Meanwhile, deeper into the woods, the Fae gazed at her latest prize, "You're a bit...short to be a Senshi, but you are beautiful."
"T-Thank you...I think. Who are you?" Alexis stammered nervously. Neptune's daughter stood in awe at seeing an adult Fairy and her overall magnificence.
"My name is Melaine." Melaine introduced herself with false sweetness.
"I would introduce myself, but you already know who I am." Alexis understood this mystical lady must have abducted her for some reason since Alexis couldn't remember which way was home. So she was at this wicked lady's mercy.
"I know you and your teammates. I've felt all your pure dreams..." Melaine creepily smiled.
"Do Fairies have dreams too?" Alexis asked, curious regarding Dream Faries. The young girl's guard was still up. Yet simple curiosity frequently makes one lower it slightly.
"Of course we do!" snapped the enthralling woman. "Everyone needs sleep and dreams. I used to work shifts in Elysion. My brothers and Mother constantly worried I'd..." Melaine stopped as the memory of her clan was too heartbreaking.
Melaine and her clan used to be extraordinarily close. Yet Melaine could not bare to let her family see the beast she had turned into now. Especially her Mother and younger siblings.
"Worried you'd...what?" Alexis implored. Her bewilderment was written over her stunning features.
Her capturer tried to evade answering the heir of Neptune, "No, it doesn't matter." Melaine waved away the question dismissively.
Wait! If you worked in Elysion...You're a Dream Fairy?!" Alexis's jaw dropped! She knew this woman to be a fairy, but not a DREAM FAIRY! Plus, she assumed all dream fairies were male. Helena had only had sons with her, not daughters, as far as the eye could see.
"WAS a Dream Fairy," corrected Melanie bitterly," I'm a Nature Fae now, significantly different. But, alas, Mother will never accept me no matter what I do." Melaine didn't notice the sympathetic look in Alexis's eyes as she had turned her back on her.
"My teammate, Christen, shares everything she knows concerning mythical creatures. However, I can't recollect if she ever mentioned the Fae." Alexis's expression saddened more. "Even if you have problems with your Mother, Melaine. She's never going to stop loving you. A parent's job never ends."
Despite how independent Haruka and Michiru had been to Sailor Moon and her Inner Senshi in the past. They'd warmed up considerably. Thus weren't standoffish to her or Holly. Alexis was confident they would be there if she needed her Mother or Mom. Yet, they were not there now. So instead, Alexis figured she'd have to hold her own for a while.
"While a parent's job may never end, little girl. I, on the other hand? I've witnessed my darling Mother take away her love from my unfortunate siblings." Melaine shrugged. Yet Alexis could see the Fae's tears despite her holding them back.
"You don't have to be like her," Alexis replied warmly yet meekly. Indeed showing this woman compassion would do more good the fighting her. Besides, she didn't know how powerful this fallen fairy was. So the safest option was to show mercy, not aggression.
Melaine just narrowed her dark eyes at her in response. Elsewhere, Holly's battle skills seemed to falter and only got more alarming! She seemed to be trying to be in the spotlight constantly. Unfortunately, it often resulted in her getting repeatedly injured. Afterward, she would make a scene for attention.
Even the enemies, at times, felt uncomfortable battling these childish Senshi. Even if Alexis is missing, there isn't a reason for Holly to act as greedy as she was. Finally, it came to the point that Chibiusa could no longer contain her annoyance!
"Holly! What is wrong with you?! You've been interrupting our victories by getting injured prematurely in combat! Don't think I don't notice you've been doing it on purpose!" Chibiusa lectured sternly.
"What's the matter with me?! What's the matter with all of you?! We should be out looking for Alexis! Not kicking back and enjoying ourselves here! I'm just having an off week, that's all." Holly tried to turn the tables on the Moon Princess. Chibiusa knew Holly was lying as she stormed off.
While Holly was correct on what they should be doing now, no rational individual goes an entire week trying to hog the spotlight only to end up sprawled out on the ground! The only other thing Chibiusa noticed was Holly still wore her bracelet!
Didn't they agree to ditch those for a bit? Considering Trisha and Emily weren't under their gems' curses any longer. Holly remained the last of the Outer Senshi. Finally, Melaine decided to make herself known!
"Hm...I'm not the type to cause a stir myself. Thankfully, Elm might be up to causing a bit of collateral!" So Melaine summoned an affectionately tree-like monster named Elm to scare people and break stuff.
Of course, not a second too late. The Senshi teams are on the way! However, Luna and Artemis's children were in the Command Center. They noticed something off regarding this adversary. While it is unmistakable, she'd been a Dream Fairy and a Nature Fae now. Her unusual readings did not add up correctly.
She was not physically or magically powerful. At least not compared to a Senshi. Therefore, what was her objective exactly? Noticing Neo-Sailor Saturn and Neo-Sailor Pluto looking healthy and sane displeased Melaine. Yet she could change all that! Elm was relatively easy. Thanks to Neo-Sailor Mars, Neo-Sailor Mercury's Ice Freeze, Neo-Sailor Venus's sword, and Neo-Sailor Saturn's Silence Glaive!
As Elm fell, Melanie took a deep breath and pulled out her old flute. She hadn't used it in years. Nevertheless, every child of Helena was blessed with a musical gift. Melaine commenced playing a cheerful tune. The magical melody soothed the Senshi and kitten's spirits. One-by-one they de-transformed and began to fall asleep!
Thankfully, a faint neigh was heard, and Pegasus rushed in! "Don't touch Chibiusa and her friends!" Since Chibiusa was slumbering, her beautiful dreams had summoned Helios. He'd immediately assumed his Pegasus form, which now lacked the gold horn.
"I'm not interested in Chibiusa just yet...Uncle." Melaine had to admit. It felt good to be close and see her uncle again. Sadly it seemed he did not recognize her.
"Uncle?" Pegasus's eyes widened in surprise.
"What? Did Mother make you forget me too?" A couple of tears leaked from Melaine's eyes. Then she threw back her head to laugh it off. "Maybe that's for the best."
Melaine blew one high note on her flute, to which Holly, Emily, and Trisha stumbled. They immediately transformed and bombarded Pegasus! Melaine managed to hide and covertly witnessed how well the girls fought. Then she swooped in to abduct them before Pegasus brought them back to their senses.
Dream Fairies arrived to assist Pegasus in carrying the girls to bed. They even accessed the Command Center to rouse the kittens too. However, Helios couldn't get what Melaine declared out of his head. Why would his precious sister wipe his memory of his only niece if he was indeed her uncle? It didn't make any sense!
Perle had yet to be among the Dream Fairies who assisted in retrieving the Senshi. Nevertheless, he'd do anything for Jewel and her Senshi until they awoke. Silently he thought about the strange woman Helios, and his siblings told him about.
Ms. Long, AKA Melanie: Melodee Spevack, who voices Lady Devimon from Digimon