Sailor Moon Aeons.
Book 2: Rebirth.
Act 7: The Senshi of Chaos.
Episode 102: Diamond in the rough.

By Razor Knight
Last update: June 23, 2015
Last edited: June 13, 2017

Brad was surprised by what Usagi had just explained. "So you can use magic without having to chant the spell or move. That's impressive. And to be honest, I didn't expect you to be the first to learn how to do that."

"You knew it was possible?" Minako asked.

"It was... A legend. Looking back, maybe I should have told you about this before, I've seen quite a few 'legends' about the Senshi come true already. Anyways, this is how it goes: Every Senshi can, with practice, do what Usagi says she can do. Some normal mages were rumored to be able to do that too, but it was said only the strongest non-Senshi mages could reach that goal, as it took them countless years to master such skill."

"Let me guess, Merlin?"

"Yeah, that guy was what every Hunter would want to be."

Usagi smiled. "I guess I should show you what I can do, then if anyone wants to try..."

"Go ahead," Terry said, "only person I knew who can use 'magic' that way is Hana - but I'm not even sure she's using mana."

Usagi nodded, then stood still for a few seconds. Arcs of electricity started running along her arms, then a blast of lightning came, not from her hands, but from her torso, hitting the far wall of the room. Before the others could react to this, Usagi had already summoned light crescents - lunar magic - which swirled around her body like a sort of shield. "In a way," she explained, turning to look at Brad, without her movement disrupting the magic 'bubble' around her, "this is a lot like controlling our airboards, or our weapons."

"It would help us a lot in battle," Ami admitted, "so we should all try to learn how to do it."

"I never saw you train to do that," Aiko noted.

"It didn't take me too long to get it right, once I knew what I wanted to do. And you wouldn't have seen a thing, as most of the training is silent and motionless." As Usagi said that, the light around her turned black.

"Quit showing off," Rei muttered.

"Showing off is the best way of showing how," Terry mused. "Anyhow, I think someone else already figured it out."

Being focused on Usagi, the others hadn't noticed it, but Minako was holding a ball of light in her hand - without having called out any attack. "Heh, sure did. Just as Usagi says, it's not that hard to-" she stopped as the light in her hand started wobbling. "... Crap." The others leapt away just as the energy in Minako's hand exploded. She didn't look hurt, other than in her pride.

Usagi nodded. "Even after you got it, you still need to practice for a while. The slightest distraction, the smallest movement, could disrupt your spell if you don't learn to control it."

"One would think it would be easier, since we already do these spells while moving and calling them out."

Brad shook his head. "Actually, the movement and words help the mage focus and give shape to the spell. Without movement or words, the spell is harder to cast."

"Worth a shot," Rei said. The others noticed she had flames wrapped around her arms. The flames faded out and she sighed. "The old me wouldn't admit this, but I'm impressed you could master something this difficult, Usagi."

Usagi smiled at her. "I don't think I've mastered it yet, which is why I hadn't used it in battle until recently."

"Even the master needs to practice," Terry said, "Just try not to blow the base to bits while practicing, guys."

"We shouldn't even joke about that," Minako said, "what would happen to Aiko if-"

Aiko chuckled. "I guess I never told you this, guys, but I've managed to transfer my 'soul' to this body. I can make copies, that's how I can use more than one body at a time. I still have a link with the base's computer, but I wouldn't 'die' if it was destroyed."

"That's good to know," Usagi said, "weird, too, but we're used to weird."

"Mouse, you've failed enough. If your next target doesn't have a golden seed, then I'll put Siren in charge."

Sailor Iron Mouse kneeled before the woman scolding her. She had no reason to complain, nor she wanted to - despite her own power, she knew Galaxia was too strong for her. And her loyalty to her, though born from fear, was still enough to keep her from trying. "I understand, Queen Galaxia. I'll need to choose my target better."

"That you do. And don't underestimate your enemies, like Papillion did."

Mako was a bit angry at herself. She had had plenty of chances to talk to him lately, but she had let them slip. What was she afraid of? That he didn't like her? Usagi said he did, and that girl was a damn romance detector. Afraid of falling in love and then losing him? He could die, they all could die. That didn't stop any of the other girls and guys in her team, so why... She sighed. She had decided to go for a walk, to clear her mind, but it wasn't helping.

"Mako? What's the matter?"

Mako turned to her left and saw someone leaning on a tall fence. She blushed as she saw who it was. "Uh, I was... Just going for a walk. What are you doing here?"

"This is where Setsuna lives... Well, she isn't around a lot."

"Oh." Mako looked at him. She didn't plan on meeting him, and a part of her was still terrified, but she knew running from this particular problem would not help, at all. "Kage, listen, I..."

Kage smiled. "I know."

Mako sighed. "I need to say it. I like you. No, it's more than just 'like.' I've been a fool, not telling you this for months, but I'm tired of running away."

"I like you, too," Kage said, "you're strong, a good friend and a great cook. I was also a fool, doubting myself because of the past. Let's make sure neither of us regrets this."

"I guess going for a walk did help, after all," Mako mused.

"Should we go to the base?"

"Is that a date?" Mako asked back in jest.

"Heh, no. I've already got something planned, though."

"... Now you've made me curious."

Usagi was at the base, once again. After her explanation the day before, most of her friends had started practicing, and some of them were already showing results. "Nice, Rei."

Rei had a falcon-like flame construct perched on her right shoulder. "It's still hard to keep the spell stable, but not impossible."

Usagi saw the elevator's doors opening, and chuckled. "Finally, you guys."

Terry wondered what she meant for a second, then looked at the two who had walked out of the elevator. Mako and Kage, who were holding hands. "I can't talk, but it did take you a while."

Hotaru walked to the new couple and smiled at them. "I've been trying to convince this guy to confess for months. Glad he finally-"

"... She confessed to me first."

"Figures," Hotaru said with fake disappointment. "Still, I'm happy for you."

"Are you okay?" Kage asked, noticing her mood was not quite as bright as she was trying to pretend it was.

"I'm still getting used to the idea of having to wait for so long," Hotaru admitted. "But I won't let that bring me down."

"No offense," Rei said, "but you seemed so sure of your decision before she left, I was surprised to see your mood change after she was gone."

"I know. I was wrong, I thought I was ready, I convinced myself that I was. But the day after she left, I came back to the base expecting to see her, and didn't find her here. I didn't find her anywhere. That's when it finally hit me." She looked at Mako and Kage and smiled apologetically. "Uh, sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the mood."

"I'm actually proud of you, in a way," Mako admitted, "back when you joined us you didn't look like you felt anything."

"Won't say that's wrong," Hotaru said. "Anyhow, back to training."

Kage saw a ghastly figure following Hotaru as she walked away, and smiled. "Back then, you didn't like showing off, either."

"That's not showing off, that's training," Hotaru said.

Aiko suddenly frowned. "Ugh, trouble."

Usagi nodded. "I can sense Iron Mouse. She's... Damn, it's Naru."

The afternoon at the Osa-P jewelry had been calm thus far, but Naru knew that was about to change as she saw the white-haired woman walking in. "Mom, I have to go."

Her mother understood what Naru meant by the way she looked at her. "Okay, be careful."

Naru walked to Iron Mouse, who was surprised by that. "Since I know I won't be able to stop you, can I at least ask for one thing?"

"Uh... Sure, I guess."

"Don't turn me so close to my house, I don't want to wreck it."

"Oh, that's all? I suppose I can agree to that, it doesn't change a thing for me."

"Good." Naru summoned her airboard and flew away. "Follow me, then."

Iron Mouse floated up, then sped forwards, matching the board's speed easily. "If you're thinking about setting a trap, then-"

"What for? We haven't found a way to get rid of you yet."

Mouse smirked at the 'yet' then saw Naru stopping. "So, are you ready?"

Just as she said that, she was hit from the side by a light beam. "Hey there, Paper Hamster."

Mouse glared at Moon and the other Senshi. "I thought this wasn't a trap."

Naru shrugged. "It wasn't, but Moon can sense you from a city away."

"Big deal," Mouse said then vanished, reappearing right next to Naru and taking her seed before anyone could try to stop her. "Aaaaaaand another dud. Damn it."

"Starlight Inferno!"

Mouse was knocked out of the sky, but managed to recover before hitting the ground. "Oh great, so the three pest are all alive. This has been a good night."

"You won't get the golden seed."

"Keep pestering us and Galaxia will destroy you, fool. See you!"

Moon saw Mouse vanish, and the other girl gave her a short stare before also vanishing. "I wonder who those three are."

"This season's flavor of mystery Senshi?" Dragon Mercury joked.

"Their suits are very different to ours," Mercury noted, "it's likely they're alien Senshi, like Helios."

"Ruby Flash!"

Moon sensed something and moved to the side, barely dodged a red energy beam. "Guess it's Naru's turn."

Naru was now wearing a Senshi suit much like her own, except this one was completely made of dark gemstones. "Stop it right there, evildoers, or Sailor Jewel will give you all a clear cut."

Moon said nothing, just rushed down, energy blasts shooting out of her hands as she flew.

"Diamond shell!" Jewel's body was covered in diamonds, and the blasts were all reflected. "You will never defeat- Eek!"

Mars smirked as she watched Moon chase 'Sailor Jewel' around, shooting attack after attack without saying a word. The 'shield' Jewel had summoned was soon gone, and Moon managed to get close and punch her back. Still, Jewel wasn't too affected, and laughed at her attacker. "Guess she'll need help."

"Emerald Wave!"

Jupiter saw Moon leap up to dodge a green wave of energy. "I got this!" Moon had been about to attack again, but then sensed something, and jumped back. Jupiter had leapt off her airboard and landed right next to Jewel, grabbing her and slamming her on the ground a couple times - cracking the concrete where she hit. "And stay down."

Moon returned Naru's seed and sighed. "I guess that's one way to deal with these fake Senshi."

Jupiter shrugged. "It worked, didn't it?"

Naru staggered up and groaned. "Don't tell me what I turned into, I'm sure I'll regret knowing."

"Just someone crazy about jewels."

"Good thing Umino wasn't around, I would never hear the end of that."

Moon gave Naru a smile that was one sound effect away from a chuckle. "Who knows, perhaps I'll tell him about it when he comes back."

"Don't be a pest, Usagi," Naru muttered. "Anyhow, I have to go tell mom I'm okay."