TWO WRONGS
Chapter 7: Marooned
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
In a private room in the infirmary of Crystal Tokyo's Crystal Palace, a young princess slept unmoving save for the rise and fall of her chest. Her pink hair framed her fair face on both sides and tried to make a somber image that much more rosy. Above her, vital sign holograms registered her respiration, her blood pressure, heart beat, temperature and brain wave patterns for any who understood the readings and wished to look. Periodically a robot arm would extend and spray a short burst of mist onto the skin along the neck over the aorta, a mist which would be absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream.
Standing by the door to the room was Dr. Ami Mizuno. Theoretically she was there to monitor the patient for signs of a deteriorating condition and render any immediate medical attention necessary. In truth she was monitoring both the patient and the woman who sat next to her. For Rei Hino hadn't moved from her side since Sailor Moon had been brought to the infirmary. Normally Ami would have shooed her away long ago, but Rei was the only thing keeping a demonic snake's venom from spreading further in Sailor Moon's body and killing her. And she just didn't have the heart to do it, knowing how much Sailor Moon meant to Rei.
Unaccountably both women heard the gurgle of an infant. Turning to the door, they found Queen Serenity standing there with little Mamoko in her arms. The Queen's face was staring at the picture of her comatose older daughter and tears were welling in her eyes.
"How are you feeling, Serenity?" Ami asked.
"Like my world is about to crumble," Serenity whispered hoarsely.
"She meant physically," Rei said, her response muted. "We kind of guessed your emotional state."
"I feel tired," Serenity sighed. "But I'm well enough to walk. Luna filled me in on everything. And please don't lecture me about what I did."
"No lectures," Rei told her. "You did what you had to do."
"Ami-Chan, could you hold Mamoko?" the Queen requested. She handed the infant off to Ami and glided over to her other daughter's bedside. Serenity reached out and lightly brushed Sailor Moon's cheek, then pulled her hand back. "Oh, Rei-Chan, I feel it. Isn't there anything you can do?"
"Nothing more than I've already done," Rei responded. "Snake familiar magic can be a particularly tenacious form of magic, especially if both the sorcerer and the demon familiar are strong spiritually. I've arrested it, but I can't cure her."
"Maybe I need to try," Serenity said.
"That wouldn't be a wise course of action, Serenity," Ami advised her.
"Ami-Chan, you know me better than this," Serenity responded with mild irritation, which for her was a severe reaction.
"Serenity, you can't just think of Sailor Moon," Ami argued. "Judging from the brief scan I took just now, I can see you're still physically weak and run down. To push yourself to the point you might have to push yourself to is a huge risk in your condition. Are you willing to leave Mamoko without a mother this early in her life?" Serenity looked at her, hurt. "You have to think of these things, Serenity. Sailor Moon is in no immediate danger. My recommendation would be for you to continue to build your strength. Wait to see if Endymion and the others are able to find the person who did this and get this - - spell - - released. If the situation changes, then you can try."
"It makes sense, Serenity," Rei added. "Something will have to change eventually, because I can't hold this demon back forever and I don't have to power to banish it. But there's time for you to rest and regain your strength."
"As if I'll be able to rest with her like this," Serenity murmured.
"There's all sorts of rest, Serenity," Ami said, nodding to the other chair in the room. "As long as you're not exerting yourself, I'll be satisfied."
Relenting, Serenity pulled the chair up to the other side of Sailor Moon's bed. She sat down and took Mamoko from Ami. As she cradled her second daughter to her breast, the Queen stared forlornly at her first daughter, watching the young woman's chest rise and fall.
"Rei," Serenity said. "Maybe I could funnel some of the crystal energy into you," she offered, "so you could kick that horrible snake thing out of her."
"That was my thinking, Serenity," Rei nodded, touching the sutra on Sailor Moon's chest to keep it infused with spirit energy. "But when you're rested. I don't want to do this half way."
Everything around them was white. There was no up or down, no left or right, no forward or back. There was only five Senshi inside of a force field bubble. Everyone looked around curiously when they realized that they were no longer in Ploutos - - all except Sailor Saturn, who was maintaining the force bubble.
"What happened?" Juno asked. "Are we dead?"
"Last thing I remember, that witch Keika threw something at us," Vesta noted.
"Pallas can't hear any thoughts!" Pallas exclaimed. "Only from all of you! Pallas always hears thoughts! Sensei had to teach her to tune them out!" She turned urgently to Vesta. "Vesta, what's happening?"
"OK, just calm down," Ceres said, as much for herself as for the others. "Think this through logically."
"Keika threw something at us," Saturn mumbled, trying to speak and not lose concentration on the force bubble. "Probably a potion of some sort. She was probably trying to destroy us, but only managed to send us here."
"Wherever 'here' is," Juno added. "Is this some sort of limbo where sorcerers send people to die?"
"And the only thing keeping whatever it is out there from killing us is Saturn's Silence Wall," Ceres finished the thought.
"We gotta get out of here!" Vesta proclaimed.
"No joke," Juno responded. Then she coughed. "Hey, does it seem stale in here?"
"We're using up the air in the force bubble," Ceres said, chilled. Reaching into a pouch on her costume, Ceres produced some seeds and dropped them onto the bottom of the force bubble. "Floral Stimulation!" she said.
Instantly the bubble was filled with dozens of large leaf plants crowding around everyone. Ceres, Juno and Vesta were squeezed together on one side of the bubble, while Saturn and Pallas were pressed against the other side.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" bellowed Vesta.
"Moron! Plants metabolize carbon dioxide through their leaves and expel oxygen through photosynthesis," Ceres snapped. "These are philodendrons. They have big leaves. But they need light for photosynthesis to engage. Do something useful and change into something that can give off large amounts of light."
Vesta thought a moment. "Fauna Combination - - Firefly Gorilla!"
As Saturn smiled to herself at the irony, Vesta transformed into a firefly roughly five and a half feet tall. Engaging the chemical process in her abdomen, Vesta emitted a blinding light. Everyone else had to close their eyes and turn away.
"Hey, isn't she going to burn us?" Juno exclaimed. "Hey, there's no heat!"
"Firefly light don't give off heat," Vesta assured her. "It's chemical light, not combustion light."
"Vesta sounding scientific. Will wonders never cease," Ceres commented. And moments later, the atmosphere began to grow more breathable.
"OK, I'm guessing this isn't going to last forever," Juno ventured.
"No, without soil and water, the philodendrons will wither eventually," Ceres replied.
"And I can't - - hold this - - for very long," Saturn groaned. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. You saved us so far," Juno assured her. "Any ideas on how to get out of here?"
"Pallas has been calling with her head for help," Pallas reported. "But nobody has answered her back."
"Suppose we could use Sailor Teleport?" Vesta asked.
"Can we teleport without Saturn's energy?" Juno wondered. "It was tough enough without Sailor Moon. And I don't know if Saturn can help teleport and keep the Silence Wall going."
"I'm willing to try," Saturn grunted out. The strain was becoming evident on her face. "I can't hold this much longer."
Ceres thought while everyone except Saturn looked at her. As de facto leader in Sailor Moon's absence, the decision was hers. But it was a tough decision. If they tried and failed, the Silence Wall would probably collapse and they would probably die in the strange limbo they were in. It might even collapse while they were trying. But if they didn't try, Saturn's wall would fail eventually due to her prolonged exertion or her lingering heart condition.
"It may be our only shot," Juno prodded her. She knew how much death frightened and intimidated Ceres and figured her sister needed that final nudge.
"All right," Ceres said. "Everybody join hands. Saturn, give us whatever you can, but your number one priority has to be maintaining the integrity of the Silence Wall." She reached over and grasped one of Vesta the firefly's legs. "Ew!" she exclaimed, then cleared her mind. "We're teleporting back to that river bank on Ploutos."
"SAILOR TELEPORT!" they all yelled. Energy began swirling around them. But immediately everyone could tell that the energy field was weaker than normal. As it continued to swirl, the feeling began to grow that it wouldn't be enough to teleport them. Then Juno got an idea.
"Come on, Saturn," she said. "Sailor Moon is counting on us."
Everyone heard Saturn suck in air. Energy surged through the field. The field enveloped the five Senshi and the plants that were sustaining their lives. There was a loud pop and suddenly the Silence Wall disappeared.
Two boys were on the river bank outside of the city-realm of Ploutos, skipping rocks across the surface of the water. Then, to their left, the air began to spin. As it reached cyclonic speeds, the two boys turned and ran for home as fast as they could. As such, they missed the cyclone dissipating and revealing four young women in Senshi fukus, a five and a half foot firefly and a small jungle of philodendrons.
"WE DID IT!" squealed Pallas.
"Ohh!" Saturn groaned and flopped onto her back. "I'm going to have a heart attack. I just know it."
"No, Miss Saturn-Ma'am, you just think you are," Pallas assured her.
"Nice going," Vesta murmured to Juno as she changed form. "That 'Sailor Moon' crack did the job."
"She's the center on this team with Sailor Moon out," Juno smiled. "I figured she needed a little extra incentive to get the kick past the goalie." She turned to Ceres. "You going to give your philodendrons a reward and let them take root?"
"I shouldn't. It can be dangerous to establish a plant in an area it isn't native to," Ceres fussed. Then she caressed one of the plants. "But they were good boys. They might even like it here."
"So now we go back and rip that Keika a new one?" Vesta asked, though it sounded more like a demand than a question.
"And get our heads handed to us again?" Juno countered. "We have to approach this a different way."
"Assuming she doesn't already know we're back," Saturn warned, her voice betraying her immense fatigue.
"We have to assume she does," Ceres thought. Everyone stared but Pallas, who seemed surprised. "Pallas, link us all together mentally so Keika can't hear if she is watching."
Pallas nodded and transferred the thought to the others.
"What we need is a feint," Ceres thought. "Some of us have to attack her head on while the rest flank her and surprise her - - try to knock her out."
"I'll attack," Vesta immediately volunteered.
"Figured you would," Ceres responded. "Saturn, you join her. Your attacks don't lend themselves to knocking her out and you might just be able to keep someone from being killed. Juno, you and Pallas flank her and try to put her out. I'll play it by ear. If you need help putting her out, I'll help you. Otherwise I'll join Vesta and Saturn."
"Sounds like a plan," Juno thought. "Um, did we ever figure out where she lived?"
Pallas suddenly looked nauseous. "Pallas knows. She can sense the scary snake now. She'll lead you."
It was a quaint, rustic little cottage just up the river from where they had landed and on the edge of the city. The domicile itself was a stark departure in size and design from the modern and majestic design of the sprawling city near by. From cover just up the road, concealed by some decorative gardens next to a towering building, five Senshi crept up on it.
"She's in there," Pallas pointed to the cottage. "At least the scary snake is there."
"Then she's probably there, too," Ceres judged. "I doubt she'd go anywhere without her snake familiar." Ceres glanced around. "Funny how the style of this place doesn't match the rest of the city. Do you suppose she just found it or she conjured it up with one of her potions? And what exactly is this realm a haven for besides commercial profit?"
"Who cares?" huffed Vesta.
"Could you please turn into something that doesn't talk," Ceres shot back. Meanwhile Juno was looking at Saturn with some concern.
"Are you sure you're OK?" Juno asked her. "You're looking a little ragged around the edges." Ceres and Pallas glanced back at her with concern.
"I'll be fine," Saturn responded quietly.
"Don't push yourself," Juno began.
"It's not important!" Saturn cut her off. "Saving Sailor Moon is the important thing. That's what we have to be worried about. That's our job."
"Well, yeah," Juno replied. "But I was kind of hoping that we all come back from this mission in one piece. And I think Usa would hope for that, too."
Saturn looked away. "I'll be fine."
"Then let's get this done and go home," Vesta rumbled. "Best thing we could do would be to see if we can lure Keika out of that place of hers. Out in the open, there's more room to fight in and more chance of Pallas and Juno flanking her. Plus she's away from her potions and stuff."
"Or force her out," Juno added. "And I've got just the way. Aqua Initiation!"
Holding her hands out before her, Juno ground her teeth and twisted her face. Within moments, a huge gusher of water shot up through the roof of the cottage from the ground beneath it. As the gusher intensified in strength and widened in diameter, gravity began shoving back against the top. Torrents of water rained down on the roof of the cottage, slamming against the already damaged boards and thatch. Moments later, Keika was seen fleeing the cottage as parts of it began to cave in around the water gusher.
"There she is! Come on, Saturn!" Vesta exclaimed.
"Remember, Vesta, we need her alive!" Ceres warned.
Vesta grimaced. "Right. Fauna Assimilation - elephant!"
Transforming into a full grown female African elephant, Vesta charged Keika at full speed, her trunk up and her ears wide. Saturn was behind her and to her left, her glaive up and ready to use.
"Go!" Ceres hissed. "Pallas, you take one direction, Juno, you take the other! Try to stay out of sight!"
"You again?" Keika shrieked. "I don't know how you escaped before, but you won't escape again!"
At her signal, the demonic snake familiar rose up from behind her and lunged for Vesta, coiling around the elephant's left foreleg. It's head reared back, baring fangs and preparing to strike. But Vesta countered by intentionally falling on her left side, hoping to crush the familiar under her enormous weight.
Saturn leaped over Vesta's head and landed in front of Keika, a mere four feet separating them. Her glaive's point touched the ground and she silently dared the woman to move.
"You think me helpless?" Keika asked with a cocked eyebrow.
Her hand shot to her bodice and removed a small pouch that had been secreted inside. But in a flash, the blade of the glaive slashed across the field of Keika's vision. And where there had been a pouch, Keika now only held two severed drawstrings. She adjusted her line of sight and saw the pouch sitting balanced on the flat of Saturn's blade. A simple toss sent it flying. Then the point returned, extended ominously at Keika.
"I'm giving you one more chance," Saturn rumbled. "Remove the spell from Sailor Moon."
"Never," Keika replied, the words almost a taunt.
"Azrael's Slumber!" Saturn shouted, slamming the blade of her glaive into the ground. An audible grunt of surprise and pain was ripped from Keika. The sorceress slumped to her knees as Saturn's glaive began leeching energy from her. Her eyes began to recede into her skull. Her skin began to wither. Her black hair became brittle and stringy.
Her snake familiar, who had been searching for Vesta after the Senshi had transformed into an ant to avoid a strike, turned and began slithering back toward her mistress at top speed. To try to stop it from aiding Keika, Vesta transformed again, this time into a mongoose. She lunged and caught the tail of the snake in her mouth, momentarily halting its efforts. The snake turned back and lunged at the mongoose, but Vesta nimbly leaped above the strike and avoided it. The snake turned back to its mistress, but Vesta continued to harass it and prevent it from aiding her.
"I guess Saturn doesn't need us," Juno thought to Pallas.
"Juno, this is wrong!" Pallas suddenly shouted. "Miss Saturn-Ma'am is fighting a picture in her head!"
Alerted by Pallas, the Senshi all stopped. As the illusion of Keika and her snake familiar faded from view, the five looked around to see if they could spot the real Keika. As such, they didn't notice earthen hands emerge from the ground until they had all shot up and clamped onto the wrists and ankles of each Senshi.
It was only then that Keika emerged from her broken cottage with a scowl on her face and murder in her eye.
Continued in Chapter 8