DISCLAIMERS:
All canon characters are (C) 1992 - whatever year it is Naoko Takeuchi and all other related parties. The Shadow senshi are (C) Wild Nature 2006. This is a fanfic based upon the anime version and all written work that this consists of is (C) 2006 Wild Nature.
Hoping for a simple break in the current patterns of battle, the girls decide to head out to go skiing. Even there, trouble lurks but then, so does a new ally. Meet Nigori, the snow loving queen who is also Shadow Mercury.
Episode 16: The Snow Queen's Turf; Icy Winds
Eizou was tired of hanging around the house. She was bored and stressed and it didn't help that Boya and Chuukou were so loud in playing. She wished that she had ear mufflers or a set of gags to use on the noisy twins.
"Will you to stop prancing in front of my room!?" She shrieked, sitting up as the boys indeed danced by her open bedroom door. "I'm trying to rest!"
"Nah nah!" Chuukou spit out his tongue.
"MOM!" Her voice could've shook the house, she was ticked off.
"Chuukou! Boya! Leave your sister alone!" Her father frowned as he pressed them back. "I need to talk to Eizou."
Eizou opened her mouth to protest but the hard set of his lips told her to not to say anything. Not yet, anyways. "Yes, Dad?"
He sat down quietly, his eyes quiet. "Honey, I wanted to talk about how you were... injured."
"I fell," Eizou flushed, her father easily picking up on it. Eizou could never tell a lie straight faced.
"Can't you just ask Mom!?" She blurted. "You'd believe her more than me!"
He tilted his head, speaking carefully. "You're my daughter. I trust you."
"No, you don't! You never have! Why would you send Kakushi to spy on me when I started to play soccer?"
Her father opened his mouth to protest.
"Or when I was invited by some friends, with other male students, to a picnic, you forced me to bring the duo terrors all because they would 'miss' me!"
Eizou frowned. "You never let me do anything on my own because I'm a girl and that means I'm supposed to be weak!"
She stood up, feeling defiant. "Well, guess what! I'm not some weakly kid, I'm a senshi!" She stood, her chin up in the air as she grinned.
The snort came from behind her father's hand over his nose and lips. His eyes were twinkling. "Now, I always knew you were a dreamer.." He began lightly.
"Oh for crying out loud! See!? I'll prove it to you!" She grasped her necklace. "Nepheline Shadowed Light, Make Up!"
In moments as the room light up and then dimmed out, she stood expectedly, waiting for her father to either have a heart attack or pinch himself to make sure he was dreaming.
He merely stared at her. "That..."
"Yes?" She asked carefully.
"That skirt is a little short," he finished finally. "Can't you wear pants?"
Eizou blinked. "Eh..."
"Honey, your mother told me all about you when she first found out. I merely played along to what you wanted, as someone who didn't know anything. I've seen the Sailor Senshi like everyone else in Tokyo," he shrugged. "Nonetheless, that doesn't mean I don't want to protect you. You are my baby girl and I have to act as such. But I guess I haven't given you much credit," he smiled sadly. "I'm sorry for that."
"So you'll let do things my way?"
"Eizou, why? Why can't you compromise?" Her father gently pressed her down to sit and then followed suit. "If we all strived to do things together, we would get a lot farther."
"Dad.."
"But this business of senshi, I have no part of it. Just like many others, I suppose. I wish I did but I don't," He pulled her to rest against him. "I just keep seeing you like you were five and so small. I could help you but now, everyone must depend on you. I didn't want you to learn that like this, that's all."
"I'll be fine, Daddy.." She smiled warmly, her eyes glistening. "I'm not alone, don't worry. I have friends, allies. I just want you to let go."
He laughed. "I will, just not completely." He kissed her forehead lovingly. "Now, Kaki called earlier about a trip to go skiing. Since your friends heard that you were feeling better, they wanted to invite you to go with them."
Eizou frowned and opened her mouth to reject. But the look on her father's face said that maybe she should go and try to have some fun, at least for the weekend. She already felt burnt out.
He grinned as she nodded and stood up. "By the way, maybe you should get out of the outfit?" He suggested as she flushed. "I'll send your mother up with dinner."
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"Why am I sitting in the back?" Sora asked coldly to her older sister, Shiraha. She looked a lot like Sora, with the same colored eyes and hair, only she was a good five years older and her hair was cut evenly around her face and head. Shiraha always dressed in dark clothes and lathered her face in white make up to make a 'statement'. It only meant that Shiraha liked to stand out.
"Because I won the coin toss," Toki grinned at her from over her shoulder, sitting in the far front.
The car consisted of Eizou, Kaiki, Kaki, Toki, Kakure, and Sora as well as Sora's sister, Shiraha, the only one able to drive at the moment. It was a bit crowded in the van, as Sora pushed back against Kakure's sleeping figure. This caused Kakure to fall into Kaiki who shoved Kakure back against Sora.
"I'm amazed she doesn't wake up," Eizou grinned at the sleeping figure.
"Wake up already!" Kaki twisted around in her seat, shouting at Kakure.
"Sit back down!" Shiraha was heard shouting as the car swerved and Kakure's body lunged forward to whack her head on the seat.
"Fuck!" She swore, rubbing her forehead. "Who yelled at me?" She squinted out at the group, all of whom were busy looking out of the windows and the snowy scene flowing by. "Eh?"
"Be quiet back there!" Shiraha had righted the car, mumbling to herself. "Mom better pay me for this!" She told Sora as she glanced at the mirror.
"She did say she would," Sora rolled her eyes at Kaiki who giggled.
It was a rather large resort, the mountains looming in front of them glistening in white tufts of watered ice. Eizou and the others were well bundled as they pranced around. Shiraha sighed as she finished helping them get skis. "Now, I'll be in the lodge, resting and drinking cocoa."
"Come on! It's fun!" Sora tried to get her sister to come with her and the others but she wouldn't be deterred from the promising warmth of a fire. "Well, we're on our own."
"Yea!" Kakure took a step in her skis and fell forward into the soft snow.
"Maybe we should get a instructor?" Kaki said finally. She flicked off some snow that was on her heavy jacket, frowning. "It's so cold!"
Eizou started away, the only one not on skis. "I saw the ice rink over here," She called out. "I don't feel up to the ski slopes yet."
"Aww.." Kakure stuck out her lip.
"I'll come with you," Toki hurriedly took off her skis and thrust them to Sora. "Here ya go!"
"Hey!!"
"Have fun guys!" Toki grinned at the others as she and Eizou disappeared around the bend.
"Well, either we follow Kakure's experience or we get a instructor..." Kaki said finally.
"Instructor," came all but Kakure's voices.
"HEY!!" Kakure crossed her arms, scowling darkly as she followed them mutely.
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Toki smiled as Eizou glanced at her. They stood at the edge of the frozen rink, several people gliding by as graceful as swans.
"Beautiful, huh?" Toki sighed happily. She fluffed up her hair as she placed on the skates that the officials gave the two. "Come on!"
She glided as easily as the rest of the people on. Eizou nearly staggered to keep her balance as she took to the ice. "Easy.. easy.." She began to move hesitantly, her legs jerking.
She ended up doing a split and her face turned white. "Ouch.."
"Can you get up?" Toki called out, passing her by once then twice. "Need a hand?"
"Can't you stop?" Eizou grumbled before she slowly and very carefully climbed up, grasping the edge of the rink in hopes of keeping her balance.
She then pushed away slightly and fell on her buttocks with a heavy grunt.
"You make it look so easy," Eizou fumed, arms crossed as she glowered at a giggling Toki.
"I've obviously done this before," Toki offered her arm as Eizou took it. It took a few minutes of dragging to get them both straightened and on their feet. Eizou grasped the edge and leaned against it on the side of her left hip, watching the other people.
"It looks like so much fun.." Eizou sighed. "I really wanted to try this. I mean, I can roller blade so why is this so difficult?"
"Eh, maybe affiliated with the cold air and that you need to glide, not hit the ground," Toki mused. She would have continued if another girl hadn't chosen that moment to cross over to them. She was smiling warmly as the other two studied her.
The girl was petite but muscled, obviously well trained in ice skating as she came to a planned halt. Her dark brown hair, nearly black in shadows, fell haphazardly over her face and just to her shoulders, flying off at any hint of wind. Her sky blue eyes glittered with mirth as she tilted her head. She was rather tan, her skin evenly layered as she opened her mouth.
"Having fun? Your friend seems to have a balance problem. My name's Nigori, Gakkono Nigori but you can call me Nigori-chan. I've been skating all day and was starting to get lonely. So? Wanna have me help you?"
"Talkative, aren't you?" Toki quipped. "I don't know if we can help her anyways."
"Ha ha, I'm right here, you know?" Eizou straightened and almost lost her footing.
"Here, just take her side and I'll take the other.." Nigori and Toki eventually were moving, with Eizou in between them rather comically.
"Oh.. boy, we're going a tad fast.." Eizou began.
"On my count, let go," Nigori told Toki.
"Wait...waitamin..." Eizou began weakly.
"One.."
" I can't do this on my own!" Eizou protested wildly.
"Won't learn until you let go," Nigori said brightly. And poor Eizou watched the two separate from her as she struggled to keep her length as it had been.
"Hey.. I'm finally getting the hang of this," she shouted before she turned and went over the railing into a bank of snow. She had flipped and landed on her back as she wheezed. The bank crumbled and covered about three fourth's of herself. "Oh.. god, I'm cold."
Toki had crumbled, bending over the rail as she howled in laughter. Nigori neatly climbed over, smiling gently. "Here, let me help.." She gently pushed the snow off until Eizou could move.
"Didn't know snow could be so heavy," Eizou began to chatter, her teeth gritting. "And it's in MY JACKET!" She began to dance around, flinging her arms weakly.
And Toki fell over backwards, choking on her laughter as she crackled.
"It's not funny! TOKI!" Eizou continued to dance as Nigori led her back to the path that would lead to the building.
She was soon cozied up to the fireplace as Toki and Nigori had a private conversation. Eizou had a strange inkling during that small period she was left alone but she pushed it aside. "I'm going to act like I'm normal... that I'm here to have fun, not worry about other..." Henshou flashed in her memory and her head fell forward. "I miss..."
"Miss who?" Nigori came over. She had taken off her oversized coat to reveal a rather tight and fluffy blue sweater. It hugged her hips, much like the black jeans she wore.
"No one," Eizou nearly choked that out.
"Well," she offered a cup of steaming cocoa. "If you wanna talk, I'm more than willing to listen. Or even better, I can talk and YOU listen!" She grinned at that. "It's a joke, get it?"
Eizou blinked. "Err.." The tingling began along her lower back, climbing up her spine. "Um.."
Both of them tilted their heads toward the door as the ground shook. "Um..." Eizou stood up slowly. "I think we have a problem," She began carefully.
"EIZOU!" Kaiki fell in, gasping. She was covered in snow, head to foot. "Uh? Could I borrow her, just for a moment.." Kaiki gave a weak laugh as she pulled Eizou to the side. "There's a MONSTER and I think ... um..."
"Henshou?" Eizou whispered thickly, her eyes closing briefly. "Let's go."
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Shadow Jupiter glowered at Henshou as the monster, not unlike an oversized polar bear with vampire fangs, loomed over the Shadows. "I don't know what has gotten into you," her voice came out darkly. "But you hurt Eizou! I thought you cared for her!"
"That human might have.. but not this one," His eyes turned black as he gestured. "Kill them!"
"Moonlight Casting!" Shadow Moon jumped down neatly. Without the skates, she moved far more easily. The attack only distracted the bear from actually attacking and it turned on her.
"Henshou!" She shouted, that vain glimmer of hope grasped in her heart. "Please, for the love of God! Don't fall for Void! You haven't lost everything!"
Henshou tilted his head, the cold smile deepening. "Oh but if you are not destroyed, he cannot save you.."
"Stop twisting him!" Shadow Moon called her staff to her hand. "Shadowed Illumination!"
Henshou merely seemed to suck in the energy. "Get them," he instructed the bear.
"Fiery Crossfire!" Shadow Mars aimed for the snow, the arrow beaming down to melt the ice. The bear slipped forward as she grinned. "Ah ha!"
It caught itself, straightening with a scream of rage. "Whoops.. Uh, down boy?" Shadow Mars smiled weakly.
"Windblown Haven!" Shadow Uranus was heard crying out as Shadow Mars was tossed in the air just before the bear attacked her. She floated there before she landed next to Uranus. "God, you're heavy," Shadow Uranus grinned.
The Shadows seemed to circle the bear and Henshou. Henshou and Shadow Moon had eyes only for each other, one glaring, the other pleading.
"Please.. don't do this.." Shadow Moon said tiredly. "I can forgive you if you just come back.."
He turned slowly, the snow at his feet falling away in slow motion. His eyes stared blindly and empty at her and she felt the stab go through her, the pain of the heartache shaking her.
"You're not there, are you?" She whispered, her voice echoing. She fell to her knees, her shoulders quaking. She could feel him approaching.
"Get up!" "Eizou! Fight!" "What are you doing! GET UP!" "Stand up!"
"You will return everything to Nothingness..." It wasn't Henshou that had spoken, nor would he ever return. Void's eyes were soft. "The pain of one's body and spirit will disperse and no one will suffer.. It is the way of Void.. of the entire Nothingness.." He touched her head lightly, the darkness dripping to land around her but not quite on her.
"I'm sorry..." Her eyes welled up as she looked up. "Henshou, I love you..."
She jutted the staff that formed in her fingers, the sharp end shoved hard against his ribs. It wasn't enough to do anything but a cut just deep enough to bleed. The motion splattered it against her, blinding her momentarily.
"Eizou!" She heard Shadow Jupiter shout. She knew something was up but her vision blurred as a angry but fuzzy Void loomed over her.
"Glacial Tempest!" A mist swarmed over the man, freezing him to the ground. "Come on! Move!" A new Shadow jumped over, picking Shadow Moon up with ease.
She wore a black strand for a choker, at the center a blue orb with two small yellow gems at each side. Her collar was entirely blue and her bodice was different. She wore a blue sleeveless and shoulder-less dress but the top half was covered in a partial black corset, a huge gape down the front of her body to the waist. It was tied together by black string, making four x's along her breasts and stomach area. Her waistband started at the beginning of one end of the black corset at the front with a green orb. It had two stripes, the top yellow and the bottom one white. It wrapped around her hips to the other side. The two blue orbs were connected by three loose black strands.
Her brooch was a blue crescent moon, each side adorned in two yellow gems and attached from side to the other were three loose black threads. She wore seemingly detachable black sleeves, that covered three fourths of her arm but cut off at the fingers. At the backs of her hands were a blue round gem outlined in yellow. She had a back bow, much like shoelace ribbon, that was a set of two bows, one white and the other yellow. Her boots were blue with a yellow metal v at the ankles, the top half traveling to under her knees and tied loosely in the front by crisscrossing lace. Her left ear was pierced once with a yellow round small loop, the sibling in her right ear but her right ear had an additional ring on the top of her ear.
"Name's Shadow Mercury and while I don't know you, I know Eizou and hurting her is a crime!" She pointed at the man. "Now, what do you have to say for yourself?"
The ice holding him chinked away in sharp shards as he glared at her. "You will bow to me!" He shrieked, snapping his fingers. The bear lunged forward as Void melted away into nothingness.
"COWARD!" Shadow Mercury shouted. "Glacial Tempest!" She tried the attack a second time, this time against a fast moving target. That was the main reason it didn't work and the paw lunged out to strike at her.
"Shadowed Illumination!" Shadow Moon pressed up, shouting the attack from her partial standing position. The bear turned to dust as Shadow Mercury fell to her knees with a loud sigh of relief.
"Nigori?" Shadow Pluto tilted her head slightly.
"Aye, it's me.." She untransformed. "Thanks for the item Toki. Came in handy," She fingered her necklace, smiling warmly.
"Everyone in one piece?" Kakure called out.
Nigori touched Eizou's shoulder slightly. "For what it's worth, my pain is your pain."
Eizou looked up as Nigori smiled sadly. "You just seem to.. vibrate your emotions." She helped Eizou stand up. The rest had untransformed and they made their way to the lodge.
"I'm surprised no one noticed anything," Kaki blinked.
"HEY!" Shiraha shrieked, Sora jumping high. "Where did you GO?!" Her sister stood, a dark look on her face.
"Um, I was with my friends?" She offered.
"Yea but we were supposed to met here ten minutes ago!"
Sora frowned. "Ten minutes!? What a baby!"
"I'm not a baby! It's called concern!"
"WAH WAH WAH!"
"You little brat!" Shiraha smirked at she almost painfully rubbed her younger sister's head. "Come on, you guys looked like you died or something!" They started to head in, disappearing one by one until Eizou was left. Dressed even in winter clothes, she was freezing beyond belief.
"Henshou... I'm sorry.." She told the wind, feeling it pick up. "I'll return everything back to normal.."