Short chapter. Read authors note at end. Any questions, comments, or rants about the lateness of this feel free to PM or review.
"Mars celestial fire-"
Before Sailor Mars could finish her attack, an orangish orb flew at the group. The trio flew back, looking up in surprise at the two older scouts in the shadows above them.
"What are you thinking?!" Venus demanded.
"Did they just attack the inner scouts?" Luna asked, from where she and Artemis watched.
"Finding the heart crystals is the most important part of our current mission," Sailor Uranus said.
"If it takes her heart it will kill her!"
"Sacrifice is necessary if it means earth is saved," Neptune said. "Our mission is to save earth. Don't get in our way."
"They just declared war on the inner scouts," Artemis whispered.
Luna and Artemis exchanged a worried glance as they watched helplessly from the sidelines. Amy slumped forward as the Outer Scouts came down between the daimon and girls.
"Traitors!" Venus accused.
"None of you understood the sacrifice necessary to protect this kingdom," Uranus said, glancing back as Amy's heart crystal appeared.
Uranus and Neptune leapt into action, leaving Saturn to stand guard.
"World shaking!"
"Deep submerge!"
The daimon flew back, smashing through the wall of the small classroom. Amy slid to the floor, her eyes void of life. Neptune knelt beside her, examining the crystal.
"It's not what we're looking for," she said sadly, releasing it back to their fellow scout.
"Hotaru!" Uranus called, she motioned toward the window and the three vanished.
The trio of inner scouts rushed to Amy, who slowly regained consciousness.
"They are really starting to piss me off," Jupiter muttered.
"So you finally showed potential for sailor scout powers?" Serena asked.
"Uh-huh!" Rini nodded. "Terra says I'll need a lot of training, but since I'm the Moon Princess I'll be strong just like you someday!"
The trio was still wandering the time gate, but even Rini could sense they were getting close to the correct time.
"Your parents really sent you through the time gate alone?" Darien asked with a frown.
"Sailor Pluto was with me but there was trouble. She made me run and I got lost." Rini stopped walking just as they reached the edge of the gate. "Do you not want me here?"
"It's dangerous in our time. Unless the scouts have already taken care of things," Serena said.
"Let's just hope they've been able to keep the daimons under control," Darien replied.
"Speaking of daimons," Serena said.
Darien and Rini followed her gaze to the darkness looming before them. A short distance away the gate was open.
"Serena, take Rini. It looks like trouble."
"But—"
"Go!" Darien urged, drawing Tuxedo Mask's cane as the darkness neared.
"Do you feel guilty for attacking them?"
Amara's gaze remained fixed on the window. To anyone else it would appear that she was watching the world pass by. Her roommate wasn't about to be fooled. Toweling her wavy hair, Michelle sat on the edge of the window seat.
"Amara?"
"Of course not," the blonde finally answered.
"Then what's bothering you?"
Finally turning to her almost lover, Amara studied the teal-haired beauty for a moment. "The talismans. There has to be an easier way of finding them. Something so powerful must give off some sort of energy."
"Hmm, I've been thinking the same. Someone pure of heart doesn't exactly narrow targets down. If we had a way of removing the heart crystals it would make things much easier. We wouldn't have to follow the daimons. However we also can't check everyone in Tokyo for the talismans."
Amara frowned. "They might not even be in Tokyo."
"We can't just give up hope."
"This enemy is strong."
"So are we. And when the time comes, the inner scouts will join us."
"Something is going to happen."
Michelle calmly reached forward to grasp Amara's hand. "We will fight and protect earth. We won't let it be destroyed."
Hotaru sat in the main room of the apartment, close enough to listen but not paying full attention to the other girls' conversation. She sighed and flipped a page in her book.
Hotaru got up and answered the door. On the outside stood none other than Trista Meioh in the red and green uniform of Mugen Academy. In her arms were three black garment bags. With a soft smile and a pat on Hotaru's head she entered the apartment.
"Sailor Pluto," Amara and Michelle said in unison from the hallway.
Trista set the three garment bags on the back of the couch. "The three of you start Monday."
The girls were gathered in the park when they heard it. Screams echoed in the afternoon air. Commuters fled their normal route as the boy was attacked. A daimon that bore an odd resemblance to his backpack zeroed in on him. The boy cried out as tentacles shot out and held him down. A black beam shot from the daimon's mouth to the child's chest.
"Sailor scouts! Transform!" Luna commanded.
"Venus Power!"
"Mercury Power!"
"Mars Power!"
"Jupiter Power!"
The boy continued screaming until the crystal left his body.
"Jupiter thunder—ah!"
The green skirted scout was thrown back.
"Jupiter!" Venus exclaimed.
The brunette slowly pushed herself up. The little boy's heart crystal was cradled in the daimon's arms. It roared at the four scouts and piercing spikes were sent toward the one who'd attacked it.
"Uranus World Shaking!"
A deafening shriek pierced the air as the attack obliterated the monster's extra arms. The heart crystal fell, landing right in the white gloved hand of Sailor Neptune.
"It's not what we're looking for," she announced, releasing the fragile object.
It quickly returned to the boy.
"Saturn, get him out of here!" Pluto ordered.
Sailor Saturn helped the dazed boy to his feet and quickly led him away from the battle. The daimon turned on the outer scouts, striking them down one by one.
"Mercury—"
"Venus love—"
The creature growled and silenced the two before they had a chance to attack.
"Dammit, this thing's strong," Jupiter snapped.
"Stop right there!" two familiar voices said.
Sailor Mars looked up. "That sounds like…"
"Serena!" Luna exclaimed.
"And Rini's with her!" Artemis added.
"I am Sailor Moon!"
"And I am Sailor Mini Moon!"
"In the name of the Moon! We will punish you!"
The daimon growled. "So, we meet at last, Sailor Moon."
Sailor Moon drew her scepter.
AN:(Important for followers/readers) I know it has been inexcusably long since my last update and this is super short but I wanted to post something.
Unfortunately I don't seem to have the same devotion to the story as I did in the beginning. I should not have begun this fanfiction because I don't think I am going to do a good enough job in continuing on. I've gotten to the point where chapters are forced and no longer flowing well enough. Nevertheless, I will push through and finish this because I refuse to be one of the authors who leave fics being said, this chapter took almost a month to write, but I'm hoping the next won't be as delayed. I will get it out as soon as I can, but things are a bit hectic right now.
On a more important note: Upon the completion of this fic, I will be taking a break from the sailor moon fandom, and possibly all of fanfiction in general. I have decided to publish my novel as an ebook which should go up on amazon within the next few days and therefore my focus will be shifting to my original work (main reason this update has taken so long). I just don't have time for everything I am trying to do and while I enjoy fanfiction greatly it is not the highest priority.