PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON ZOBEL
SAILOR MOON © Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha
Tokyo at night is usually quiet and serene, but in other parts of the city, it's live with activity. As the people go about their usual lives, they are unaware of the impending doom lurking in the stars above. Looking down below at the earth is a mysterious woman all in green with a hateful expression on her face. Standing behind her are a large group of girls covered in black cloaks as they look alongside her. One of the hooded women is beside the woman in green.
"Everything is ready, my queen," the cloaked girl said.
"Excellent work," gleefully smirked the woman in green. "I've heard rumors tell of the planet Earth and its protectors. If the rumors are true, things will be interesting to see."
The wicked queen laughs as she watches the world from above as her minions watch with her, also laughing evilly.
"Prepare to descend and make way for my arrival!" the queen orders her servant.
"At once, my queen," nodded the hooded girl, as she and the rest of the hooded figures prepared to descend towards Earth to prepare for invasion.
The next morning, the alarm clock sounds waking up both Usagi and Chibi-Usa. Naturally to their surprise, it's 7:00am on Monday, meaning school starts an hour from now.
"Stupid alarm clock!" Usagi cried out. "Why does it always wake us up at the worst possible time?!"
"Both your clocks are set at 6:00am like always," chided Ikuko, "but you keep hitting 'Snooze' every time."
"That's still not the point!" Chibi-Usa added. "We're gonna be so late!"
Before Ikuko can get another word in, Usagi and Chibi-Usa bolt out the door heading for their respective schools.
"I swear," Ikuko grimaced, holding her head with her hand, "it's as if they take after each other."
As they run, Usagi and Chibi-Usa try to make up time for being late, hoping to make it on time.
"I don't believe it!" Chibi-Usa worried. "If I'm late today, Miss Sakurada will yell at me like a banshee!"
"Believe me, I've BEEN there!" Usagi agreed. "We got a big class today ourselves, and I know Rei's gonna scold me for being too lazy!"
"What we wouldn't give for an enemy invasion right about now!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed.
"I hope you're joking…" Usagi looked at Chibi-Usa apathetically. "The last thing I want is making bad situations worse, especially if it's our lives on the line."
"Anything better than this?!" Chibi-Usa yelled back.
"You DO have a point…" Usagi grumbled in agreement, that facing a monster would be better than facing school life, especially if they're late.
Usagi took off into the direction of Juuban High while Chibi-Usa headed towards Juuban Junior High, where Usagi, Ami and Makoto once went to school.
Chibi-Usa finally arrived at Juuban Junior High but a few minutes late. She meets up with her friends Momoko Momohara, Kyusuke Sarashina and Gurio Sorano.
"Hey, Usa!" Momoko waved to her. "You finally made it."
"Yeah, but barely!" Chibi-Usa panted. "My alarm clock went on the fritz this morning and it was madness! I'm glad I made it here unscathed."
"Oh really?" said a stern condescending voice from behind. "Blaming a simple alarm clock for your tardiness?! I expected something like that from your scatterbrained cousin when SHE was here!"
The earth-shattering voice hit Chibi-Usa like a ton of bricks. Haruna Sakurada, Usagi's old teacher, was extremely mad at her.
"You will be on cleanup duties after school ends!" orders Miss Sakurada.
"Oh man…" whines Chibi-Usa to herself. "Now I know how Mom felt when dealing with her."
Meanwhile at Juuban High, Usagi was put in charge of student assembly as her punishment for being late.
"This is such a pain!" whined Usagi. "This is even worse than Rei scolding me! This is sheer torture!"
Heading into the assembly hall were Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako, never expecting to find Usagi preparing for student assembly.
"I never expected you to perform the student assembly, Usagi," Ami noted.
"I never do," Usagi groaned. "I was late, and this is my punishment. The new school year begins today, and not only do I have to prepare this hall, I have to give a commencement speech, too!"
"Late again, huh odango head?" Rei mumbled. "Honestly…you and your daughter are so impossible!"
"Relax, Rei," Makoto said. "We got nothing to do yet, so we'll help you out."
"It's the least we can do," Minako added. "I'm sure you can come up with a great speech to kick off the new year!"
"Thanks, guys. You're the best!" Usagi cried as she hugged her friends.
After a long school day, the Senshi head towards the Crown Parlor to relax after a grueling day of school. Usagi and Chibi-Usa felt like they've been run over by a bullet train while everyone had their normal days.
"I'll be glad when this day is done!" Usagi moaned in pain. "I don't know how I pulled off that commencement speech, but I nailed it…barely!"
"Maybe a good time at the arcade will help take off those blues," Chibi-Usa added.
"Games might be fun, but don't forget to study," Ami said. "You still have to keep your grades up so you don't fall behind."
"Even HERE, it starts," moans the mother-daughter duo.
"Don't you ever take anything seriously?!" Rei growled.
Usagi and Chibi-Usa responded by talking about Mamoru.
"Why did I have to ask?" Rei sighed, palming her face in disgust.
"Speaking of Mamoru, where is he?" Makoto asked.
"He told Chibi-Usa and I yesterday he had some work to do after college," Usagi explained. "Just something he needed to catch up on."
"But he'll be here soon, and then it's party time!" Chibi-Usa chimed in.
"Honestly, no wonder there's no Senshi work done!" a familiar voice said.
Usagi knows that all-too familiar voice. As she turned around, there she was in all her black furry glory.
"Give me a break, will ya, Luna?" Usagi said as she drooped onto the street.
"You have to be a shining example of your future self!" Luna reminded Usagi. "You can't be too lazy and preoccupied with distractions!"
"Just because we haven't had any enemies for years doesn't mean we can take it easy!" Artemis added. "All the Senshi have to be ready in case there's an emergency!"
"Lighten up, Artemis," Minako said nonchalantly. "It's a wonderful day, not a cloud in the sky, and everybody's out enjoying themselves. What could possibly go wrong?"
Suddenly, a slight tremor shook parts of Tokyo that had some people scrambling for cover. The Senshi felt the aftershocks as Usagi and Chibi-Usa try to hold on without falling down.
"You just HAD to say that, didn't you?!" Makoto growled at Minako.
"Oops!" Minako replied with a surprised look on her face. "I guess it's just one of those days…"
Luna and Artemis began to search the area for anything related to the small earthquake, and begin to sense something.
"There's a strong feeling of negative energy nearby," Luna spoke, trying to keep calm.
"I'm starting to sense it now myself!" Rei said. "It feels like it's near the market district!"
"Evil never seems to rest!" Ami said, focused on the now task at hand.
"We've got no time to waste, Senshi!" Luna ordered. "It's time to transform!"
"OK, let's go!" Usagi agreed, as she and the other Senshi begin their transformation.
"Double Moon Cosmic Power! Make Up!"
"Mercury Crystal Power! Make Up!"
"Mars Crystal Power! Make Up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power! Make Up!"
"Venus Crystal Power! Make Up!"
After the Senshi has transformed into their heroic counterparts, they headed towards the market district to investigate the commotion. Along the way, they run into Haruka and Michiru who were just relaxing at a nearby cafe.
"Whoa there, odango," Haruka calmly said. "Where's the fire?"
"We've got no time to lose!" Sailor Moon replied. "Trouble's a brewin' at the market district!"
"I can sense it too," Michiru adds. "It's faint, but there's definitely a threat nearby."
"Looks like we get to bust some heads today," Haruka grinned as she nods to Michiru, knowing what comes next.
"Uranus Crystal Power! Make Up!"
"Neptune Crystal Power! Make Up!"
Joining up with the Inner Senshi, Uranus and Neptune headed toward the market district. As they arrive, they see a demonic creature wearing red spiked armor and a demonic helmet covering most of his face. Streams of black lightning shoot out of his fingers. His mannerism is almost in rage, but is still focused on his mission.
"Humans, surrender immediately!" shouted the monster as he fires black lightning everywhere.
"Not so fast, monster!" Sailor Moon shouts from a nearby building.
The monster looks toward the building to see all the Inner Senshi, Uranus and Neptune standing tall.
"We are Sailor Senshi!" Sailor Moon announced. "We stand for love and justice!"
"The lives you hurt today shall be your undoing!" added Mars.
"We stand to protect every citizen on this planet!" Mercury noted.
"We're not gonna allow you to destroy people for your pleasure!" growled Jupiter.
"We're the shining hope for the people and the instrument of your defeat!" Venus boasted.
"And in the name of the Moon," concluded Sailor Moon and Mini-Moon, "we shall punish you!"
The monster looks over at the Sailor Senshi and instantly a thought came to his mind.
"Sailor Senshi, I've heard legends of you before, but I thought they were myth," the monster spoke, "but now since the legends are true, I must fulfill my mission!"
The demon shoots lightning at the Senshi, but they dodge the attack quickly. Having missed, the monster fires off lightning in any direction hoping for a lucky strike.
"This is bad!" Luna gasped. "It would seem we're being targeted!"
"Targeted?!" Sailor Moon said, shocked. "Who would target us?!"
"Apparently we have a new enemy," Luna deduced, "but I doubt he's the one. There must be something more to it…"
"If he wants to use lightning, I say we fight lightning WITH lightning!" shouts Jupiter as she uses her Supreme Thunder attack on the monster.
The monster only felt a small sting from Jupiter's attack and began to rush towards her. Before he can strike, Venus comes in and lashes the demon with her Love-Me Chain.
"Good backup, Venus," Jupiter complimented.
"We're doing good, but we're not home free yet," Venus noted.
"Far from it," the monster said. "You have no idea what's in store for you!"
The monster then shaped his lightning into claw-like hands and grabbed the two Senshi shocking them. This prompted Mercury to use her Shabon Spray to blind the creature and Mars to fire a Flame Sniper arrow at him.
"Don't forget about us, you demon!" Mars barked. "It's time you repented your evil deeds!"
"You won't find us so easily beaten!" Mercury added. "You can count on that!"
"If that's the case," the monster roared, "I won't hesitate to hold back any more! Prepare for termination!"
The monster shed his red armor to reveal an 8-foot tall humanoid eel monster with conductors on his head.
"What just happened?!" Sailor Moon said frantically.
"It would seem the monster revealed its true form!" Luna answered back.
The Sailor Senshi gathered around to try to tame the now revealed monster but streams of electricity are surrounding him.
"I am Unaginzo, and I won't rest until I complete my mission!" the monster said and unleashed his black lightning on all the Senshi, shocking them instantly. Unaginzo shown no emotion as the Senshi are losing power.
"Somebody…help…" Sailor Moon said, gasping to hold on.
Before Unaginzo could finish off the Senshi, a red rose slashes him across his chest and lands on the ground. On cue, Tuxedo Mask stands on top of a telephone pole pointing his cane out.
"Those who hold power must use it wisely," Tuxedo Mask spoke, "yet you choose to wield it for evil! This is unforgivable!"
"I only care about my mission!" Unaginzo growled back. "Nothing else matters, not even your lives!"
Unaginzo fired another lightning bolt, but Tuxedo Mask dodged it and launched more roses toward the creature.
"Sailor Senshi, it's time you drive this nightmare back from whence he came!" Tuxedo Mask cheered on.
"And that we shall!" Sailor Moon agreed.
"Prepare to be moondusted, monster!" Sailor Mini-Moon added.
In a combined effort, the powers of the Mercury Aqua Rhapsody, Mars Flame Sniper, Jupiter Oak Evolution and Venus Love and Beauty Shock weakened Unaginzo severely. Even though weak, Unaginzo stood defiant.
"He's weakening!" Luna shouted. "Hurry and finish him!"
Sailor Mini-Moon uses her Twinkle Yell to summon Helios the Pegasus to assist the Senshi, then both her and Sailor Moon have their scepters in hand ready for the final blow.
"Double Moon Gorgeous Meditation!" shouted the Moon Senshi as the combined energy blasts Unaginzo into nothing. However, Unaginzo smiled slightly and shot one last black lightning bolt into the sky before he was disintegrated.
"Mission…complete…" Unaginzo chuckled as he vanished into nothingness.
The Senshi stand tall as they finally see Unaginzo vanish completely.
"Well, that's it for that slippery eel," Sailor Moon boasted. "Well done, Senshi!"
"I don't wanna see raw eel for the next few days," Jupiter added.
"Looks like we've got more company," Mercury pointed out.
On cue, Sailors Pluto and Saturn appear in front of the Senshi with serious expressions on their faces.
"Hey, Puu-chan! Hotaru!" Mini-Moon called out. "We already took care of the monster. He's moondusted back to the Dark Kingdom!"
"That monster gave off a warning flare!" Pluto warned the Senshi. "I saw it appear in the sky!"
"A warning flare?" Sailor Moon asked, looking confused.
"I'm afraid that monster was merely a pawn," Saturn replied coldly. "And I fear the real enemy will appear soon."
"I should've known!" Luna howled. "We've got a new invading army to stave off!"
Suddenly, the sky turned black as night. Floating down in a circle are 13 girls in black hoods and cloaks. One is as small as Mini-Moon, another one is of Saturn's age, a third is large like Uranus but dark-skinned, a fourth is big like Jupiter and tanned, while the other 9 have an average height similar to the Senshi.
"Who are they?!" Venus said, feeling anger and fear.
"I sense they must be the invaders that Luna mentioned!" Mars replied, feeling the same fear and anger Venus felt.
One of the hooded figures began to walk forward to confront the Senshi. She sees all the Senshi including Tuxedo Mask.
"So, the gang's all here," the cloaked girl said calmly. "And I see the false Queen of the Universe is among them."
"Who do you think you are?!" Sailor Moon angrily said, pointing at the hooded girl. "What's your purpose for coming to this planet?!"
"It's very simple," the hooded figure replied, "we plan on eliminating you from this world so that the true Queen of the Universe shall rule for all time."
"TRUE Queen?!" Sailor Moon growled. "I'll let you know I am the future Queen of the Universe! Who says that I'm not worthy to be Queen?!"
"I dare say that!" boomed a voice from above. The Senshi look on as the hooded figures kneel onto the street. Descending from above is a woman wearing a green strapless gown similar to the gown worn by Queen Beryl. Around her waist is a silver belt. Her skin is pale green. She wears a gold necklace with a jade snake charm and wears a gold crown on her head. Her hair is long and green and her eyes are yellow like a snake.
"I am Queen Ophelia, the rightful ruler of the Universe!" the green-skinned woman addressed to the Senshi. "Those who follow the pretender to my throne shall perish at my feet!"
"Not on my watch, you monster!" Uranus bellowed. "You have a lot of nerve to call yourself Queen! Why don't you prove yourself?!"
"I would destroy all of you instantly," Ophelia smiled wickedly, "but I wish to see you suffer first! Be warned, Sailor Senshi. You're only delaying the inevitable! It's a matter of time before myself and the Zodiac Belt claim what's rightfully mine!"
Queen Ophelia soon disappears in a flash of light. Also fading away are the 13 hooded figures that serve her. The Sailor Senshi are left wondering about the experience they just had being face to face with this new menace.
"This is serious business," Mercury stated calmly. "This Zodiac Belt and Queen Ophelia seem like a legitimate threat!"
"Are they from the Dark Kingdom?" Venus added. "They look like something from it."
"I don't think they're from the Dark Kingdom, Mina-chan," Artemis said. "Luna and I might know, but we'll need time to analyze them."
"Yes indeed," Luna added. "We'll meet tomorrow afternoon at the Hikawa Shrine. By then, we'll know about these invaders! This might be our biggest battle yet!"
"We're not gonna let them get away with this, won't we, Mom?" Mini-Moon said bravely.
"You bet," Sailor Moon agreed, now looking focused than ever. "Queen Ophelia must be stopped before she and the Zodiac Belt destroy the universe!"
"We're not gonna let them get away with this!" Mars said, standing by Sailor Moon.
"This declaration of war will lead to their own downfall!" Mercury added.
"We'll crush those Zodiac scumbags!" Jupiter said, shaking her fist.
"And we'll protect the people of Earth from destruction!" Venus said, posing heroicly. Before long, all the Senshi and Tuxedo Mask stand tall as the sky began to clear up.
"Beware, Zodiac Belt!" the Senshi and Tuxedo Mask said in unison. "The Sailor Senshi are here!"