Chapter 20: Trickster Demon and a Desert Rose
"What is going on today?" Mina said as she sat with Serena in her living room.
"What do you mean?" Serena yawned, dozing from a nap. She sat up on the couch.
"Look at the television. There's been three accidents. One at a cross walk. One of the persons claimed to have gotten fired from work only to be reprimanded for missing their shift. And look at the call in's during the segment – people are complaining of similar issues. And somebody just got arrested for stealing in a store, but denied it happened…but they have footage…well that's not weird…but still…that's a lot of crime in one day." Mina shook her head.
"What is this world coming to?" Luna shook her head in unapproval.
"How about some fresh air?" Artemis asked. "It's tiring being cooped up all day."
"Fair enough." Mina nodded. "Come on Serena. Maybe we'll end up at the arcade." She winked.
"I'll take it. Anything for a distraction!" She got up and followed.
"That Ixion guy still on your brain?"
"That and all the other issues. I wish they'd just tell us what they're up to. I just want to enjoy my summer. Especially now that Darien is back." Serena sighed.
"Well we can stress about it later." Mina grabbed her purse. "I want to shop and then we will de stress with some good old Sailor –Me, or Sailor-V video games should I say." She smiled wide.
Serena nodded and followed out.
"So, I was thinking, maybe I should get a new sundress…I could really go for a date after all of this stuff is over. Or whenever I get a good catch!" She smiled as they walked past the shops.
"Is it because of yesterday?" Serena smirked.
"What? No…I mean Malachite was back then. Now that the memories were back it kind of feels weird. But still, it's a different time now… we're going to be somewhere here, in the future protecting you. I don't think it means I can't at least have a boyfriend or two too along the way." She gleamed. "I just wonder how much I have to spend…" She went to open her purse when-
"Hah!" Someone grabbed it and ran.
"What ? What is this? Police!" Mina called out.
"No, look Mina! I think that was the police!" Artemis said, as the man looked to be in uniform.
"Let's go!" She ran after the culprit with the others following close behind.
"There he went!" Luna said. "The alley way!"
"I think It was a cop Artemis!" Mina said.
"How?" Serena panted slightly.
"Lets go investigate!" Artemis headed them off to the alley way.
"You're cornered now!" Mina said. It was dead ended, but covered in shadow.
"It's not good to be stealing purses from young women! Especially as an up keeper of the law! In the name of-"
"Not now Serena…" Luna sighed whispering.
"Sorry got carried away." She laughed nervously.
"Give it back now!" Mina walked over when she swore she saw the silhouette change shape. She walked up to the man to find a young girl clutching the purse with wide eyes. The girl…looked like the young girl she'd saved from the bus youma that one time…
"Sorry!" She said feebly and tossed the purse back. Mina swore she saw a glimpse of demonic eyes as she passed by in a run out onto the street..
"What was that?" Serena asked.
"That man changed to a young girl…I can't explain it." Mina said clutching her purse.
"Those eyes…" Serena said.
"You saw them too?" Mina asked.
"Do you think it could be…" Luna asked.
"It might explain all of the strange criminal behavior. But how can someone shape shift…even if a Demon Seed took over… I don't …I don't want to think they're powerful enough to change a person's sex…or age…" Mina looked worried.
"Lets go back into the light. Maybe we should call the scouts and get on this quick." Artemis motioned.
"So you took my advice?" Ixion appeared before Charon, standing just over the building.
"I only am letting the demon do what it pleases."
"Those girls are scouts. Blond, blue eyed guardian goddesses…pains in the ass too." Ixion sighed. "Then do me a favor?"
"Why should I?" Charon looked unamused.
"Since when did you get so bitter? Do yourself a favor and find your little Pluto, and use it to your advantange. All the same it saw Serena, so let it … shift and act out a little something she'd hate to see… maybe-"
"I see where you're going. You're relentless. You'd probably only get bored of her after the chase is over." Charon's silver hair, brushing over his eye, contrasted his tanned skin, but mirrored his cold stare.
"Let me worry about that. Now, teleport your butt over to Ate and do me that favor. I did spill a few beans to Pluto for you." Ixion suddenly disappeared.
Charon leaned on his staff. The green diamond shaped crystal, point cut, pulsed as he tapped the ground. He reminded himself never to do favors for Ixion…or have Ixion help him so he owed him. On the other hand, screwing with the sailor scouts was part of the job description.
"Are you sure that actually happened?" Lita asked.
"Positive. Serena you believe me right?" Mina said, as they met at a corner by the shops with the rest of the group.
"Hmm…I'm going to call Michelle and give her the heads up. Trista is staying in town now, so all three of them can be on the look out." Ami took out her phone.
"I feel bad for her. If she really is involved at all with one of these guys. Plus…her gig is complicated too. For her to stand away from the portal…" Rei shook her head.
"Yea, and the weird part is she can't remember? Hasn't she been around longer than us?" Serena asked.
"Yes, but if you remember your Mother Queen Serenity, basically hit the reset button on all of the Moon. She was likely fighting in that battle. She may not have been reborn exactly but I think theres a good chance that time period is hazy. Am I right Luna?" Ami asked, looking up from her phone.
"I deffinately agree. On the other hand, if this thing can shape shift, we have to be aware that any person who stands out in the wrong way could be our demon."
"This is getting complicated. Maybe I'll be able to sense it…" Rei speculated.
"Yea, maybe..what do you think Serena?" Lit asked. "Serena?"
Serena was looking over across the street. She'd drifted to window shopping when she spotted them. She was looking at a couple. The man had walked over, he was tall with dark hair, looked like he had some facial hair from what she could tell in passing, and the woman was at the corner. The way she stared at him was …so beautiful. She wanted more moments like that with Darien.
They kissed, and she felt almost like she was impeding on a private moment.
"They're cute aren't they?" Mina said catching her drift.
"Mhm…" Serena smiled. Suddenly the man turned the girl around wrapping his arms around her, when she saw it.
"…Darien?" She looked wide eyed. They suddenly walked off together into a crowd. "Did…Did you see..that?"
"No way that was him. I don't believe it." Lita shook her head.
"It did look like him though." Rei bit her lip.
"He wouldn't-" Serena shook her head.
"No, you know that's not right. But I do have a hunch." Luna said.
"What's the idea?" Ami asked.
"Mina, what did the child look like to you? Anyone you recognized?" Luna asked.
"Yea, remember that Bus demon high-jacking? I saved that girl who changed her favorite Scout to Venus after seeing me kick butt…but what are the chances?"
"I see what you're saying Luna. Maybe it changes form depending on a person's recognition of it." Artemis speculated.
"I bet when I looked in it's eyes it red mine and took on that identity."
"So it can read our minds?" Serena looked distraught. She took out her phone to call Darien, and stepped aside.
"Something strange like that…that's dangerous." Lita shook her head.
"So really any one of us could be the thing right now…" Mina wondered.
"Well not exactly, we saw Darien …or presumably fake Darien while we were all here. Considering none of us moved, and we believe theres only one demon at play…we're originals here. We'll have to depend on facts that only we would know about eachother to make sure we're really who we say we are." Ami explained.
"I hate these demons. This just made our weekend way too rotten." Reid complained.
"They think they've found another one." Michelle got off the phone and turned to Amara in their apartment.
"That wasn't long. What's the catch?"
"Shapeshifters. All those accidents today. Apparently, Mina was robbed by a cop, who by some strange occurrence, ended up looking like a small girl she'd saved once as Sailor Venus. Then Serena saw Darien with another girl… the thing is he's not answering his phone. I wonder if they are actually going after us all now. That would be a rotten way to set us against each other. I just hope he didn't get seeded."
"Darien? Cheating on Serena? I doubt it. Actually I don't believe it. " Amara shook her head. "Those too already have a future together, so I'm with you on that one. It's definitely a trap. So they're playing games now?"
"It could be. They told us to keep an eye out. I'll send Pluto a message to look out for a shape-shifter or anyone who looks possessed…these rotten events could be coming from seeded beings…and a single ringleading demon… someone is causing a fuss on the streets." Michelle sent off a message.
" This time I think we should all be there. It's about time we ask them some questions. Maybe this time we can stop who ever is ring leading this one." Amara looked to Michelle cross.
"Well at least Sailor Saturn is still in submission. She hasn't awoken yet, so the future isn't that grim." Michelle sighed.
"I just hope it stays that way." Amara looked out onto the streets.
Trista received the call.
"Darien cheating on Serena? I don't believe it either. Okay...okay I'll keep an eye out on my end. Ill make sure my communicator and cell phone are on. I may have already witnessed it unknowingly this morning. Keep me posted."
So there was a shape shifting demon around? She'd seen a strange event already this morning when a cross walk man nearly let kids go onto the road during a green light without stopping traffic. It wasn't nearly as bad…it could have been a fluke.
She left her apartment and nearly turned into someone.
"Sorry…" She said.
"Trista."
That voice. She looked up to see Darien. He looked frazzled.
"What's going on? Wheres Serena?"
"Serena thinks that she saw me kissing someone today. You've got to convince her otherwise. I can't find them and she wont answer her phone to talk to me." Darien said.
She looked at him. That wasn't what Michelle had said about it. She said Serena was trying to get ahold of him and couldn't.
"We think it's a Demon Seed attack. Did you get Seeded Darien?" She thought she saw his eyes flash red for a moment.
"No…you're the only one I can depend on Pluto…I can't find them...please, my Desert Rose…"
She stood stone cold in her tracks. Desert Rose… That name… Darien never called her that. That sounded strange from his mouth. No…that was a name she had been called…a long time ago…familiar…
"You're not actually Darien!" She said and moved out of the way. She transformed automatically. "Tell me how you know that nickname."
Suddenly his eyes turned red, and instead a female looking creature that looked something like a lizard with changing colors scales looked at her. It had a large mark of the red face that normally only look over the entry wound of the seed. This time it nearly covered the whole chest.
"What are you?"
"KakoDaimon Ate, I've taken over a host and consumed it completely. Your Earth creatures are fascinating. And master Ixion told me of that name." Her voice sounded slippery. Reptilian.
"Where is he?" She said holding her rod infront of her.
"Ixion is not here. I'm surprised he remembered that I used to call you that. If he were I'd transport him to the farthest corner of the world for doing such a thing. I was naive to think he wouldn't interfere this much."
"Where is the real Darien?" She couldn't find the location of the voice.
"We tried to seed him. He's struggling with it at the moment. That is why Ate can't hold on to his appearance for very long. It wasn't hard to look into your pasts and see who would be the easiest to corrupt and put against you."
"So you know our past? How did you hide all this time…"
"We didn't emit dark powers. We're senshi just as yourself. I'm not even a full senshi, but I do know that … that the way this is…is not right."
"Who are you? Why did you call me that name?" She said trying not to divert her eyes from the demon.
Suddenly someone appeared in front of her through a greenish portal of light. He was tanned like her, his silver hair brushed over his chiseled face, pulled back into a ponytail.
His green cape covered his shoulders and hooded around, not extending farther than his breastbone or shoulder bones. His vest under revealed a scar on his chest. His staff looked of a blackened wood, thin, with a large green diamond shaped jem hanging like a lantern from it. His eyes…seemed to look through her. Not at her.
Something about him. Something…
"Charon. Previous Protector of the Moon orbiting Pluto." He looked away. "I once called you Desert Rose." His words seemed edged, hard to release into the air. Forced. Resentful...painful maybe?
"Why … why are you the previous … what's going on here?"
"I knew you'd forget. Reborn like everyone else who thoughtlessly died. I would have stayed with you for eternity at the Time Gate…" He suddenly threw something at her.
A ring with a garnet on it. It looked like her's...like it matched her choker almost…something she hadn't seen in the current era…
She opened her eyes. "The …the battle on the Moon…"
"Remembering now?" Charon asked. "Eris used to hate you. Them and most of the other minor family of Eris always did because they should have enherited a place as Guardian Senshi next. But instead…you got it. And I remember, for as long as I can, you suffering. Being given the left over position of the Lonely Senshi... In the end I heard how much everyone pitted you. They allowd me to spend time with you if I provided portals to aid inter-planet travel. I wish I hadn't. It was the same portal that led that Moon Princess to her Prince. For that war …the war that you decided to partake in even though they'd done nothing for you. I couldn't watch you die."
"How…how did you know I would die? Only I can travel through time..."
"Eris' brother foreshadowed it all. Ixion would claim that he saw it coming too. But you'll hear about that much later. It doesn't matter. That's not even the beginning of it. After all I did for you…after I took a blow from one of the spies for you…after you saw how dangerous it would be…you still wanted to protect and go to war. And not even soley for that Princess either was it?" Charon didn't like seeing her again. He couldn't stop the words. It had been decades, too much time had past, and he had to fill in every void.
"…why wouldn't I save Serena? That was my duty." She said. It was coming back in haze. Memories of him.
"Duty? Or free will? I don't know how much you wanted to...like you said. Most of the time it's part of the job. But it you once explored the portals too...they were mine. We shared secrets, moving in and out between places then. Moved through time on jobs. That's when you saw him. Before the Princess did. That prince of the Earth…why every women found him so compelling I don't know…but it's what caused Beryl to strike, and what caused you…deep down to fight. You were too self-sacrificing. You knew he fell for the Moon Princess and you still decided to fight for their happiness. But you didn't care what would happen if you died? You never took the time to think about how I would feel…and just like that I suddenly hated roses. You showed me what they looked like; we'd only seen them in books, after you came back. You said they were all over that prince's castle." He sighed in frustration before returning to a calm and composed self. She noticed how he wasn't menacing, but more passive, more irritated, more broken. "But you still were a Desert Rose to me…a rose that wouldn't have the chance to ever fully bloom…that was subject to isolation and desolation. That's why I wanted you to stop. To give up your place. To join us…we're fighting for equivalence. I wanted nothing more than to stop you on the eve of that attack…but it would have been in vain. I was already weak from being slashed. That scar…those scars haven't healed…"
"Charon…" She said, her memories returning. She saw his chest. The day a Spy had try to strike her one day after infiltrating the portal to the Time Gate. He'd stopped her from getting hit. She couldn't believe it. After all this time…Charon, her guardian from the Moon... "I didn't understand…I can't just...does it have to be like this?"
He looked away again. "I renounced my affiliations with the Moon…after…I couldn't stay as your guardian. I couldn't find you. When you awoke…on Earth… I knew like everything else…you wouldn't remember. Many of your guardians remain on this Earth, unawakened. But you never remembered them did you? Who knows, maybe they're all stuck here in their animal forms…unawakened…maybe even slaughtered by now…" Charon didn't say this in malice, but rather in regret.
"Then join us and help us awaken them."
"That is what you have to say? Have all of your memories returned? Because you don't see it all from the outside. You must not remember everything then. The scouts didn't even know or see much of you, let alone visit you in the past. No, you deserve more. I wont stand around and protect and Empire that is full of illusions of equality and love. Maybe we'll face an agreement one day, but for now Pluto, I don't think you need a guardian on your moon. You seem to be happy on your own." He turned away.
"I won't let you get away." She said shakily as she knew she had to stop them from doing more damage. But at the same time, it hurt her to see him walk away. Something hurt inside knowing she'd lost someone who used to care for her.
"What will you do? Kill me. If you do, at least know, I died trying to stand up for you twice. All I got in return was regret… I won't try to sway you like Ixion tries to sway Sailor Moon. You know what happened now… I can't force you to see things as they are. But at least with me you wouldn't be alone…" Charon couldn't handle seeing her again. He disappeared again in a green portal of light with Ate before he actually had to face or fight her. That was the last time he trusted Ixion...never would he take that man's advice.
Pluto stood there. She didn't even try to strike? But neither did he...What was she to do? Charon…she'd remembered…everything. She wished she hadn't. Now it just burned. It's true, she'd once been infatuated with the idea of the Earth Prince…but she'd long decided that it was an unfulfilling pursuit. She'd left that part of her in the past. She'd hadn't had feelings for him since...maybe admiration, but it ended there. She'd forgotten that she'd had someone else beside her back then…someone she'd overlooked.
She'd have to figure this out after. She needed to make sure Darien was okay, so he could go to Serena and the others. She took out her communicator.
"Everyone, Darien has been hit by a seed somehow. I believe he is okay, but help him first. I will go ahead to try to track…track down…" She choked. She shook her head. "Look. It's a Chameleon kind of demon, and can take the form of anyone it infected with a seed. I assume the seeded also take on trickster like in an attempt to ruin the peace. I'll go after it. Focus on making sure nobody else we know got seeded."