Venus Smurf - Again, don't worry about apologizing. I know you'll read it and review when you can. And don't worry about getting teased. Just do it. If you love it that much, then why should a little bit of teasing stop you? My family doesn't understand my anime/cartoon otaku either - in fact they can pretty rude about it - but I don't let that stop me. This is what makes me happy. In fact, as soon as I get finished here, I'm going to have an Escaflowne marathon with the DVD box set I just got. Watched the movie last night. ;)
And why are you typing the border out? Copy and paste, girl, copy and paste! It's less exhausting! Thanks so much for the compliments! I'd tell you that you have know idea how much they mean, but actually, I think you do.
Cyndaquil-babe - Of course, I ended with another cliffy! Are you nuts? If I didn't, you might think it was the end of the story!! Glad you liked it!
Mieco - Take deep breaths. Good. Now read. ;)
rosa lunae - I made your heart skip a beat? Really? COOOL!! It was a 'last minute' decision ... I needed something to transmit Tux's fears without letting him actually lose his cool in front of the others. Nobody has actually seen him do it - although I'm sure the Senshi are aware that he's capable.
You weren't the only one to say "baited" and it's actually a common error. No worries. I appreciated the compliment in the spirit in which it was given. I appreciate all your compliments. Now I just have to hurry and catch up to you. You only have a couple of chapters more than I do (I think) but you have quadruple the reviews. But I'm happy as long as the ones who do read my story like it!
Thanks for the nag. LOL!! It was a wistful statement, more than a request, but I really appreciated the instant result. I fell off my chair. My boyfriend bemusedly put me back in it and I worked on the story a bit more. Tell me if you get goose bumps in the first couple of sections!
Author's Note: If you like this story, tell your friends and ask them to review it too! Oh yeah, and I'm sorry for all the typos that I've made( and am going to make). One day I'll go back and fix them all. It could happen. Yeah, and the sun could rise in the west too.
The beginning of this chapter is going to be sort of from Molly's point of view - this is all new to her after all. Hopefully, this works ...
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Chapter 13
Meetings
conclusion
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All Molly knew was that one minute they were on the beach and, in a flash of light, they were suddenly in what appeared to be a court yard of a magnificent place.
'Is this, like, their headquarters or something? All heroes have some sort of headquarters, don't they?'
Molly wasn't given much of a chance to look around however. Tuxedo Mask had released her as soon as they arrived and carefully picked up Serena, holding her close. She had gotten paler in the few seconds it took to leave. Tuxedo got a grim look on his face and placed his forehead against hers. The golden glow enveloped them once again.
The glow faded and Molly watched as Tuxedo Mask seemed to struggle with himself. For a second, she thought he was actually going to cry. Lurching to his feet, he began to run to the temple.
"YOAKE!! HELIOS!! HELP ME!!" Tuxedo Mask roared, sounding like he was in pain. Molly followed behind wondering if Serena was so badly hurt that Tuxedo Mask was this upset. He was paired up with Sailor Moon, wasn't he? Where had Sailor Moon been for the fight? Darien was gonna have kittens when he arrived to find Serena was gone. She hoped the girls were all right.
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Venus took a step forward and put everything she could into her assault on Maboroshi. She wasn't going to let him get away this time. He'd hurt their Princess. He was now living on borrowed time. Another step. Another. The others were now pacing with her.
Maboroshi was in trouble. Each step forward from the Senshi pushed him back that much further. He could no longer hold his shields against it and the power was pushing against his body, his face. From his hands in, he began to glow white, then he looked more transparent. With a wild cry, he was flung back. Arms flailing as he fell head over heels, fading away into nothing before he hit the water behind him.
Panting lightly, Venus stared at the spot he had last been seen for a moment. Then she turned attention to the woman who was watching from off to the side.
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Yoake, Helios and Kunzite came running out of the temple at a dead run. Seeing who he was holding caused them to come to a screeching halt at the bottom of the stairs. Yoake only hesitated for a moment, then she began to take control.
"Helios, go ready a room for us to work in. Send the Menards for the items we will need." She gave the orders without looking at him, for she didn't take her eyes off the prone Princess. Nodding, he simply ran back the way he came, calling to the shrine maidens with his mind as he raced.
'She's so pale,' thought Kunzite. He was shocked, not just by the fragile porcelain figure his Princess had become, but by the pain in his Prince's eyes. The wild terror of a helpless being looked to Yoake for help. He felt a hand on his arm.
"Take Molly to the gardens, Kunzite."
Kunzite looked to the girl, then glanced behind her. Where were the others? Still fighting? Did Venus need him?
"Yoake," he began.
"No, Kunzite," Yoake interrupted him. "You will not reveal yourself to the Enemy yet." The hand that still lay on his arm gave a reassuring squeeze. "The Menards are watching. They will let us know if things are going badly."
She released his arm as the Prince finally caught up with them. Gathering her skirts in her hand she led the Prince quickly to where Helios was waiting.
Kunzite caught Molly's arm as she tried to run past him to follow. Startled, she glanced up at him. Kunzite gave her a moment to catch her breath, but said nothing. Instead, he gave her a gentle push towards the garden paths.
"Come with me."
Molly glanced at the doorway through which her friend had been carried off and then back at Kunzite.
"She will be fine," he assured her, seeing her indecision. "My name is Kunzite and I have been asked to show you the gardens while we wait. Come. You will tell me what you know."
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"Who are you and what do you want?" Venus demanded and the Scouts came up behind her.
"Goodness. Such rudeness," was the calm reply. Venus detected the faint amusement and wondered at it. They'd just shown an incredible amount of power in defeating Maboroshi. She should have been anything but pleased. Unless she wanted Maboroshi out of the way for a petty rivalry. Unless she … Venus' lips tightened slightly and her eyes narrowed a bit as she thought about what they had just given away.
This woman had simply stood by as Maboroshi was taken out. She hadn't lifted so much as a finger. This had been a test of their power. The Enemy now knew what they were capable of on their own. A few expletives went through her mind, even though she knew that there had been no other course of action. Maboroshi needed to be stopped. Now she would discover the cost. She looked the woman over.
Staring back at her with slate grey eyes, arms crossed, the blonde smirked. One side of her shoulder-length hair was pulled back with a barrette made of sea shells. A streak of sea green, similar to Neptune's, Venus noted, ran from her temples. She wore a shimmering gown of coral pink that fell to mid-thigh. Matching sandals laced up to mid-calf. The gown itself was gathered at the shoulders with more sea shells, the neck-line draping loosely. On a leather thong around her neck, she wore a star fish pendant.
The stranger shifted her weight. "Who I am is of no consequence to you … yet."
Venus kept herself from grinding her teeth with sheer force of will alone. She wasn't alone in wanting to wipe that smirk off her face. Jupiter stepped up beside her, the rage she was feeling practically radiating from her in waves. Venus put a hand on her arm to keep her from doing something stupid.
"Answer the other question then, majo!(witch)" Jupiter demanded. "What do you want? Tell us why you attacked our friends!"
"And ruin the suspense? I don't think so." She grinned, glancing over Venus' shoulder. "Until next time, little yosei (sprite)" And she disappeared.
Everyone turned to see what she had been looking at and found Neptune looking quite stunned and Uranus at her with an odd look on her face.
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Molly wandered the paths of the gardens, too distracted to give the flowers the attention they truly deserved. Kunzite had been pulled away by a man with short blonde hair, who had whispered something in his ear and then tugged on his arm while Kunzite explained to Molly that he was needed and she would be fine as long as she stayed on the path. Somebody would find her when news was available. He then fled with the other man.
Molly sighed as she sat on a bench and stared out over the lake. She was worried about Serena. She was worried about the girls back at the lodge. Surely they had heard the screams and came running to investigate. The lodge wasn't that far from the small beach. She just hoped Serena was going to be okay. Surely Tuxedo Mask wouldn't let her die. Where was Sailor Moon? She could save her, Molly was sure. Why hadn't she come to fight with the others?
A crunch of stone from the path brought her back to reality and she quickly stood. Maybe there was news about Serena.
"Is there any …" She stopped, her voice failing her. Staring back at her was Nephrite.
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Well, that's all for today, I think. Sorry, I'm late – but I hope it was worth it!
Please don't forget to REVIEW!!!!!