PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON: FUTURE
Chapter 51: Shiramura Hikaru
In Upala Acropolis, the apple tree housing Eris' spirit loomed over the courtyard like some nightmarish organ with black blood vessels branching about everywhere. About a hundred Apples of Discord clung tightly to the branches, lighting up the dark tree with dots of golden radiance that only served to make it appear creepier rather than beautiful. If one looked closer at the main tree however, they would find that the pitch black wood and bark actually formed a woman's body, with her legs rooted into the ground while her hair and arms raised up to form the hundreds of branches. Although the female figure's face was mostly blank, two holes were formed to show a pair of golden glows representing Eris' eyes.
This was what happened to the malevolent goddess after Selene, better known as Queen Serenity, caused a tremendous amount of damage to her body with the Silver Crystal before banishing her out of the Milky Way Galaxy. Eris couldn't restore her original body, but had found herself wandering through the cosmos until she happened upon Alkima Galaxy. Her hatred for Selene, which no other being could even hope to compete with, turned into scheming for revenge once she found out about the war between the Sailor Soldiers here.
Furthermore, Eris had felt a presence similar to hers here. Someone else was born from the same darkness that she was. To her surprise, she had sensed that person possessing a Sailor Crystal as well, meaning that a Sailor Soldier of darkness lived here in secret. Eris' original goal was to find this Soldier and entice her into cooperating with her, but after scouring the galaxy for any clues to this girl's identity, she came up empty-handed. The idea behind seducing Sailor Upala with promises of power and victory was actually a backup plan.
Even so, Eris never forgot about that potentially 'dark' Sailor Soldier. For the longest time, she figured that she had been destroyed along with her planet when the Opal of Culling was used to wipe out Alkima. Eris often pondered as to how a Sailor Soldier could possess the darkness of Chaos, the antithesis of the holy entity Cosmos. Many, many Soldiers represented Cosmos, so to find one representing Chaos was like finding a diamond in a mud pile. All of that changed when the Animus Syndicate finally arrived near Earth. Slowly but surely, Eris felt the presence of that same Soldier on Earth, although she was not accounted for within Upala Acropolis.
It took some time to figure it out, but it was proven that this Soldier was the only one from Alkima who resided on Earth without being part of the Syndicate. That revelation pleased Eris. If Upala failed in her conquest, Eris could resort to enticing this other warrior and turning her against her new friends on Earth. After so many failed attempts for the Camarilla to bring that Soldier back to the castle, Eris finally decided to take matters into her own hands. She knew that Apis and Gyps had told their former friend the truth behind Alkima's destruction, and that it sent her spiraling into despair. That was the gateway Eris needed to begin her sinister plot.
From her chest, an ethereal Black Apple sprouted forth and she silently commanded it to infect the person she had in mind. It shot out of the palace and made its way to Crystal Tokyo. It found its target inside an apartment complex in Ginza and phased through the wall like a ghost. It floated above a sleeping girl, then wormed its way into her body and infected her spirit with hatred and enmity, similar to what happened to Haruka before.
Eris narrowed her eyes in pleasure and thought, Now we wait. In due time, my dark power will rise again. Once I am back at full power, Selene will wail in despair as I destroy everything and everyone she loves. The best part of it is that she will have no one to blame but herself. I will torture her with this guilt for all eternity. Her mind will break into a thousand pieces, and I will break those pieces into even smaller ones until she is left completely insane and hopeless.
And you're going to help me accomplish this long-awaited fantasy of mine… Sailor Arsenic Hyena.
A pure white horse with angelic wings galloped through a beautiful landscape of crystals and clean water. This was the spiritual representation of a little-known guardian on Earth named Helios who worked hard to protect everyone's dreams and the Golden Crystal affixed to his head like a horn. The Golden Crystal belonged to King Endymion and was Earth's equivalent to the Moon's Silver Crystal, although it seemed to act more like an amplifier than a wish-granting stone. During his time as Prince Endymion, he used to rule over the Golden Kingdom of Elysion. Endymion, Helios, Elysion, and Earth itself were inexorably intertwined, so if one suffered from darkness, all of them would at the same time.
Helios had to put his usual duties on hold due to him sensing a terrible presence lingering just out of Earth's boundaries several months ago. He tried investigating everyone's dreams, but couldn't find anything. Then some time later, Helios was visited by an unexpected guest who had full control of her dreams and made contact with him after calling for his presence.
The pegasus arrived in that person's dream and found himself standing upon a coal reef deep under aqua waters where dolphins and fish swam by. He immediately recognized this setting and approached his host; Kaiou Michiru. She sat upon the reef in her princess outfit, holding her Deep Aqua Mirror and looking very much like an elegant mermaid. The Neptune sigil flashed on her forehead as she greeted Helios with, "Thank you for coming, Guardian of Elysion."
"I am honored to meet you, Guardian of Neptune," Helios' voice echoed through telepathy. "I understand that you need to speak with me."
"Yes," Michiru nodded. "You'll have to excuse me for my lack of formality, but the situation is quite urgent."
"You don't need to worry about that. I have sensed the evil presence looming over Earth for some time now as well. If there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to tell me."
"Thank you. There is someone whose dreams I wish for you to investigate," she explained while creating a reflection in her mirror of a green-haired girl with a vapid expression. "This is Inuken Midori, someone whom Small Lady Serenity has befriended recently. There are many suspicious circumstances surrounding her, but I haven't been able to discern what her true nature is. Every time I try to use the mirror on her, a thick darkness clouds my vision."
"Inuken Midori…? I don't seem to recall someone on Earth possessing that name. I know the name of every dreamer who has been born on this planet, and not one with that name comes to mind."
"How intriguing," Michiru anxiously played with her flowing hair. "So you're saying you haven't seen her dreams yet because you didn't know she existed until now."
"That would be an accurate assessment. So are you requesting me to enter her dreams and see if I can find out who she is?"
She chuckled. "You took the words right out of my mouth. At least I don't need to explain much more than that."
Helios nodded. "If you say your visions of her have been clouded by darkness, then there's a possibility that she's related to the darkness threatening Earth. I would like to find that out myself too."
"Yes, indeed. Oh, and there's one more thing I want you to find out; whether or not she possesses a Sailor Crystal."
The pegasus widened his ruby red eyes. "A Sailor Crystal?"
Michiru explained everything about Sailor Arsenic Hyena and the strange events surrounding Midori. After contemplating this information, Helios said, "Now I am most curious. I shall find this girl's dream and see if I can find the truth for you."
After leaving Michiru's dream, Helios had spent the following weeks finding Midori's dream amidst the countless thousands of dreams emanating from Earth's residents. He couldn't believe how difficult it was. Michiru said it existed, but once in a while Helios would wonder if he was chasing an illusion. Was his task ultimately impossible?
No… I can't imagine anyone not having a beautiful dream. No matter how lost or elusive it may be, I will find it.
The Golden Crystal shone in response to his determination. It created a beam of light that guided him toward the abyss of the dream world. He usually didn't investigate this area because it was the source of nightmares, but he plunged out of the brightness and flew straight down into the pit. That was when he finally found it. It was a dark presence that didn't seem as evil as he originally imagined it, but it was incredibly vague and difficult to see within the chasm. No wonder he had so much trouble finding Midori's dream for so long; it was a dark heart that blended in easily with humanity's nightmares.
This girl's dream is not beautiful… Yet, I sensed a deep sadness emanating from Princess Neptune's eyes when she talked about her. She also said that the little princess has become friends with this girl. If her waking life is as normal as everyone else's, why is her dream covered in such miasma?
Helios wouldn't get those answers just standing there. He decided to venture into the dream. He rushed inside it, and his surroundings became awash with pure blackness as if he stepped into a starless night. The only refuge he could find was a desolate cliff overlooking the endless darkness. He became worried. If he continued forward like this, he feared he wouldn't be able to find his way back to the realm of beautiful dreams. Helios decided to call out to the owner of this terrible dream.
"Midori. Are you there, Midori?" he projected his voice into the abyss. "Can you hear me? My name is Helios. I have come from the holy land of Elysion to help you. If you can hear me, please answer me."
He heard nothing. Michiru was right about one thing; the darkness in Midori's soul was perfectly still. Although it was there, it made no attempt to threaten Helios. It acted more like a shroud concealing Midori's true nature from the world, which was what bothered Michiru so much. He tried calling for her a few more times, but the response was the same. Astounded by the level of darkness surrounding this dream, Helios decided to retreat and come back later.
After that first encounter with Midori's dream, he faithfully returned to it every night for the next few months and tried the same thing again and again. After the battle at Hikawa Shrine however, Helios began to notice that the atmosphere felt significantly different. A crippling sense of depression gripped his soul. The darkness shifted in a sickening curdle of green and black, and he could hear disembodied voices crying in the skies. From his vantage point on the cliff, the pegasus saw something that he never had seen before. Although it was still extremely dark, the form of a planet began to take shape in this little universe. It was enveloped by thick dark green clouds, so it was still rather difficult to see.
Helios asked aloud, "Is this where you are from? Are you in despair because something has happened to your home?"
He wasn't really expecting an audible response. By now, he had learned to talk to Midori's soul in a rhetorical sense. Deep down, he knew what the basic answer was. As he pondered what to do next, that was when a second evil presence invaded the dream and sent the world into a whirlwind frenzy of gusts and gales.
"What in the world-!?" he yelped while trying to keep his balance.
He stared up high as he watched a portal open up, and then some kind of huge orb dropped through and corrupted the concealed planet. He widened his eyes in confusion and wondered, "Is that supposed to be… an apple?"
The darkness residing in Midori's soul raged in fury. Where it was quiet before, now it stirred to life and began to attack the intruding evil. Helios had to escape lest he be destroyed in this onslaught of two warring miasmas. As he flew out of the pit of nightmares, he helplessly watched Midori's dream vanish into the void.
This is terrible, he thought worriedly. I have no choice now. I must tell the little princess what is going on and see if she can help.
Chibi-Usa let out a large yawn and rubbed her eyes. She and the Yoeda sisters were walking to school that morning, and she had woken up especially early today.
"Don't yawn without covering your mouth," CereCere berated her. "That is extremely rude for a lady, especially for someone of your ranking."
"Sorry. I got up at six and I couldn't go back to sleep."
"Were you trying to talk to Midori again?" VesVes asked.
"Yeah. No luck today. I'm gonna try again this afternoon."
"You really shouldn't strain yourself like this. We can all take turns, you know."
"I know. It's just that…" Chibi-Usa rested her hand over the brooch housing the Silver Crystal. "I really don't understand it, but I just feel like something bad is going to happen. I want to protect Midori during our battle with the Animus Syndicate, but I can't do anything if she keeps shutting me out. That feeling has been waking me up early these last few days."
"Are you having a nightmare?" PallaPalla asked.
"Not really a nightmare. Well, I've been calling to Pegasus so I can talk to him about it, but he hasn't been coming at all."
JunJun wondered, "Hmm. Maybe he's been so busy protecting everyone's dreams that he doesn't have time to see you."
"But every time I call to him, he appears right away!" Chibi-Usa retorted. "First Midori, and now Pegasus! Why aren't they talking to me!? What is going on here!?"
"Chibi-Usa…" CereCere frowned and rested her hands on her shoulders. "Please try to relax. Don't forget that we four are here to listen to you, along with everyone at the palace."
"I know… I'm being selfish as usual, huh?"
"Your selfishness stems from you caring so much about others. Take it easy and don't be frustrated if your vigilant efforts don't pay off right away. A real lady needs to be patient."
"Right. Thanks, CereCere."
They arrived at Juuban Municipal Primary School and went to their classrooms. Chibi-Usa wasn't in the same class as the others, but she was satisfied with seeing them during breaks while hanging out with her classmates. She plopped her school bag on her desk, which was located directly behind her two good friends Momohara Momoko and Sarashina Kyuusuke's desks. The desk right next to Chibi-Usa's was empty.
"Hey, Chibi-Usa," Momoko whispered. "Have you heard the rumors going around class?"
"Hm? Rumors?"
"I heard that we're going to get a new classmate."
"Really?" If there was anything that excited Chibi-Usa, it was meeting new people.
Kyuusuke lazily dropped his butt onto his seat and muttered, "Don't get your hopes up for getting a new girl buddy. I heard it's a guy. I heard some girls fawning over him like a bunch of hopeless fans. If you try to make friends with him, you might wind up in lots of trouble."
"That's not going to stop me from trying!" Momoko remarked in annoyance. "Besides, Midori has been fun to hang out with ever since she joined our class at the beginning of the year!"
Chibi-Usa sighed despondently, and Kyuusuke asked her, "What's been going on with her lately? She hasn't been at school for the past two weeks. Is she doing okay?"
"She's been terribly ill and can't get out of bed," Chibi-Usa said, having no idea whether to think that was a lie or the truth.
"Wow…" Momoko gasped. "Maybe I should bring some flowers for her. I bet she would like that."
The teacher walked in and clapped her hands over the students' chatter while yelling, "All right, everyone take your places!"
After the talking quieted down, she stood at the podium and announced, "I'm sure you've been hearing some rumors going around, but today we'll be introducing a new person to our class!"
After she beckoned at the door, someone who had been standing just outside walked in with a calm smile. He appeared the same age as his peers, but his red eyes belied an unnatural maturity. He had short white hair tousled in a fashionable way, and he wore his uniform as if it had just been freshly pressed. The boy looked around at the others before his eyes met Chibi-Usa's.
"Ah…" she gasped, and her eyes shot open. She watched him in stunned silence as he wrote his name on the board; Shiramura Hikaru.
"See, what did I tell you? He's a ladies' man, hands down," Kyuusuke grumbled, and Momoko lightly stomped on his foot.
"My name's Hikaru. Pleased to meet you all," he bowed.
"All right. Go find an empty seat and make yourself comfortable. We're going to begin with math lessons," the teacher said. Hikaru didn't seem to pay attention to what she was saying and headed straight for the desk next to Chibi-Usa's.
"Hi," he greeted her.
"Uh… hi. Are you…?"
He nodded slightly as if he knew what her question was going to be. "It's been a long time."
"Do you know him, Chibi-Usa?" Momoko asked.
"Um… well…"
"You there!" the teacher yelled out. "I know you're excited to meet him, but eyes forward and lips shut! Today we'll be reviewing word problems since I noticed that some of you are still have trouble with-"
Chibi-Usa's eyes darted to her side and whispered as quietly as possible, "What are you doing here?"
Hikaru's placid smile slightly faded as he replied, "When we get a chance, we need to talk."