Sailor Moon Aeons.
Book 2: Rebirth.
Act 5: Labyrinth of Mirrors.
Episode 90: Day of the mantis.

By Razor Knight
Last update: April 21, 2015
Last edited: June 11,2017

He looked at the planet. It was a cursed planet, at least for his race. "So, this is the world."

"Yes," his partner said, "this is the place where several of our kin were killed in the past. It's time for us to avenge them."

"Do you think the legends are true?"

"The defenders of this so-called 'Earth' may be strong, but we're stronger. We will defeat them."

"I feel useless."

Rei looked at Usagi. "It's not like there's been any enemy to fight against this last week."

"Still, it's just a matter of time before something new shows up."

"We'll take care of it."

"I know that, but still..."

ChibiUsa was fighting Hotaru, and was quite surprised at how much her friend had improved. "I thought you didn't have a lot of stamina."

Hotaru smiled at that. "That was true before, but all the training I've gone through is starting to help me with that. Now if you stopped jumping all around the place, it would also help me."

"Sorry, I won't let you win just because you're cute."

Hotaru nodded. "Good."

ChibiUsa saw Hotaru rush to her, and tried to jump away, but found herself unable to move. She looked down and saw skeletal hands holding her ankles. "Oh, that."

Hotaru stopped next to her, holding the tip of her practice staff against the girl's throat. "I win."

"That was cool, I didn't remember that technique."

"I don't use that one trick a lot," Hotaru admitted. "But I thought you would say I cheated..."

"A newbie would call it cheating, I call it effective." She looked at her mother. Yes, it was just as her future version had described it. "Mom..."

"I don't think you can tell me how long this will last."

"That's true, but... You could find other things to do with your time, to take your mind off-"

Usagi frowned at that. "And do what?"

"I don't know, you'll have to find out on your own."

Usagi sighed. "I guess coming here to watch others train and feel sorry for myself isn't such a great way to take my mind out of that issue."

Ami heard that and sighed. "Let's fight."

"I don't-"

"Usagi, you're not weak, even in your normal form. Actually, while in normal form the only ones who are stronger than you are Mako and Terry. But strength isn't everything."

Usagi smiled at that, then jumped off her seat without warning, going for a punch to the chest. Ami blocked that and tried to trip her, but Usagi leapt back. "You should transform."

"I don't think you would be able to keep up with a Senshi's power."

"Then I won't fight."

"Huh, why-" Ami started, but then saw Usagi punch a wall, leaving a fist-sized dent in it. Ami cringed, she had forgotten how much stronger Usagi was in normal form now. "... Usagi?"

"I'm not in a good mood, and I don't want to do something I'll regret."

"Mom, just try to take your mind off of it."

"I can't. Being a Senshi is who I am. Being a Senshi is how I met you all. If I had known how I would feel right now, I wouldn't have used that attack."

Terry had been silent through it all, but decided to speak just as Usagi started walking to the elevator. "You can't use Senshi magic right now, Usagi. Think about what that means."

"Think about..." Usagi looked at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "Damn it, why didn't I think of that earlier?"

As Usagi left, Ami walked to Terry. "I don't get what you did, but she looked happy. Thanks."

"You're smarter than me, you should know what I mean."

Ami thought about it for a few seconds before nodding. "Oh, right. She can't use Senshi magic, but there's magic other than ours."

"Maybe those three can help her."

Hotaru looked around. "You know, it's weird to not see Aiko here."

"I'm still here, at least in 'spirit,'" Aiko's voice said from the console.

"Eh, not what I meant."

"My little girl grew up so fast..." Terry mused.

"Dad, shut up."

"See?" Terry said with a sigh.

Hotaru smiled, then saw someone she wasn't quite ready to see. "Uh, hi."

Pluto smiled knowingly at her. "You don't look happy to see me, and I can understand why."

"So, it's today," ChibiUsa said. "I'm ready, but-"

Usagi walked out of the elevator. "Huh, that one part of my powers works."

"What do you mean?" Ami asked.

"I sensed Pluto was here."

"We're not leaving yet," Pluto noted, "I thought you would want to say goodbye to your friends."

"Hate to interrupt, but look at the screen."

Ami turned as Aiko said that, and looked at the map on the screen. "No idea what those are, but there's dozens of them."

"They match the readings of those weak, mantis-like creatures we've seen before," Aiko explained, "although this particular group is much stronger than expected."

Hotaru looked at ChibiUsa and smiled sadly. "Guess we'll have one last battle before you leave."

Usagi walked to the elevator. "Good luck, guys."

Rei frowned as Usagi left. Yes, her friend was quite upset, and she could understand why. Still, there was nothing they could do to help her, other than keeping the world in one piece until she was back to her old self.

Ami looked at the screen. "We've already got some help out there, so let's split up and fight. I suggest fighting in groups of two, as there isn't more than a couple of those bugs in each area."

ChibiUsa nodded at that. "Sounds like a plan."

"You should be the one leading the team during this battle," Pluto said.

"Me, I'm not-" ChibiUsa started, then sighed. "Uh, you're right." She looked at the map. "I'll get the ones near the coast, up north. Their energy readings seem higher than the rest."

"I'll help you," Hotaru said, even though she realised it was obvious she would.

ChibiUsa smiled at her, then looked around the room. "As for the rest of the team, fight alongside those you trust the most - those creatures are almost as strong as a Cosmic Senshi, so we shouldn't take risks."

"What about Yuu and Umino?" Rei asked.

"If you're worried, you should go to the shrine, Rei. He's already fighting one of those bugs."

"Crap, that guy..."

Hotaru saw Rei run into the elevator, and wasn't sure if her face had been one of worry, anger, or both. "Okay then, time to go squash some bugs."

"Sir, there's dozens of alien creatures attacking. They're spread thin, but they seem to be quite strong."

"Raiko, do you think our weaponry can-"

"It takes a lot of hits to bring them down, but we can kill them."

"Good. Head to any area where there's no Senshi-"

"The Demon Hunters are taking care of that right now, I was thinking of moving in to support them."

"That should work. Think the Senshi can deal with the rest of them?"

"After seeing what they did in that last fight, one month ago? Yeah, they can handle these bugs."

Jupiter had seen one of the bugs land, so she had already been fighting before she got Aiko's message. "Hmph, you're quite strong, ugly."

"Name's Xigale."

"I didn't ask, and I didn't care. Why are you guys here, though?"

"We intend to avenge our fallen comrades."

"Hmph, they were evil."

"So, that's your excuse. Just shut up and fight, human."

Jupiter sent a couple sparks flying at her foe, but the creature wasn't affected. Physically strong and also quite resilient against magic, that meant trouble. But she loved trouble. "Okay then, time to call a friend of mine here."

Xigale saw the huge electric construct and laughed. "So, you can't fight me one on one after all, weakling."

"This is just another of my techniques," Jupiter noted, "but I thought you said something about shutting up and fighting?" As she said that, she sent the dragon soaring towards her foe. There, while the mantis was busy, she could sneak on it and-

"Die!"

Jupiter sensed something coming her way from the side, and turned in time to see another mantis there- but it was frozen in place, as if held by something. "Nova."

Nova floated to her, and Jupiter noticed she seemed upset. "Damn it, I was up late yesterday, taking care of a Yakuza boss. These damn bugs chose quite a bad day to get here."

Jupiter saw the mantis' head explode and flinched. "Uh, thanks for the help."

Nova sighed. "No problem. Need help with that one?"

Jupiter looked at the mantis, who was still trying to get rid of her dragon. This wasn't good. There were dozens of those things in Tokyo, and she couldn't even take care of one? No, that wouldn't do. She was glad she had friends helping her when she needed it, but she couldn't let them babysit her through all the fights. No, she didn't need help.

Nova saw a large metal hammer appear, floating near Jupiter. The green-skirted Senshi grabbed the hammer, and Nova knew what was about to happen. "Oh, you found yours."

"Sure did," Jupiter said. "To answer your question, I don't think I'll need help here. Jupiter Cosmic Power!"

Nova saw the dragon grow bigger as Jupiter transformed, and then it went into her hammer. "Oh, I bet that's going to hurt."

Jupiter looked at the mantis. "Ready to die, bug?"

"You're just a weakl-"

Nova winced as the creature's head was sent flying away after being hit by the hammer. "So, that's not your old hammer?"

"Strange as it sounds, it is, and isn't. Somehow, the hammer became my Talisman... Or fused with it. Not quite sure, I'll have to ask Ami or Luna about it."

Nova saw a couple creatures fly to them. "More of those."

"I got this," Jupiter said, before leaping at the first creature. Nova noticed her hammer was gone. She then gasped as she saw Jupiter punch the first creature up, then grabbed the second creature by its legs as it tried to attack her - and used that insect to hit the one that was airborne, as it fell back to her.

"Fuck, are you girls that strong?" Nova asked as the insect flew right through a building, and vanished from view.

Jupiter smiled. "No, this... It's just like Venus' speed or Moon's skill, I seem to have much more strength than the others have at this level."

"Oh really?" Nova looked at Jupiter. "Hit me."

Jupiter sighed. "Didn't you hear-"

"Yes. Trust me, I won't get hurt."

Jupiter shrugged and swung her fist at Nova, feeling something slow down her punch. Still, Nova had to phase to the side to avoid being hit straight in the nose. "Huh, what was that?"

Nova flinched. "I tried to stop your punch with my power. I've used it to stop tank shells, machinegun barrages, that kind of things. But I didn't expect you to be that strong."

"Told ya."

Nova chuckled, then looked around. "There's a lot less bugs already, our friends are taking care of-" She then flinched. "Wow."

"What?"

"I felt a peak of power, much like yours. It's Mars."

"Something must have happened." Jupiter summoned her airboard and looked back at Nova. "Coming?"

"No, I'll go see if the Hunters need help."

"Have fun with that," Jupiter said before flying off the area.

Dragon Mars leapt back, barely dodging the creature's scythe arm. He then kicked out, but the creature was stronger than he expected, and took the hit without flinching. He parried another swipe with his sword and frowned. "I'm not going down so easily."

"There is no way you will defeat the great Wigale!"

"Stupid looks, stupid name," the Dragon muttered before trying to stab the creature through. It dodged and let out a noise close to a chuckle. "Hmph, you dodged, that means you're not invincible after all."

"You're annoying, human."

The Dragon knew this creature was out of his league, but perhaps... Yes, he could feel it, just like Rei had described it. "I'm about to get a lot more annoying. Mars Twilight Power!"

The creature tried to rush the Dragon right after he transformed, but the Dragon leapt up, using his sword to cut one of its arms off. "Oh, now I'm going to kill you until you're dead from it!"

"... That sounds stupid. Anyway, time to finish this. Mars Fire Snake!"

A large snake-like fire construct shot out from the Dragon's sword, wrapping around the creature. The insect was down on its knees as the attack ended, but so was the Dragon. "Heh, foolish human, you're still too weak to defeat one of us."

"Damn it, if I can't even defeat a dumb bug, then-"

"Flame Seeker!"

The Dragon saw a second creature run by, its upper torso set aflame. "Rei."

"You should have waited for me, Yuu."

"This one was going to wreck the temple."

"... Okay, that's a good reason, I guess," Mars said before shooting an arrow through the creature's head. "Still, you should have known these things would be out of your-"

"Die, human!"

"Rei, watch out!"

Mars saw Dragon Mars fall to the ground in front of her and gasped. He had shielded her from a sneak attack. Three of those bugs were now walking to her, but she wasn't paying attention to them. No, she could feel something else, those attacks had been too much for him, he was- "No!"

A bow appeared in front of her. It was longer than her normal bow - no, it was her normal bow, she realised, but it had changed, somehow. "A Talisman... Ifrit." She grabbed the bow, which burst aflame as she touched it, then glared at the three creatures. "You assholes killed Yuu. I won't forgive you for that. Mars Cosmic Power!"

"A new suit won't intimidate us, human," the first mantis said.

Mars smiled. "Perhaps not, but this will." She pulled the string of her bow - which was also made of flame - back, and as she did, a dozen flame bows appeared around her. "Mars Raging Inferno."

The attack burnt two of the creatures to ashes, but the third managed to dodge the arrows meant for it. As Mars fell to her knees, it laughed. "Too bad, fire wench. But don't be sad, you'll join your guy soo-"

Mars gasped in shock. There was a hand coming out of the creature's chest. "Who-"

Usagi walked out from behind the creature, pulling her arm out of its chest. "Hi."

Mars smiled at her, then looked at Dragon Mars' body. "Damn it, I-"

"It wasn't your fault."

"You saw-"

"That part of my power still works, remember?" Usagi said. "I didn't quite 'see' what happened, but I sensed what he did."

"I was stupid, telling him that he should be more careful, not checking my surroundings, now he's-"

"We can bring him back," Usagi said. "Yes, I know that's not going to make you feel better but... None of us is perfect, Rei. I died for a stupid reason, myself. But I learnt from that mistake."

"I guess... I can learn too, make sure it doesn't happen again."

"That would be good, I hate having to bring you guys back."

Mars saw Saturn was standing near them. "Huh? Hotaru? Where's Chibi-"

Saturn nodded as she kneeled next to Dragon Mars. "I just saw that girl pulverize three of those creatures in one minute. She can take care of herself."

Mars saw the Dragon open his eyes, and smiled sadly. "Welcome back."

The Dragon sat up and looked at Mars. "I know you're going to tell me that was stupid, that I shouldn't-" He stopped as Mars kissed him. "Uh, Rei?"

"What you did wasn't stupid. I was the one being an idiot, Yuu. Can you forgive me?"

"You don't need to ask, Rei," the Dragon said.

Jupiter rushed in right then. "Oh. You guys okay?"

"Sort of," Mars said, then looked at Usagi. "Thanks for the help."

Just then, another mantis flew in, and looked at them. "Oh, I found a lot of targets, how lucky of m-"

Jupiter tackled the creature, ripping its scythe-like arm before it could react, and using it to neatly slice him in half. "Not in the mood, bug."

"What-" Mars started, then noticed Jupiter's suit. "Oh, just like me."

"Before you ask, yes, I have a fancy new weapon, and a fancy new skill."

"What is it?"

Jupiter smiled and stomped on the ground. The shockwave generated by it knocked everyone off their feet, and shattered several windows around them. "You could say I'm slightly stronger than I should be."

Mars nodded. "Wow. I don't know if I got any skill, just an upgraded bow."

"Wonder what's up with that," Jupiter noted, "my hammer was my Talisman, somehow. Guess we should ask Mercury about it once this is over," Jupiter said, "but there's still more bugs out there."

"So much for our date."

Warwitch nodded at that. Aiko was right, and yet, it was times like these where she could show her friends that she was training as much as they did. "But this can be fun too. Spark Blade."

The creature they were facing was too slow to realize how the attack worked, and the blade of electricity that shot from under it cut off one of its arms. "Damn humans, you won't defeat the great Migale!"

Aiko was wearing a blue suit and mask which reminded Warwitch of Zero's suit - it was probably inspired by it - but it had no 'helmet,' just a blue mask over her eyes. "Stop staring," the 'computer girl' said as she noticed her girlfriend was distracted.

"You like it."

"I do, but right now we have to focus." As she said that, her arm lit up and a blue beam shot out, and right through the creature's chest. "This is fun, we should do it more often."

Warwitch looked around. "Is it just me, or did temperature drop a few degrees in a moment?"

Aiko looked south. "That's mom."

"Let's go see what she's up to."

It wasn't often that Sailor Mercury let her temper flare, but these bugs had managed to make this one of such rare instances. Of course, Terry's tendency to jump in the way of attacks was to blame to, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to make those bugs rue the day they hurt him.

Dragon Mercury was angry, too. If he had noticed a second earlier, he would have stopped that blast without being hurt. It was too late to complain, though, all he could do now is try to heal himself. "Get them, Ami. Saturn Star Power!"

Mercury smiled at him, but she also realized something. She was a bit angry at herself. She couldn't always be the one being saved by him. Sure, her ego didn't need a lot of food, but her time as a Senshi had changed something in her. She knew she wasn't the "back row fighter" she used to be. Not anymore.

The Dragon looked at Mercury as her body shone, and saw something he wasn't quite ready to see. Her gloves had become blue, and there seemed to be a keyboard on the left glove. "What the-"

"The Codex," Mercury said, "the true form of my computer."

"Your Talisman?" The Dragon said, noticing the bugs were as shocked as he was. It didn't matter, they would be dead in a minute. "It suits you."

Mercury smiled. "I know. Mercury Cosmic Power!"

The two creatures facing Mercury weren't impressed by her transformation. "Dumb human, it's time for you to die!"

"Likewise," Mercury said. Her visor now displayed a lot more data than before, and faster, and her new glove let her type data fast, while moving. Those two facts let her analyse her foes while dodging their blasts, and she smiled at them as she stopped dodging. "Your exo-skeleton has weak points."

"Not that it will help you!" one of the creatures snapped, right before being pierced through by an ice spike. "Ugh, you..." It looked around in confusion. "Where are you, human?"

Dragon Saturn saw a thick mist descend on the area. "Wow, is this a new skill?"

"No, it's still the same as the Shabon Spray, but since I'm much stronger than last time I used it, it also became a stronger version of itself."

The Dragon nodded. "Good. Oh crap..."

Mercury knew what he meant, five more creatures had appeared. But two of them were- "Aiko?"

"Call me Phase."

"She even chose a hero name..." Dragon Saturn muttered.

"That's partially my fault," Warwitch said, noticing the bugs weren't attacking, they obviously couldn't see a thing. "That mist is quite effective. Let's make it worse. Frost Wave."

The air around the area dropped drastically, and the bugs were barely moving. Aiko, or rather, Phase, looked at the creatures and smiled as her arm turned into a machinegun. "Eat mana, bugs!"

Warwitch saw the bugs get torn to shreds, and smiled. "Wow, you can turn your arms into weapons?"

"Yeah, I can make them into anything I want. Guns, blades, spears, whips..."

"Whips, huh?" Warwitch said with a playful smile.

Mercury looked at Yukiko, her face unreadable. "That kind of things-"

"Ami, don't worry. We haven't done anything yet," Warwitch said, "and I wouldn't force her into anything she doesn't like."

Aiko sighed. "Mom... I know I've only been self-aware for a short time, but I'm-"

"I know," Ami said dismissively. "I guess I'll have to remember you're not a child."

"I wouldn't hurt her," Warwitch said, "she's too important for me."

Dragon Saturn, or rather Dragon Mercury, walked to them, finally healed. "I know how that feels," he said and put an arm around Mercury's shoulder.

Mercury looked around. "It seems all enemies have been defeated, except for one."

"Sounds like business as usual for your group," Warwitch mused. "Tell me where they are, and I'll teleport us there."

ChibiMoon was quite surprised at how tricky these bugs were. The one she was facing now - she had noticed it becoming stronger each time one of its kin was killed. There was some sort of magic in all of them, it seems, making it so they grew stronger by feeding on the soul of their fallen comrades. "Hotaru, stay back, I can beat this one."

Saturn was about to protest, but was quite aware she had to conserve what little energy she had, just in case - no, she couldn't be thinking that way.

"She'll get that bug."

She looked at Usagi. "Always the optimistic one."

"Guilty as charged. I'm still upset at not being able to help more, but I know I can trust you all."

"We're all out of energy," Jupiter noted.

"And so are the ones who aren't here," Nova noted.

Mercury's group appeared right then, and Mercury took a second to look around before nodding. "That one creature..."

Saturn nodded. "It absorbed the soul of the dead ones, even those miles away from it. Its power is beyond that of a Cosmic Senshi now."

"Maybe we should call Pluto," Mars commented.

"No," ChibiMoon said as she leapt back to where the others were. She had a small cut in her left arm, and looked quite tired, but the others could see her foe was just as worn out. "I know it would be easy to just call her here and get her to kill this bug, but... That's not how Senshi should be. And I'm supposed to become a leader when I grow up. I can beat this bug."

"Be careful," Saturn said.

"Actually, I won't be," ChibiMoon said. "Earth Cosmic Power!"

"Well, that bug is fried," Dragon Mercury joked.

Mercury nodded. "It is. ChibiMoon's power is much higher now, higher than even that creature."

The mantis laughed at that. "No human can be stronger than the mighty Shigale!"

ChibiMoon was rushing at the creature, but suddenly leapt to the side, leaving something behind. It was the Luna-P, and it swiftly transformed into a large gun turret. The creature used its arms to stop the turrets, while ChibiMoon kept running, circling around and rushing at it from its back. Her foe, however, did something she wasn't expecting, it turned its head back all the way, and shot twin green beams from its eyes, knocking her back.

"Chibi, let me help-"

The pink-haired Senshi staggered up, a couple burnt marks near her shoulder. "Trust me, I can handle this."

Shigale saw the girl had a pink aura around her. "Hmph, no matter how much you power up, you're still not going to win!"

"I don't need to power up to win, sometimes wits are more important than brawn."

The creature felt something hit it from the front and turned around. It saw it was just a pink airboard, but then realized its mistake, a split second before ChibiMoon's large sword punched through its chest. "This is... Impossible."

ChibiMoon pulled the sword out of Shigale's body, then rose it, bringing it down swiftly and cutting the creature in half. "Haven't you heard? Nothing is impossible for us."

Usagi sighed in relief as the creature's body vanished. "Guess that's one crisis averted."

"The city looks pretty wrecked, though," Jupiter commented.

ChibiMoon sighed. "Let's go back to the base, I want to see everyone before I leave."

A few hours later, all of the Senshi - and their allies - were inside the underground base. "So, you're leaving now?" Yukiko asked.

ChibiUsa smiled. "Yeah."

"Where's Pluto?"

"I can get to Crystal Tokyo without her," ChibiUsa noted, "and I guess she knows I won't stay more than I need to."

Diana looked at the other Mooncats. "Guess I'll see you all later. Much later."

Luna nodded. "We'll miss you."

Hotaru walked to ChibiUsa and hugged her. She then leaned in to kiss her, but ChibiUsa put a hand in front of her lips to block it. "... Why?"

"I hate farewells, they make me sad. I don't want our 'last' kiss to be a sad one."

Hotaru smiled at that. "I... Guess you're right. Let's make our next kiss a happy one."

"That's a promise," ChibiUsa said, then looked at Usagi. "Mom..."

"I'll miss you, but at the same time, I'm happy."

"Why?"

"I know that my daughter will one day be one of the strongest, most reliable persons I've met."

ChibiUsa looked down and sighed. "Uh, I guess you're right." She took out her key, looking at everyone, but staring at Hotaru for a few seconds. She looked at the key, then closed her eyes. "No, I have one last thing to say."

"What is it?" Usagi asked.

"Mom... Sailor Moon will be back in one month."

Usagi blinked in shock as ChibiUsa vanished. "... That-"

Hotaru smiled. "I don't think she would have said it if you weren't meant to know it."

"Uh, that's true. Not sure if I should be glad it's only one month, or upset that I still have one month left of being a weakling."

"A weakling who killed one of those creatures in one punch," Rei commented.

"Guess I did that."

Aiko walked to Usagi. "Perhaps you could do what I did."

Hana smiled at that. "Phase, though?"

Aiko looked at Nova. "Best name I could think of."

Usagi sighed. "With a little luck, we won't have any other attacks for a while." But even as she said that, she knew the universe had a way to not do things the way they wished it to. She wasn't complaining, though. Despite everything she had gone through, she was lately finding her 'job' to be fun. "One month, huh? I'll be waiting."

Hotaru looked at the spot ChibiUsa had been standing on before vanishing. "I'll be waiting, too."

A/N: Had too few of those bugs around in this version of the story. But now they're all dead, so the Senshi don't need to worry about them anymore.

That last bit may or may not have been sarcasm.