Guardians of the Star: Chapter Six: Dragon Flight
Haeth stood silently, regarding the building she was standing in front of, carefully. It was a beautiful Monday morning, although Haeth never noticed the lovely weather or the cheerful chirping of birds. She was too busy fighting her fear by thinking about the fun times during the past weekend.
The meeting they had at the shrine on Thursday had come to no solid conclusions. They just didn't have enough information. Friday came and went with no sign of trouble. The only interesting thing that happened that day was when Usagi came home from her date with Mamoru. Haeth smiled to herself. I've never seen a human walking on air before, she thought, But Usagi-chan managed it quite nicely!
Saturday and Sunday were wonderful. Since Morgoth obliged by leaving them alone, the Senshi had taken the Guardians on a tour of Tokyo. Some of the sights in this wonderful city are as amazing as anything in the Star Kingdoms, she thought with a sigh. Then, reality intruded. Ami had told them that she had finished her work and that Juban University would expect them at the school office first thing Monday morning.
Haeth sat at the table, picking at her food. Usagi, on the other hand, was downing her breakfast so fast that Haeth was afraid she would choke on something. Mrs. Tsukino regarded Haeth's pale face with concern. "Haeth, child, you must eat something!" she said, worried. Haeth looked down at her food. "I guess I'm not very hungry," she whispered, near tears.
Mrs. Tsukino rose and moved to Haeth. She placed her arms around the frightened girl and sighed. "Haeth, there is NOTHING to be frightened of," she reassured her. "No one will bother you and you're such a lovely young lady, that if someone did, I very much doubt that you will lack for protectors!" Haeth blushed slightly and gave her a shaky smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Tsukino!" she said, kissing Usagi's mother on the cheek, "You're wonderful!" She smiled and waved as she turned and walked out the door.
Usagi's mother still looked concerned as she regarded the door through which Haeth had left. She seems so much younger than her years, she thought with concern, Like a child going to her first day at school! She shook her head at the impossibility of that thought and entered the kitchen, leaving Usagi to demolish the last of the food before she left for school.
Now Haeth stood before the entrance of Juban University, trembling. It was early yet, so not many students were about. She had left early so she would have a little time to work up her courage and enter the school. Unfortunately, there was a problem. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make herself enter the imposing building.
"Hai!" called a voice from behind her. She whirled around with a gasp, her hand over her mouth. A tall young man with hair as white as hers was regarding her with shocked surprise. "Hey, easy does it," he said as he saw her fright, "I don't bite, I assure you." "I'm sorry!" Haeth replied with a nervous laugh, "I'm new here and don't know my way around. It's my first day." He nodded in understanding. "Aye, I remember my first day here quite well!" he said, "But, my manners! I'm Galen Campbell, an exchange student from Scotland. And you?" He's from Scotland! she thought, horrified, I'll have to be careful around him! "I'm Haeth McTavish, also from Scotland!" she replied, forcing a smile. "Haeth. A very Gaelic name, and a lovely one!" he smiled, "It fits your quiet beauty well!" Haeth looked down, her cheeks flushed. "I've been here two years, so I know my way around," he said, still smiling, "How about I take you to the office to register and then show you around before classes start?"
Haeth looked up at him and as her fear evaporated, her smile became a real one. "I'd like that, thank you," she replied happily, "If it's no bother to you." Galen laughed heartily as he took her hand. "No bother at all!" he grinned, "I'll be the envy of every guy in school with such a beautiful young lady by my side!" The last of her fears melted away as she laughed at his outrageous statement. He was a stranger, but oh so familiar! For the first time since arriving in Tokyo, she felt completely at ease. He put aside his curiosity on the familiarity of this young lady and laughed with her as they entered the University.
Far from Tokyo, in the harsh latitudes of the far north, lay the shattered remains of the Dark Kingdom base, destroyed by the Sailor Senshi over a year ago. Once deserted, it was now buzzing with activity as the forces occupying the base worked to restore it for their own use. And far below the main levels, in the areas known as dungeons, were imprisoned those who had displeased Queen Beryl in times past. In one of these prisons, in an area not yet discovered by the base's new tenants, there was a stirring.
He shifted restlessly in the confines of his prison. Since the moment the stasis field of his prison mysteriously failed two days ago, he'd been quietly using his powers to weaken the walls in an attempt to break free. While he rested from his long struggle, he thought over the past two days. I'm free! he thought wearily, For the first time in centuries, my mind is free of Beryl and Metallia's evil! He knew only one reason for this. The Senshi must have destroyed them both.
One of the first things he did after the failure of the stasis field, was use his powers to gather information on his surroundings. What he learned about the base's new owners horrified him. The Senshi were his enemies when he was dominated by Beryl. They were his enemies no longer. They faced a threat more dangerous than Beryl and Metallia combined. He had to take it slowly because they won't trust him at first. But they would definitely need the information he had. First he needed to escape this accursed prison before the base's occupiers found him. Suitably rested, he continued his work to widen the hairline fractures in the crystalline walls of his prison.
After classes for the day were over, Haeth was about to leave when Galen intercepted her. "Haeth, are you doing anything tomorrow night?" he asked taking her hand. "No, not that I know of," she replied as she looked at him curiously. He looked into her eyes and smiled. Flustered for some reason she didn't know, she looked down at their joined hands. "Good!" he exclaimed, "Then how about we go out for dinner? I'll show you the night sights!" He's asking me for a date! she thought, blushing furiously, Does that mean he likes me? She looked up and stared into his eyes, mesmerized. He's got silvery gray eyes! she thought dazedly, Just like me! And his hair's white too! I wonder...
"Well?"" he prodded anxiously. Despite her fierce blush, she smiled at him shyly. "I'd like that," she said softly, "If you really want to." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it as Haeth's blush deepened. "Believe me, there's nothing I'd enjoy more!" He returned, "I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow evening." After Haeth's agreement, he watched her make her way out the main doors. His eyes were filled with affection and for a very brief moment, a silver dragon symbol flared on his forehead before he turned and walked away.
When Haeth exited the University, she found Mamoru, the Inner Senshi and the other four Guardians waiting for her. "Well Haeth, how did you like your first day of school?" Usagi asked curiously as they walked home with the others. "Oh! It was fascinating!" she gushed enthusiastically, "The courses dealing with human behavior are very interesting!" "And they may help you since you ARE a Soul Healer," Mamoru said with a smile.
"Haeth, I'm having everyone over for dinner tomorrow evening," Makoto informed her, "Would you like to come too?" Haeth looked down. "Well...I...uh, I have a date!" she stuttered nervously. Everyone looked at her in shocked surprise. This was something they hadn't expected so soon. Mamoru put a calming hand on her shoulder. "Who is he, Haeth-chan?" Mamoru asked worriedly. "Yeah!" Makoto said firmly, "You don't know humans that well yet! We don't want you to go around with the wrong kind of guy!" Haeth's cheeks were flushed, not from embarrassment, but from temper. "He's NOT the wrong kind of guy!" she replied hotly, "His name is Galen Campbell, he's Scottish, AND he LIKES me!" Lynn looked at Makoto and sighed. It was times like this that Haeth's extreme youth and innocence showed clearly.
To everyone's surprise, Mamoru laughed heartily. "Relax everyone!" he advised, "If Galen-san has his eye on our little Dragonkin, she'll be in good hands!" "Are you sure, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked, looking worried. "Quite sure!" he replied, nodding firmly, "Galen has a VERY good reputation. He's a good student and considering that he helps out anyone who needs it, he's a good person too. We have no worries on that score!" The others didn't look entirely convinced but apparently decided not to press the point. Mamoru kissed Usagi good-bye when they reached her house and she and Haeth waved to the others as they continued to their own homes.
"How was your first day at school, Haeth-chan?" Usagi's mother asked as they came in, "It wasn't as frightening as you thought, was it?" Haeth smiled at her. "It WAS scary, until I met another Scottish exchange student. He showed me around the school before classes started and he was very nice." "Yeah!" Usagi put in gleefully, "And he asked her out after school! What a fast worker! First day at school and she already has a boyfriend!" Haeth blushed and looked down. "I...it's not like that at all!" she stuttered nervously, "He's just being nice to me!" Mrs. Tsukino smiled wryly. "You do yourself an injustice, child," she returned, "You are an extremely lovely young lady, in personality as well as appearance. That's a potent combination."
Mr. Tsukino looked up from his paper. Uh oh, Usagi thought with trepidation, Before he met Mamo-chan, Dad always used to look like that when we dated! "Haeth-chan, don't you think it would be a good idea if we met this young man before you date him?" he questioned, "We ARE responsible for you while you're here and we DON'T want anything to happen to you. What's his name?" "His name is Galen Campbell," Haeth replied, looking at him worriedly. He looked startled. "You're going out with Galen-san?" he exclaimed with relief, "I know him! He works part-time at the office and has even helped me out on a few occasions. OK, child, if it's Galen who's taking you out then I have no objections. You'll be as safe with him as Usagi is with Mamoru."
Usagi walked to the foot of the stairs. "C'mon Haeth-chan!" she said, "We both have homework to do. If we get it done now, we can go to the Arcade." "Righto!" Haeth responded cheerfully as she accompanied Usagi upstairs to her room.
"So, are Usagi and Haeth going to join us at the Arcade?" Minako asked Ami as they walked down the street. The sun was setting and lights were coming on all over the city as darkness began to fall. "She told me that she wanted to get her homework done first," Ami replied approvingly, "I imagine that Haeth will do hers at the same time. They'll likely join us shortly."
Screams erupted from around the corner ahead and frightened people ran around the corner, fleeing from something unseen. "Run!" one man screamed as he ran past the two girls, "It's a dragon!" Ami and Minako exchanged glances, wondering if it was Haeth. They ducked into an alley. "VENUS STAR POWER!" "MERCURY STAR POWER!" Sailor Venus and Sailor Mercury ran from the alley and around the corner to confront the "dragon".
Mercury activated her VR visor and studied the creature, who was concentrating on demolishing the front of the Arcade and hadn't noticed the two Senshi yet. Venus pressed the "All Call" button on her communicator and turned to Mercury. The creature was blacker than the night, but other than that difference, it was a larger image of Haeth. Obviously Dragonkin. "Venus, my visor confirms it's a dragon!" Mercury reported, "It has some kind of device in its claw and the readings on it are ominous enough that I don't think we want him activating it!"
"I'm on it!" Venus replied as she went into attack mode, "CRESCENT BEAM!" A beam of light shot from Venus' finger and struck the dragon's claw, the impact knocking the device from its grip. The dragon snarled as the device struck the pavement and with a burst of sparks, shorted out.
Now it turned to face the two Senshi, its red eyes burning with savage fury. "Greetings, Hatchlings!" it snarled viciously, "I am Ebonar of the Dark Kindred and you are DEAD!" Ebonar gave a coughing bark and black lightning spewed from his open mouth and flew towards the two Senshi. Mercury and Venus barely avoided the blast and returned with their own attacks. "SHINING AQUA ILLUSION!" "VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!" As their strikes flew towards their opponent, Mercury had just enough time for a desperate plea for help over her communicator.
Usagi closed her text book with satisfaction and relief. Done! she thought happily, And just in time to join Ami and Minako at the Arcade! She turned to Haeth and saw that she was just finishing as well. "Was it hard for you, Haeth-chan?" she asked curiously. "Heck no!" Haeth replied with a laugh, "When I became a Guardian, I was schooled at the Royal Academy in Caladon! The course here is similar enough to the course I took at the Academy that I have little trouble figuring it out." Usagi grinned at her. "Come on! We'll go to my room cause I need to get my communicator," she said, "Then we'll join the others at the Arcade."
They entered Usagi's room and she went to her dresser to get the communicator. She had just put it on went Ami's frantic plea for help came through followed by what sounded like an explosion. Usagi and Haeth exchanged glances and bolted from the room. They ran down the stairs, and after making sure they weren't seen, out the back door. After a quick look around to make sure no one was around, they transformed. "MOON COSMIC POWER!"
Sailor Moon leaped onto Haeth's back after she assumed her Dragonkin form and Haeth sprang aloft. She gripped the dorsal spine in front of her tightly and looked down. The first time she flew with Haeth had been in her mind. It had been too quick for her to enjoy the experience. She took a moment to savor it now, enjoying the play of powerful muscles beneath her as Haeth's wings moved slowly up and down, the cityscape moving past, far below. In some of the stories she had read, there had been dragon mounted warriors. Now, here she was, a warrior mounted on a dragon! An exultant "HAI!" burst from her lips. A rumble came from Haeth's throat as she chuckled at Sailor Moon's exuberance. "Like flying, hmmm?" she rumbled in amusement. Sailor Moon was about to answer her when she noticed flashes of light several blocks away, obviously a battle. "Look, Haeth-chan!" Haeth changed her direction and headed towards the flashes as fast as she could fly.
Shingo was in his room playing video games. Kenji was downstairs reading his paper. Usagi's mother, Ikuko, was standing in her darkened bedroom looking out the window into the backyard and enjoying the moonlight. Her eyes widened with surprise when Usagi and Haeth burst through the back door and ran out into the yard. Ikuko heard her daughter clearly when she yelled, "MOON COSMIC POWER!" She gasped as they transformed and sank to the bed, never taking her eyes from them. Her eyes followed them as Usagi mounted and Haeth took off. I can't believe it! she thought, stunned, Usagi is Sailor Moon! And darling lovable Haeth is a...a dragon!
She just couldn't comprehend that her darling but klutzy daughter was Sailor Moon, nor that the shy lovable child, she took in, was a creature she knew about only through legends. She thought she was going crazy until she suddenly remembered something. The stories about Sailor Moon mention her guardian, a talking cat! she thought, That Usagi's cat, Luna, has a crescent moon on her forehead is too much of a coincidence. Here's where I find out if I'm really losing it!
She entered Usagi's room with a firm stride and saw Luna on the windowsill looking out into the night. "Uh, Luna, I'd be grateful for a few words of explanation!" she said hesitantly. Luna whirled around, her eyes wide with shock. "Meow?" she tried. "Nice try, Luna," Ikuko returned wryly, "But I saw Usagi and Haeth change into Sailor Moon and a dragon. A bit of an explanation WOULD be nice. After all, after seeing who my daughter and Haeth really are, hearing you talk isn't going to be a big shock!" Luna sighed with resignation. "I'm not sure I know where to begin," she said wearily. "Why not start at the beginning?" Ikuko replied, "I'm numb after all the shocks so far, a few more will make no difference!" Luna nodded. "A thousand years ago, there existed a place known as The Moon Kingdom..."
Sailor Moon looked down anxiously, hoping to see Mercury. She had been unable to raise her on the communicator and was frantic as a result. When they arrived above the site of the battle, Sailor Moon gasped. Venus was down, Mercury was helpless and preparing to kill Venus was a DRAGONKIN! At sight of Ebonar, Haeth felt her draconian nature beginning to take over. It's one of the Dark Kindred! she thought dimly, AND HE'S ABOUT TO KILL ONE OF MY FRIENDS! "Sailor Moon!" she snarled as her people's instinctive hatred for Dark Kindred began to take over. "When I strike that obscene creature below, jump off and look after Venus!" Then her nature took over and with the fierce battle cry of her kind, she went into a steep power dive.
Mercury climbed back to her feet wearily after barely dodging another attack. Ebonar's energy seemed inexhaustible while both she and Venus were absolutely exhausted. Ebonar had countered every one of their attacks while they had barely managed to dodge his. They were both bruised and bleeding from many near misses. Venus readied herself for her last attack when Ebonar lashed out with his tail knocking Venus into a brick wall. The shattering impact knocked her senseless and she lay on the ground unmoving. While Mercury watched helplessly, he prepared to finish her off when... a screaming silver berserk fury descended on his back from above.
Haeth struck Ebonar's back with a terrific impact, digging all four of her claws viciously into his back. With a snarl, she sank her teeth into the base of his neck. Venus forgotten, he screamed in pain and rage as he tried to shake her off.
Sailor Moon leapt from Haeth's back and hit the ground running, her concern for her friend preventing the usual klutz attack. As she knelt by Venus' side, she was joined by an exhausted Mercury and they watched as the two dragons fought furiously. Ebonar was weary from battling the two Senshi, while Haeth was fresh. But Haeth was much smaller than her dark cousin, so the fight was even. Mars and Jupiter arrived as Venus regained consciousness. They all watched in shock the savage fury displayed before them. Ebonar had finally succeeded in getting Haeth dislodged but the bleeding gashes on his back and neck showed he had not escaped unscathed. Using claw and fang, the two dragons tried to rend each other to pieces. Haeth's claws burst through Ebonar's defenses to rake across his face leaving five deep gashes scored across his snout. He shrieked in pain and rage. With a move that caught the inexperienced Haeth by surprise, he lashed out with his tail. It struck her right wing with stunning impact, shattering the wing joint. She cried out as her wing crumpled and she collapsed, writhing in agony as waves of searing pain from her shattered wing overwhelmed her.
At Haeth's agonized cry, Mars saw red. "Jupiter, Moon, Mercury, stay with Venus!" she commanded, "This creature belongs to ME!" As Ebonar lunged to finish Haeth off, Mars held up her hands about a foot apart. "MARS!" Her hands glowed red. "FIRE!" A ball of flame formed between her hands. "STORM!" Intense heat began to radiate from the fireball as it turned incandescent. "ERUPT!" She thrust her hands forward and the fireball flew towards Ebonar. It struck the ground at his feet and shattered. A solid wall of intense flame shot up and engulfed Ebonar in its hot embrace. He shrieked in agony as the flame burned through his scales. "You haven't heard the last of me, Hatchlings!" he screamed as he teleported away. Mars let the flames die away as he fled.
The Senshi rushed to Haeth. Before she lost consciousness, she managed to change to her Guardian form and they could see that her arm was broken in several places. "Damn!" Sailor Moon whispered fearfully, "We need Saturn! Mercury?" "No luck contacting any of the Outer Senshi!" Mercury answered wearily. "The other Guardians are out exploring again", Mars put in, "They can't help. We MUST get them communicators!" Mercury activated her VR Visor and studied Haeth's wounds carefully. "She has multiple fractures to her right arm and at least one of them is compound!" she reported softly, "I can detect various other injuries caused by claw and fang. She needs medical attention fast because she's going into shock!" "What do we do?" Sailor Moon asked worriedly. "Go to that phone booth," Mars suggested, pointing to a nearby phone, "Call Mamoru. Since you were never in danger, he likely doesn't know what happened. He can drive us when we figure out where we can take Haeth. Call your parents to tell them that you may be late."
Sailor Moon ran to the booth while the Senshi searched for something to use as a temporary splint. Since most of the people fled when Ebonar showed up, they weren't disturbed. She dialed Mamoru's number and waited impatiently for him to answer. When she heard his voice, she sobbed out his name. "Usako!" he cried urgently, "What's wrong?!" "We f-fought an evil Dragonkin by t-the arcade!" she sobbed, "W-we beat him b-but Haeth is hurt b-bad!" "Stay right there and call your parents!" he commanded, "I'm on my way!"
Sailor Moon took a few deep breaths and called her parents. She almost started crying again when her mother answered but managed not to with a supreme effort. "Hi Mom," she said with false cheer, "I may be home a little late tonight. I hope you don't mind." Her voice was thick with tears and her mother noticed at once. "Usagi, what's wrong?" she asked in almost the same tone as Mamoru had, "Why are you crying?!" "Oh Mom!" Sailor Moon choked out, "I wish you could help but you can't!"
"Usagi, your father and I know that you're Sailor Moon and that Haeth's a Dragonkin," her mother explained urgently, "Never mind how we found out, but Luna told us the whole story. Now tell me what's wrong!" She was stunned that her parents knew everything but put it out of her mind at once. She needed comforting and her parents were now able to provide it. "Oh Mom! W-we fought an evil D-Dragonkin and Haeth attacked him to save Venus," she explained, crying openly now, "Mars toasted him before he could kill Haeth, but Haeth's hurt badly! We're trying to find Sailor Saturn so she can use her healing powers, but we don't know where to take Haeth. We can't leave her here!" "Bring her home at once!" her mother ordered firmly, "We know who the other Senshi are as well. It wasn't hard to figure out once we knew who you were! Once she's safe here, you and the others can find Saturn. Don't worry about Shingo. Your father took him to a friend's place where he'll be staying for a few days. Now get off the phone and bring her here!"
Sailor Moon reached the others just as Mamoru pulled up in a borrowed van. Haeth's arm was crudely splinted, but it was enough to hold the bones in place. Mamoru jumped from the van and Sailor Moon rushed into his arms, weeping. Jupiter picked Haeth up and while Mars held open the side door, she placed her on the seat and sat on one side of her while Mars took the other side. Sirens were finally sounding as emergency vehicles headed for the battleground. The other Senshi piled into the van with Sailor Moon taking the front seat next to Mamoru. He put the van into gear and drove off. "Where do you want to go?" he asked. "My house," Sailor Moon answered firmly. "What?! Are you nuts, Usagi?" Mars retorted incredulously, "You want to answer the questions your parents will ask if we show up like this?!" Sailor Moon sighed wearily. "My parents already know EVERYTHING!" she explained, still shocked over THAT bit of news, "I don't know how they found out, but Luna explained the whole story to them." Mars frowned thoughtfully. "Hmmm," she mused, "You know, that COULD be convenient. If we find ourselves in a situation like this again, now we have somewhere to go." Mamoru nodded in relief and drove in the direction of the Tsukino home.
With a splintering explosion, the crystal shattered and he was free. He extended all his senses to see if the noise had been detected. Sensing no one, he went to the door and looked out carefully. The hall was deserted but showed signs of recent passage. He grinned. Now to find the Senshi! he thought exultantly. He pictured the house one of his companions had owned in Tokyo, and with a flicker, he was gone, leaving his shattered crystal prison behind.