Chapter 4- A New Enemy
"Another day of studying", Serena grumbled as she, Lita, Mina, and Amy made their way over to the temple.
"I want to see how Rei's doing", Amy said, "I hope she's okay"
"We'll see, there she is", Mina said, pointing. She was out on the porch, sweeping.
"She never stops", Serena said, "Hey Rei!"
She turned around, "Oh. Hey"
"Hey yourself, how are you?" Lita asked.
"Fine", she went back to her sweeping.
"Um, I hate to break into your chores, but we have to study Rei", Amy pointed out mildly.
"No"
This caught them by surprise, "What?"
"I said no!" Rei whirled around, her eyes flashing, "Or are you just to thick to get it through your head?"
"Hey, attitude check girl", Lita said, "what's gotten into you?"
"Four really annoying girls", she shot back, "Get lost"
"Rei!" Serena said in surprise, "What's wrong with you? Is it about what happened yesterday?"
"Of course not, I'm over that", she said, going back to her sweeping, "Now get lost. Before I call the cops"
"Rei, we're your friends--"
"You aren't any friends of mine"
"Hey!" Lita said angrily, "What's wrong with you huh? We're here being friendly and you're blowing us off and threatening to call the cops? So why don't you tell us right now: what's wrong?"
"Do you always have to be so snoopy Lita?" Rei asked furiously, "If I have to tell you to beat it one more time you'll be sorry. Get going before I make you"
"Fine", Lita said. She was breathing hard, as though she had been running, "Lets go you guys. Call us when you've gotten your attitude fixed Rei"
Rei smirked at the retreating backs of her so-called friends, pathetic, all of them
She propped the broom against a wall and made her way to her room. Now for the real fun, she thought, Orders are orders. And my orders are to make myself known to the Sailor Scouts. Too bad I can't just destroy them right now
She looked around. Chad was taking care of her grandfather. She had plenty of time. Wakey, wakey time Sailor Brats, she thought with a smirk.
"What was wrong with her?" Mina kept asking as they made their way down the street, "She was acting like a total jerk!"
"We were there Mina, you don't have to tell us", Serena pointed out.
"I know, but really", Mina said angrily, "Why would Rei treat us like that?"
"Well I—" Lita's words were cut out by a deafening bang.
"What was that?" Serena asked, whirling around.
"It came from the downtown area", Amy said, "Do you think we should transform?"
"Better safe the sorry", Lita said, "Lets hit it you guys!"
"Whoa!" Serena exclaimed, "Someone's been redecorating"
Most of the downtown shopping area was completely burnt. "Charcoal", Mina commented, kneeling down and picking a charred rock, "Who could have done this?"
"Whoever it is", Amy said, "I'm sure they're long gone"
"Think again Mercury!"
Four heads swiveled around to the roof of an unburned building. A person was standing on top of it, smirking down at them. "Who are you?" Serena asked, "Did you do this?"
"Don't ever let anyone call you stupid Sailor Moon", the girl said with a smirk, "They'd be way off"
She jumped off the building and landed lightly in front of them. Pretty agile, Mina thought. "Just who are you?" Lita asked, "What'd you do this for?"
"I have orders to follow", she said lightly. There was something so familiar about her to Mina, she just couldn't lay a finger on it.
"Who are you?" Mina repeated Lita's unanswered question. What was so familiar about this girl? She just couldn't figure it out. Her outfit looked a lot like their Sailor Uniforms, except for the fact that it was all black. She had long, wavy black hair, all pulled off to one side. If Mina didn't know any better, she'd say this person was…
"My name is not really important", the girl broke through Mina's thoughts, "But you can just call me Shadow. For now"
"Why did you do this?" Serena asked, "How could you do this? You could have hurt someone!"
"That was the point", the girl-Shadow- smirked, "Or is your head to thick to comprehend that?"
"Enough talking!" Lita cried, "If you came here to fight, then lets fight!"
"You'll eat those words Jupiter", Shadow said, smirking that same, vicious smirk. She jumped into the air faster than any of them could follow, "Lets turn up the heat", she called down to them. A stream of fire shot down at them, slamming the grounds right at the girl's feet.
"Aaahhhh!" they all screamed in unison as they were blown backwards. "Ouch!" Serena yelled, "That hurt!"
"Okay, that's it", Lita growled, stumbling up, "Jupiter Thunder Crash!"
Lightning streamed at Shadow, who dodged it as easily as if it were a feather. "No way!" Lita cried in surprise.
"Pretty light show Jupiter", Shadow sneered, "Call me when you're ready for a real fight"
"I'll give you a fight", Mina said, jumping up, "Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
A chain of hearts streamed towards Shadow, and wrapped itself around her ankle. "Gotcha", Mina smirked and yanked at the chain, pulling the dark girl down.
"Very good Venus", Shadow said, smirking, "Now watch this"
She lit the chain on fire. "Ow!" Mina yanked back, holding her now slightly burnt hand. Who is this person? She thought furiously, This is turning into one painful job!
"Is that all you little girls have got?" Shadow asked, jumping down lightly to face them, "That has to be the most pathetic display I've ever seen"
"Who are you?" Amy asked, "What do you want?"
"I already told you who I was", she answered, "and as for what I want…don't worry, you'll see soon. Obviously you're not ready for a real battle", she added, "Call me when you can actually fight. So long for now Sailor Babies"
She disappeared into thin air.
"Who was she?"
"That was the perfect opportunity to destroy them", Azumi said bitterly, "And you blew it out of the water. Way to go Shadow"
Rei scowled heavily, "If you can do better Azumi, than be my guest. I think I beat them down pretty good for the day. Besides, what fun would it be to destroy them before they find out who I really am? Then I wouldn't get any of the credit for it"
"That's only a matter of time", Azumi pointed out, "Sailor Moon looks like an airhead, but the other three look like quick learners"
"Right on both accounts", Rei said carelessly.
"And that doesn't bother you?"
"All I have to do is throw them off", she shrugged, "They're smart, but so easily distracted. And I think I threw them way off before the fight anyway. Too preoccupied with why their "friend" was treating them so badly to really focus on the fight"
"So basically your plan is to confuse them?" Azumi asked doubtfully.
"You make it sound so simple"
"It is so simple"
"Girls, girls, please", Kejano stepped out from the shadows, "This fighting won't get you anywhere"
"Yes Kejano", both girls chanted at the same time, bowing.
"Azumi", Kejano addressed the short, read-haired girl icily, "Like it or not, Shadow is a part of this team, and if she helps us to defeat the Sailor Scouts, will you complain?"
"At one time she was a Sailor Scout", Azumi pointed out, "Can we trust—"
"At one time you worked for Queen Serenity and the Moon Kingdom", Rei lashed out suddenly.
"Ah, but with the Moon Kingdom destroyed", Azumi said silkily, "There's no chance of me ever going back. With the Sailor Scouts still here—"
"The Sailor Scouts", Rei cut in, "Will soon be as historic as The Moon Kingdom, don't you worry"
"Who was she?" was all Amy could think to say.
"I know what you mean", Serena said, "This is too weird"
"Where did she come from, that's what I want to know", Lita said, her eyes downcast.
"She's strong, we know that", Mina said with a nod, "We hit her with our best attacks and we might as well have been using water guns for all the good it did"
"Shadow…" Amy said quietly. It felt like a name she should remember. For what reason, she didn't know, but she knew. She had to remember it. For some reason…
"Maybe…" Serena hesitated, "Maybe we should try to talk to Rei again?"
"For what?" Lita snapped, "So she can give us attitude and treat us like enemies?"
"Good point", Serena said with a sigh. They had a new enemy, a Scout who was mad at them, and then everyday life stress. There was no way this could get any worse.
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