Days, perhaps months, passed. Sailor Pluto did not keep track of the time anymore; she left that duty a long time ago. More and more she was feeling like she belonged. It did not matter anymore that Fate had brought her back to the underworld. This is where I need to be, Pluto thought. How Hades has managed his task for so long alone was beyond her. Pluto was determined to make up for lost time.
Sure, she missed her friends and her Princess, but she felt like she was better serving them while she was in the underworld. She hoped she would not have to see them soon, for that would mean…well…she did not want to think about it. It was difficult to imagine any one of her scouts as a spirit.
Today (or tonight) there was a particular disturbance in the underworld. Pluto felt the spirits getting restless, and a few of the souls from Hell had escaped outside. They were demons—ugly flesh-eating worms. It took a few Dead Scream attacks to put them in their place. Normally, Pluto would think nothing of a few demons coming from the dark end of the river. However, there seemed to be just a few more coming out every other breakout. These breakouts also appeared to be more frequent.
Worried, Sailor Pluto consulted Hades when she went to the castle. "What of these spirits that want to break free and cause havoc?"
Smiling, he answered her. "I am sure you can handle a few evil spirits every now and then, correct?"
"There seems to be more of them each time."
"Really? Interesting. Perhaps it is a matter of time before all Hell breaks loose."
"That's not funny. What happens if it does?"
"Well, that's not really supposed to happen for quite a while. Last I checked, we are not on schedule for any Apocalypses any time soon." Seeing the glare he was getting from Trista, however, Hades said, "My dear girl, do not concern yourself with these matters. Do not worry; if it is meant to happen, it shall happen. I think Fate herself would have mentioned something, though. She is rather busy, but she is not heartless."
At the very second he spoke her name, Fate appeared. "Ah, Hades, Trista. I am afraid I have some news. No, no end of the world business—yet. But I thought you may want to know, Trista, that your scouts are battling a new enemy. Strangely, it happens to be connected with the restless spirits below."
"Really?" Sailor Pluto asked.
"Yes. They have dark thoughts—so scary that not even I would dive into them, and I have heard many scary thoughts before. It hurts my head to even consider what they plan to do."
"What is it that they plan to do?"
"All in good time, my dear. You know, it's just the usual take-over-the-world thing. Nothing that I'm sure your scouts cannot handle."
Pluto sighed. "I wish I could help them."
"They should be all right, what with the help I am giving them. Serena's going to have a whole week off from homework so she can concentrate on this enemy."
Pluto smiled, knowing that Serena would sincerely enjoy that. "You would let me know if they need my help, though, with such a dark enemy, right?"
"I am sure they will come to you should they need help. Now if you will excuse me, I have a little justice to deliver on the other side of the world. Karma!!" Sailor Fate ran upstairs.
Hades looked at Trista. "Fate would know if something bad were to happen, I am sure. Her powers are nearly infallible. I keep trying to get her to tell me lottery numbers, but she says I do not need the money," he said, laughing. "She says," he continued seriously, "that all I ever need is already here." Trista could feel Hades looking into her eyes. They came closer together, and Trista thought of all the times they had talked and shared so much about each other—it was coming all to this one moment. Praying nothing would ruin this moment—Fate be kind, Pluto thought—they kissed. It was a cold, yet warming kiss. It was a puzzle inside of itself, so fresh and anew. Hades is the first man I have ever kissed, she thought. That never bothered her before. She had waited for the right moment. They broke apart, with Hades caressing Trista's face. "Ah, my lovely Trista, so long have I waited for that."
Kino came into the room. "Hades, my lord, you said to come get Miss Trista when my shift was over…"
"Ah, yes I did. Such horrible timing though…if there is such a thing. Trista, I shall see you in a while."
She nodded, and headed towards the river.
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"Mars Sniper!" An arrow of flame flew from the fire scout's hand into the heart of a monster. The monster roared in pain and fell back.
"What are these things?" Sailor Moon asked Luna.
The feline answered, "They appear to be…dragons."
The inner scouts had first noticed the dragons when they were on their way to the arcade. They had contacted the outer scouts, transformed, and headed to the center of the city, where the dragons were circling and attacking people. The dragons were large, black creatures with red-tipped wings and sharp horns on their heads. The largest one, who appeared to be the leader, stood on a skyscraper, observing the others.
"When will the Outer Scouts arrive?" inquired Venus.
"Deep Submerge!" A blast of water splashed a dragon.
"I think you have your answer," replied Artemis.
"Space Sword Blaster!" Sailor Uranus's sword cut off the head of one of the dragons.
Sailor Saturn came up to the inner scouts. "How many of these things are there?"
"I believe thirteen," answered Luna.
"Know where they came from?"
"No idea."
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" Spurts of water from Mercury's hard splashed upon the dragons.
Sailor Moon remarked, "We only seem to be making them even angrier."
"Use your crystal wand, then! See if we can blast these dragons for good," Luna suggested.
Sailor Moon nodded and raised her wand. Before she could say anything, however, the largest dragon swooped down upon her and lashed at her with its mace-like tail.
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It was the typical day for Pluto. Ferry the souls, blast a few demons, avoid anything from falling into the river. The river itself was acid, and in the bottom of it lived serpentine fish with long rows of sharp teeth. They lay dormant, unless one of the demons hit the water. Then Pluto would catch a glimpse of the fish. These fish were known as Ketea, monsters of the sea. Pluto learned as long as she fed them the demons and stayed out of their way, they would respect her and not attack her, at least, according to Hades.
As she rode the boat to shore, Pluto called out, "All right! Next souls, please come onto the boat and don't go into the water." She passes her eyes over her group. Most of them were old and had died of natural causes, it appeared. It pained her to see younger people there, who were right about the scouts' age. She pushed the boat off the shore and it went down the river.
Arriving first at the gates of Hell, she called out, "Okay, first stop!" A man with red robes and horns appeared outside the black gates with a scroll. He called out various names, and those called rose and went to him.
After this Sailor Pluto departed the black gate and went through a little stream that was a shortcut to the other side of the fork to go to Heaven. Upon arriving there, she called, "Okay, last stop!" A man dressed in white appeared with a book. He called names and they came to him. Fascinated by the glow of Heaven, Pluto did not watch to see if all of the souls were gone. After the man finished calling names, He beckoned to Pluto to turn around. She turned, shocked to see there was one soul left, and it looked too familiar… "Serena?"
AN: Ketea are Greek mythological creatures that lived underwater. I'm really getting into this Greek stuff...hope you enjoy it so far...
