CHAPTER 14
It had been almost two weeks since the Sailor Scouts had rescued Molly, Melvin and all the others. Things were so quiet that people were holding hope that the terror had passed and public opinion had fully shifted back to praise and admiration for their super heroine team. Everybody was talking about the newest member, Sailor Mini-Moon.
"Cousin" Rini had come back for another extended "visit" courtesy of Serena's "Aunt" Trista and Serena's parents and brother Sammy were very thrilled with her company. The Scouts knew that sooner or later the enemy would strike again and Rini vowed to help them. "After I returned home my mother and father began authorizing the future selves of your friends to train me to follow in her footsteps as the new Sailor Moon," she explained to Serena.
"Hey! I don't like that term new. I'm Sailor Moon and I'm not ready to step down."
"You're not being told to step down silly Meat-ball Head. I'm going to be Sailor Moon in Crystal Tokyo while your future self rules as Queen of the Earth. When I was sent back to this time period it was to help you, but also partly because your friends in the future don't have enough time to devote themselves to the training I need. I decided to call myself Sailor Mini-Moon to distinguish myself from you. You do want my assistance, don't you?"
These words brought Serena to her senses and she humbly apologized. Rini smiled and gave her a hug. Meanwhile although they sometimes had given the Inner Scouts a helping hand, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune still kept to themselves while they carried on searching for Sailor Saturn as instructed by Pluto.
In the interim Raye had untertaken charge of helping to organize a festival being run by a good friend of her grandfather. She was part of the committee and they had assigned her primarily with booking entertainment. Her friends, particularly Mina and Serena, had been so excited they asked her if she could arrange special free passes for them. Serena used the words best friend privileges. However Raye said, "I'm sorry girls, but they're not authorizing free tickets for anybody." Then after a pause she thought of something. "There is a way I can get you in without having to pay however." Serena and the others were very thrilled to hear that.
"Oh wow!"
"Thank you Raye."
"You're very kind."
Raye smiled. "My pleasure."
"Could you do the same for me please?" Rini suddenly spoke up and everybody looked at her.
Raye considered a moment before slowly saying, "Well, I suppose so Rini. If you are prepared to make the same commitment as the others to the terms involved."
"I certainly will Raye."
Meanwhile at Professor Tomoe's lab there was a hive of buzzing activity and poor Hotaru was very worried and scared. She had been just as shocked and sorrowful to begin with as the rest of her family when Kaori and Cenecienta had been killed. She had cried bitterly for her mother and sister, though she felt that Cenecienta was still close to her. It felt almost like she was inside her waiting to get out one day. It wasn't the same feeling as her grief for Kaori and it puzzled her. But what really upset her was the change that had come over her father. There was something about him that was not had been making new creations with his wife's refrigerated blood samples non-stop until he used them all up and now she had a much larger family than she had imagined she would have. Those who were created before Cenecienta had helped raise them and Hotaru did love them all, but her dad was terrifying to her. Plus the way he stirred up her sisters to get ready to fight and kill the enemies who had been responsible for their loss even unto their own death disturbed her. She was no longer frightened of three of the witches for she noticed they had unease about the situation also, but Eudial and Tellu were still rather creepy.
They were finally ready to make their first move and "Auntie" Eudial was going to take Dieheart and a sister who had been created from a drum and its drumsticks. Her name was Soiya, she had blue skin and she loved playing her own drum.
Eudial said, "We have reason to believe that those wicked girls will be at the festival in town tonight Professor. I shall drive Dieheart and Soiya in my personal car and point them out to them."
Germatoid spoke out of the professor's mouth. "Thank you Auntie Eudial. While the girls are valiantly fighting you know what to do."
"Yes I do indeed."
Later at the festival Serena and her friends were stationed at a stall with a large pool where little kids could attempt to scoop their very own pet goldfish with a paddle and net. There was a theme about wearing kimonos at this festival and everybody was joining in with the spirit of it all. Mina wore orange, Lita wore green, Amy wore light blue and Rini wore red. Even though Rini was a kid herself she had assured the rest of the committee that she was keen to help out when Raye had vouched for her and they had let her in free of charge as a worker. Currently she was helping the other kids try to scoop goldfish with Mina and Lita while Amy had half an hour maximum to look around and have fun. Then she would come back and give one of the others a turn.
As for Serena, she had a bright pink kimono and the task of ringing a gong and calling out, "Goldfish scooping. Come right here and try your luck at scooping yourself a beautiful goldfish."
She was not happy however. "This is not what I had in mind when Raye said she'd get us in for free."
"Oh come on Serena. This is fun and we can take turns looking around," Mina gently admonished her.
Serena turned around holding out the gong and growled. "Then take over from me for half an hour."
This time Rini who said to her, "Now now be patient Serena. We agreed that one by one the four of us will take turns. Then one of us will take over the gong for you."
"How did I get landed with the gong job anyway?"
Lita laughed. "Because you have the loudest voice when you shriek." Rini and Mina laughed too and even the kids around the pool laughed.
Defeated Serena turned back to face the crowd, composed herself and resumed beating her gong. "Come and catch a goldfish at the goldfish scoop pool."
A familiar voice said, "Why hello Serena."
Turning to her left Serena saw who had just spoken. It was Amara dressed in a dark blue kimono and by his side stood Michelle in a light brown. "Hello you two. Your clothing is awesome. They suit you well."
Mina and Lita said hello to them and they shared a smile at Rini. "Why hello little girl," said Amara.
Michelle grinned. "So you're a friend of Serena are you? Any friend of Serena's is a friend of Amara and me. It's as if we've already met. We feel that close to all Serena's friends. Isn't that right Amara?"
"That's true Michelle. We even feel just like we knew Serena long ago. One can never forget her personality."
Serena took this as a compliment even though she felt tempted to say she hoped Amara meant that in a positive way. She kept quiet though and Rini said, "I'm very pleased to meet you both," with a quick wink and nod of her head.
Serena then asked if Amara would like to try his luck catching a goldfish Michelle said, "I love goldfish."
"Okay I'll have a go Michelle."
Amy arrived back at her post just in time to see Amara and Michelle kneeling down at the pool. Amara was astounding. In two seconds flat he had scooped a fish out of the water and the girls put it in a plastic water bag congratulating them heartily.
They said goodbye and walked off to enjoy the other attractions together and Amy relieved Mina while Serena grudgingly resumed her job with the gong calling out to the crowds.
Getting back to the Tomoe residence Hotaru was even more confused about what was going on. Ever since losing Cenecienta and her mother things had not been the same. Her sisters, old and new, still loved her very much, but instead of the fun and games they used to have they were vigorously training for combat under her insane father's instructions. The witches were helping too. Dieheart and Soiya were preparing to go for a drive with Eudial soon to the festival to track down the girls who had bereaved their family. Germatoid and Mistress 9 had sensed their secret identities during the last big showdown and they could tell whereever they happened to be. Germatoid was possessing the professor all the time goading him on in his maniacal obsession with revenge, but Mistress 9 would be accompanying Eudial when she set out.
There were a couple of new sisters who did not respond to training well. Doorknobdarhad been made from a door. Germatoid had realized after a few tried that it was just too big to fit into the oven. Therefore he had directed the professor to saw off the area with the doorknob on and used that to create her. When she was mature enough to understand they gave her a metallic door to hold in one of her hands and swing it like a weapon. She did not take to training very well though. She hated the killers of her mother and sister with venom yes. But her heart wasn't really in learning to fight. She lacked courage and confidence.
There was another sister created from a comic book who did not turn out responsive at all. It seemed she had been "born" with some brain damage and she never relinquished the mindset of a child unlike all the others. Her name was Tomodachi and she resembled a large doll in her facial features with red pony-tails. She took to dressing in the clothing style of a pre-schooler and spent all her time playing with Hotaru. Despite her unease Hotaru enjoyed Tomo's company and one more sister with green skin, pointy ears and a mop of bushy hair covering her eyes from immediate sight took Tomo under her wing and grew close to Hotaru as well. Her name was Chagama and she was created from a tea-kettle. She took a natural liking to making tea in her spare time and would make delicious green herbal tea to drink with Hotaru and Tomo.
Apart from this Hotaru never had any social times with any of her sisters to speak of and she began to feel as if Tomo and Chagama were all the family she had left. All the others were in combat school all the time. Germatoid permittedChagama to have a limited training time because he and Mistress 9 realized Hotaru needed something to keep her moderately content so she wouldn't be in the way and Tomo was best kept aside also. Mimette, Cyprine and Byruit were still enthusiastic for their plans to succeed, though they secretly worried about their favourite "neices" and hoped they could protect them somehow. Tellu was completely eager and helped Eudial get Soiya and Dieheart equipped and ready to use the car that had belonged to Souchi and Kaori for their little excursion.
"Thank you Auntie Tellu. I'm ready for battle," said Soiya.
"Me too," said Dieheart. "Let's go Auntie Eudial. We will fight courageously for our daddy and sisters."
"Get in girls and I'll take you. Wish us luck Auntie Tellu."
"I know you'll succeed. Goodbye girls."
They said goodbye too as Eudial started the car and drove off. Soiya in the front passenger seat and Dieheart in the back. She grinned and thought to herself. "Perhaps it really will be goodbye to those girls. But they're worth the sacrifice because Eudial will get new replacement hearts while our enemy is being distracted."
At the festival it was finally Serena's turn to go walking around. The last of her friends had returned with none other than Raye herself. With a cheerful smile Raye said, "You girls have all been doing a very good job. I've heard good comments from the people, even though some of them do say that the gong girl is sometimes a little grumpy."
Serena opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it biting back her indignation. "Oh well. Maybe I did express once or twice how eager I was to look around Raye."
Raye laughed. "That's just you Serena. But no big deal. Why don't you come for a wander with me while Rini takes over the gong?"
"Oh boy! I get to play with the gong!" Rini was excited.
Serena was only too happy to pass it over and Rini eagerly struck it calling out, "Goldfish scooping! Right here! Many little goldfish are waiting to be taken to a happy home of their own!"
Amy, Lita and Mina said a cheery farewell to Serena and Raye as they set off together.
Meanwhile Eudial was parking the car somewhere in the nearby car park. "According to my sixth sense Soiya and Dieheart, we'll find some of those fiends nearby here."
"Lead us to them Auntie Eudial."
"I'm ready to help Soiya battle them."
Mistress 9 quietly told Eudial to take them into the festival. "I can sense two of them will be just inside around there."
Indeed the goldfish pool was way towards the opposite end of the area and Serena and Raye were making their way towards the entrance browsing the stalls together.
Soiya had her drums slung over her shoulder and Dieheart had more of them over her shoulder. They also each had a large club-like drumstick in each hand. They were prepared to use these instruments as weapons.
As they entered Soiya shouted out loud. "Where are the warriors known as the Sailor Scouts? My sister and I have a score to settle with them!"
People screamed in terror and a woman cried, "Help! Monsters are attacking us!"
Eudial watched as Dieheart and Soiya moved into the midst of the crowd. Dieheart said, "All we want are those Sailor Scouts and we won't leave till we deal with them."
The word was beginning to quickly spread along the festival that there was an invasion. When it reached the ears of Serena and Raye they both ducked behind the back of a stall and transformed.
Leaping out they declared for all to hear. "I'm Sailor Moon, the champion of justice!"
"I'm Sailor Mars and I fight with fire!"
"The Sailor Scouts are here! They will save us!" exclaimed somebody amidst cheers from all.
Soiya and Dieheart immediately threw a drum each at them. Sailor Moon was taken completely by surprise as it struck her on the chest knocking her down backwards while Sailor Mars barely dodged.
Sailor Mars saw the two creatures running at them holding another drum each. "What on earth is this kind of attack?" They had not expected something like the sort and Sailor Mars had her arms pinned to her sides as Soiya slammed the drum down upon her head. It completely broke and her head went through and half her body. She was dazed and reeling from the blow and Sailor Moon was dealt the same trick by Dieheart as she sat up on the ground. Dieheart and Soiya had their large drumsticks ready to begin bludgeoning the two Scouts viciously. People screamed in terror. But nobody had the guts to try to help them against these two savagely angry beings.
It was looking terrible but before the first blows could be struck Soiya and Dieheart turned in response to a little voice cry out. "Stop right there. I am Sailor Mini-Moon and in the name of the future Moon Kingdom, I shall defeat you and save my colleagues."
The two sisters turned their attention to her. "Those two are helpless Dieheart. Let's quickly kill the small one together."
"I'm with you Soiya."
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars struggled in vain to free their trapped arms. "Look out Mini-Moon."
"Where, oh where are Tuxedo Mask and the others?" groaned Sailor Moon helplessly.
Sailor Mini-Moon her little scepter with the pink heart and cried, "PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!"
Her heart skipped a beat when nothing happened and Soiya kicked out with one foot knocking her down. She and Dieheart bent their legs crouching down with their clubs raised. But Mini-Moon was not a quitter. She knew she could handle her weapon and sat up trying again. "PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!"
Thrusting the weapon in Soiya's face she was satisfied as this time it emitted a stream of little pink hearts that struck her in the face knocking her backwards. Before Dieheart knew it she too received a blast directed at her face. Then Sailor Mini-Moon maintained a steady stream aimed from one girl to the other. They both tried to crawl away but Sailor Mini-Moon relentlessly followed hitting them in the backside with the pink hearts.
"OUCH! OW! It hurts so very much!"
"Auntie Eudial! Where are you? Come and help us!"
But "Auntie" Eudial seemed to have vanished.
Suddenly Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars found Uranus and Neptune by their sides working hard to pull the drums off them.
"What's going on?"
Uranus explained. "We were observing how the Small One fared in battle. We were going to quickly come to her rescue if she didn't get the upper hand before she was too hurt."
Neptune added. "But she came through just in time. Her mother the Queen Serenity will be very proud of her."
The drums were finally removed and Uranus said, "We suggest you strike hard now while the enemy is incapacitated."
Sailor Mars shouted, "Finish off both those creeps Sailor Moon."
She took her tiara and it transformed into her new and improved scepter weapon.
"MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!"
Sailor Mini-Moon stopped her own attack and ran safely aside as Sailor Moon's attack approached. Soiya and Dieheart barely had time to look up and acknowledge what was hitting them as it struck. They were seemingly absorbed by a huge pink heart-shape and completely vanished. All the people cheered, but Sailors Neptune and Uranus were already gone as was typical of them.
Moon and Mars noticed Lita, Mina and Amy among the cheering crowd along with Darien. Later when they were able to join the others in their civilian identities Rini explained that when Darien had suddenly shown up at the goldfish pool and quietly informed them of what was starting to happen before the panicked crowd spread the word, she had pleaded with them to let her try to help them by herself as part of her training. Then while people were running and screaming Darien had said, "I think you deserve a chance, but if you need help we'll all transform and help you."
"That won't be necessary," a voice had spoken out of nowhere.
"We will keep an eye on her." That was a second voice.
Looking into the goldfish pool they had all been amazed to behold the faces of Uranus and Neptune staring up at them. Not Rini though. In face she smiled and waved to them.
"What?" gasped Lita.
"You- you actually know we are?" exclaimed Mina.
"Yes, but there's no time to ask how."
"Small Lady. Transform and go to your friends help quickly."
And so it had taken place as recorded earlier. To begin with Serena and Raye were just as dumbfounded to learn the mysterious pair of Outers knew their secret identities. But then Amy said, "Perhaps Sailor Pluto told them?"
"Yeah. That makes sense," said Lita.
"Maybe also Queen Serenity and the rest of our future selves informed them?" Mina added in afterthought.
Serena was incensed about this. "So they know who we are, but we don't know who they are. That's not fair." Then she addressed Rini. "Hey you must know them very intimately. Tell us who they are."
"Sorry Serena. I promised Sailor Pluto to respect the others privacy as long as they desire to stay incognito."
Serena ranted and raved to no avail. "I will not be intimidated into breaking my promise Serena. The fact that you're my future mother won't work."
Raye took it a bit more calmer, though she determined to privately have sessions with the Sacred Flame whenever she could. The others including Darien were all easy understanding however.
In the meantime poor Hotaru was confined to bed. When Soiya and Dieheart were destroyed she had felt their pain and she was feeling sick and weak. It felt like her three lost sisters were inside her tummy churning up her insides and she could barely eat for the first day. Chagama made her some herbal tea which did help somewhat and poor Tomodachi sat by her bedside also. The professor never even showed any concern for her. He was too busy maniacally leading all the rest of the family to solemnly vow to kill these evil girls or die trying like their sisters did. They were all growing to hate the Sailor Scouts with deeply bitter rege-filled grief. They did make some time to take turns visiting Hotaru at least. "Please get well. We will destroy these dreadful enemies and avenge our mother and sisters," they all promised her. She was scared indeed. She didn't understand why these terrible things were happening and she felt helpless. Would she lose all her sisters?
As for the witches, while Soiya and Dieheart had fought to the death Eudial had taken advantage of the distraction to kidnap a family consisting of a married couple, three children and an uncle, the father's brother. She had quickly sealed them in a bubble and transported them to the hide-out where the other witches were waiting and now they all joined Kaori as zombies. Their heart collection was building up from scratch. Eventually other family members and friends would start to worry about them and rumours would fly around town once more. Finally the ghost of Nephlite was still trapped in his own bubble. He was furious but helpless to escape his enchanted prison. What did Germatoid and Mistress 9 have in store for him?