AN: I'm back! Eight months was a noble streak, but, unfortunately, nine months was unattainable.
I would really like to thank everyone who commented with well wishes. You words meant everything to me during that difficult time. My son's best grandmother, my husband's step-mother, passed away shortly after posting in what will probably be attributed to medical malpractice. We've had to really step up to help with all the legal matters and his disabled step-sister. It's going to be a long on-going journey, but we will endure.
While I've been away, I also had the deadline for the Senshi x Shitennou Reverse Mini Bang looming and an epic mermaid fic with a deadline. I pushed this fic to the sidelines to focus on that, which, is available to read in its entirety over on AO3 with art and music. Seriously y'all go read it. It's the best thing I've ever written.
And now that that's completed, I can focus again on this fic! I'll be back to updating at regular two week intervals after next week. Thank you all again for reading. Your comments and kudos and favorites got me through some dark nights. I can't properly express my gratitude.
XXX
Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair
Chapter 18: The Choice is Crystal Clear
November 12, 2019
Balls, dancing, masks, fancy dresses, couples, and romance. These things made for exciting television backdrops but boring stake-out locations. The lingering aroma of shrimp (a souvenir from arriving in the catering truck) probably didn't help Minako's mood either. Plus, it killed the desire for munching on free cocktail shrimp.
They'd been at the embassy for nearly three hours, and yet, nothing of note had happened. No disguised Dark Kingdom generals. No secret princesses. Not enough champagne. Minako was losing patience.
According to Makoto's itinerary, the legendary treasure unveiling was supposed to be at 8 pm. It was now 8:22 pm. Where were this damn princess and her stupid stone? Was this girl going to be their long lost princess? Was this treasure some artifact of the Moon Kingdom or just another useless hunk of gemstone?
Plus, this whole masquerade thing was making her feel lonely. She watched dignitaries schmoozing and couples flirting. Usagi was even dancing with Tuxedo Kamen. (The Senshi of the Moon had a type, and it was tall and dark with a side of complicated histories with Minako.)
Still, maybe this was a blessing in disguise. She couldn't allow Tuxedo Kamen to get his hands on yet another rainbow crystal. At least Usagi could distract him for a bit. He seemed particularly taken with the Senshi of the Moon. She would have been worried if Usagi wasn't so smitten with Mamoru.
Minako moved along the interior balcony. Luckily, years of being Sailor V had given her almost a preternatural ability to sneak around. She assumed the Princess must be down one of the halls. The one most heavily guarded if she had to take a guess. By heavily guarded, she meant two bored-looking security detail officers.
She rushed to one of the guards, throwing herself at him. "Help me," she said. "My boyfriend. He's… he's frightening me. He's talking about… hurting the princess… and I couldn't..." Tears flooded her eyes, and she sobbed little gasps.
"What does he look like?" the first guard asked.
"He's wearing a tuxedo and white domino mask," she answered. "I'm so afraid."
"Right," said the second guard. "We're on it. You wait here. We won't let anything happen to the Princess or you, ma'am."
She nodded, sniffling. The guards hurried off, leaving Minako behind. As soon as they were out of sight, her demeanor shifted, and she smiled. That was too easy. She turned and headed down the hallway towards the Princess. If the girl wasn't going to come out than Minako was going to go to her.
The hallways twisted and turned just a little, but given the location of the bathrooms were, she deduced where the Princess must be. The two additional guards stationed at the door tipped her off as well. Ugh. She'd need another excuse to get through the doors without seeming suspicious. Without a plan, Minako held her head up high and walked straight into danger. She didn't pay for that fancy acting education to never use it. She put on her best airs.
"I'm here to help the Princess with any last-minute needs since we're so far behind schedule," Minako said. "I'm a friend of the family after all."
The guards exchanged a questioning glance. "But, if you're supposed to help Princess Dia, then who did we just let through."
Minako's eyes widened. "Open the doors! Quickly!"
As the guard did as instructed, the scene unfolding before them shook Minako to her core.
Two Dark Kingdom Generals stood before a young woman. Minako shuttered with recognition. Jedite she was prepared for. She'd been ready to take him on since their last encounter at the nightclub. The other man though, she hadn't seen since day Rei's grandfather died. He was a General with long blond hair and a wicked smile - Zoisite.
Princess Dia floated encased in dark energy and clutching her chest. Her face twisted and contorted as she fought for her soul. Zoisite's cruel smile widen as he used his dark power of extraction.
That meant only one thing: the Princess was a crystal carrier.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
The guards rushed in, and Minako stepped back to transform. They would provide the perfect cover, though their feeble attempt was quickly thwarted. Even though they were unconscious when she finally entered the room, their distraction had been enough. The crystal was slowly leaving Dia's body, floating in the air, unclaimed.
Venus lept between the transforming princess and the general, snatching the blue crystal out of the air.
"No!" Zoisite screeched.
Venus clutched the crystal close and turned on her heel to face the Dark Kingdom Generals. They were momentarily stunned. She wasn't going to let this crystal go, no matter what. She'd rather die. She didn't let her gaze fall to the newly formed youma, a sickly green woman. Her hand tightened around the crystal. Not letting her opportunity go, she turned and ran.
XXX
Hell broke loose with tuxedos, ball gowns, and screams. When the youma started its attack, socialites scurried as the few guards on duty bust into action, attempting to stop the monster. Not that they were much use. Plus side, no one was paying any attention to Usagi transforming on the ballroom floor.
"Really Sailor Moon?" Venus screeched as she ran up beside Moon. "Couldn't be bothered to find some cover?"
Well, almost no one.
"No one saw."
Venus rolled her eyes, then started, "Listen, I have a rainbow crystal. We need to get out of here with it at all costs."
"Okay," Moon said. "I'll stop the youma and…"
Venus grabbed her arm. "The youma is not our top priority."
"But the people..." Sailor Moon trailed off. She glanced up as the monster knocked a guard over the veranda and into the bar. Glass shattered, and she cringed. That poor booze.
"We need to keep this crystal out of the dark kingdom clutches," Venus reiterated, bringing Moon back to the topic at hand. "And that means keeping it away from the two Generals that are here."
Moon looked around. She didn't see any Dark Kingdom Generals, but, she did see that the youma had already overpowered the meager guard force. It was headed straight towards a small gathering of party-goers.
Her mind raced, eyes darting over the landscape hoping for inspiration. There had to be a way to keep the crystal out of the Dark Kingdom's hands while keeping civilians safe. If only she wasn't such a klutz. If only she were a better warrior. An idea sparked.
"Okay, then. You keep a low profile, and I'm going to draw attention," she said with a wink. Before Venus could stop her, Moon ran towards the staircase that the youma was currently coming down.
"Hey youma!" Sailor Moon called waving her arms for dramatic effect. "How dare you destroy Princess Dia's night! It's a time of celebration, not destruction. In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
The youma scoffed. It was green and female shaped with a punk haircut, wearing a rather scandalous one-piece bodysuit and red boots. "Princess Dia? What a weakling. You won't be seeing any more of her. Do you think you can stand up to Rikoukeidar? One of the seven Great Youma little Sailor Brat."
It smiled cruelly.
"Well, I'm certainly going to try, Moon Tiara Action!" Sailor Moon called before launching her tiara. Rikoukeidar summoned a platter like crystal, which moved between its hands as if it were a magician pulling a card on strings. The tiara hit the shield with a clack before deflecting back at Moon.
Her eyes widened as her attack boomeranged back at her. Well, shit.
A rose struck through the center her tiara, knocking it out of the air. It clanked to the floor, momentum spinning it around the rose until it stopped on the floor.
"No fair, tuxedo boy," Rikoukeidar said.
"Supreme Thunder!"
Juptier's power hurled toward the youma from the vague direction of the kitchen. Like Moon's attack, Rikoukeidar used her crystal shield to reflect it. The bolt crashed into the floor, kicking up marble and leaving a black, singed mark.
"This isn't a regular youma," Mask called down to Moon. "I've only ever seen one other like this."
The Senshi furrowed her brow, keeping her eyes on youma. Mars and Jupiter joined her, one on each side. She hoped Venus was making her way to the exit with the crystal.
"You're smarter than we give you credit for, Tuxie," a voice called from the top of the stairs. Moon looked up. Two Generals stood at the top of the staircase, smiling like foxes in the hen house. She recognized one as Jedite, but the other was new.
"He's the one who turned my Grandpa in a monster," Mars whispered to Moon. The blonde glanced over her shoulder and saw a tear slip down her friend's cheek. Here was the man who killed her family. The ghost of her failure
"No one is dying here tonight," Moon swore, not even realizing the power behind the oath. That youma maybe human underneath, and she was the only Senshi who could do something about it. She felt something calling to her, and when she looked down, the Wand from her dreams was in her hand. If tiaras weren't going to work, then maybe this would.
Now if only she could figure out how to use it.
"I'm going to take Tuxy here, and you get the crystal from V," Zoicite instructed.
The hair on Moon's arms stood up. Jupiter was buzzing and ready to fight. She wasn't alone.
"Rikoukeidar, take care of these three. The orange one is mine," Jedite said.
A smile spread over the Great Youma's face.
Sailor Moon watched out of the corner of her eye as Zoicite moved towards Tuxedo Mask. A part of her wanted to rush to his side and help him against the Dark Kingdom General. But, she had her own fish to fry.
Rikoukeidar stood at the bottom of the stairs. Moon, Mars, and Jupiter provided the line of defense between it and Venus and the guests. Most guests had managed to flee through the kitchen entrance, but there were pockets of people hiding in corners and beneath tables and chairs. She needed to keep them safe.
Then there was Venus and the crystal. She had said the crystal was their top priority, but she couldn't mean abandoning all the people? Could she?
"Get out while you can V!" Mars called. "We'll hold them off."
Out of the corner of her eye, Moon saw Venus clutch the crystal to her chest and nod. She started backing towards the kitchen exit behind her.
"I think," Moon started, "that Rikoukeidar is defensive. So, we need to come at her from two directions at once, or she'll just keep throwing our attacks back in our faces."
"Okay, just tell me what to do," Jupiter said. She moved her feet apart, taking on a fighting stance. The little antenna in her tiara was already out and waiting.
"We need to surround her," Moon said. Jupiter and Mars nodded, slowly stepping away from Moon to flank the Great Youma. Jupiter's fists sparked, and Mars brought her hands together like a gun. Rikoukeidar watched the girls surround it with a Cheshire Cat grin on its face.
"Mars Fire…"
"Jupiter Supreme Thunder…"
As the girls charged their powers, Rikoukeidar grabbed the giant vase of roses at the end of the banister and hurled it at Sailor Moon.
It was a direct hit. The vase smashed into Moon's stomach, knocking the wind out of her and throwing her into a nearby cafe table.
"Sailor Moon!" Mars cried, firing dying on her fingertips.
Jupiter did not hesitate. Her lightning launched from her palms. Rikoukeidar smoothly angled her shield to take the blast. Then reflected it at Mars.
Mars didn't have time to see if Moon was all right. As she started to dodge, an audable gasp came from behind her. There were people there. If she moved, then…
The lightning crashed into her, and she fell into the catering table. A tower of banana creme cupcakes went flying. Mars clenched into a fetal position as electricity racked her body.
"Shit!" Jupiter cursed.
Rikoukeidar used Jupiter's surprise to attempt backhand the Senshi with her shield, but Jupiter was smooth and dodged expertly.
"Venus Crescent Beam!"
A beam of light collided into Rikoukeidar's back, and the Great Youma screamed. She turned to look at her attacker, rage building.
Venus stood near the exit, her finger outstretched, hand holding the crystal to her chest. Behind her, Jedite dropped from the balcony above, cutting off her exit. As she panted, staring at her fellow Senshi, Jedite shot dark energy into her back. The blue crystal flew from her hand and scattered across the floor.
"No!" Venus screamed. "The Crystal."
Moon was having trouble breathing but that wasn't anything new. She's been terrible enough at sports to have been hit in the diaphragm by various sports balls many times before. She just needed to keep calm. She brushed the broken pottery and flowers off of her.
"Are you all right?" a strange woman asked.
Moon nodded, looking at a middle-aged woman crouched beneath a table. A younger woman and her date behind hid behind the woman but peered over her shoulder to see what was going on. Fuck. There were so many people here. People who could be hurt.
Venus and Jedite both clamored for the crystal. The cry of victory came from the Dark Kingdom General.
"I'll be taking that, V," Jeditie said, jumping up to the interior balcony.
Venus may be hurt, but she wasn't going to give up that easily. She jumped to follow him when a hand clasped around her foot, throwing her to the ground.
"Where do you think you're going?" Rikoukeidar taunted.
"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter's attacked crashed into the Great Youma, knocking her atop Venus.
Moon crawled to her knees. Words were still difficult, but she looked at the three people cowering beneath the table. They were looking to her for guidance. She pointed to the stairs, "Go. Beneath. Cover."
They nodded, and Moon stood. She could see Jupiter physically charging Rikoukeidar, who'd pinned Venus to the floor. She saw Jedite running across the upper balcony, with a clutched fist and a grin of victory. Mars was finally sitting up in the debris of the destroyed catering table, two civilians aiding her.
Moon's breathing was getting easier. She got to her feet and looked around. There were three more people hiding beside another cafe table. She pointed at them and signaled for them to follow the others.
"Go, quickly!" Moon looked to Mars, and called "We have to clear the floor!"
"We have to stop Jedite!" Venus yelled. "He has the crystal."
Mars looked at the balcony. Jedite was nearing the stairs, headed towards the same place he'd entered from. One of Venus' beams hit the pillar near his head. Moon closed her eyes and prayed that she made the right decision.
"Quickly!" Moon said to the people. "Under the stairs!"
"Sailor Moon!" Venus yelled, dodging another blow by Rikoukeidar. "Go after him!"
Rikoukeidar's shield collided with Venus's face, and Moon winced. Mars's flames scorched the Great Youma's back, and Jupiter kicked the monster off Venus. The girls were finally getting the upper hand on the monster.
If Moon went after the crystal, the Senshi would kill the youma. They would kill the person inside of it, the person buried beneath the darkness because they'd been cursed with a crystal. She felt the weight of the Moon Wand in her hand, a subtle warmth of power emitting from it. The dream. What had the woman said?
"You have the unique ability to save those trapped by the dark energy…" the voice whispered into her ear. On some level, Usagi knew that Rei's grandfather had died during a youma attack. An attack involving a crystal, but it wasn't until this moment that she understood how. Her grandfather had become a Great Youma. The Senshi had lacked the power to heal him, so they'd killed him.
"No," Sailor Moon said. Venus stared at her in shock.
Sailor Moon hadn't been there to save him, and she clenched her fist tightly around the wand. No one else was going to die from youma. Not humans turned monsters, not human bystanders, not Senshi family.
She didn't see all eyes turn to her, even Rikoukeidar 's dazed eyes. Somewhere buried beneath the green skin and flame-colored hair was a girl, and Usagi was going to save her.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" she called, letting her instincts drive her. She made a sigil in the air with the wand and some force that seemed only like a shimmer shot into the Great Yoma.
Rikoukeidar tensed as she was hit by the force. "Refresh!" the monster breathed out as the youma exterior faded to a young woman in a red ball gown collapsed. Her comically thick glasses rolled on the ground.
"What did you do?" Venus asked confused.
Sailor Moon looked at her wand. "I don't know."
Jupiter went over to the woman, checking to see if she was alive. "She's unconscious, but, stable," she said. "Sailor Moon, you saved her."
They were all staring at her agog. The silence was broken by the sound of feet running down the hall, and everyone knew that was the queue to get out of dodge.
XXX
The police were taking statements from the remaining guests and security staff. Makoto had to be questioned before she could leave. Until then, the girls were hiding out in the back of the catering van, cramped by crinoline and tension.
"When did you get the…" Rei asked, gesturing feebly at the weapon in Usagi's hands.
"Moon Stick?" Usagi supplied.
"Really? Couldn't think of something better?" Rei quipped.
Usagi shrugged, then answered, "Earlier this week. From a dream."
"And you knew about it?" Rei directed this question at Minako.
Minako nodded, and added, "But I didn't know what it did."
Rei nodded in acceptance before looking into space. Her mind was heavy. No one had died tonight. Even the possessed girl had been reverted to human. The only one walking away with any injuries was Minako, sporting a black eye from Rikoukeidar.
Usagi squeezed Rei's hand. No words needed to be said. It was an acknowledgement of Rei's pain, of the fact that the past couldn't be changed, but that if Usagi could, she would.
"Usagi," Minako said, looking at the back door and not at the girl's face. "Why did you deliberately ignore my order."
Usagi tensed and chewed the inside of her lip. Then she scowled. "Because I wasn't going to let anyone die tonight."
Mianko rolled her eyes. "Great. So everyone lives tonight, but dies a year from now because the Dark Kingdom has the Silver Crystal."
"You don't know…" Usagi started.
"Usagi! Sometimes there are casualties! And I know what's best! We may have defeated a Great Youma, but we lost the most important thing," Minako scolded. "And I don't know how to get it back."
The van felt stifling. It was warm and smelled vaguely of old fish. Minako would said it was the smell that was making her eyes water. Not the events of the night. Not that Jupiter and Mars seemed to listen to Moon. Not that Sailor Moon had saved everyone. Not that Sailor Moon had kept her from murdering someone again.
"I have an idea," Usagi said. "To lure Jedite out with the crystal."
Minako pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes. "And what's your great plan?"
"We could challenge Jedite for it. Someplace we control the damage. Some place where no one would get hurt."
"The new airport terminal that's under construction," Rei suggested. "There's no cover, but, it would keep everyone safe."
"But we don't have anything to lure him out," MInako said. "Why would he agree? It seems like a no win for him."
"What if I could borrow Tuxedo Kamen's crystal?" Usagi asked. Everyone stared at her.
"If he made it through tonight," Minako scoffed.
Usagi clenched her fist. She had to believe that he was all right. Plus, no one could pull an vanishing act quite like him.
"If you could get it, why would we ever return it," Rei said.
"Because I think it's better that he have them than the Dark Kingdom," Usagi counter.
No one could argue with her there.
"If you get the crystal," Minako said, "then I'll take care of the challenge."
Usagi nodded in agreement and the van fell into silence until Makoto returned.
