Sailor Moon: Evil Arises Anew
Chapter 7 : Depression and Redemption
Rini stood in front of the apartment building door. Room 618, fourth floor, the hallway silent like a funeral. The events of last week had taken its toll on her new friend, Alex Kino. After he had killed Tekita during the battle against Dark Knight Slayer, he had cried, then stood up and de-transformed, taking his pendant and throwing it to the ground.
"I am Sailor Knight Europa no more!"
The memory kept playing in the little girl's head, seeing the nice young man run off in pain and guilt. She raised her hand to knock on the door, then froze. Another memory was playing in her head.
"He hasn't been to school all week. If he doesn't start showing up they'll suspend him. He needs to be near us in order to make sure the Soul Sucker's don't hurt us." Trista was looking out at the sun in the blue sky, sighing.
"What's more important is that he needs to be Knight Europa. If he doesn't continue his mission, he won't be able to save future Lita's soul, and an even worse possibility is that he'll be erased from existence." Amy said in a worried tone, putting down a fourth text book. She'd been reading about time paradoxes and possibilities.
"I've tried to call him, but he won't return my calls. It's frustrating… I mean if I'm his mother, can he talk to me?"
" With all due respect, Lita. You're the last person who should try to talk to him." Michelle said "His mission was to save a version of you. If he sees you now, he might break down even more."
" Well, do you think I could try?" Rini asked, looking at the group of women. " I don't know why, but I feel a very close connection to Alex. Maybe I can bring him back to Earth."
"Alright, Rini. I'll give you a lift to his apartment." Amara said, taking the little girl by the hand and getting into her car. Once they arrived, Amara had gotten a phone call from Trista, telling her of multiple Soul Suckers attacking the city. She informed Rini about this and sped off to help.
"I've got to help get him back to his senses" Rini knocked on the apartment door. When there was no answer, she knocked again.
"Go away!" came the voice from within the apartment.
"Alex, open the door! We need to talk!"
A small crash came from inside, along with some muttering, and footsteps. The door slowly opened, revealing Alex, or perhaps the person who once was Alex. His skin was white as a sheet, his hair unclean, a whiff of BO coming from him. Rini covered her nose and entered the apartment, eyes widening; the place was pig heaven! Pizza boxes, soft drink cans, dirty clothes, a sty in every sense of the word.
"Alex, what's gotten into you? Your apartment is usually in top shape. And you! You look horrible. Before we speak, you're to clean up this place and yourself." Rini crossed her arms, giving a stern look.
"Fine…."
It took around twenty minutes, soon the whole place was cleaned up, and a nice hot shower had put color back into Alex's skin. Sitting on the couch, he'd look at the floor while speaking softly, almost in a whisper.
"What do you want, Rini? I want to be left alone."
" What happened in that battle wasn't your fault. Your anger is something you'll need to learn to control. It may come from your daddy, but you cant allow it control you. You also cant let yourself live in depression forever." Rini took his face in her hands, guiding his eyes into hers.
"Everyone needs you right now."
"……. Please go away, Rini…"
"Hpmh." She would walk out of the front door, but had slyly left it cracked open. She had a plan forming in her head. Taking Alex's pendant out of her pocket, she would hit the gold sphere on the bottom, and soon an image came up; Future Lita, still in suspended animation. Soon Pluto of his time would appear in the screen, eyes widening.
"Small lady? Why do you have Alex's pendant? We've been trying to contact him for a week now but he won't respond."
"It's a long story…" Rini told Pluto everything about what happened, her eyebrows now furrowed in concentration. "I don't know how to get through to him, Pluto. He's too far into depression to listen."
"Hmm. Well we need to fix this situation now. Lita's starting to get worse physically. If we don't help him now, she will be gone! I have an idea on how to wake him up. Tell him this sentence.."
Rini listened closely, eyes widening before she nodded her head. Hitting the gold sphere again, the screen vanished. Tucking the pendant back into her pocket, she would summon Luna-P. Taking a deep breath to gather courage, Rini kicked open the door and flung Luna-P right into Alex's head, making him fall off the couch.
"What the hell, Rini?!" He stood up glaring at her.
"No matter how far the distance, or how hard the battle, love is always there to guide you." Rini spoke, staring her friend down defiantly.
Alex stood there, silent for a few moments. Before falling to his knees and hanging his head.
"My mother's words…"
Walking up to him, Rini held him close, speaking in an almost motherly tone.
"Your mother loves you, even though she cant talk to you. We all love you, Alex. I know that you think of us as a family. Family has to be there for each other, right? Your family needs you right now, Alex."
"….How selfish and pitiful I've been acting. I can't let one mistake take me into the abyss." Standing up, he would shut his eyes, a blue aura surrounding him with his planet sign glowing on his forehead. Rini watched in awe, as her friend seemed to be completely revitalized by the comforting words.
"Rini, you're right. My family needs me."
"Alright! Now give me a hug!"
The two hugged each other, Alex whispering into her ear.
"Thank you, Rini."
Artemis soon walked in, sweat dropping at the display of affection.
"Ahem. If you two don't mind, there's a battle that needs to be won."
"Right, let's go!" Alex grabbed his jacket and headed out the door to the front steps of the complex.
"Oh, this belongs to you." Rini dug into her pocket and pulled out the pendant, giving it to her friend.
"Thank you." Alex put it around his neck, feeling happy now that he had it again. All three of them looked up and down the street for some sort of transportation. The battle was over a mile away and they needed to be fast. Spotting a motor bike with two helmets and they keys in the ignition, Alex would get on the bike, putting a helmet on. Rini would sit behind him, putting the other helmet on and holding onto him tightly.
"Hold it, do you even know how to drive? And this is stealing!" Artemis said. Alex would grab Artemis and place him into a backpack on the motorbike.
"It's borrowing… And for your first question? There's a first time for everything."
"Wait a-mmph!"
Turning the ignition, Alex would soon speed off down the streets of Japan, Rini holding onto his jacket.
"Hold on everyone, I'm coming to help!"
From the corner of his eye, Alex saw a figure on another motorbike; Darien. Giving a nod to each other, the men would go faster. A ramp was blocking the way. Seeing no choice, Alex went first and revved up the motor bike, a burst of energy shooting from his body. The burst had transformed both him and Rini! Darien would smile underneath his helmet, using the same method to become Tuxedo Mask. The four arrived at the battle field, witnessing a Soul Sucker having the upper hand on the Sailor Scouts. Mars, Mercury, Pluto, and Venus were all tied up, while Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, and Moon were losing the battle, their attacks being sent back at them. This Soul Sucker had the power to mimic and reflect attacks.
"I'll provide a distraction." Tuxedo Mask said, grabbing a few roses and his cane, rushing into the fray. Europa and Mini Moon would start to attack the monster.
"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!" Mini Moon unleashed a beam of hearts that hit the beast, but it merely held its hand up and sent the attack back at her.
"Ahh!"
"I got you!" Europa had leap-tackled her out of the way, glaring at the monster.
"Alex…" she said, looking at his sword.
"Huh?" He looked down at it too; it was glowing pink!
Standing up, the two would hold the sword in both their hands, the blade glowing more brighter.
"What is this…?"
"It's the power of our friendship." Rini would smile up to him, then looked at the monster. "We're going to need a good attack name."
"I got one…" Holding it higher, the two said in unison.
"BEAUTIFUL CELESTIAL FRIENDSHIP BLAST!" The pink energy shot out like a laser, incinerating the Soul Sucker. After sheathing his sword, Alex and Rini would make their way to the scouts, helping untie the ones who were tied up, and healing everyone. Lita would hug Alex, smiling.
"Welcome back to the team, Alex."
"I have Rini to thank for that. Everyone, you are my family, and I'll be there to help you." Turning to the sky, he called out. "Beryl, I know you can see us; We're coming for you next, got that?!" The gauntlet has been thrown down, which side will win? Check out the final chapter to find out!