SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 7 out, this is Chapter 8 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Pairings: Mainly Tieria/Sasha, Allelujah/Marie, Lockon Jr./Anew, Billy/Sumeragi, Patrick/Kati
Standard BS Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon, Gundam 00 or the pairings. If I did, the other Senshi would be as powerful as Sailor Moon and kicking MOTD ass more often and VEDA would have least an anti-hacker program installed. The only thing I do own is the plot.
Chapter 8: Talisman
Heartless, Chaos' newest incarnation, was born out of the darkness of a person's heart and fed on its host's insecurities in order to become stronger.
And the parasitic four-legged crab life-form found its newest host in the form of Neo-Queen Serenity; the reborn Queen of Earth had been harboring negative thoughts about her right to rule Crystal Tokyo when rumors began festering that it had been Sasha who laid the foundation for Crystal Tokyo and Neo-Queen Serenity merely took credit for Sasha's work. There was even more malicious rumors that maybe this was the Neo-Queen's plan along; sending her soldiers to do her dirty work while she kept her hands clean.
It was not long before Neo-Queen Serenity began to feel that perhaps those rumors were correct, when the former Federation turned to Sasha for further guidance to their orders.
In a bid to reassert her dominance and urged by the growing Heartless within her heart, the Neo-Queen began giving more outrageous orders; each Senshi was to kneel at her feet whenever they sought an audience with her. Serenity then ordered extravagant yet unnecessary expansions on the Crystal Palace and gave the most rigid deadlines; any contractor who was unable to meet her deadlines was either executed or banished. In order to finance her exuberant spending, the common people were taxed heavily
When the Outer Senshi voiced their concerns over the Queen's over-indulgence, the Heartless, in order not to tip it's hand too early, had Serenity use the objection as an excuse to send the Outer Senshi to their respective planets and stand guard against outside invaders. Silver Sailor Saturn was confined to the Titan Castle, with explicit orders not to step into the Crystal Palace unless commanded.
With the Outer Senshi culled, the Neo-Queen's arrogance became unbound as she further ordered anyone who sought an audience with her to sing her praises, exalting her merits so as to feed her own ego.
Three months later...
Realizing that there was something sinister going on with Serenity, Sasha pleaded for a vacation and sought out Silver Sailor Neptune in secret.
After the ice Senshi relayed her concerns to the older Senshi, Silver Sailor Neptune brought out the 'Deep Aqua Mirror' to ascertain the other water user's worries.
Upon discovering the Heartless' presence, both water wielders simultaneously agreed that the Holy Grail was essential to flushing out the parasite.
Sometime later, in the Crystal Palace's large hall...
"What is the meaning of this, Outer Senshi?" Neo-Queen Serenity cast a disdain expression at the arriving Outer Senshi who had walked into the main hall. "I thought I had orders for all of you to remain at your posts. You dare disregard your liege's orders?"
"We dare if your orders are unjust." Silver Sailor Uranus stepped forward.
"Guards, seize them!" Neo-Queen Serenity barked.
"Permafrost Zone!" Silver Sailor Mercury's area-of-effect spell locked the surrounding guards in ice. "Please kindly stay put where we deal with this." she requested.
"This is treason!" Neo-Queen Serenity shouted, suddenly fearful when Silver Sailor Neptune pulled out the 'Deep Aqua Mirror'.
"Submarine Reflection!" the Ocean Senshi blasted a beam of seawater from the handheld mirror at the Queen.
Neo-Queen Serenity let out a pained scream when the attack hit her body and forcing the deformed Heartless parasite out of its host.
"Ice Chain Binding!" Silver Sailor Mercury instantly sent a series of ice chains around the writhing crustacean's body, preventing it from escaping.
The three Outer Senshi then stood in a triangle with Silver Sailor Mercury in the middle and held out their Talismans, summoning the Holy Grail. Said Sacred Cup then floated into Silver Sailor Mercury's hands and allowing her to take on her Kheimon form.
"Aurora Execution." the Horae of Winter whispered, the attack turning the trapped Heartless into icy dust.
SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Read and review.