Chapter Five
Into the Unknown! The Strange Quests
Tansei dozed fitfully on the sofa. The sun had long since set and neither Akumu nor Eitai had returned from the recent battle. Kiki was also missing, although in the brief time Tansei had known the girl, he knew she was unreliable at best. Kami's fever had broken and she now slept restfully. Tansei had taken the opportunity to refresh himself, eat, and finally get some sleep.
He dreamt of a city like Tokyo, but different. He got the impression that it had once been a place of utmost joy, but was now bathed in deep darkness. He saw pale shadows of people walking around, their expressions devoid of hope. Tansei watched them move past him soundlessly before a flash of light caught his attention. He raised his head to see the man who had kidnapped him, Hodur, standing above him and smiling cruelly. In one hand, he held a glittering diamond shaped crystal which emitted an intense golden light. In the other hand, he held a black leash. Tansei allowed his eyes to follow the leash down to the ground, where he saw Sailor NeoSun. Her head was slumped against her breast and her once bright angel wings hung limp. Hodur laughed and tugged at the leash, causing NeoSun to topple over and lay at his feet as if dead.
"Kami-chan!" Tansei called, trying to move to her side.
Hodur looked down at him. "You have failed. She is mine."
As he spoke, the glittering diamond he held in his hand went black and NeoSun began to disappear.
"No!" Tansei cried.
He awoke with a start, sitting upright on the sofa, his face drenched with sweat. He put a hand to his chest and willed his rapidly beating heart to calm down. What had he seen in his dream? A vision of the future? He swallowed hard and, feeling someone's eyes on him, he glanced up. Kami was standing in the hallway. She still wore her pajamas and she leaned heavily on the door frame.
"I have to go," she said quietly. "The others have failed."
You have failed, the voice of Hodur echoed in Tansei's mind. He moved off the couch to approach her, but she was already moving slowly toward the door.
"You can't go," Tansei said. "It's late, and you're still too weak."
Kami shook her head. "Sailor Aion and Sailor Nyx are gone and the senshi of this planet cannot protect the princess alone. I must go."
In a few quick steps, Tansei was at her side, partly blocking the front door. Kami looked up at him in surprise and he gently smoothed the hair from her face.
"Don't think I'm letting you go alone," he said.
Kami smiled. "That's sweet, Tansei-chan, but you couldn't keep up with me."
Tansei blinked. "Why not?"
As Kami continued to smile at him, her mortal disguise faded away until she stood before him in a yellow gown at Lucis. Her two white angel wings spread out on either side of her and her entire body was bathed in a soft, yellow aura.
"Sailor NeoSun?" Tansei asked.
Kami's eyes grew sad although the smile never left her face. Without saying another word, she raised her eyes, flapped her wings, and was gone in a flash of light. Tansei stood alone and bewildered at the door, wondering what had just happened.
"Whatever she's doing," Tansei said to himself, "she's not doing it alone."
Slipping into his shoes and grabbing his jacket, Tansei left the apartment in pursuit of Kami — or whatever she was.
******
"Neptune," Sailor Moon gasped. "Stop! Please, stop."
Sailor Neptune slowed down but did not release Sailor Moon's hand. The moon had risen, casting a dim light on the world. The two senshi had been moving for hours, afraid to stop in case Suisei found them. Sailor Moon sat heavily on a large rock and squinted into the deep shadows.
"Where are we?" she asked softly.
"Outside the city," Neptune replied, keeping her eyes on the darkness. "We have to keep moving."
"We should find the others," Sailor Moon protested. "We need to face this thing together."
"Then we'll all end up in Hodur's collection," Neptune snapped. "Like Jupiter, Aion, and Nyx."
Neptune glanced over her shoulder to Sailor Moon. The younger girl's eyes had filled with tears, but she looked determined not to cry. Neptune's expression softened slightly and she moved to sit next to the girl.
"Usagi-chan," she said gently. "Haruka, Setsuna, and I were given the most powerful talismans and attacks in the solar system to keep you safe. We can't even dent the defenses Hodur has created. We're not enough."
Sailor Moon looked down at her locket. "But the Silver Crystal"
"Would only weaken Hodur, not destroy him," Neptune said. "Until we can get Aion and Nyx back, we're stuck."
"But Suisei has your mirror," Sailor Moon protested.
Neptune rose to her feet and closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses. A slight smile played across her lips and she opened her eyes, turning back to Sailor Moon. "No, Suisei does not have my mirror. It is in the hands of an ally, don't worry. I'll bet Ami-chan is trying to figure out how to get them out right now." She held out her hand to Sailor Moon. "But until then, we better keep moving."
Smiling through her tears, Sailor Moon nodded and accepted Neptune's hand. She rose to her feet, bit her lip in determination, and followed Neptune as the elder senshi took off into the darkness.
******
Haruka stared into the mirror as she sipped her coffee. Inside, she could see Sailor Aion and Sailor Nyx sitting on the ground, looking bored. They had long since given up on using their powers to escape their prison and now waited patiently for someone to rescue them. Taking another sip, Haruka wondered if they could see her as well.
The bell above the coffee shop door rang as someone entered the store. Haruka wasn't tempted to raise her eyes to see who it was. It was impossible that Michiru would return so quickly from wherever it was she had gone with Usagi, and Michiru was the only person Haruka wanted to see right now.
"Is this seat taken?"
Haruka raised her eyes and nearly choked on her coffee. Michiru raised an eyebrow at her partner and smiled slyly.
"Michiru!" Haruka gasped as Michiru sat down. "Where have you been? What happened? How did you get here?"
"So many questions," Michiru teased. "You're not usually this talkative." She glanced down at the table and saw her mirror. "I'm glad you found it. I knew it was somewhere safe."
"But Aion and Nyx," Haruka began.
"I know," Michiru interrupted. "But Usagi is safe. That's what I've come to tell you."
"Where is she?"
"I can't say. Hodur may have spies everywhere. Just tell the others she is safe and I'm watching out for her."
"So, you're going away again," Haruka couldn't hide the sadness from her voice.
Michiru laughed. "I'll be back as soon as you figure out how to keep Usagi safe from Suisei."
Haruka's expression darkened and Michiru rose from her seat. She tapped the communicator on Haruka's wrist.
"We'll keep in touch," Michiru said.
Haruka grabbed Michiru's hand and kissed it. "Stay safe."
Michiru nodded and left the coffee shop. Haruka finished her drink, threw down some money, and picked up the mirror. Glancing at Aion and Nyx, she walked quickly out of the café and down the street towards Rei's shrine.
******
Suisei paced angrily back and forth in the hall of the Immortal Senshi. Her fists held tightly against her side, she muttered to herself under her breath. Hodur had taken her defeat with an eerie calmness, one that Suisei knew she should fear. Nevertheless, he had not punished her failure, but had left her alone to her own devices.
Two shadows separated themselves from the gloom that had fallen on the room.
They snickered and gestured to where Suisei paced, mimicking her movements. The small woman was not amused by their antics and shot them an icy stare.
"Both of you should keep in mind who has the greater power in this room."
Miffed, she turned on her heel and stalked out of the hall, making her way down to the city. She smiled wickedly, hoping to amuse herself by torturing the remaining miserable inhabitants while she planned her next move.
******
A loud boom startled the remaining inner senshi out of their reverie. They were seated in Rei's bedroom, their books open but their minds far from the upcoming entrance exams.
"Usagi-chan!" they all shouted at once as they raced to the door and fought to open it.
Rei eventually got hold of the handle and turned a reproachful stare towards the three girls and two cats. She quickly changed her expression to a beaming smile and flung the door wide.
"Oh," Rei sighed, "It's just you, Haruka-san."
"Don't be too excited to see me," the tall racer remarked sarcastically.
"That's not what we meant..." Ami floundered.
"I know. You were expecting odango-atama. That's what I've come to talk to you about."
The girls waited in breathless anticipation as they returned to their seats. Haruka walked into the room and sat casually in a chair by the door. The inner senshi stared at her in anticipation.
"Usagi-chan is safe" Haruka began.
The tension in the room suddenly rushed out as everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"but I can't tell you where she is."
"Why not!?" Minako demanded angrily.
"Michiru-chan has her hidden somewhere; she won't even tell me where. Just be happy that she's safe. What's important now is to figure out how to keep her safe from Hodur."
"But our powers are too weak," Ami lamented, "Even the talismans don't do any good."
"Don't lose heart Ami-chan," Luna comforted, "We still have the power of love and that can never be beaten."
Ami smiled gratefully, "We may be too weak to defeat Hodur, but not too weak to keep him at bay. We need a plan."
"One other thing," Haruka said, pulling Neptune's mirror from her pocket.
She stood and walked across the room, laying the talisman in front of Ami. The blue haired girl picked it up and glanced at the two figures who were trapped inside. Nyx appeared to be asleep, curled in a ball on the ground while Aion twirled Pluto's staff around her head. Ami looked back up to Haruka.
"Part one of the plan," Haruka said to Ami. "Allies."
Ami nodded and held the mirror tighter. Haruka smiled at her and returned to her seat.
"Part two," Artemis said. "Any suggestions?"
******
Suisei stepped onto the ground in the dark alley of Tokyo. She smoothed her midnight blue dress and the portal silently closed behind her as she glared out into the busy street. Dozens of people walked by without giving a second glance at the alley. Suisei smiled.
Good,' she thought, no one saw me.'
Although she disliked having to hide her presence from the senshi, she knew she would have to keep a low profile. She turned around and her form changed. A tall brunette walked out of the gap and melted into the churning crowd, laughing under her breath.
******
Ami found herself lost in a dark labyrinth. Nothing she did helped her to escape and she knew all the technology and brains in the world couldn't solve this riddle. She looked around hopelessly and burst into tears. She was utterly alone and there was no way out. Suddenly, a soft voice spoke to her through her sobs.
"You do not need your computer to find the answer. The key is within you. Follow your heart and you will find the truth."
At that, a bright white light flashed through the now open door in front of her. She heard her friends calling to her from beyond the opening.
"Ami-chanAMI-CHAN!"
She woke with a start and sat up in her chair to find Luna sitting in her lap. The black cat had a very worried look on her face.
"What's wrong Luna?" yawned the blue haired girl.
"Nothing, You've just been working all day. The girls and I figured you'd need a break," the black cat replied.
"I fell asleep and had the strangest dream, but all I can remember about it is a giant maze that I couldn't find the way out of. Oh, never mind, I need to get back to work."
She picked Luna up off her lap and placing her on the desk, went to the bookshelf. Neptune's mirror lay next to Luna and the cat could not help but peek into its depths. Aion and Nyx were having a mock battle with each other, the younger senshi easily staying a few steps away from the elder one.
"But that's what I came to tell you, Ami-chan," Luna interrupted, tearing her eyes from the mirror, "We all wanted to go to the movies together. Everyone should be here any moment. You need a break, anyway."
Ami frowned in thought, then smiled brightly. "You're right. Tiring myself out won't help anyone. Count me in!"
As if in agreement with her decision, the doorbell rang and her friends poured into the apartment.
******
Suisei glared out at the group of girls from behind the snack counter. Her new form's purple eyes lighted on the one they called Chibimoon and she was filled with a sudden urge to blast her. But she kept her calm and remembered that she needed to capture senshi alive.
With a saccharine smile she handed the little girl her popcorn and candy and watched her skip into the movie theater.
"It begins" she chuckled to herself as she made her way to the projector room.
******
"I'm so excited!" Minako gushed as they walked into the still-lighted theater.
"Yeah!" Chibiusa added, "I can't believe they actually made a movie about the senshi."
"I wonder who's playing me?" Ami remarked quietly.
"Would you guys hurry up and sit down so Artemis and I can come out of the packs?!" Luna growled from the depths of Chibiusa's bag.
Artemis came out of Minako's looking a little wrinkled and she giggled as he shook himself out. Rei and Haruka rolled their eyes and sat down at the end of the row. The house lights dimmed and the advertisements gave way to movie previews. Meanwhile, a sinister figure was at the main controls.
******
Usagi had been moving half asleep for the past hour and she was surprised to find them walking on a road, albeit a dirt road, instead of hiking a faint path or blazing a trail through the brush. She glanced at Michiru who did not seem tired at all. Instead, she had a resolute look on her face that told the small blonde not to ask for a break. She looked around her as she walked, trying to get her bearings. They were definitely in the more civilized countryside now; she could see lights softly glowing through far-off windows of cheerful homes. She turned her gaze to the moon and sighed. But the soft glow of it was not a comfort to the girl as she trudged on her weary road.
To her further amazement, the two turned into a driveway between two large pillars that haphazardly held an old, rusty gate. She looked up the lane and saw a huge shadowy house loom up in front of her.
"Is that where we're going?" she asked her aqua haired protector in a squeak.
"Yes."
"Oh..." Usagi turned to her friend and noticed that her former air of toughness had been replaced by a look of sadness.
They walked up the wide, cracking marble steps together and entered the house that could only be described as a manor.
"You'll be safe here," Michiru said.
The younger girl gaped at the grandeur of the building. She stared up at the high vaulted ceilings and the beautiful chandeliers that tinkled in the slight breeze coming from the open door. The place was coated in a layer of dust and looked as though it had been uninhabited for a very long time.
"What is this place," Usagi breathed softly, her voice echoed back and startled her.
Michiru's lips curved in a sad smile, "My family used to come here in the summer when I was a little girl. My grandfather would play his violin and mother would sing to it. This place was always filled with light and warmth. But that was a long time ago..."
Usagi studied her friend, "Why doesn't your family come here anymore?"
Michiru shook her head as if dismissing the memory, "Never mind."
She started up the staircase and Usagi followed her to the end of a long hallway. Michiru stopped at a wooden door and pushed it open on squeaky hinges. The room was small but cozy looking, at least, it would have been if people lived in the house. Now it was a desolate room with only one lumpy sagging couch shoved against the far wall.
"This is the warmest room in the house. It's not much, but I'm afraid it will have to do. Sleep now, I need to go out for a while."
"Michiru-san, don't leave me alone again. The last time you did I woke up before you got back and I was scared."
"I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you, but I thought I would be back in time and I didn't want the others to worry about you. I promise you I'll be back soon, I just need to take care of some things."
With that she left her sleepy leader behind and made her way into the wide park surrounding her old home.
******
"You can do it Sailor Moon!" the crowd in the theater shouted as she was fighting the climatic battle in the movie against an absurd villain who looked strangely like an evil parasol.
The scouts were no longer enjoying themselves and in fact were the only people in the theater crying.
"N-N-not only is th-the plot in this movie so-so awful," Ami said between laughing and crying, "It makes me think of Usagi."
"I know," Luna sobbed, her face a furry, wet, mess from crying.
Haruka seemed to be the only one in the group enjoying herself.
"Come on you guys, Usagi is safe with Michiru and you gotta admit, this is the worst movie you have ever seen. It's so bad, it makes Godzilla look like a masterpiece!"
She couldn't go on as she doubled over in laughter at the fuss the audience was making over the silly battle. Suddenly, a huge rip appeared in the screen and the absurd creature from the movie clawed its way into the theater.
"Looks like trouble girls," Artemis warned, "better get moving."
"Right, let's go!" Chibiusa shouted as they ran out of the theater followed by the stampeding crowd.
Running into the deserted bathroom five transformation calls bounced off the walls of the small restroom.
"Mars Star Power"
"Venus Star Power"
"Mercury Star Power"
"Uranus Planet Power"
"Moon Prism Power"
"Make-up!"
They ran out into the lobby to find the monster attacking two workers behind the snack counter. They ran toward it and nodded to each other as they formed their attack plan.
"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!" Chibimoon yelled hoping her unpredictable wand would work.
A stream of hearts sped from the little scepter and struck the unlucky monster on the butt. It began howling in pain and it turned toward them and away from the people. This was exactly what the senshi wanted and having an open shot, Uranus fired her attack at it.
"World Shaking!"
The golden planet ripped through the earth and sped toward the hapless monster. It had nowhere to run and it was knocked down by the powerful attack. With a painful moan, it tried to get to its feet.
"Let's finish it off!" Uranus shouted to the others.
"Venus Crescent"
"Shine Aqua"
"Burning"
"World"
"Pink Sugar Heart"
"Beam!"
"Illusion!"
"Mandala!"
"Shaking!"
"Attack!"
A pink, flaming, freezing heart-shaped planet with crescent moons circling it ripped through the ground and crashed into the monster. It disintegrated and disappeared, all the while shrieking horribly.
"Well done senshi," one of the employees congratulated as she stepped forward.
Just as she got close to the sailors, she grabbed Sailor Chibimoon and her false form melted away to reveal a short blue haired woman. She quickly stepped back and drew from her breast a knife with a black crooked blade.
Holding the knife to the child's neck she cackled, "Sailor Moon, it is no use hiding from me behind that ridiculous bow. I have your child, now either hand over yourself or the child dies." She drove her point home by pressing the knife close enough to draw blood and make Chibimoon squeal in fright.
"I'm not Sailor Moon, I'm Sailor Venus!" the senshi of love yelled, "and hand over Chibimoon or you'll be sorry!"
"Sailor VenusI don't remember you, you must've been too good to mingle with riffraff. No matter, seeing as your fearless leader isn't here, I'll take the child anyway."
A portal opened behind her, and like that, she was gone, and with her Chibimoon. Uranus ran at the portal and only succeeded in flying into the counter with a sickening thud.
"Sailor Chibimoon! Sailor Uranus!"
The magnificent soldier was leaning over the counter pounding her fist on it. When she looked up the other saw tears in her eyes.
"We have failed," she said as she sank into Mars' arms.
With a startled look on her face, Sailor Mars held the much taller Uranus in a comforting embrace. Before a minute had passed, the air in front of them shimmered and the woman appeared again.
"I know this is highly unorthodox, I do believe I'm supposed to run away after I get what I want, but I forgot to introduce myself. I am Suisei, the goddess of betrayal and I have come back to give you miserable Sailor brats another chance."
Uranus growled at her mocking tone and threw her attack at her.
"World Shaking!"
Yawning, Suisei held up her hand, and though she was blown back a bit, she absorbed most of the attack. She then twisted her face into a venomous smirk as she sent it rocketing back at her.
"Ice Quake!"
The cold blue planet froze the ground as it tore through it and slammed into Uranus. The senshi crashed to the ground like a felled tree. The goddess of betrayal looked at her nails in boredom and smiled at the stunned senshi.
"Any takers?"
"Yeah, me," a new voice reverberated through the large room.
All eyes turned to the doorway where a woman stood, radiating a warm yellow light. She stepped clear of the shadows and flapped her white angel wings once. Her skin was pale and her eyes had dark bags under them, but her stance and eyes were full of determination.
"Sailor NeoSun!" the senshi yelled.
"Ah, Lucis, so nice to see you," Suisei said with a mock bow. "I'm afraid you will not be able to defeat me when you are so weak. I am not afraid of you as Hodur is. Light is not my weakness."
"How little you know yourself, Suisei. How do you think Hodur controls you?"
"Hodur does not control me! I control me!" Suisei screamed with rage as she charged Sailor NeoSun.
NeoSun didn't move, but suddenly Suisei stopped and tried to shield herself with her arms and screaming in agony. The light around NeoSun grew brighter and Suisei back away slowly.
NeoSun's yellow aura faded and she looked sternly at Suisei. The goddess winced and turning a nasty stare on Lucis stepped backward into a portal and disappeared. Without a sound, Lucis crumpled to the ground and changed back into her mortal form.
"Kami-chan!" the others cried, running toward her.
******
Michiru kicked off her heels and looked up into the branches of the trees. She leaped up and grabbed the lowest limb, swinging herself up into the dark reaches. Higher and higher she climbed, until she reached a peculiar branch that seemed to have a dip in it almost like a bench. She sat down on it almost unable to believe that it was still there. The violinist swung her legs and looked up at the stars. Suddenly, a figure leapt from the ground and landed next to her on the branch. Michiru's eyes adjusted to the dark and she realized that Kiki was now standing on the bough next to her.
"What are you doing here?" Michiru asked, alarmed.
"I followed you," was the calm reply. "Where is Odin?"
"Odin?"
"Er...I mean Sailor Moon."
"She's back up at my family's old house, asleep. I need to go back now and watch over her."
With that, she dropped back down to the ground, and replacing her shoes, she started back towards her former home. Kiki followed soundlessly followed suit and she melted into the shadows of the trees as she kept an eye on Michiru.
The two girls made their way to the imposing building and as they got inside, Michiru heard the sound of rushing energy and turned to find Sailor Loki standing behind her.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Give me Sailor Moon, you cannot keep her safe."
"And you can?" Michiru countered.
Sailor Loki turned a bright shade of red and snarled at her fellow senshi. "Hand her over or I'll be forced to fight you!"
"If it's a fight you're looking for," Michiru said with a shrug. She held up her henshin pen. "Neptune Planet Power, Make-up!"
A surge of water surrounded her and she was changed into the senshi of the ocean. The two senshi stood facing each other and for a moment, neither one moved. Finally Loki lunged at Neptune who quickly remembered to stay away from her hands. She didn't want what had happened to Njord to happen to her.
"Deep Submerge!"
The attack hit Sailor Loki, and while it didn't knock her down, she was unable to breathe for a bit. She sat up with an angry look on her face and raised her hand into the air.
"Freyja Feather Cape!" she called, pulling something out of thin air.
It looked like a cloak made of feathers that had been designed for a school play. As she threw it over her shoulders, she disappeared. Neptune gasped in surprise and looked around her trying to figure out where the other senshi might be. She turned to find Loki right in front of her and holding her hands in an iron grip. Neptune struggled to break free but it was no use.
"Power Steal!"
Neptune felt as if she'd been deflated. Her powers gone, she leaped at Loki and punched her hard in the nose. With blood squirting from her nose and one hand trying to cover it, she blasted Neptune's powers at her. She flipped away just in time, but as she landed she was hit by another attack, and she screamed as her powers coursed through her, not returning, but destroying.
"That's enough!" a voice screamed from the top of the stairs.
Loki looked up to see Sailor Moon in her civilian form of, what was that name again? Usagi?'
"I've come to take you away. I have proven that I am better able to protect you, see?" Loki announced, pointing proudly at the defeated Sailor Neptune.
"I am not going anywhere with you! Neptune is hurt. You stole her powers, didn't you?" she shot an accusing stare at the tall child-like senshi.
"Yee-sss..." she answered, as though unwilling to.
"Give them back," Usagi noticed Loki was thinking of leaving her friend defenseless, "Now!"
With a wince, Loki walked over to the unconscious form of Sailor Neptune and clasping their hands together, transferred her new powers back to the original owner. Usagi ran to her down friend and looked up menacingly at Uranus' double.
"I can't believe you, Kiki. You attacked a fellow senshi and you could've betrayed our position to Hodur! Please, just leave," she turned her attentions back to Neptune as Loki stormed out of the mansion and back down the road, feeling angry and guilty at the same time.
It's happening again,' she thought, I hurt people and betray them to Hodur. The others were right, I should've been stripped of my powers long before!'
She ran off into the countryside, consumed with her fear of Hodur and her hate for herself.
******
Suisei appeared in the Hall of the Immortal senshi and bowed low before Hodur on the throne. She stayed that way for quite some time wondering if Hodur had realized she was there.
"You may rise, Suisei."
"Thank you, my liege."
"Have you been successful this time?" he asked, more of a demand than a question.
"Yes, sir," she made a wave of her hand and Sailor Chibimoon appeared, encased in ice.
"Good, very good. Let's take out her Star Seed, shall we?" he brought the block of ice close to him and put his hand on it, melting the cold prison. At the same time, he extracted her star seed, which shone brightly as it came out of her body. Hodur smiled when suddenly, the light dimmed and the star seed disappeared from his hand.
"What happened?" Suisei asked worriedly, stepping forward.
"Stay there!" Hodur commanded.
Suisei obeyed, cursing herself all the while. Hodur took a closer look at the unconscious Chibimoon and spat in annoyance. He whirled around to face Suisei, his face a mask of rage.
"We already have the Star Seed of this scout. I took her future self as queen in the 30th century. That is why her Seed vanished. She is useless to me!" he threw Chibimoon across the hall and she flew like a rag doll into a column.
"Since you made this mess, Suisei, clean it up. The girl is of no use to me, but you may figure out a way to use her to redeem yourself. Now go and take the brat with you!"
Suisei bit her lip as she bowed and disappeared from the room. The motionless form of Chibimoon followed and Hodur was left alone pondering over the faithfulness of his right hand.
******
Suisei reappeared in the room Hodur lovingly referred to as his "collection hall". It was the dungeon like area where Sailors Odin, Pluto, and Moon hung like living tapestries from the walls. Their Star Seeds spun in front of them, shining with a blinding light. Suisei looked at her small prisoner to the pink haired Sailor Moon. They were nearly identical, the only changes being that of time.
"Damn!" Suisei cursed.
She spun angrily and faced the young girl. Reaching out with one hand, Suisei sent bolts of blue electricity at the girl in her frustration, causing Chibimoon to scream. Suddenly, Suisei stopped herself.
"I have the child," Suisei realized. "I hold the cards now. If Sailor Moon does not want her precious daughter and heir to die, she will come out of hiding and hand herself over to me. Patience, patience is all I require."
With an evil laugh, Suisei disappeared from the collection hall, taking her prize with her.
******
Kami awoke with a start. At first, she didn't know where she was, or even what had happened. Her body hurt worse than usual as Hodur's poison grew stronger each day without Akumu's help. Grimacing in pain, Kami rose to a sitting position and looked around the room.
She recognized the layout almost immediately. She was in the spare room at Rei's shrine. The room was small, with a single bed and night stand as the only furniture, and a small window on the wall behind her. She could feel sunlight on the back of her head and wondered how long she had been asleep.
The door slid open almost soundlessly and a small head peaked through the crack. Kami smiled as Luna and Artemis came into the room and jumped up on the bed.
"How are you?" Luna asked.
"Tired," Kami replied. "This is worse than when I was trapped between Light and Dark before."
Luna nodded, remembering the time when Kami had been doomed to only be Sailor Sun during the daytime while turning into the Dark Scout at sunset. It had been a difficult time for all the senshi.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Almost two days," Artemis replied.
"Chibiusa — "
"Still gone," Luna said sadly. "The girls are beside themselves with worry. Usagi and Michiru still haven't returned, but I thought I saw Kiki the other day. She ran off before I could talk to her."
Kami took a deep breath and nodded. "With Aion, Nyx, Loki, and myself out of commission, I think it's time to call in a few favours."
"Favours?" Artemis repeated.
"Please bring the others in here," Kami said. "I don't know if I can make it all the way to Rei's bedroom alone."
Luna leapt from the bed and disappeared down the hall. Artemis regarded Kami with worry filled eyes. Kami stroked his head and tickled under his chin.
"Don't worry," she told him. "This shouldn't be too dangerous."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Too dangerous?"
Haruka appeared in the doorway with Luna at her feet. The tall racer came over to the bedside and held out her arm. Kami took it and Haruka hauled the weak girl to her feet.
"We won't all fit in here," Haruka said by way of explanation. "You can rest on Rei's bed."
Haruka half led, half carried Kami down the hall to the bedroom. Luna and Artemis followed, Artemis wondering all the while what Kami's not-too-dangerous favours were.
******
Rei, Ami, and Minako stood waiting for Kami as Haruka helped the girl into the room. Kami frowned and, as Haruka lead her to the bed, she stopped walking. Haruka paused as well, giving her a quizzical look.
"This won't do," Kami said quietly. "I don't know how well this will work, but without everyone here, my task will be pretty useless. Please join hands."
Curiously, the senshi did as they were told. Haruka held Kami's arm firmly and Rei took her other hand. Luna and Artemis rested on Ami and Minako's shoulder respectively. Kami closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The five girls began to glow with a yellow light as if they were beginning a sailor teleport. White wings appeared on Kami's back, and she raised her head at the ceiling. With a mighty flap of her wings, the girls and cats were lifted off the ground and disappeared in a blinding flash of light.
******
Usagi sat on the ground of the small room, watching Michiru sleep on the lumpy couch. She found it somewhat ironic that the protector would become the protected, but Loki's attack had taken a lot out of the aqua senshi. It had been difficult for Usagi to get Michiru to rest, but after careful persuasion and a promise to wake her at the first sign of trouble, the injured girl had settled down and dozed off.
"I wonder what everyone is doing now," Usagi mused.
As if in answer to her question, a yellow light filled the room. In an instant, Michiru was awake and had placed herself between Usagi and the glow. When the light died down, Rei, Ami, Minako, Luna, and Artemis were standing in amazement. Haruka was holding a semi-unconscious Kami in her arms. She blushed in embarrassment as she caught Michiru's eye.
"M-Michiru!" Haruka gasped. "It's not what you think!"
Michiru smiled slyly and raised an eyebrow. Usagi peaked out from behind her protector and her eyes grew wide.
"Everyone!" she gasped
"Usagi!" they exclaimed.
Among the hugs and tears of happiness, Haruka lay Kami on the lumpy mattress and embraced Michiru warmly. Lost in the scent of her hair, Haruka forgot about the rest of the world until she heard someone clear her throat impatiently. Breaking free from Michiru, Haruka saw that Kami was awake and sitting up. Usagi's eyes were tear filled, no doubt having been told where Chibiusa was, and Michiru was staring at her partner.
"Now that we're all together," Kami said, her voice noticeably weak, "there's something you all need to do."
The senshi gathered around the couch.
"Take out your henshin pens," Kami said. They obeyed without question as Kami continued. "You know that you are all named for planets in our solar system, and are the rightful guardians of each. You must also know that your planets were named for an old Earth god or goddess. It is these deities who give you your powers."
Kami pointed to Minako, whose henshin pen began to glow with a yellow light.
"Minako, you are named for the planet Venus, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love."
Next was Ami, whose pen turned blue.
"Ami, you are named for the planet Mercury, and Hermes, the cleverest of the gods and a god of the underworld.
Ami blinked in surprise as Kami turned to Rei. Her pen grew a fiery red.
"Rei, you are named for the planet Mars, and Ares, the god of war and of battle."
While the inner senshi contemplated this new information, Kami turned to Haruka, whose pen began to glow with a grayish aura.
"Haruka, you are named for the planet Uranus, and as your god is the sky itself, you have been given powers by the father of the gods, Cronos, the god of time."
Haruka nodded and Kami turned to Michiru. The two looked so similar that Haruka might have thought his partner was looking into a mirror.
"Michiru, you are named for the planet Neptune, and Poseidon, the god of the sea."
"What about me?" Usagi asked.
Kami smiled. "I'm afraid your task will be more difficult than the others, Usagi-chan. As the senshi of love and justice, the god who gives you your powers is not easily isolated."
Usagi frowned in thought. Kami patted her reassuringly on the hand and turned to address the others as well.
"The gods have taken an oath never to harm another immortal. Hodur destroyed his oath when he murdered Baldur, but the others are honour bound. Still, they will not sit idly by while Hodur destroys the universe they created. They have agreed to lend us their powers so that we will be able to protect Earth against Hodur."
The senshi smiled and gave a little cheer. Kami held up a hand to silence them.
"However, it will not be as simple as that. As guardians, you must prove yourselves to them before they can lend you their power. It will not be permanent, and the trials before you will be difficult. I had hoped that Aion, Nyx, Loki, and myself would have been enough of an edge to win this war, but circumstances have changed. Will you accept your quests?"
The girls each nodded seriously, clutching their henshin pens tightly. Kami smiled.
"I expected as much. Go then, and may luck and light go with you. When you return, perhaps it will be Hodur who has found that circumstances have changed.
Kami waved her hand and the henshin pens flew from the senshi's grasps and into the air. They vanished without a trace.
"We're doing the quests without our powers?" Minako asked.
Kami nodded. "Usagi, you may keep the Crystal but you may not transform. It will not work, even if you try. Understand?"
Usagi nodded bravely. Kami smiled and without another word, her friends disappeared in a flash of light.
Alone in the empty house, Kami sighed. She wondered if her friends were ready for such a trial. On the ground, she noticed Ami had left Michiru's mirror. Picking it up, she glanced into it to check on Aion and Nyx. They appeared to be laughing at something. With a final look around the decrepit old mansion, Kami disappeared with a flap of her wings.