The Sister Princesses of Space, Seams, Sea and Safety
(Written by Japananimegirl minor editing done by myself)
As Alexis sobbed despondently into Holly's winter sky pink skirt the tow-headed girl wrapped her loving warm arms around Alexis protectively to calm her.
"My tender little sister, don't be frightened and don't be scared," the elder sister tried to sooth her younger sister and best friend though not having much luck at the moment it would seem.
Though not as talented in singing as Alexis, Holly used this song to make Alexis smile. "I will give you the chance to live, though we'll meet that creature again! Hush now, my sister. Be still, love, don't cry. Calm as you're rocked by me. Relax and remember this lullaby, so you'll be safe next time.
Space and Sea, help protect my sister, she's such a precious treasure to me. You know somewhere we can be free, guide and deliver us there. Little sister, your safe now and safe you will stay. I will pray for you. Grow, little sister and someday soon, nightmares won't trouble you…" Holly stopped singing to coo comfortingly to Alexis as her tears had at least stopped at the moment. However she was still shaking a bit. "You're OK, Alexis…It's over…I'm here now...I've got a surprise for you."
"W-What is it?" Alexis hiccupped as she tried to dry her radiant sapphire blue eyes that sparkled even more then the gemstones themselves.
Holly got up as Alexis craned her neck to look around her. Holly pulled some long, silky, dark blue material off her bed and held it up show Alexis. Alexis gasped in delighted surprise; it was a gown Holly had sewn for her!
It was a spaghetti-strap dress with a ribbon-like choker, which tied in the back and the rest of the ribbon's length reached all the way down her back. The dress itself was almost form-fitting, but allowed enough movement to walk comfortably, seeing as it was made of silk!
An outer layer of normal blue attached at the back of the hips, but spread out from the sides, so you could see it. There is a slight trim of even darker blue around the chest, but not too noticeable. All thought of the monster forgotten, Alexis profusely thanked Holly as she adored the lovely creation!
"Your very welcome, sis! BUT it is only when you become a Princess can you wear it." Holly warned in a playful but serious manner.
"Aren't I already a Princess?" Alexis looked at her "older" sister questioningly.
Though Alexis held the title of Princess of Neptune and the Seas, she was the "youngest" of the Neo-Sailor Senshi.
The Neo-Sailor Senshi were all born in the month of June. So all their birthdays were held on the same day; which didn't bother them and they'd agreed on how to celebrate it each year.
They all had been born in the same year as well, although she was the same age as everyone else Alexis was born late in June. As a result everyone considered her the youngest of the Senshi.
(Chibiusa's birthday was the last day of the month so Alexis was the youngest out of Senshi that followed her)
Also Holly and Alexis didn't look like sisters as Holly had blonde, almost white hair with bottle green eyes and Alexis was a brunette with sapphire eyes, though no denying each were pretty and strong young ladies like their mothers.
Though be as that may they'd been adopted together by Haruka, in the father role while fill Michiru the role of mother. They referred to them as "Mother" and "Mom" respectfully.
"No, we're all still Sailor Senshi. When we've completely purify Earth, we'll finally be big and strong Princesses." Holly explained patiently to her little sister who didn't seem to like hearing this from her big sister at all.
"OK…" Alexis sighed unhappily as she was a bit disappointed she couldn't wear the wonderful clothing her sister had made for her, nevertheless she understood all the same the reasons.
"Oh! I almost forgot. You and I are tag-teaming in Battle Practice against Emily and Trisha today." Holly would've sounded more excited normally. However, given recent events she didn't know how Alexis would feel about this.
Alexis looked as worried as Holly felt: They both knew Neo-Queen Serenity wasn't thinking when she gave into Hotaru's pleading to let Emily have a turn in Battle Practice. At face value, it was fair, on the other hand there as a 50% chance Emily might think of using Death Reborn Revolution as the key to winning. And if she did that? It was like "Goodbye Earth! See Yeah Later!" as everyone knew that attack could and would destroy a planet!
"We just have to remind Emily not to use that particular attack." Alexis stated hopefully. Although she still looked extremely anxious at the thought of such awesome power Emily had inherited from her mother.
"I hope she remembers. " Holly was not reassured as she knew, in the heat of battle every so often you're unable to call to mind highly critical things.
However, how do you forget NOT to destroy a planet?!
Furthermore it wasn't a surprise to tag-team Emily with Trisha as they both had powers relating to death. Holly and Alexis tag-teamed because Haruka and Michiru always did and these young girls were sisters. Plus Alexis needed Holly for at least moral support.
However to say Alexis is defenseless is untrue. Upon seeing how bad Alexis was at using Deep Submerge herself, Neo-Queen Serenity had constructed a mystical mirror, similar to Neptune's for Alexis made of crystal with the symbol for Neptune inside the crystals.
This mirror would not only allow Alexis to use Submarine Reflection too (Alexis doesn't have any different attack names from her "mom"), but give her a bit more control over Deep Submerge, until she got confident. That was Alexis's main issue: Confidence.
Combined with being the "youngest" and having so many responsibilities to make your head spin, Alexis didn't see herself as a valuable member of the team because you already had Mercury, who controlled water and ice, so why did you need sea?
Despite all this Holly and Alexis tore out of their room to get to the courtyard as fast as they could eager to get training! While in the hallways Holly took out her pendant, a yellow jewel, a little darker than Gracie's, on a gold cord, whereas Alexis took out a blue jewel on a chain made of clear and blue beads.
"Pendant Power! Make up! In the continuing name of Uranus, I will serve the justice of the sky!" Holly claimed as soon as she was finished transforming.
"Pendant Power! Make up! In the continuing name of Neptune, I will make you see the sincerity of the sea!" Alexis smiled as she is proud of thinking of this saying before all by herself.
Rushing outside, Emily and Trisha were already transformed and just grabbed their staffs.
"Space Shaker!" Holly bellowed as she used a variation of World Shaking which shook the ground so hard knocking Emily and Trisha down then hitting them with the actual attack!
"Deep Submerge!" Alexis added her attack to Holly's although Holly had to catch Alexis as the young girl stumbled backwards from recoil.
"Silent Wall!" Although down Emily was able to protect herself and Trisha from the worst damage of the attacks. It looked like the two girls were already having a battle plan of their own to strike back with.
"Dead Scream" Getting to her feet Trisha whispered almost silently so Holly and Alexis couldn't hear her and didn't know she was attacking. At least not until she fired the familiar lavender-colored, ball-shaped attack from her staff's red orb tip at them!
Both girls had practice in activities Haruka and Michiru were good at. Alexis learned how to read, play instruments, and draw well from a young age, while Holly was more athletic.
So naturally Holly rolled sideways to avoid the attack but Alexis didn't! Alexis did manage to reduce the damage she received with Submarine Reflection, nevertheless the recoil and what little of the attack that did hit her caused her to lose.
Together Emily and Trisha were able to take down her sister a few minutes later too.
The young girl felt ashamed; feeling her beloved sister lost because she couldn't hold herself up against Emily or Trisha. Emily and Trisha approached the sisters with comforting smiles and thanked them for a great training session.
This made the new holder of title of Sailor Neptune perk up slightly. However, things were about to go from good to really bad soon.
That night even though Comet, Asteroid, and Diana couldn't find Christen via her energy, Chibiusa knew the Neo-Sailor Senshi shared a sort of connection where they could sense each other's feelings like; how the original Sailor Senshi helped Princess Serenity defeat Queen Beryl as spirits, and Chibiusa had started teaching everyone how to do it.
Startled out of her dreams by an earthquake on a beach, Alexis opened her eyes to see Emily, who was shaking her awake. Oh, so the earthquake must have been the shaking she felt. Trisha was beside Emily.
"My powers know where Christen is..." Emily tried to explain how her feelings to find Christen and defeat the Succubus were so strong, her powers showed her exactly where the raven haired Senshi was!
Trisha was going to wake the others immediately but then Alexis's eyes locked on the dress Holly had sewn specifically for her and she remembered what her sister had told her.
"I must only wear it once I become a true big and strong Princess, but I shouldn't try and fight the Succubus by myself." Alexis thought and she hissed to Trisha.
"Wait, Trisha! Don't wake them, let them sleep. We'll rescue Christen on our own." Knowing she sounded suspicious by saying and how Trisha was looking at her Alexis explained her feelings.
Thinking it was time for a wise pep-talk, Trisha spoke up "I can sense you're a lot more powerful than you think, Alexis. Despite your welling strength, you lack confidence and belief in yourself. You do not need Holly 24/7. Though, if you want to save Christen AND defeat the Succubus, you will need the team," she told her seriously and firmly.
"The Succubus can wait! All I want right now is to save Christen!" Alexis stated, scared tears shining in her eyes, but Trisha saw a determination sparking to life in the girl's eyes that was never there before.
"Very well," the daughter of Pluto finally relented at last. "Emily? Assist Alexis. I will rally the others." Trisha waited for Emily and Alexis to leave the room before she awakened the others.
Meeting up outside the Crystal Palace's doors. Emily explained what her powers showed her. Before very long they ended up at the entrance to the demonic-looking graveyard…