Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Descended
Episode Two - Awakening the Guides Eos and Apollo
"And I don't understand why we can't have a dog for a guide," Kochi grumbled. Seiiko and Ame were pressing their face against the glass window to the small shelter. Netsuretsu tried to look around the two as their parents talked to each other.
"I'll admit this is a stretch," Rei sighed. "I mean, Luna, Artemis, and Diana are special; this," she gestured at the door, waving her hand airily. "is just like getting a pet. How can this possibly be right?"
"Luna looked into it," Setsuna said quietly. "Just like our children, a guide has a certain energy. It'll be up to our children to figure which pet it is."
"I wanna go in!" Ame wailed. Minako had gotten down to Seiiko's level and was pressing her face to see inside as well.
"Mina, for the love of God, show some restrain!" Rei said, exasperated.
"Let's go, let's go," Michiru guided them in. Haruka held Ame's hand as the worker looked up.
"My, my, how can I help you?" She asked cheerfully.
"We're looking for a pet but we'd like to look around first before deciding what type," Haruka stated.
"Sure, sure, I'll show you around. Now remember children, please keep your hands to yourselves until I give the go-ahead to touch, all right?" She pivoted and lead them down the rows of cages and kennels.
Kochi looked very bored but the others were lapping it up. "Mom, please, can't I go look on my own?" He asked crossly.
Haruka glanced at the worker who nodded. "All right but try not to hurt yourself," she told him frankly.
"Please, I don't.." He turned his knee into a metal cage door, wincing as he limped away. He wandered aimlessly, studying the back of his hand. There was nothing there but he had seen the sign of Uranus, a navy blue hue that had felt like burning but unfocused energy.
A very loud meow startled him as he stopped in front of a cage. The meow came from the one cage below where a tomcat, a silvery gray cat with dark brown and black stripes was looking out. It's vivid ice blue eyes stared out as it again meowed loudly.
"What?" Kochi crossed his arms, looking irritated. "I'm not doing anything wrong."
Again, he was favored by a even louder meow. It sounded just as irritated as he felt. "Fine, fine," he looked around carefully. In the clear, he bent down, resting on his knees as he opened the cage cautiously.
The tomcat sauntered out, looking very prideful and full of himself. He sat on his haunches in front of him, eying Kochi with a trained gaze.
"Well, this is fun," Kochi said finally. "But what's with the attitude?"
The cat sniffed loudly before going to his lap. He settled his paws on Kochi's knees and began to knead.
"Ow.. ow.. .ow.." Kochi glared as he plucked the cat up by the scruff, staring it down. It didn't look the least bit guilty, he noted dryly. "You are a very annoying cat."
"Kochi?" Haruka was staring down at her son. "What are you doing?"
"Err... He escaped?" He offered. She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, okay, he was getting agitated in the cage and he wanted to come out. So he's just hanging with me."
"Oh look!" The worker looked cheerfully down at Kochi. "He's been here a long time, straight from birth. His siblings were snatched up but the poor thing, he's was always striking out at others. I'm surprised he's still here," she mused. "He was to be put down."
"WHAT?" Kochi stood up, wrapping his arms around the tomcat, glaring. "Just cause he's got an attitude doesn't mean he's not adoptable!"
"But he's.. well, normally, he's very angry. People can't even feed him. He must really like you."
"Yea, well, he and I see eye to eye," Kochi said airily. "Mom, can I keep him?"
"I..." Haruka looked at Michiru. "Let's see how he is with Ame first."
Kochi took the cat by the scruff again, glaring at the feline. "Now listen, be nice to my little brother. You cause trouble, I'll give you trouble."
The cat looked at him with a deadpan stare. "And stop that!"
Ame lifted his arms. "I wanna hold!"
"Here," Kochi very gently moved the cat to Ame's arms. In a second, a very loud purr was heard as suddenly, the tomcat became very friendly, rubbing head to chin with Ame. The little boy giggled. "Her whiskers tickle!"
The cat's eyes narrowed before jumping off and sitting down at Kochi's feet. "See, he's good!"
"You make such a wonderful argument," Haruka said dryly. "Where do we sign?" She asked the worker. Everyone else but Kochi followed them as he looked down at the cat.
"Huh, well, I suppose this was supposed to happen. But man, I was hoping you could talk," Kochi said wistfully, picking up the cat again. He gave a yelp as the cat slashed at him suddenly and took off. Kochi glared out and ran after the cat, watching the cages and kennels whiz by. The tomcat found the back door, Kochi close at hand.
"Ha ha, you may be fast but I'm faster!" He howled before tripping over the suddenly stopped cat. He flipped onto his back and found a strange sight in front of him.
There was a small sanctuary, tucked into a small patch of looming trees. It was old and apparently forgotten as he entered it, the cat at his feet. "Huh, a church but it's abandoned?"
He went further, coming to a overgrown courtyard, a round fountain dug into the earth. He looked down at the water, seeing nothing, not a reflection or ripple.
"It's kind of eerie in here," Kochi blinked. "Oh great, Mom's going to kill me!" He turned and found the cat staring at the water. It took a second glance to realize that the cat had a reflection.
And the cat's reflection had a crescent moon upon his brow. 'Just like Luna and Artemis.. is that what is needed to give the ability to talk?' He eyed the cat before going on impulse.
He grabbed the scruff and dunked the cat in the water, hurriedly pulling it out as the cat gasped and wheezed in shock. He was dripping wet and the long hair fell over his eyes as Kochi attempted to see if anything happened to his forehead.
"Do you mind?" Came the very distinct male voice of the feline. "If you wanted to play hair salon, could you warn me first?"
Kochi's hands froze in the air, above the cat's head. The cat shook himself free of excess water and the hair gave way to show a navy blue crescent moon upon his brow. "That was fun," He stated sarcastically. "Let's do that again!"
The cat stared at the silent figure. "What? Cat got your tongue?"
"It worked.." Kochi let out the air in his lungs.
"Of course it would. I led you here, didn't I?" The cat said, aggravated.
"But how? I mean, how did you know?"
"I don't know, probably from birth. That's why I didn't want anyone to adopt me. All of them so touchy feely," the cat shivered. "My name's Apollo, by the way."
"How do you know your name? I haven't.."
"Please, I'm not having YOU name me. Or worse, that wiggly boy. I can see Fluffykins written on my damn collar. My lord, but I am not a Fluffykins!"
"Aren't you a bundle of sunshine," Kochi said dryly. "So do you know who you are?"
"I said my name is APOLLO. You need me to spell it out for you?"
"That's not what I meant!" Kochi glared. The two could match glare for glare before Apollo shrugged.
"I seem to know that I'm supposed to help you. I haven't a clue how but I suppose time will tell. Now, shall we go before your... uh... how do I say this delicately?"
"They're both Moms," Kochi said flatly. "And I'm not picking you up. You're too wet."
"But I'll get filthy walking!"
"Live with it!"
"You're a goddamn punk!"
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"KOCHI!" Haruka glared as Ame wiggled behind her, held by Michiru. Minako blinked as Rei raised an eyebrow.
"The poor cat," Rei noted.
"I'm fine. It's only a rumor that cats can't handle water," Apollo pointed out.
There was a moment of silence. "You know, you can't talk in front of too many others like that," Kochi said finally.
"I know that much, sheesh. Give me a.."
"A talking kitty!" Ame squealed, lugging up Apollo who gave a surprised meow. "She's so pretty!"
"I'm a boy!"
"Mommy, mommy, I wanna name her Tabitha!" Ame began.
"But my name's Apollo!" The poor cat wailed. "And I'm a male! A boy! Not a girl!"
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Amatsu trailed after Zokusei, who looked sullen as they entered the small sanctuary. On the far way other side of town, Luna had said that there was source of energy that said volumes of a possible guide.
Kiryoko was giggling, pointing at the animals with glee. "It's so cute!" Was the common exclamation as the group moved in exploration. Kaichou followed her parents as Zokusei stopped, looking very angry.
"It's too dirty in here! It smells! These beasts are ugly!" She ground out each line with a stamp of her foot for each exclamation. "I wanna go home!"
"Zokusei, why can't you just have fun?" Amatsu asked simply, skirting around her to follow the rest. Left alone, she looked lost and frightened.
She carefully pressed the dress's skirt down, looking around cautiously at the animals. She didn't see any cute kittens or puppies as she took a different turn from the others. She wandered, looking a little more curious now that she wasn't in anyone's sight.
She stopped in front of a kennel, peering in to see three dogs relaxing. Another one was standing at its food dish, eating delicately. It was a Pinscher, with a tan belly and tan toes on it's front left paw and right back leg. The ears were uncropped, flopping down as the dog finished eating. It was only a few months old, not quite a year as it's night black eyes looked up.
The dog moved forward, almost seeming to tilt its head to study Zokusei. Up close, it was revealed to be a female.
"Wow.." Zokusei gave a rare smile. "You're so beautiful..." She found the latch to the door and entered, closing the door behind her. "Come here, girl."
It was soft and from the side. A growl emitted from the bulldog as the other two looked up. The other two dogs were mongrels and didn't like that their territory had been breached.
"Uh oh.." Zokusei began to fumble with the door but it was locked. "Go away... Go away!" She wailed as the dogs approached with flared nostrils and glistening canines.
The Pinscher moved in front of Zokusei, staring them down. There was a momentary stand off before the three dogs turned and went back to their corner.
"Oh, you saved me!" Zokusei flung her arms around the dog. Her tail wagged as she licked Zokusei's face. Zokusei giggled before stilling as a shadow passed over her.
"Amatsu, look! Isn't she just beautiful?" Zokusei said dreamily.
Amatsu looked stunned. Here was his prissy sister, sitting down on her knees in a new dress, holding a dog, AND calling it beautiful? He pinched himself to make sure he was awake.
"Come on, get out of there," he held it open as both she and the dog exited. "Uh..."
"Zokusei!" Makoto flew to her daughter. "I was so..." She eyed the dog. "Oh, she's very pretty!"
"Isn't she? Can we keep her?" Zokusei asked hopefully.
"Oh..." She looked back at Ami and Setsuna.
"Well, it was never a real fact that all guides had to be cats," Ami said finally.
"Please, Mommy! I won't ever ask for anything ever, ever, never again!" Zokusei did her best to look at her most pleading self.
"How do we prove it?" Makoto asked Setsuna. A ring tone echoed in the room before Setsuna pulled off her cell phone. She talked for a few moments before nodding to them. "There's only one way to find out."
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"Mommy, she'll get cold!" Zokusei was complaining to Makoto as the dog was lead to the same water as Apollo had been so graciously dunked in.
"All right, then you do it," Makoto said with a long sigh.
"All right, girl, come here," Zokusei spoke with authority. She carefully cupped a handful of water and gently let it run on the dog's forehead.
There was a moment of stillness, everyone holding their breath. The dog finally shook her head before the eyes blinked clearly.
"Thank you for being so gentle," came a very soft-spoken, soothing voice. The dog sat on her haunches, looking into Zokusei's eyes. "My name is Eos. I'm happy to meet you."
"Wow.." Amatsu moved to look at the dog's forehead. A green crescent moon shone brilliantly upon her brow. "So those do help with speech?"
"Well, if we can talk one-on-one, I suppose we can get along," Apollo jumped down from Kochi's arms. "I am Apollo."
Eos blinked slowly before giving rather twisted show of her teeth.
Apollo stilled for a moment. "Please don't eat me."
"I am sorry but for me, this is a smile," Eos said lightly.
"Sure and I have nine lives," Apollo began to walk backwards. "So.. uh... bye?"
He jumped back into Kochi's arms. "Such a brave cat you are," Kochi said dryly.
"I've been waiting, it seems, forever," Eos told Zokusei. "Really, those boys in there were pushovers," Eos sniffed loudly. "Just so easy, really."
"Well, I think we got what we were looking for," Rei pointed out. "Shouldn't we head back?"
"But what about this water? This place?" Kochi asked finally. "I mean, is this a church?"
"I don't think so," Ami mused.
"Not an conventional one," Rei added dryly.
"I really can't figure it out," Minako shrugged. "Setsuna?"
"I believe that there are just some places of immense energy, it collects. It does look like water but I'm not sure it is water," Setsuna touched it. "It doesn't move at all, even when I touched it."
"We'll do a bit of studying about this place. For now, let's head back home."
"I call shotgun!" Amatsu called out.
"I wanna be in front!" Kiryoko cried out. "You were up front for the time we were in the car!"
"Wah, wah.." Amatsu winced as Makoto grabbed an earlobe.
"Act your age," she said darkly.
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At the Crystal Palace, Neo Queen Serenity stared at the newest recruits. "I was expecting two...cats," she said finally.
"I am more than capable to be the performances of a feline persuasion," Eos said smartly, her nose slightly in the air with an air of superiority.
"Aren't you fun?" Apollo mumbled.
"Although having a chicken for a partner is a stretch," Eos added.
"I'm not chicken!" Apollo shifted from his spot on the ground. "It's just natural for cats to not trust dogs."
"And for dogs to kill cats," Eos added.
"And for dogs to..." Apollo gulped.
"She won't do anything," Luna shook her head. "You need to stop terrifying him and both of you need to learn to get along together. While the new senshi learn of their abilities, it will be up to Artemis and myself to teach you what you need to know."
"But do I have to work with her?" Apollo began.
"Chicken."
"I'm NOT CHICKEN!"
"Scaredy cat, scaredy cat!"
"Mongrel!"
"You take that back!" Eos howled. "I am a PUREBRED! Not some filthy tomcat!"
"I wouldn't be filthy if I wasn't so wonderfully dunked in water!"
"Don't go dragging me into the quarrel," Kochi said, pressing the bridge of his nose to stop a coming headache. "Can we go home? I need to think."
"I think it's been enough for today," Neo Queen Serenity nodded. "I'll call you all soon, all right?"
The elders bowed and the younger generation did so as well but not as gracefully. Ame fell on his face and Kochi stepped on Apollo's tail.
"They get it from you," Haruka whispered to Michiru.
"I am not so...ungraceful," Michiru said from the side of her mouth.
"Great, blame me," Haruka wove her arm around Michiru's shoulder. "Come on boys!"
"Come, Eos. I'll find a most beautiful collar to show off your eyes," Zokusei said primly.
"And I'll find a place to toss my cookies," Amatsu began before Makoto, once again, grabbed an earlobe. "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Good day, my Lady," Netsuretsu said politely to the Queen. She followed her mother closely.
"I look forward to seeing you again," Kiryoko said lightly. She turned toward Netsuretsu. "HEY LETTUCE!"
She took off after the other girl, who fled from the other.
Seiiko blinked. "So I'll see you again?" She asked Neo Queen Serenity, sounding surprised.
"Of course!"
"Oh.. then bye bye! See you later!" Seiiko waved furiously with a big grin before Minako tapped her shoulder. "Yes, Mommy?"
"Let's go," Minako said warmly. She held her daughter's hand as they left.
"Until later, Usagi," Ami said with a smile.
Kaichou watched her mother start to head out. "My lady, my mother is.. fully retired, right?"
"She's been 'retired' for a while," Neo Queen Serenity said carefully. "Why?"
"Oh... I mean, she can be with someone, right?" Kaichou asked, trying to sound light.
"Ami...was someone I never expected to be alone. But then, she really isn't alone. She has you."
Kaichou looked disappointed.
"Is it that important for a person to have someone by their side?" Neo Queen Serenity asked gently. "Not everyone wants that. Your mother is a special case."
"I suppose," but Kaichou didn't listen to Neo Queen Serenity. She knew, in her deepest realm of her heart, that there had to be someone for her mother.