TWO WRONGS
Chapter 8: Confrontation
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
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.
"I have taken all I am going to take from you five," she seethed, her familiar once again weaving back and forth behind her. "You have insulted me, harassed me, damaged my home...!"
"What about Sailor Moon?" Saturn demanded desperately.
"Silence!" shouted Keika.
"Lift the spell and we'll leave you alone!" Ceres snapped.
"I said SILENCE!" Keika roared. With a wave of her hands, more earthen hands rose up from the ground and clamped over the mouths of the five Senshi. "This ends - - now! Prepare to join your precious Princess in death!"
As the Senshi watched, straining at the earthen hands that held them, Keika cupped her two hands at her stomach. The snake familiar stopped weaving. It's head rose, looking up into the sky. Red energy began to form between the sorceress's two cupped hands. It was small at first, but the energy began to throb and crackle in her hands. The ball expanded, filling the space between her hands. At the center of the swirling, throbbing red ball, a white center could be seen. It grew as the ball grew, pulsing with deadly menace.
"I feel you in my mind," Keika smiled, a ghastly smile of malevolence and evil, "but you won't deter me." Saturn and Juno glanced over at Pallas. They saw the Senshi's eyes clamped shut and her brow knit in mental exertion. "By the crimson energies that flow through the universe and convey the living to the dead, I strike...!"
Suddenly the energy exploded prematurely. Keika was thrown backwards onto the ground. Everyone stared at her in amazement. As she lay flat on her back, everyone could see the midriff of her black gown had been burned away by the backlash of energy and the skin below was lobster red.
And sticking out of the skin over her stomach was the stem of a single red rose.
Straining to see behind them, the five Senshi spotted King Endymion levitating down from the sky. On his right was Sailor Jupiter, while on his left was Sailor Venus. The three landed just behind Saturn. As Venus and Jupiter fanned out, Endymion drew his sword and with a single stroke severed the earthen limbs holding Saturn. Once cleaved from the soil, the hands and arms changed back into dirt and fell away.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Saturn said.
"Free the others," Endymion told her. "I'll handle this from here."
By now Keika had recovered her wits enough to roll up on one elbow. Wordlessly she flung her other arm out and pointed. Her snake familiar launched itself across the space between her and her adversaries, directly at Sailor Venus.
"Whoa! Venus Love Me Chain!" Venus gasped, reacting quickly. The demon serpent was snared in twin chains around its body just below the head. Venus then drew the chains tight. "Hey, Jupe, a little help here!"
"Gotcha. Sparkling Wide Pressure!" Jupiter nodded. Electricity formed in her hands, then arced from her hands and leaped to the snake. Venus released her chains as the snake stiffened under the massive electrical assault. Once the current was spent, the snake faded from view. Keika bowed her head.
She raised it again when she saw two armored boots before her. Looking up, she found Endymion towering over her, his sword in his right hand and a rose in his left. Keika looked into his eyes and found no pity for her.
"Do you know who I am?" Keika blustered.
"Yes," Endymion replied. "Do you know who I am? You've lived in Elysian. You should be familiar with Endymion of Earth."
Keika's eyes widened. There was a moment's intimidation.
"It isn't fair," she fumed. "Do you know what I lost? What I gave up? I turned my back on my culture, betrayed my own father - - FOR HIM!" Keika ground her teeth. "And he throws me aside for a child! His eye is swayed by her sugary pink hair and her pretty little girl's face! What do I have now? NOTHING! No home. No family. No title. No children." Keika choked back a sob. "Not even a philandering husband."
"Your quarrel is with your husband," Endymion said coldly, "not my daughter. Reverse the spell."
"Or you'll destroy me?" Keika asked wearily. "I am already destroyed. What more can you do to me besides kill me. It would only be a release."
By now Saturn had freed the others. The five Senshi watched from a short distance, wondering what Endymion would do. Venus and Jupiter watched from the opposite side, wondering what he'd do.
"Or will you kill me?" Keika began to smile. She stared up at him. "I have heard of the protector of Elysian and the consort of Serenity. I have heard that he follows the way of peace that his wife blazes. Will you kill me, o mighty king? Will you betray your wife to save your daughter?"
Endymion stood silently. The longer he did nothing, the more confident Keika grew.
"Maybe he won't," Venus shrugged. Then she gave the sorceress a Cheshire grin. "Maybe we'll just tell your dad where to find you."
Now it was Keika's turn to stand silently. But the fear on her face was far more noticeable than any that had been on Endymion's face.
"You think she's going to cave?" Juno asked the others in a low voice.
"I don't know," Ceres answered. "She's pretty obsessed with her vengeance. I don't think anything short of the threat of death would get her to break the spell. And I don't think either the Queen or the Princess would like him killing her. We may be at a stalemate here."
"Unless Hino-Sensei can find a way to force it out of her," Saturn added. Ceres glanced over at her friend and teammate. Saturn looked pale. She seemed to lean on her glaive. Ceres was about to speak, but she noticed Sailor Venus edging over and deferred to their mentor.
"Hey," Venus leaned in and ventured in her best "big sister" tone. "You feeling OK? You look white as a sheet."
"I'll be fine," Saturn said, averting her eyes the way she always did when confronted with something she didn't want to deal with.
"Hey, don't kid a kidder," Venus persisted. "You're pushing yourself too hard. Don't forget what Ami told you. You're no good to anyone sick in bed, least of all Usa. OK?"
"Yes, Sensei," Saturn mumbled. Then she looked up at Venus with those soulful violet eyes that always made you want to cry. "Is Usa any better?"
"Rei's got her stable," Venus reported. "She and Ami's got her, so the kid doesn't have any choice but to pull through. Don't worry. Rei won't let anything happen to her oldest daughter." Then Venus looked skyward in mock consternation. "Oops. I mean Serenity's oldest daughter."
Saturn didn't laugh, but the joke at Rei's expense did seem to ease her fears a little. Venus eased away and rejoined Jupiter.
"You're terrible, you know that," Jupiter smirked.
"Did I ever tell you about the baby book Rei keeps?" Venus leered.
"Well?" Endymion prodded the sorceress.
"Am I not permitted my vengeance?" howled Keika. She looked away. "Why would I expect you to understand the lot of a woman? Do what you will. Whether I die by your hand or by that of a vengeful father, I will at least carry the satisfaction of my avenged honor to my grave."
Venus eased up next to Endymion. "Maybe Rei can pry it out of her. I know I can't keep a secret around her."
"Or at least she might know how to undo the spell if she gets a look at her and that snake of hers," suggested Jupiter.
"I don't see any other alternatives," Endymion nodded. "Maybe Serenity can even manage to prevail upon her."
"I'll get her ready to travel," Venus said. "Venus Love Me Chain!"
Golden heart-shaped links shot out from the Senshi and wrapped around Keika's torso. Keika flinched at the impact, but said nothing after they bound her.
"Come on, La Bruja, we've got some traveling to do," Venus said, hauling her up to her feet.
"I didn't know you spoke Spanish," Jupiter said.
"That was Spanish?" Venus replied blankly.
"Wait!" Pallas exclaimed suddenly. Everybody turned to her except Keika. The Senshi just stared at nothing for a few moments. "We're going to have company," Pallas announced out of the blue. She stared for a few moments more. Then Pallas suddenly pointed at Keika. "It's her daddy!"
Keika's eyes grew to saucers. "No!" she gasped and lurched back, jerking out of the grasp of Sailor Venus. Before anyone could react, Keika turned and started running as if death itself nipped at her heels, still wrapped in Venus's chain.
"I'll get her!" spat Vesta. "Fauna Assimilation - Cheetah!"
Transforming into the speedy African cat, Vesta took off after Keika. Juno and Ceres watched her run down the fleeing sorceress.
"Think she'll bring her back in one piece?" Juno asked.
"Depends on if she resists," Ceres replied.
Without warning, the area was rocked with the rattling sound and the ground-shaking tremor of a massive explosion. Turning to look in the direction of the sound, everyone saw a huge plume of black and orange smoke rising up between the spires of the massive towers in the heart of the city. Overhead, the sky was pockmarked with flying metallic craft. Several more explosions followed the first
"Those craft are bombing the city!" Endymion exclaimed. "It's under attack!"
"It's the Snake Lady's Daddy," Pallas informed them with eerie assurance.
"Is he looking for her?" Jupiter asked.
"Pallas doesn't think so," the diminutive Senshi replied. "Pallas doesn't think he even knows his little girl is here."
"Suppose we stumbled into some sort of border dispute between dream realms?" Venus posed.
"I don't know, yet," Endymion frowned. "But I can't sit idly by and watch people be harmed. Not if I can do anything about it." Pointing up to a cluster of bombs that had just been released by the lead ship, Endymion shouted, "Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber!"
Golden energy lanced out from the tip of his index finger and shot up toward the cluster at the speed of light. All the ray of energy had to do was touch the outer housing of the lead bomb and it detonated. The detonation caused a chain reaction among the cluster, exploding all of the bombs. The shockwave rattled buildings on the ground and caused several of the airborne ships to lurch away. Two spun out of control and came perilously close to the ground before righting themselves.
Another ship released a cluster of bombs and again Endymion hit it with his golden energy beam. It was the same result: upon contact with the destructive energy, the nearest bomb exploded and set off the rest in the cluster. Another shockwave slammed into the ground, shaking people and buildings alike, and into the ships above, sending them careening wildly.
Turning, as if sensing her, Pallas saw Vesta returning to the group. She had Keika in tow and was forcing the woman along - - and none too gently. For her part, Keika fought to escape, but between the Love Me Chains of Venus and the firm grip of Vesta, her efforts were in vain. Spurred by Pallas, the others looked as well. They could all see that Keika didn't want to be in that particular place at that particular time. Only Pallas knew that it wasn't them the dark sorceress was afraid of.
"What's all the racket?" Vesta inquired as she hustled the struggling Keika to the others. "Sounds like World War Eight!"
"Those ships were bombing the city," Juno nodded to the airborne craft, who were now circling the general position they occupied.
"Let me go!" screeched Keika frantically. "Let me go! He will kill me!"
"And ain't that too bad," Vesta sneered. "We got what we came for. Let's hit the road and get back to the Crystal Palace."
"And abandon these people?" Endymion turned to her questioningly. "Leave them to be bombed into non-existence by these ships?"
"It's none of our business," Vesta replied, never one to back down. "You don't even know why they're being bombed. Maybe those ships had a reason. Anyway, it's none of our business."
"Sailor Vesta," Endymion said with disappointment. "It is the responsibility of people with the power to aid to use that power to help people in need. Now I admit that I don't know what started this conflict. Those dropping the bombs may feel they are the injured party and they may very well be. But mass slaughter is no way to solve a dispute. If it takes all of us to prevent that slaughter until cooler heads prevail, that's what we'll do."
"And meanwhile we just leave Sailor Moon to die?" Vesta snapped.
"Vesta!" Sailor Venus said sharply. She and Jupiter both saw how deep Vesta's words had cut into the king. So had some of the Asteroids. True to her nature, Vesta didn't back down. Her loyalty was to Sailor Moon, not these innocent strangers.
"I am well aware of the situation, Sailor Vesta," King Endymion replied in measured, controlled tones. "Whether you agree or not, it comes down to a choice between the needs of one person versus the needs of many. The greater need must take precedence, no matter how close we might be to that single life. That is what I believe in. I'd like to think my daughter would make that choice, too."
"Hey, look," Jupiter interceded, trying to be peacemaker. "How about you, Venus and I stay here and try to stop this attack while Saturn and the Asteroids take her back to Crystal Tokyo and get her to cure Sailor Moon. It's not the best of both worlds, but it might be the best solution we can hope for."
"Yeah, it's just an invading army," Venus added. "It's not like we're trying to keep Serenity out of the chocolate."
Tension flowed out of Endymion's body. Once again Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter had diffused a situation.
"All right, we'll do that," Endymion nodded. Looking at the Asteroids, he told them, "After you help Usa, let Serenity know where we are if we're overdue."
Working quickly, the Asteroids formed a circle around Keika and joined hands. For her part, Keika didn't fight. It was like she was glad to be going anywhere rather than stay there.
"One of the ships is coming in for a landing," Venus pointed out. "Don't suppose they're landing to tell us it's all a big mistake and they're going to go home."
"Doubt it," Jupiter smirked. "Maybe they want an autograph."
"And me without a laser stylus," Venus grinned.
Just then the air was pierced by a scream of pain. The three whirled and saw Sailor Saturn on her knees, doubled over while the other Senshi hovered around her. Endymion rushed over and knelt down beside her. He felt her forehead and then pressed his first two fingers against her neck.
"Chest hurts," grunted Saturn. "Heart attack?"
"Numbness in your arms?" Endymion asked. She shook her head. "Then I doubt it. It's probably some other kind of cardio-pulmonary strain."
"Happened when," gasped Saturn as Endymion eased her down onto her back, "tried - - teleport."
"Then don't do it," Endymion advised her. He pulled his cloak off and covered her with it. "Is the chest pain continuing?"
"No," Saturn shuddered out. "Feel so weak."
"Your pulse is a little better," Endymion nodded. "You just lay there. We'll try to keep the action away from you."
"But we can't teleport back to Crystal Tokyo without Saturn!" Juno exclaimed.
Endymion looked at nothing for a moment.
"Then Usa'll just have to hang on," he said. The King rose to his feet, turned and went to confront the party of the ship that had landed. Venus and Jupiter glanced at each other, then went to follow him.
"And that's it?" Vesta gasped incredulously.
"We're expendable to protect her," Ceres answered. "I guess everyone is expendable to protect the dream."
Vesta stewed silently. Suddenly Keika tried to jerk away from her. Temper boiling over, Vesta kicked the back of Keika's leg and forced the woman to her knees.
Walking up to meet Endymion was a burly, stocky man with thick, shaggy black hair, a thick, shaggy mustache and dark, penetrating eyes. He wore a leathery blue tunic and weighty blue pants, with brown leather boots and gloves. A thick belt surrounded his waist, from which hung several bludgeon-type weapons, and a leather bandolier crossed from his right shoulder to his left hip. Flanking him on either side were two similarly dressed guards with shaggy brown hair and grim expressions.
"I am King Endymion of Earth," Endymion said to the approaching man. "Whom do I address, please?"
"King Horoque of Yaban'na," the burly man replied and punctuated the statement with a vicious punch to the face that felled Endymion. Instantly his two lieutenants sprang at Venus and Jupiter.
King Horoque walked passed the stunned Endymion and straight to the cowering Keika. Vesta stood her ground. Ceres and Juno stood by ready to defend them, while Pallas knelt next to Saturn. Horoque ignored them all. He looked Keika squarely in the eye.
"Keika," he said, standing over her. "I've finally found you."
Continued in Chapter 9