Mini Moon and the Zodiacs
By: Lovely girl 10
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the Zodiacs. Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.
Chapter 7- The Nurturing Zodiac part 1
(The Weapon Room)
"Aries, report to my room at once!" Leo's voice speaks through the fire in Aries' room as he stops practicing his sword swings on a mannequin. The War Zodiac was just leisurely training himself surrounded by his weapons he had collected throughout his war career when Leo had to interrupt him. That blundering snoop couldn't let him have a moment of peace and quiet! At least the other Zodiacs were more lenient in letting him have time to himself, and some like Virgo and Libra tend to join him on training their powers to defend themselves.
Aries rolls his eyes at Leo's command but walks out from his room to Leo's for the meeting. He privately wonders whether this was another ploy from Leo thinking he has found something to help them escape from the temple. Once he got to Leo's room, he sees that Leo is sitting comfortably on his lounging chair with Sagittarius already standing on Leo's left side.
"Where are the others?" Aries questions upon seeing that it is only Leo, Sagittarius, and himself present for the meeting. Privately he figures that he shouldn't show any sign of distaste in being disturbed from his training, but it slips through nonetheless.
"Unfortunately, Cancer will be running late to the meeting last I checked when I communicated with her." Leo lists off the people who will not be present during the meeting, making Aries wonder in his thoughts if its only going to be the fire Zodiacs discussing some things. "Libra has gone into hiding outside of the temple, probably fearing for her life after Taurus was put down. I saw the remains of his bull statue. That hot liquified goo is not a sight to behold." Aries looks at Leo in suspicion on his concern for Taurus. The lion wasn't really a big fan of Taurus' methods in seducing people to make love with him, but he only saw Taurus as a means of converting people to follow them instead of their original leaders of the Solar Kingdoms. To Leo, as Aries often has to deal with hearing whenever its just them chatting, that Taurus was a fool, but a bigger fool for love. Aquarius and Pisces were no better off in thinking they were not used by Leo as well.
"And... how does it feel to be a fish out of water?" Aries tries to tease Leo once he notices that the lion Zodiac's hair and clothing is currently trying to dry up from the water he was drenched with when the clock came for him.
Leo narrows his eyes in annoyance for a moment while he gets up from the chair to make a little bonfire right behind him in the fireplace to dry himself off before he sits down again. "Its annoying. No matter how many times I do my best to get out of the lake, I still feel like someone dumped a bucket of water on top of my head. If only I can find a way to get rid of that blasted clock!" He clears his throat before getting back on track. "Anyway, the clock got to Gemini now and the explosion made them injure their vessel to the point where they can't walk over to the meeting, and Virgo is busy trying to tend to their vessel with her healing herbs. Capricorn will be running late as well, but she has recently told me that she has caught Aquarius and Pisces vessels in the garden, so we will collect them later once the meeting is adjourned. Ah, and Scorpio has just arrived right now!" On cue, Scorpio slams open the door and closes it walking right past Aries as he takes his position on Leo's right and Scorpio takes her place right next to Sagittarius.
"Am I late Leo?" She questions as she is panting from exhaustion, whether it was from running or from having too much fun in her torture room, Aries wasn't certain, but she was here that is all that mattered.
Leo shakes his head with a smile on his face. "No Scorpio. You are just in time! I was just going to tell you all about what I have found from Aquarius' library that can help us escape from the temple." He received some confused expressions from the three Zodiacs in the room; Sagittarius just staring at him thinking Leo has finally lost his mind, Scorpio placing her hands on her hips being sassy about it, and Aries just quietly being neutral about the whole thing.
"Not to rain on your parade Leo, but Aquarius' books are no longer in good shape after his second death when his vase got busted. Some of the books have faded ink on the pages, some are in disrepair and the rest are burned." Scorpio points out. "Only our obituary books have vanished from the library."
Leo nods his head, but this doesn't faze him as he sits up straight. "Yes. It is unfortunate what has happened to Aquarius' library soon after his spirit was unjustly pulled into the afterlife. Its like the life in our rooms fade away and are reduced to nothing. Even after all of these years being stuck here, its been that way whenever the temple appears every one hundred years. But I am here to tell you that it won't be that way this time. This time I have found what can help us."
"Did you manage to get your vessel to talk on how to free you?" Sagittarius asks curiously with a cock of his hooded head. Leo shakes his head in disappointment.
"No. He doesn't even know who I am or what I am talking about!" Leo grits his teeth as he remembers searching through his vessels memories to find a way to break free from the temple, but that plan was dead on arrival when the boy looks at him as if he was a stranger in his gaze, a distrustful stranger who he doesn't want to associate with. "The King of the Earth Kingdom must have erased his memory like a blank slate concerning us. But even if I don't get anything from my vessel, I am just going to go for the next best thing; get someone descended from the Royal Families to break the curse on the temple, whether in the past or in the future. Since we can't get our vessels who are at present to give us the key to our freedom, we will have my child work for us to set us free."
Aries shakes his head as he questions by leaning on his longsword. "Don't you think we should just live with the punishment we have done to the Royal Families? Our conquest had failed a long time ago and we can't change the past or forget it by the wave of our hands. In my opinion, that is dishonorable and shows disrespect to what the kings and queens did to justly condemn us." Unlike the other Zodiacs who thought they should claim revenge for what happened to them, Aries, Virgo and Libra were the only ones who were willing to take their punishments and think about what they had done.
"You hold too much respect for them since your military days Aries." Leo waves off the War Zodiacs suggestion. "Those days are over and once we get out of here I will happily teach them a lesson about crossing me. I for one cannot wait until I get my hands on the king of Earth for what he did to me! I will make him burn on a pyre for all to see and I will use his own son to do the dirty deed... But first..." He trails off as he turns to Scorpio expectantly. "Any luck with my child Scorpio?" Aries turns his head curiously to the side.
Scorpio clenches her fists in agitation as she answers. She almost looked like she was annoyed at the mention of Leo's child from the way that she was biting her lips until they bleed. A habit of hers when something doesn't go her way. "She will not crack Leo...She bites back despite the torture I give her. This stubbornness coming from her is leaving a bad taste in my mouth! I told her to scream for me once I brought her to my room, but even if I gave her the means to scream her lungs out, she doesn't do what I say. She just gives me a dark glare like she wants to murder me." This caught Aries' attention, making him perk up in interest. Last time when he watched Mini Moon from a distance while making sure that she doesn't see him in the background near the torches, she didn't look like someone who could take down a Zodiac and put them in their place.
The first time when Aquarius had vanished without a trace, Aries didn't really care much about who had taken his bibliophile group member. He thought that it was Sagittarius who had ended the poor old man who kept snooping when he is not supposed to. Sagittarius was always touchy about not revealing his face under his hood, even more touchy when Aquarius is concerned. But that was until he remembered long ago from Leo that the Zodiacs were forbidden to destroy each others haunted relics if they wanted to kill each other.
There was plenty of examples that happened throughout the years they were stuck in the temple, more than they could keep track of. Sagittarius did try to destroy Aquarius' haunted relic before on the very first year, only to fume in annoyance that his arrows phased through the vase. Sometimes Virgo would try to get rid of Gemini's headband necklaces when she has had enough of them and toss them away from the temple as far as she could, only to find out they reappeared in the exact spot in the cottage where they once were, making her cry in despair at the thought. Cancer and Leo had the worst cat fights when they tried to destroy each others relics out of spite; Cancer stomping on the orange rose and Leo trying to crush Cancer's crab jewel only to find that they were still intact along with Leo needing to tend to his wounds from the blood scratches he endured from the jewel. That was before Aries heard from Cancer and Leo that their vessels daughter had done the deed of getting rid of Aquarius.
Even though he had respect for the tutor, Aries was shaking his head in disappointment that Aquarius should have thought about training with him so that he can be physically strong enough to defend himself, and not just emotionally and mentally. But... the Knowledge Zodiac knew the risk he was getting himself into and he lost in the battle. The War Zodiac tried to make sure that no one in his group was lost, like a good soldier never leaving a man behind, but if Aquarius wanted to go into the fight without the means of protection, so be it.
On the second time when Aries ventures out of his weapon room to give his vessel a break and get some fresh air, he overheard Cancer and Scorpio's discussion in the hallway that Pisces has abruptly vanished from the temple, how the fish were sliced open and stabbed to death by Aquarius' freed vessel out of vengeance to take back Pisces vessel. He even overheard Cancer feeling guilty over trying to find her vessels daughter and explain things to her. What is it about this Mini Moon that is making Cancer obsessed with finding her? Then again, why is his growing curiosity about her getting the better of him?
Aries didn't understand much of family love since that his father died young and he didn't know where his mother was before he eventually enlisted to join the military guard on Mars. He was alone for most of his life before he met the rest of the Zodiacs.
Now with Taurus being the third to go, Aries began to wonder just who is Mini Moon based on him watching the other girls who wear the same uniform as her who call her that. It made him curious on what she actually does for her training to get around Aquarius' foolish attempts to act tough when he isn't, what made her stay strong against Pisces water attacks, and what made her get the upper hand against Taurus and his single minded necessity to make love to girls younger than himself. 'Perhaps she has the heart of a warrior. Something similar to mine when I was once young.' Aries thought to himself as he stares at the door ahead of him, waiting for Leo's command.
Leo cocks his head to the side and grins at the Executioner Zodiac. "Your too soft on her Scorpio." He said. "You really need to control your vessels need to protect her." Leo was determined to try to help the other Zodiacs in not getting influenced by their vessels, because if they do then there would be no hope for them to fulfill their ultimate plan of ruling the Solar System and their respective planets.
Already Scorpio was the first to suffer from the influence of her vessel while possessing her. The cold blooded killer of the planet Pluto was getting some small hints of kindness and motherly instincts focusing on Capricorn. Cancer was easily emotional out of the other Zodiacs, but recently her crying is at its absolute worst whenever she gets upset, almost drowning her whole bedroom if she ever stubs her toes or falls and lands on her posterior from the stairs. Capricorn was a lot harder to decipher if she is feeling her vessels influence, but she now has a cold silent stare when she is disturbed from her flowers, almost as if she is waiting for them to come close so she can strike. They briefly wondered since Capricorn's vessel fell unconscious during the possession if she was slowly waking up to what is happening. If she tried to escape under her own validation, she won't get very far in breaking free, Capricorn reassured Leo that she will make sure that her vessel remains unable to break free from her hold. Even Leo can't deny that he is feeling a little bit of his vessels influence despite the possession keeping him quiet. He keeps having a feeling of protecting the other vessels the Zodiacs are controlling, Cancer's most of all despite his distaste of her. Aries and Sagittarius have claimed that they don't feel anything yet from their vessels, which might be a blessing for them, hoping that they will stay quiet and not try to fight back for control. Which is why they need to be on their guard and keep it suppressed until they can either get out or if someone from the Royal Family sets them free.
"Bring her!" Leo commands softly to Scorpio as she runs to the door and closes it before coming back a few seconds later with the prisoner Leo wants to see.
Aries could see Mini Moon's bright pink hair in rabbit ponytails were in tangles like she was having a bad hair day. Her eyes were only half closed while she was walking with some chains tying up her hands in the front. Some hints of blood was on her skirt, gloves and on her collar. Once the girl was brought to the front of Leo's chair, Scorpio punches the girl on her back to make her look up and open her eyes.
Mini Moon narrows her eyes as she keeps her mouth shut. She keeps repeating silently in her thoughts to not give these villains what they want, for her to beg them for mercy. She will show them that they should be the ones to cower in fear of her. She already demonstrated her patience and determination to not scream for Scorpio while she was torturing her in that room. If she could have had control of the black crystals to transform into Wicked Lady, she has no doubt that she would wipe the floor against the Zodiacs no matter what they did. But she doesn't have anything like that with her, or so she thinks anyway, she will have to check every single weapon she has to be sure of the possibility, forcing her to rely on her own smarts and on her past experiences with the villains before the Zodiacs.
"Now, lets get this under way and start with the basics on getting to know each other Rini." Leo said with a grin on his face, like he thinks that he has won. "You have caused quite enough trouble as it is. Murdering not one but three of the Zodiacs and trying to dissuade us from achieving our goal to rule the Solar System. I had hoped that what Scorpio has disciplined on you would make you see that it is better to work with us instead of against us... But since she has grown soft from what her vessel is influencing with her, I will have to do the honors of teaching you your lesson." A heated glare from Mini Moon was trying to tell him that he can do his worst but it will not change her stance on the subject.
Aries cocks an eyebrow at the mention of her real name. He heard from Cancer a long time ago that her vessels original name is Serena or Princess Serenity from the Moon Kingdom, but hearing the name of 'Rini' was new to him. He only heard her being called Mini Moon. He didn't really care much to dive into the history or origin of the name since that was the Moon Royal Families decision, nothing to do with him and the planet of Mars. He wished privately in his thoughts that Leo should be the one to apologize to her, not the other way around if he knew what was good for him.
Leo uncrosses his legs as he continues to talk to the girl in front of him. "I understand that you are dreading the punishment that I have planned for you, but you can easily get out of it if you tell me three little words and you can avoid it and live in peace with us. This is not my original idea of mercy to you, this is for Cancer's sake since that her vessel and mine are close to you." Aries narrows his eyes in confusion for as long as he has known Leo, he always claimed that he never wanted any kids; always complaining that they are annoying and loud. Cancer on the other hand wished for kids of her own but could never have any.
Aries could see that Sagittarius was not into the idea of mercy either as he questions Leo bluntly while clenching his left fist on his arrows from his backside. "Are you sure you don't want us to just kill her?"
Leo shakes his head at the hunter. "No. I still see some use to the girl Sagittarius. Just because you like killing people out of spite doesn't mean I have to follow along with what others say. Remember I am the lion of the Zodiacs and I am the king of our group! You are just the hunter while Aries is the solider ready for war if necessary." By that reminder Sagittarius just silently glares at Leo and nods his head to keep from getting himself into trouble with the lion.
Although Aries couldn't help but feel that Sagittarius wants to end Leo like any animal he hunts, but with the reality that they can't kill each other by destroying each others relics, Sagittarius was at an impasse and he knows it. It is no secret that Leo and Sagittarius try to compete against each other to see who is the best of the fire Zodiacs. And for some strange reason they know not to mess with Aries himself in a fight.
Of course he knows the reason, even if the boys try to stay silent on it. It is because they know that Aries could beat them up to a pulp if given the chance. While Sagittarius is a hunter, he only knows how to kill people at a distance or close by if he is camouflaged correctly out in the woods. While Leo claims that he is the lion of the Zodiacs and proclaims himself proudly as someone not to be messed with in a fight, he only wants the public to see that he is strong and brave for standing up to someone when he has someone like a bodyguard to protect him, this includes Sagittarius and Aries guarding him on both sides.
The War Zodiac didn't need to hide like Sagittarius or cower behind someone else like Leo, when he kills someone or something he does so with honor on the battlefield. You either break apart and shatter like glass in a warzone or you could let it help mold you into a warrior no one wants to mess with on the playing field.
Turning his attention back to Mini Moon, Leo tries to beckon her to say something in her defense. "Go ahead Rini. Repeat after me; 'I... Am..." He is trying to get her to fill in the blank.
Mini Moon said nothing as she cocks her head from left to right as if ignoring him, rolling her eyes to the left and the right. 'Does he seriously think he can make me say I am sorry?' She thought to herself, 'How egotistical does this guy think he is?!'
When she doesn't respond, Leo sighs as if thinking she is still afraid of him while he tries to get her comfortable. "Rini... If you just repent from your mistakes against me, I will not hesitate to let you see your friends and your mother and father again. For now your four girlfriends are stuck in a garden maze that Capricorn created just now to keep them busy and she will let the garden disappear if you follow my orders. Lets try this again, okay? I... Am..."
"...A fool." Was her quiet reply, making Leo twitch his eyes in annoyance but tries to correct her. It made Aries cock an eyebrow in surprise while Sagittarius jolts like he was the one insulted instead of Leo. Scorpio cocks her head as if to say silently 'I told you she is not going to crack.'
"Wrong answer Rini. Try again. I... Am..."
"... A loser." Mini Moon replies once again. Leo was tempted to lose his cool and shrugs it off. Was this girl trying to mock him in public? Aries covers his mouth with his left hand to suppress his quiet laughter. But when Leo turns around to glare at him breaking his posture, Aries snaps back to attention, trying to act like a statue.
"Try again, and this time don't be acting like a brat insulting their betters." Leo mentions as he takes a breath and repeats himself. "I... Am..."
"You...are...next." Her response was filled with cold hate toward Leo that it made him flinch in surprise. She wanted to make him feel afraid for his life and to let him know that she is coming for vengeance against him. Aries could sense a fiery aura coming from her, not in the least cowed in fear or dread against Scorpio and Leo. It sounded to him that she would rather die fighting to her last breath than surrender to the lion. Making his admiration for her bravery grow more and more.
Leo laughed as Scorpio and Sagittarius stare at him wondering why he isn't angry at the insult. Aries on the other hand was more impressed with Mini Moon standing her ground that he couldn't help but smile, making his vessel smile as well at the spectacle. "You misunderstand daughter of mine! I am not your enemy. It is the Royal Family that you should be saying that to."
"I think you are the one who doesn't understand- OW!" Rini started to say until she felt Scorpio slapping her cheek with the back of her hand. She almost lost her footing but stayed standing up despite having the chains tying her hands tight.
Scorpio shakes her head at the girl as if ready to scold her for her disobedience. "You need to show respect to Leo or else Cancers daughter! Shall I remind you again what happens to people who disobey Leo or the rest of us?!" She brandishes one of her knives and places it near the girls neck. "You will lose consciousness over the loss of blood, and I will enjoy making you extend your blood supply for me to spill on the floor."
"Not on my carpet Scorpio!" Leo hushes Scorpio by the wave of his hand. Ignoring Scorpio's displeased look at him he continues his conversation with Mini Moon. "I will forgive you for your misunderstanding on our situation Rini, now lets try again and you can go free. I... Am.."
"...Stupid." She mocks him with a small smile on her face.
"You are trying my patience kid!" Leo growls at the growing anger he is feeling over her mockery of him. "Just say I am sorry and then we can move on from this nonsense!"
"I am just finishing up your sentences for you." Mini Moon states as she finishes his sentence, though it is not the one he has in mind. "You... Are...A murderer. A thief. A person who thinks they are god when they are not! A pathetic excuse pretending to be a king when he is really a big, fat, stupid-head!"
"Make her kneel NOW!" Leo commands Scorpio to push Mini Moon on her knees in front of him which she did so as the fire was burning in his eyes at the insult, but Mini Moon caught herself by not kneeling but holding her bound hands underneath her like she is doing pushups instead of kneeling and keeping her legs straight. This was another act coming from the girl to defy Leo. Aries shakes his head at Leo for giving into his anger too easily when other people don't do exactly what he says. Leo growls as he sees this act of defiance coming from Mini Moon as she looks up with a determined murderous gaze.
"If you are determined to make me behave, oh lion of the Zodiacs, then come make me kneel yourself instead of letting others do the deed for you! If you are supposed to be a king like you say, then this makes you a coward!" Mini Moon declares, despite Scorpio slapping her back with the chain to make her drop her guard and to push on her legs to force her to kneel. She held firm against Scorpio despite the pain she was feeling in her legs to stay straight.
"You wicked child! You dare to insult me!?" Leo sneers in anger at the girl as she just smiles when he was trying to put her down by that comment. Even Scorpio was unnerved by that smile, like she doesn't care how many times she gets hurt in the process if it meant to show the Zodiacs that they have no power over her.
"I will take THAT as a compliment! You wouldn't want me as a Wicked Lady!" Mini Moon scoffs as she continues in her taunting. "You deserve to be insulted after all that you have put me and my friends through! All I see about you Leo is that you are nothing but a huge cowardly lion who expects others to bow down to you when you are not even worth their time! If you can't give me anything better than this..." She gestures by her eyes to Scorpio and Sagittarius who are almost about ready to knock her to the ground; the hunter with an arrow aiming at her and Scorpio aiming her knife to her back. "Then I suggest you zip your mouth shut! I find it funny that you think you can be king when you are already dead and passed over for someone else!" She burst out laughing, making Leo fume in rage at her toying with him. A slap in the face from Leo made her fall to the floor on her side, thankfully she doesn't kneel on the ground but instead lays her legs straight.
"I will be king and you need to show some respect!" Leo said, his voice filled with cold hate at the girls defiance to do what he says. He walks over to her and raises her bound arms in the air. "If you insist on disrespecting me, then I have no other choice but to make you follow whatever I say." He takes an orange rose from behind his cape as he brings it near to Mini Moon's hands.
"NO! I won't let you possess me!" Mini Moon realizes what Leo is going to do to her as she tries to fight him off with whatever energy she has left to keep the Zodiac from claiming her under his possession. But it was futile. Even though she knows that she is safe from possession from the relics outside of the moon and the earth, she knows that if she gets near Leo's or Cancer's then she would be in hot water.
She felt the stinging pricks of the orange rose as she takes shaky breathes to try to find a way out of being possessed by the one Zodiac that started this whole mess with her in the first place. But she doesn't know how to even push the Zodiac back! How can she even get out?
A stinging headache starts in her head as she winces from the pain, trying to fight it off to no avail. That was until something happened to Leo as he was struggling to keep a firm grip on her. "Let... Me... In!" Leo grits his teeth as he feels something off about Mini Moon that is waking up and pushing back against him possessing her.
A shadow taking shape right behind him was strangling him. At first Mini Moon could see that it was her shadow that is fighting off Leo, but then it grew up revealing its long ponytails and the red glass ball eyes can be seen in the shadow as it narrows its eyes in amusement, taking full pleasure in teaching Leo a lesson. Then she could hear the laugh.
Even though she didn't have enough energy to hit Leo with her bound hands, Mini Moon could feel her shadow guiding her feet by raising her right leg backwards in rhythm with it. Once she was ready, the shadow guides Mini Moon's feet to swing as hard as she can in the spot that men do not want to get hit in. Electrical dark magic could be seen from her hit.
At the sheer force of the kick Leo was thrown away from Mini Moon and slams into the lounging chair, breaking it in half and then collides against the wall right next to the fireplace. Sagittarius, Scorpio and Aries didn't know what to think of this at first, but the hunter was about ready to aim an arrow at the shadow before Aries raises his hand in front of him and shaking his head, silently telling him that they can't do much against the shadow at this point. Scorpio was amazed at the sheer power of that shadow as it fades away back into Mini Moon's body after the girl crashes back down to the floor. "What was that? Some sort of dark magic?"
Leo grunts as he struggles to get himself back up from the force of the blast he got. "It seems that I cannot possess you when you have something else taking residence in your subconscious." He spits out some saliva into the fireplace before he continues. "No matter, time is on my side. You will not be protected by whatever it is that is keeping you from my clutches for long. Once I have you cooperating in freeing me and the rest of the Zodiacs, then even you can't stop us from ruling the Solar Systems."
Sagittarius, Scorpio and Aries didn't know what to think with the new information Leo has said. For Scorpio, she wondered how long has this shadow been around Mini Moon and why did it now appear when Leo was trying to possess the girl. Something about the shadows behavior was not right to her and she could feel a dark power coming from the girl based on this exposure. Sagittarius never usually cares about who gets in his way as long as he can kill them with one shot and for sure he never usually worries about what would happen if someone ends up with one more trick up their sleeves. The shadow came from Mini Moon herself based on the hunters observations and he wonders if when he tries to kill the girl will the shadow be of no threat to him. But if she summoned it on him before he can get the chance, then he would have to come up with a better plan of action. Aries on the other hand thought maybe this dark power would be able to give Leo a taste of his own medicine and show him what happens when he mess with power far greater than his own. He was smiling as if impressed Mini Moon was able to control the shadow and channel that dark power as if she had experience with it beforehand.
"Hah!" Mini Moon laughs as she glares in his direction. She had a faint idea of what that shadow actually was, but she wasn't going to tell him. "Listen here you narcissistic lion...Hiding behind my own future fathers face will not help you in gaining supporters. Don't think I won't let my people in Crystal Tokyo know all about your dirty deeds, I will gladly warn them about you and how you are not to be trusted! If you think you can scare me by torturing me like this, think again! I have already been through worse than what you can ever pull! I have been brainwashed by Wise Man of the Black Moon Clan as Wicked Lady! I have had a near death experience when an alien possessed my best friend and devoured my soul until my best friend destroyed the alien and gave my soul back to me! I have endured suffering from Queen Nehellenia while trying to protect Pegasus! And I will hunt down every last one of your Zodiacs in order to take back my family and friends you have stolen from me! I am the next one in line for the throne more than you will ever be!"
"Take that back girl and repent for your insult!" Scorpio exclaims as she tries to threaten Mini Moon with a knife to the back of her neck.
"How about you release Sailor Pluto from your possession, then I will consider!" Mini Moon turns her eyes to her, glaring menacingly. Scorpio shakes her head at Mini Moon's offer, acting as if that is not the right answer she was looking for. It is tempting for Mini Moon to decide whether to go after Leo next or Scorpio since that they are the closest ones to her, but while the chains are on her arms, she can't do much to fight them off. Leo raises his right hand up ready to slap her again after talking back to Scorpio as she watches him in anger, daring him to try to make her crack...
Only for the slap to halt in its advance by a hand wearing a black bracelet and a red spike. Mini Moon could sense something change in the heat around the room, one that was burning in rage and the other calm like a torch guiding the way through a tunnel.
"Whatever you and Scorpio are doing with the girl will not make her relent in her hatred of you Leo. All what you two can do is try to mess with her mentally and emotionally but you are missing a key factor in breaking her spirit; physical confrontation in battle. I can happily lend a helping hand in breaking her body in order to let her know who she is really messing with." Aries spoke as he held Leo's hand and keeping him from breaking free and tackling Mini Moon. "But if you decide to just do things your way, you have to be prepared for a very long torturing process in making the girl go along with your plans. Whereas I can do the job quick." Giving Leo a smile, Aries gestures with his blood red eyes to the girl on the floor. "I give you my word as a honorable guard of Mars that she will learn her lesson quick while under my watch."
Although she usually likes to try to talk smart against her enemies, for some strange reason Mini Moon fell silent whether in shock that one of the Zodiacs blocked another from hitting her or in this growing dread she is feeling while around someone who is supposed to represent war. She was slowly considering in her thoughts that she probably doesn't want to mess with Aries just yet. Besides, she hasn't even read his obituary book, so she doesn't know what she is going to face with him! But between going after a lion or a ram, she would rather take her chances with the hunter first rather than get in a fight with those two animals, even if it got her killed in the process.
Someone barges into the room, the door slamming open as she heard Cancer's voice. "LEO! What do you think you are doing with my daughter!?"
Mini Moon couldn't hear all of the arguing that was going on as she was beginning to feel dizzy from the headache Leo gave her and using up all of her power in trying to fight off Scorpio and Leo from getting the better of her. The only things she could catch from the snippets was how angry Leo was at Cancer for butting in on him 'disciplining her', how Cancer told Scorpio off by telling her that she shouldn't have been causing her daughter any pain. How Scorpio should have just brought the girl to Cancer instead of Leo. Leo trying to tell Cancer to back away from the girl and try to intimidate her in his lion form. How one pinch from Cancer on the nose sent Leo into a crying frenzy at the pain he was in.
Before she fell unconscious, Mini Moon could feel that she was being carried out of Leo's room. But she could hear someone say 'Darn it!' while snapping their fingers in disgust before her world turn to black.
(In a dream)
Mini Moon wakes up in a different place altogether that was so unlike the Zodiac Temple. She wasn't sure if she was in a trance or in a dreamlike state, but she knows for one thing is that she was not in her Sailor Scout uniform anymore. She was in her floral pink princess dress.
"How am I even here? Am I dead?" Rini asks to herself as she looks around the place she was in. It appeared that she was outside of a silver castle with the crescent moon shining down on her. The castle looked like a graveyard since no one was around. But once she saw the planet Earth spinning slowly in the expanse of space, Rini wondered if she had managed to get to the moon through the silver crystal in her possession. "Hmm... If I have this right, mom told me that the silver crystal would not work anymore if I was dead. I can still feel some life from it, even in this dream state. But I wonder where exactly am I?"
"You are in the Moon Kingdom standing in what remained of the Silver Millennium." A woman's voice, full of compassion and admiration for her home spoke behind Rini, making her turn to see who it was. This woman looked just like Sailor Moon and her mother from the future, tall and slender with fair skin and bright silver eyes. Long silvery white hair in odango with a long white dress with a bow on top, adorned with a gold crescent brooch. Opposite from Sailor Moon when she has some short dress sleeves, this woman is strapless. With the crescent moon symbol on her forehead, Rini knew for certain that this lady could be trusted. She had this strange familiar feeling that this lady could help her with her problem. "And I... was once this kingdoms queen."
Rini's eyes grew wide in amazement. She had only heard stories about this lady from her mother, how she helped her in reconnecting her memories of the past before she was reincarnated on Earth. "You are... Queen Serenity the First. Sailor Moon's mom from her previous life as a princess... And my grandmother." She spoke the last sentence softly as if not to give the queen a surprise scare in meeting her granddaughter for the first time.
Queen Serenity gasps in shock a little at how observant Rini was, but then she smiles in delight with happy tears in her eyes. "My adorable little Serenity has a daughter? Are you really my new grand child? You must be. I can see her in you!" She gestures for Rini to come closer so that she can get a closer look at her. Rini ran into her grandmothers arms as she is embraced in a hug.
Rini realizes that she has yet to introduce herself properly to her grandmother, so she quickly stands up and curtseys to her. "I am known as Small Lady Serenity, Princess of Crystal Tokyo in the distant future, otherwise known to some as Princess Serenity III. But to my friends I am called Rini."
"Oh my! So my daughter will eventually be queen of a new era on Earth?" Queen Serenity seemed happy about this new information as she clasps her hands in joy with a smile on her face. "I presume she will have Prince Endymion as her king by that time, am I right?" Rini nods, making the queen giggle in delight.
"But how are you here with me grandma? I know from Sailor Moon that you have passed away a long time ago." Rini questions in curiosity.
"Its thanks to the Silver Crystal that I can communicate with either you or with my daughter." Queen Serenity explains simply. "Even though we each have a different part of the Silver Crystal, each royal in the Moon Kingdom can pass on a piece of the crystal from generation to generation in order to give advice on what might be best for the next royal who sits on the throne. Sometimes even during the most difficult of times my little Serenity would come to me through her dreams to tell me everything that is going on, how she thought she was weak and wasn't the right choice as a savior to Earth, I always gave her encouragement and give her advice on what she must do to stay strong."
"So if I needed advice on something, I can see what you think about the situation at hand?" Rini asks as she wonders how is she supposed to explain her situation to the queen. Would she feel angered? Would she be saddened to hear of Sailor Moon's fate?
"Yes. You can ask me about anything my granddaughter." Queen Serenity assures the girl as she rubs her head in comfort.
"Okay... Well, here is the thing grandma... Your daughter, my mom, is possessed by a ghost of a Zodiac that wants to rule the Solar System and they want to get out from the temple you and the other royals sealed them in. Can you tell me what I should do to free my mother?" Rini asks, cutting to the chase.
Queen Serenity's eyes grew wide in horror as she covers her mouth to keep from crying out. Rini felt sorry to tell the bad news to her grandmother as she looks at her sadly. "I-I am so sorry my Serenity..." Tears start to break out from her silver eyes as she said. "I should have just told you about them a long time ago when you were reborn. But I thought that you were safe enough to not know about them."
"Did my mom and the Sailor Scouts knew about the Zodiacs in the past?" Rini asks softly, earning a shake of the head from the Queen.
"No, my dear. Your mother was only a baby when the Zodiacs caused trouble in the Solar System." Queen Serenity explains as she gestures for Rini to take a seat near the moon fountain. She sits next to Rini as she tells the story. "Listen closely, Princess Lady Serenity, of a person you shouldn't have had to meet... Born among the noble families who are in my council, Cancer was fascinated in looking at the dresses and suits the men and women of the moon had. She once dedicated her life to master the art of sewing and making such different and unique designs no one has ever seen in the Moon Kingdom. Even I was once fascinated by her intriguing designs and I chose her to work closely with me to design my dresses along with my new baby daughter.
Cancer was once my closest friend and we always tried to sneak away from the meetings to spend some time together trying out many things from traveling around the kingdom to getting into mischief and playing together in my bedroom. It wasn't long until when I came of age to be the next queen of the Moon that I entrusted Cancer to be not just my dress designer but also my advisor to let me know if anything is going wrong in the Moon Kingdom that needed to be remedied. Not long until after I brought Princess Serenity into the world as my heir to my throne, I started to see strange behavior coming from Cancer. I'm not sure when she started to change her attitude toward the other planets in the Solar System or if she has always been like this, but I could see that something is wrong with her due to her constant concerns on the other planets.
I have been told by the other royals who had to deal with the Zodiac cult on their planets, thanks to the Queen of Mercury being warned by Virgo of all people that the Zodiacs wanted to cause chaos and destruction on each of us. I was appalled by what the Queen of Venus had to go through in surviving against Taurus' seductions, and saddened to hear of Libra's unpenning death. I was angered by what Gemini tried to do to the Queen of Mercury's home planet but thankful that at least one of the Zodiacs broke off and warned her. I was trembling in fright over hearing the massacre that happened in Jupiter before they eventually caught the perpetrator. And I was honestly relieved that the Queen of Mars foresaw the actions that one of the Zodiacs did on her planet in order to fool them in thinking they won the battle when in reality she was preparing for a sneak attack on him. At first I couldn't believe what was going on for Cancer was whispering in my ear that they were just making some pitiful drama to get me riled up, but when I hear the stories of what happened in Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto and the Earth Kingdom, I started to see a pattern of isolation that was trying to take place on the Moon Kingdom.
She tried to tell me that I was just being paranoid and that I should take some time off and lock myself away from the council and from the other royals and just be with her. She promised that she would keep me and my kingdom safe. Then a thought came to my head; was it for my benefit? Or for hers?
I just couldn't take the suspense anymore and called her out on it. I could see that I made her flinch at my harsh response but she tried to mask it. I knew I had to do something before things could get worse. Not only do I have a kingdom to take care of before myself, but I have to think about if there is going to be a kingdom left for my daughter as well when I am long gone. If I don't take the threat down while it is in front of me, would I be so cruel as to leave this mess for my daughter to clean up? Queen Metalia was bad enough! So was Queen Beryl! So one day while I was hanging out with Cancer, I came up with a plan in order to get her to talk. I... admit I was not proud of what I had to do.
...I told Cancer that I needed her assistance in finding a perfect dress for the Moon Ball coronation for my baby daughter. She was so eager to help me out in finding the perfect coronation dress not only for me but for my baby as well. I kept lying to her in saying 'I don't think this dress will work out for me. Could you look in the closet and see if there is something we missed?' and while it kept her busy, I quietly snuck around my room to lock up the windows, put a spell on them to keep them from breaking if she tries to escape, and snuck out to lock up the bedroom door.
At first Cancer was confused on why I locked the door, thinking that there must have been a mistake or I simply forgot that she was still there, but then when she tried the windows was when I heard the most awful tearful screams in frustration in being locked up. I could hear her asking me in accusation, 'Why would you lock me up? I am your only friend Serenity! I was only trying to protect you from the others!' I kept silent as I take her words to mean that she wanted to seclude me away from the other rulers so that she can have me and my kingdom to herself. I did the best I could to be strong and not open the door for her to escape when she tried to guilt trip me in thinking that she is the only one who understands me and says the others don't understand me. I knew that she was wrong in her emotional manipulation as I said to her from the other side of the door, "Cancer, you are under house arrest by orders of the Queen! You will not be allowed to cause any more manipulation while under my watch! You will be bound to my bedroom from this day until you draw your last breath for causing treason and trying to isolate your kingdom from any help of our allies.' It took all of my strength to not cry in public as I ordered my guards to keep watch of the door and the windows to make sure Cancer didn't come out until she apologizes for misleading me. One part of me, the little girl who befriended Cancer wanted to cry for the loss of our friendship, but the Queen who now stands in her place knows better. To sacrifice one person for the many is sometimes a tough decision you have to make, Princess Lady Serenity.
It took about two months, throughout that time after the meetings were done and the rulers are cleaning up the mess that the Zodiacs have made for themselves, I would try to go back to my bedroom and see if I can get Cancer to apologize for her misdeeds and repent from being in the cult with no results as I am met with either silence, something being thrown at the wall or her spitting some accusing words saying that the other royals have brainwashed me into thinking she was the bad guy when she believes she isn't. But at the end of the second month, I heard from the guards that she died from starvation when she refused to eat anything that I tried to sneak over to her. It was a painful sight to see her sprawled on top of my bed and holding her diamond crab jewel she loved so much from when we made our own jewelry together.
That was when I decided under the guidance of the council and from the Royal Families of the Solar System that I should seal away Cancers soul into her crab jewel that she loved so much and put it in the Zodiac temple, which the King of the Earth Kingdom had designed to keep the Zodiacs in one place so that they are not allowed to cause trouble to our kingdoms ever again."
Rini was silent throughout her grandmothers storytelling. "Grandma... That's terrible. Why would she hurt someone as nice and willing as you to settle conflicts with the other kingdoms?" She felt heartbroken for what her grandmother had to go through. She couldn't imagine how things would have been if Sailor Moon had to deal with Cancer if she was never reborn on earth. Or if she would have to deal with it herself years later. But she was incredibly thankful that her grandmother was strong enough to carry the burden of taking out someone who was once her dearest friend turned enemy.
Queen Serenity shakes her head at the memory as she states while wiping her tears. "I don't really know Rini. Though I do have my suspicions that something must have happened to change Cancer's mind in joining the cult and trying to brainwash our people, citizens and councilmen, against us. It was after when we paid a visit to the earth kingdom for a meeting and I could remember seeing her chatting with the Earth Kings brother. Right before the meeting her eyes were bright and full of life like a full moon, but then after the meeting it was like the light was gone from her eyes."
Rini thought this new information was interesting. She knew a little bit of her fathers family tree back in Crystal Tokyo alongside her mothers family tree. How she knows that her mother has a loving father, mother, and a loving brother despite his mischievous nature. And how she knows that her fathers family had died long ago and how her father met her mother to try to find the Silver Crystal to regain his memories. But while Sailor Moon as Neo Queen Serenity in the future remembers to write down her previous mother from another life onto the family tree, Tuxedo Mask only had the family he was raised with written down on the family tree. Sure he did tell her at one point that he had a previous father when he was Prince Endymion, but he never mentioned anything about a brother to the Earth king. Perhaps it is nothing important...
"I'm so sorry you have to learn about this Rini. What I and the other Royal Families had to do to execute the Zodiacs for all of their horrific acts and leave their spirits to wander in the temple, they are inexcusable. But the real reason we built the temple in the first place on earth was to make the Zodiacs see and try to amend for their mistakes, that and keep them away from the rest of society where they will never cause anyone harm ever again." Queen Serenity begs for Rini to understand her stance on why she did what she did. "But based on what you are telling me that the Zodiacs have possessed the Sailor Scouts, my daughter included among them, and Prince Endymion, it tells me that they have not learned to swallow their pride and ask us for our forgiveness. Even though I know that three of the Zodiacs are willing to go through with the punishments we have set for them and are not to be blamed for being associated with the cult according to what the Queens from Venus, Mars, and Mercury have told me, the others have not let go of their hatred." She stands up from the fountain and sets her right palm on Rini's head to comfort her and help her remain calm despite the growing fear in her granddaughters eyes. "It was a mistake to keep the spirits of the Zodiacs hidden away where they will continue to fester and grow rotten to the core for so long. I am sorry that this burden is on your shoulders now honey. I know you want to blame me for just letting the angry spirits roam in the temple until they could figure it out for themselves that they need to let go of their dark ambitions."
"I don't blame you grandma..." Rini squeezes her grandma's hand. "I understand you did what you thought was best at the time. But now this business of the Zodiacs lies with me and my guardians now. If I was in trouble in place of Sailor Moon, she would risk everything to save me. And now I've got to do the same for them!"
Queen Serenity embraces Rini into her hug, as the tears slide down her cheeks. "You have no idea how proud I am to call you my granddaughter Rini. I am proud of the leader you will become, one that is fearless, loyal to her friends, and can see through the nonsense that has taken over the majority of the Zodiacs all because they have listened to Leo's ambition for power and control. If you need any extra help against Leo, know that you can rely on some of the Zodiacs who are against him but can't directly battle him by themselves. I advise you to see if you can take away the strongest Zodiacs out of Leo's grip, starting with Cancer."
"The strongest Zodiacs?" Rini questions, a little worried.
"Even though you have gotten rid of Aquarius, Pisces, and Taurus, they were only useful to Leo by rewriting history or turning peoples attention away from his agenda or seducing people to his cause. I feel sorry for those three for not seeing through Leo's role he gave them. The biggest game changers would be for you to go after the strongest Zodiacs that have proven more useful to him; Gemini, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Cancer and Leo himself if you can get his artifact and destroy it. The other Zodiacs who are left will be easy pickings for you later." Queen Serenity advises. "I hope to have a nice visit with you again my dear granddaughter."
Rini understands as she nods her head, vowing she will do her best as she starts to wake up from her dream. "I hope so too grandma. I love you to the moon and back." Queen Serenity repeats the same words as well and waves farewell to Rini. She hopes someday that she will see her grandmother again.
Mini Moon slowly opens her eyes as she studies her new surroundings, feeling immediately that she is not on the floor but in a nice soft bed. She glances to her right as she sees the white silky bedsheets with some hints of the crescent moon on the top bed cover. Someone must have brought her here. She was taken away from Leo's meeting while she was unconscious from her exhaustion. Briefly she wonders how Leo is while he is suffering from being pinched by Cancer last she could recall. It made her smirk at the thought.
But before she could get comfortable enough to try to sit up straight in the bed, she could hear Cancer's voice right beside her. "You are awake! I hope you didn't strain yourself too hard with all of those nasty injuries you sustained from Leo and Scorpio."
Mini Moon freezes the moment Cancer puts her hand over her forehead as if thinking she caught a fever. Cancer didn't appear to notice the girl being afraid of her as she continues to talk, groaning in annoyance. "I told Scorpio specifically that if you were found to just bring you to me and not harm one hair on your head! Uh! I can't really understand why she would think torturing you like this is okay! I will make a note that Scorpio will never be allowed to touch you again like you are a prisoner that needs to be dealt with!" She takes a breath to calm herself. "Forgive me for being crabby about this, I just needed to rant on some things sweetie."
Mini Moon doesn't speak, feeling a little uncomfortable with the Crab Zodiac talking about keeping her away from the other Zodiacs like how she tried to keep her grandmother away all those years ago before she died. She instead looks around the room she was in, a curtain shield surrounding the bed was pulled to the right side. A huge balcony showing the clear night sky with the moon shining down in the distance. A small bathtub was on the left side of the bed a distance away, but Mini Moon does a double take in seeing that it was actually a hot tub. "I can see you like my bedroom Rini." Cancer says with a smile. "If you are ready to heal from all of those nasty injuries, I can happily let you enjoy yourself in my hot tub. I also can't wait to show you all the dresses I have for you in my closet!" She looked inexplicably giggly at the thought.
"Aren't you going to treat me like a prisoner and not give me any of those things?" Mini Moon acted like she was confused.
Cancer scoffs at the idea and states, "I am NOT going to treat you like a prisoner! The audacity! That is Scorpio and Gemini's line of work! Not this girl! All I want to do is dress you up nice and show you off to the others like a princess you truly are! I will make Leo regret his actions against you and make him grovel before our feet!" Something about that plan of Cancers was making Mini Moon feel queasy and nervous to the point where she was tempted to just find the crab jewel like her grandmother said and never have to endure Cancer's company.
She doesn't know how her grandmother was able to handle Cancer talking her ear off. But maybe as a start on getting the better of Cancer, perhaps she should play the long game with Cancer in letting her drop her guard and reveal the jewel in her possession. The problem would be where exactly that jewel is, whether its hiding in Cancer's room, or it is on her person but in hiding. It might be best if she starts in the bedroom first for the jewel. "...And I was hoping to apologize on scaring you when we first met Rini. I was just so excited to meet another heir to the throne of the Moon Kingdom! You are the third Serenity I have just gotten the chance to get to know. Moon Beams! I feel old knowing that Queen Serenity, my dearest friend, is a grandmother already! You don't know if she is still alive and waiting to see me once I get out of here, do you?"
Mini Moon felt like she needed to clarify on the information, simply stating. "Queen Serenity passed away a long time ago."
Cancer looks like she didn't believe her at first, but then she looked like she was lost in her own mind as she cries with tears flowing down her cheeks at a fast pace, almost drowning the whole bedroom and filling up the hot tub in break neck speed. "WHAT! SAY IT ISN'T SO! Queen Serenity was the strongest, bravest and kindest friend I have known ever since we were children! Did the other royals in the Solar System kingdoms execute her after my death!? I TOLD her that they were going to betray her and leave her with nothing to protect our kingdom!"
"Its not them! Its Queen Beryl and Queen Metallica!" Mini Moon corrects. "There was a whole war going on between the Earth and Moon kingdom all because Queen Beryl wanted my dad for herself!"
Cancer blinks her eyes as she composes herself quickly from her tearful rant, wipes away her tears and clears her throat. "Ahem! Forgive me going on about my rant about how things should have been in the past. My days as the queens advisor must have made me remember how good the times were before everything went into chaos. Anyway, now that I know from your mothers memories that this Queen Beryl and Queen Metallica is dead for good, everything will be all right for the Moon Kingdom after all." She clenches her left fist for a moment as she mentions. "I would have enjoyed giving those girls a taste of their own medicine if I was around to protect my kingdom from them. I am blessed with the ability to shapeshift as a crab and give them a good pinch much like I did with Leo before I brought you here Rini."
"Isn't Leo stronger than you since he is a lion?" Mini Moon asks curiously, trying to play the long game in making Cancer think that she will behave with her as long as she doesn't hurt her. That question earned a hearty laugh from the Zodiac.
"He only thinks he is the strongest Zodiac. Honestly, that man doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut on his ego! I cannot stand most of the Zodiacs besides Pisces, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Those guys are fine with me, minus Scorpio being a psychopath in wanting to torture everybody." Cancer informs like she is spreading some of the juiciest gossip to Mini Moon. Even though the mini scout knows how much her mother likes to talk and hear her voice on occasion, Cancer seems to take the cake in that regard! No wonder she was on the moon council in her previous life. "But enough about me, Rini. I want to know what you would like to do first for our mother daughter bonding time!"
Even though Mini Moon wants to say publicly to Cancer that she is not her real mother, she swallows back her retort and points to the hot tub. "Good choice sweetie!" Cancer beams in excitement as she rushes over to her closet and brings out two swimsuits; one being a pristine full body white swimsuit with a skirt and one with a light pink color. "I made these swimsuits as a twin set! I hope you don't mind if I join you in the hot tub-"
A knock on the door interrupts Cancer as she turns her head sharply to the sound, she narrows her eyes in disgust at being disturbed. "Oh now what!? It looks like someone needs me Rini, you can switch to your swimsuit I made and enjoy the hot tub as much as you like." She takes a moment to call from the other side of the door as she sets the swimsuits on the bed and walks over. "I'll be right over!" She opens the door and steps out from the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Mini Moon in the meantime gingerly gets out of the bed in preparation for the hot tub, but when she looks down for her Sailor Scout uniform, her eyes widen in surprise to find that the suit is not on her anymore. "Oh no! What did she do to my clothes?" In place of the suit was a soft pink nightgown as Mini Moon looks around the room to try to find out where her clothes went off to. She hoped that Cancer didn't take away her weapons and her silver crystal.
The closet didn't have any signs of her uniform or the weapons she had with her. The balcony held nothing of importance for her either. Thankfully when she rushes over to a dresser with a mirror in the corner of the room, Mini Moon opens up one of the drawers and sighs in relief. "Thank the moon! I should hide these things somewhere else before Cancer thinks about putting them where I can't find them." She inspects each one to make sure she has everything she needs. Mini Moon compact, check. The pink amazon ball, check. Pink moon rod, check. Black crystal earrings, check.
Fly her to the moon, how did those things get there?!
Mini Moon freezes as she studies the black crystal earrings. "These things shouldn't really be here." She remembers only seeing them back in Crystal Tokyo when she was once turned into Wicked Lady. "I thought the Black Crystal earrings were destroyed when I changed back to my regular old self thanks to Sailor Moon turning into my mother."
Could this be the reason Leo couldn't fully possess her? Because she had the one link to reawaken her one alter ego that is hiding in the shadows waiting to strike. But how did the earrings survive and remain hidden in her possession? Then again, how did Wicked Lady even survive after Wisemans defeat? Perhaps since Wicked Lady was made from Mini Moons worst traits, personal fears and insecurities from the power of the Dark Crystal, this side of her survived. Even though her alter ego was created from the Dark Crystal and from Wiseman, Wicked Lady was still apart of Mini Moon whether she wants to admit it or not. Mini Moon was the yin while Wicked Lady personified the yang.
If the Dark Crystal fueled her anger to turn into Wicked Lady, could it be used as the ultimate trump card against the Zodiacs? Would they even know about her based on what Cancer said that they can look through their memories of the Sailor Scouts past adventures? Judging by what she saw with Leo when he tried to possess her, he doesn't even know anything about her. Would that mean her father had purposefully blocked off those memories of his from the Zodiac, giving her some time to find the weapons she needs? She didn't know for certain, but either way, she has the weapons she needs and she needs to make sure that she hides them close to her before Cancer comes back.
For some reason she could feel something of a gentle fire on the other side of the door along with the wayward water judging from the ghostly auras she is feeling.
(With Cancer on the other side of the door)
"Yes, yes! Who needs me?" Cancer says as she keeps guard over the door, wondering who in their right mind would disturb her wonderful time with her vessels daughter. If it was Leo, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Perhaps one pinch wasn't enough for him to get the point.
"Its me Cancer." Aries spoke in the hallway as he appears right beside her to her left, almost making her jolt at how quiet he was. "I would like a word with you if you don't mind. Do forgive me if I am interrupting anything."
Cancer shimmies her body on the door for a bit as she smiles slyly. "Oh no, Aries! Nothing at all yet! I was just about ready to join my new daughter in the hot tub before you drew my attention away from her."
Aries didn't look like he was amused by her smile, knowing full well that she might be faking it to lure him away from the door. "I couldn't help but notice that you disregarded the idea I discussed with Leo on letting me take care of the girl for him."
"Oh, well, you know me Aries..." Cancer covers her mouth in fake surprise at the thought. "I couldn't allow my daughter to hang around in the weapon room anymore than I enjoy the idea of her hanging out with Scorpio or Sagittarius. They would not be very nice to her anymore than Leo would when he is ready to set something on fire."
Aries wasn't convinced as he scratches his chin, pointing out. "But you do know that she is not as delicate and fragile as you like to think... She has all of this pent up anger that needs to be let out somewhere and I would hate for her next target to be someone as caring and nurturing as you Cancer. Why don't you give your daughter to me?"
"Eh?" Cancer looked confused the moment Aries moves to offer his hand to her like he is proposing to ask her out on a date or something. She tries to laugh it off like the offer was ridiculous to her. "I think you must be mistaken Aries! She is not in the mood to be roughhousing with you or with anyone that wants to pick a fight with her. She- She just wants to- r-relax and let go of that anger against us by hanging out with me."
"Are you sure?" Aries said rather seductively as he cocks an eyebrow at her, letting his hand go down to his side. His vessel following every movement he makes. He could already tell that she was starting to get unnerved with his looming presence, making her feel a little afraid of him.
"Y-Yes." Cancer replies as she swallows back that growing fear he likes to pull on the other Zodiacs while leaving Libra and Virgo out of it. "I get that you want to do this to please Leo, but I can promise you that the girl has had enough of what Scorpio and Leo have dealt with on her. I don't think she is ready to face off with you yet. Just let her get some rest and then if she wants to pick a fight with you... I will let her know you came to call on her."
Aries narrows his eyes in disappointment, but he remains calm in his voice. "Alright. If you say so. Direct her to my weapon room and inform her that I am waiting to spare with her." He turns around and leaves Cancer in the hallway.
Cancer just watches Aries disappear in the hallway in silence while she breathes out a sigh of relief that he is gone. Narrowing her eyes in distrust, she rants about it quietly in the hall. "Uh! Who does he think he is fooling!? Perhaps he shouldn't have gotten sour over me stealing his catch of the day. But-oh my moons! He gives me the shivers! I don't want him to get near the girl. Why hasn't Leo figured out that Aries knows that he was using him to cause chaos on Mars and he wants retribution for all the trouble he got him into? That baka doesn't know that he is really going to be playing with fire if Aries gets his hands on Rini!" Taking a breath to calm herself, she then turns back to the door. "...Anyway, lets get back to tending to my daughter."
(Back with Mini Moon)
Mini Moon had just quickly changed to her new swimsuit and set her nightgown on the bed before Cancer opened the door to check on her. "Who was at the door?" she asks.
Cancer waves it off as she puts on a nervous smile while eyeing the door for a bit. "Oh it was only Leo ranting about me pinching his nose again for the hundredth time. He won't be able to bother us for a while." Mini Moon cocks her eyes in suspicion as she could tell that Cancer was lying, trying to make her forget about who was at the door.
"Uh, I could sense the fire from the other side of the door and that wasn't Leo, Cancer. It was Aries." Mini Moon corrects her, earning a disgruntled look from the Crab Zodiac.
"So you can tell which Zodiac is which based on how we personify our elements?" Cancer studies Mini Moon for a moment as she gestures for the girl to get into the hot tub, which Mini Moon does. "I suppose it is natural for you to feel some of our ghostly presence while you are at the temple. Mortals seem to be more sensitive to supernatural activity than anything else. If there is anything about the temple you want to know, you can always ask me."
Mini Moon takes a moment to look outside at the balcony, seeing that it is still night out. "Shouldn't it be morning about now at the temple? It looks like it is still night out."
"Oh, the Zodiac Temple works in a different time schedule than the real world. Even though its supposed to be morning right now, what we see around the temple is always under a night sky." Cancer answers. Mini Moon considered that this does makes sense. Since the Zodiacs are technically ghosts they have more power when it is night out than when it is daylight out. But she wondered if there was some way to make the temple have the morning sun. If she found a way to do that, would this mean that the Zodiacs possession will weaken and give the Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo Mask some time to bring themselves back from being puppets? If only she had found some of those books about how to work around the temple back in Aquarius' library, but she is going to have to deal with the obituaries in the meantime.
Mini Moon decides to not ask anymore questions about the temple and just ask this one, "Why do you hate Leo so much? My mother and father love each other and it doesn't make sense for you to keep my mother away from Tuxedo Mask if you wanted me to be your daughter."
Cancer responds by cocking her head to the left as if shrugging her shoulders. "Why shouldn't I hate Leo as much as I hate his vessel for fraternizing with mine? They are arrogant, stubborn, self centered and lazy where they want everything to go their way. But this was before I knew that you are my daughter. I would only allow our vessels to get together and have a baby if it meant you would be here with me in the long run. After that, I would not let my vessel get near him."
"But don't you think its cruel to not allow my mom to be near my dad? She loves him with all her heart. They even got reborn from Queen Beryl's war on the moon to be with each other." Mini Moon points out.
Cancer waves it off, as if tired of Mini Moon meddling in that affair. "Its not THAT cruel when we are just not compatible with each other. Leo is more inclined to Aries, Sagittarius, Gemini and Libra while I have a fascination with Pisces, Scorpio, Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo. But since that you got rid of Pisces and Taurus, I will have to focus on three of them now. My vessel is going to have to get over her love for Leo's vessel, no matter how many times she cries inside of my head for me to relent."
Mini Moon makes a face at her, disgusted by what Cancer is saying. Even more disgusted by the fact that she is trying to play the long game in making Cancer fall for her trap in giving her the crab jewel so that she can free her mother from this nonsense. All she can hope is that if Cancer had any ideas on trying to possess her too like Leo tried to do, her alter ego would return from the shadows to teach the Zodiac a lesson. Cancer could see that Mini Moon wasn't pleased by what she said as she tries to console her while getting out of the hot tub, drying both of them off with a towel and starts heading for the closet.
"I understand that you don't like what I had to say Rini. But I promise that you will get use to the idea that I am doing whats best for your mother and for you too. Who knows, if I get lucky you can go after either Virgo, Capricorn or Scorpio if you wish to have romantic interests in them later on when your older." Cancer makes a face at the mention of Scorpio and shakes her head. "Nevermind. Its best that you don't get near Scorpio after what she almost did to you. Perhaps I'll let you get close to Capricorn since I heard from her that her vessel is one of your best friends." She makes a move to gently guide Mini Moon by the hand toward the closet. "Now don't faint in awe while I show you your new matching clothes I have for you! It will be comfortable for you to wear! Better than that stuffy suit you had on anyway. I promise you will look good in it!"
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!" Mini Moon threatens in a low voice as a dark electric force field surrounds her and gives Cancer quite a shocking surprise from the power she unleashed when the shadow showed itself again right behind her, creating that shield in the first place.
After a few seconds, the dark electric force field dissipates, making Cancer collapse unconsciously on the ground with her palms facing upward and folding her left leg over the right. The long white hair in a tangled mess. The shadow once again disappears behind Mini Moon, as if to silently say your welcome with its silent gaze.
Mini Moon forced herself to run away from Cancer's unconscious body as she flees from the room, heading down the stairs and straight outside from the door she found earlier when looking for Taurus so that she can try to intercept the other Zodiacs from delivering Sailor Uranus and Neptune to Leo. Last she remembers from the meeting Leo had with the other Zodiacs, Capricorn had them in custody. She also has the Quartet stuck in a maze with her in control of it too.
Forget going after the fire Zodiacs first! She had some business to attend to with waking up her friend Hotaru from her sleep. And make sure Capricorn is pushing daisies by the time she is through with her!
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will see you all in the next one.