring at her. She very nearly shrank into the armor underneath her at the evil eye falling full blast on her. Minako put her head back down and covered it with her hands, tucking herself protectively around the warrior beneath her.
Two strong arms wrapped around her firmly and the world summer-salted for a moment before she found herself protectively beneath the samurai instead. "This armor's pretty tough. How about I take it from here?" He gave her a kind smile, and despite her best effort, Venus felt herself flush. A cute face was a cute face, right?
She shook herself. Now was not the time.
The earth shook again and there was another explosion of light, followed by more alarmed shouts and that terrible feeling the thing's attack engendered as it passed nearby. She tried to peek around a green plated arm when a voice ran out.
"Enough! MOOOOOONNNNNNNN…SPIIIIIRAAALLLLL…HEAAARRRTTTTT….ATTAAACK!"
Venus shoved her way out from beneath the green samurai with superhuman haste at the sound of her princess launching an assault. No. The last thing she wanted was for Usagi to have that thing's attention.
She watched, helplessly, as the attack collided with the monster, exploding into lights and hearts on impact. It looked so cute. Looks were so deceiving. The green samurai was in front of her now, but Venus was staring hard, willing Usagi's attack to work.
And surprisingly….it did.
When the light cleared, the monster was lying on the ground, pretty much torn apart. Venus winced. Usually Usagi's attacks didn't leave even a trace of their enemies – unless she was healing someone. Minako had a sinking suspicion Usagi was going to need to pull out the big guns to take care of whatever this thing was.
They all stood in silence, watching it for a movement, waiting for it to make a move.
And after several minutes of unbearable stillness, it did. Not even thinking about what she was doing, she grabbed the arm the green samurai had thrown out in front of her protectively and held on tightly. Then she realized who the monster was likely going to target next. She let out a yell, but Makoto was faster. She was always faster.
Minako blinked, and Jupiter hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop several meters away with an agonized cry of pain. She bolted for the girl in the green fuku, feeling frantic.
"Mako-chan!" she hit the ground hard on her knees and skidded to her friend's side, gently lifting her. A mistake.
"RAIIIKOZANNN!" the two attacks, light and darkness, exploded mere feet form her face, and she curled protectively over Jupiter in the aftermath. When she blinked her eyes clear and looked up, the green and dark blue samurai were in front of herself and Makoto and Usagi. Minako shuddered. They needed a plan. She heard the distinct stomping of a heeled boot.
"No! Nobody else is getting hurt! This stops now." Minako turned to see an emotional Usagi behind her holding her full scepter. She bit her lip.
"Usagi-chan, I don't want anyone else hurt either but we need a better strategy." she tried to reason. Usagi shook her head, scattering tears. Her gaze wavered between Rei and Makoto and Minako could see the stubbornness lining her face. When the Moon Princess met her gaze again, there was a resolve there that Venus hated.
Sailor Moon closed her eyes and began to move.
Minako gently lowered Makoto to the ground, after checking to ensure her pulse was still thrumming, and rose to her feet. She spied Mercury, from the corner of her eye, rising up as well. Two scouts might not be able to add much power, but it was better than Usagi doing it alone.
The green samurai was watching over his shoulder while his dark blue companion kept his eyes fixed on the monster that was….dragging bits of itself towards them. Her stomach turned at the sight, but she heard the distinct sound of a baton coming to a stop in in Usagi's gloved hand. Venus inhaled and winked, starting her spin again. Beside her, she could barely see the blue sphere already curving in Mercury's nimble hands.
They finished as one.
"SILLVERRRR…MOOOOONN…..CRYSTAAAALLLLL…POWWWERRRR…KISSS!"
"VEENUSSS….WINK CHAIN SWORD!"
MERCURYYYYY…..AQUA MIRAGE!"
The triple assault roared towards the monster, but it had some company.
"RAIIIIKOOZAAAANNN!"
"SHINKUUUUUHAAAAAA!"
"GANNNTETSUSAIIII!"
"CHOOORYUUUUHAAAA!"
"SOUUUUUENNNZAAAANNN!"
Minako held her breath as she watched their team assault barrel towards the thing that was still dragging itself towards them. The realization that their assault might have some massive backlash hit her at once. Her eyes widened, and she locked eyes with Mercury for a moment. They moved at the same time.
Mercury dove for Sailor Moon, and Minako dove for Jupiter, but as she began to scramble to get them both to Mars, she noticed the man in the light blue armor already there. He was hovering protectively over the Senshi of Fire. Venus felt a huge weight drop on top of her then, and realized that the green samurai was covering herself and Jupiter. She managed to catch a glimpse of the dark blue samurai with his arms around Mercury and Moon.
Then she didn't notice anything else because the world went bright and loud and the very air seemed to be tearing itself apart. The ground shook, and the samurai tightened his grip almost painfully on her, but she realized that the attack was trying to rip them apart. She held Jupiter so tightly she feared she might break bones, and prayed.
