SOUL MATES
Chapter 5: "The Right To No"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Sailor Pallas ran through the woods as fast as she could, heedless of where she was and what might obstruct her. Due to her mental limitations, she still had no real sense of direction or familiarity in the woods. Instead, she used her mental telepathy to home in on the thoughts she was receiving from the dragon that resided south of their camp. Once she tripped on a tree root and almost fell. Normally that would have daunted the Senshi and slowed her pace. But the urgency to stand by her new friend spurred her on.
Hot on her trail was a red fox, the current form of Sailor Vesta. Navigating the forest was much easier for her. The hard part was keeping far enough back so Pallas wouldn't spot her. She could stay visually hidden from Pallas with little trouble if she stayed far enough behind the teen. But Pallas could also sense Vesta's thoughts if she wasn't concentrating too hard on other things and that was more likely to betray her. Vesta tried to clear her mind and run on instinct, but it was difficult, particularly with the way she was concerned about her fellow Senshi. But there was little choice. She wasn't about to let Pallas roam the woods alone.
Pallas reached the clearing where she'd met the dragon the night before. It was as she feared. A news crew from Japan's national video news bureau was there, looking around the clearing. Videography equipment was set up and a reporter was talking with his producer. The thought Pallas had picked up from the dragon was its initial concern when the news crew arrived and started setting up.
"I'm not sure there is a story here," the producer expressed. He was older, with salt and pepper hair, squat and run down from years in the field.
"There has to be," replied the talent; Hideo Akibara was young, photogenically handsome and obsessed with recording unusual events and telling the world about those events. "The Sailor Senshi didn't come tearing down here just to see the sights. Something happened down here, and if Princess Usagi or the Sailor Senshi are involved, people are going to want to know."
"I agree. It's unusual," the producer shook his head. "But we've been here for hours and nothing's here."
"Something's here," Hideo frowned. "We just haven't found it yet. And the priest, Rei Hino, specifically came out here, to this spot. Maybe she sensed some sort of demon out here and bound it or something."
"A demon?" the producer asked. "This is the thirtieth century."
"Are you forgetting your history?" bristled Hideo. "The very first case Princess Usagi worked on when she started working as Sailor Moon was a demon possessing people."
"That must have been when I was in Kobe," the producer sighed. "Well whatever it was, there's no evidence of it now. We're just wasting our time out here." He slapped his neck. "And I'd rather not be mosquito bait if nothing's going to come of it."
"No, something's here," Hideo shook his head. "I feel it."
He turned and began wandering thoughtfully toward the small bluff that overlooked the lake. Pallas watched from concealment with increasing anxiety. Lost in thought, the reporter got closer to the shore, closer to where the dragon had been.
"Stop!" Pallas shouted, emerging from concealment. "You mustn't go there!"
"What?" Hideo exclaimed, turning to face her. The producer and the video crew looked over at Pallas as well. "Wait, you're Sailor Pallas! You're one of the Princess's Senshi! What happened here? Is there a dangerous situation here?"
"You need to leave!" Pallas shouted, her anxiety level rising. Vesta watched from concealment, confused by the entire situation but realizing that Pallas was losing control of the situation and of herself.
"Why? Did something happen here?" Hideo asked, rapidly approaching Pallas. The video crew hastily engaged their equipment and began recording. "Is that why the Princess and the rest of you are here? Is there a situation that the public needs to know about?"
"YOU NEED TO LEAVE!" Pallas shouted louder and more urgently.
"The public has a right to . . ." Hideo persisted.
"BEAUTIFUL INCANTATION!" Pallas screamed.
A shock wave of mental energy fanned out from Pallas in all directions. Being closest, Hideo was bowled over and carried several feet before hitting the ground. Then the producer was knocked over. Then the video crew. Then the hover-truck they and their equipment arrived in. The trees in the clearing stayed rooted to the ground, but they shook violently, as if caught in a hurricane.
Recovering their wits, Hideo and the others stared in shock and intimidation at the diminutive Senshi. Tears were streaming down her face.
"Pallas is sorry," Pallas whimpered, "but you need to leave."
"You can't just assault . . ." Hideo began, picking himself off the ground. But he stopped when a timber wolf lunged out of the bushes and parked itself next to Sailor Pallas.
"You heard her!" Vesta snarled, showing menacing teeth. "Beat it!"
"Come on, Akibara," the producer advised, holding his air talent by the shoulders. "We can't fight this head on. There are other ways to find out what's going on here."
Surrendering to the logic, Hideo allowed himself to be led off. As Pallas and Vesta watched, the crew righted their hover-truck, then packed up and sped off. Pallas only relaxed once they were out of sight.
"You shouldn't have come, Vesta," Pallas said softly. "Pallas promised."
"Never mind that now. I'm here," Vesta replied, transforming back into a human. "Now what the Hell is going on here?"
"Pallas can't tell you," Pallas replied, beginning to tear again. "Pallas promised."
"Your adherence to your word does you great honor, Palla-Palla," a voice emerged from the area near the lake. Vesta looked toward the voice and saw a huge dragon materialize on the bank of the lake. "But I fear in your zeal to protect me and stay true to your word, you have done more harm than good."
"Holy Hell!" Vesta gasped. Pallas began to walk up to the dragon. "Pallas, stay back! That thing . . .!"
"It's all right, Vesta," Pallas told her. "Mr. Dragon-Sir won't hurt Pallas. Mr. Dragon-Sir is her friend." She continued to walk up to the dragon. "Pallas is sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Dragon-Sir. She heard you and thought you were in trouble. She's sorry if she made things worse. Pallas isn't very smart and she messes up sometimes."
"Your intentions were innocent," the dragon said. "I am grateful for your concern. What's done is done. Perhaps nothing will come of it." It looked her over. "You are able to take different forms. I continue to marvel at how unique an individual you are."
"Thank you very much!" beamed Pallas. "Pallas thinks you're very unique, too!" She gestured at Vesta. "This is Pallas's sister, Vesta. Only she's not really Pallas's sister. She's adopted." Pallas frowned. "Or maybe Pallas is the one who is adopted."
"Wait a minute!," Vesta shook her head. "You mean, you're a dragon? An actual, real life dragon?"
"Yes," the dragon replied. Then it got a mischievous glint in its eye. "And you are a Senshi? An actual, real life Sailor Senshi?"
"You know about the Senshi?" Pallas asked.
"Many things have come to my attention over the centuries," the dragon replied. "The work of Queen Serenity and her Senshi are one of them. It surprises me that you are among their number, Palla-Palla. Then again, it shouldn't, for I learn how special you are every moment I am in your presence."
"You're so nice!" Pallas smiled.
"I think I shall miss being with you, Palla-Palla," the dragon continued. "Or do you prefer Pallas in this form?"
"What do you mean you'll miss Pallas?"
"I doubt you were planning on staying here," the dragon explained. "You will have to leave some time and return to Crystal Tokyo. And I fear that I may have to move regardless. I do not think the other humans who were here will stop trying to discover me - - particularly after the forceful manner in which you sent them away."
The Senshi's eyes sought the ground. "Pallas didn't think of that."
At once, Vesta pointed to the sky. Overhead, a photographic camera drone was navigating the thick cluster of trees near the clearing. The dragon instantly receded behind its cloak of invisibility.
"That's a spy drone," Vesta told Pallas. "That news crew is at it again."
"Pallas will smash it!" Pallas declared. But Vesta stopped her.
"That won't help," Vesta advised her. "Best thing we can do now is go back to the cabins."
"But Pallas wants to stay and talk with Mr. Dragon-Sir," Pallas whined.
"You want to blow his cover?" Vesta asked. Pallas shook her head. "Then let's go. Maybe you can come back and visit if this thing blows over."
"OK. Vesta knows best," Pallas moaned, her lower lip protruding. "But Pallas doesn't like it."
When the pair got back to the cabins, Cere was waiting for them. It didn't take Palla-Palla's ability to read minds to know that she wasn't happy.
"Now what did you do?" Cere demanded, glaring squarely at Ves.
"What's up your ass?" Ves grunted.
"This!" and Cere shoved her PDA into her sister's face. Ves readjusted her sight line and found a story on the news streams about a potential emergency situation at Lake Biwa, with a sidebar story about two Sailor Senshi assaulting a news crew. "Honestly, you should be put on a leash!"
"Damn, they didn't wait around," Ves muttered. Palla-Palla peered around Ves's arm and looked at the PDA.
"What's it say, Ves-Ves?" Palla-Palla asked. "You know Palla-Palla doesn't read very well."
"It says two Senshi attached to me attacked a news crew in an attempt to cover up a dangerous situation," Usa said. Everyone glanced up at the porch of the far cabin. Usa was there, flanked by Hotaru and Helios. The Princess betrayed no emotion. "What happened?"
"Some vid reporters wouldn't take a hint," Ves replied. She couldn't manage to look Usa in the eye. "Maybe things got a little rough . . ."
"No, really?" fumed Cere. "Imagine that, with you in the area!"
"PALLA-PALLA DID IT!" Palla-Palla shouted. Startled by the outburst, everyone focused on the teen. Tears began sprouting again. "P-Palla-Palla had to make them go away. Ves-Ves was just protecting her. Palla-Palla is the one who did it."
"Why?" Usa asked in amazement.
"Palla-Palla can't tell you," the girl squeaked. "She promised."
"We were shielding her new friend," Ves spoke up. Palla-Palla stared at her in shock. "I didn't promise nothing." She turned back to the others. "Palla-Palla met a-a dragon."
"A DRAGON?" Cere exclaimed in shock. Usa and Hotaru were also amazed.
Helios, though, was not.
"Mina?" the communication came over the palace intercom. The receiver was on the night stand next to a large, luxurious bed. The lump under the sheets refused to move. "Mina, I know you can hear me!"
"Cat, you're going to hear something else if you don't leave me alone," mumbled the lump.
"Get up, Mina," Artemis said over the intercom.
"Why? It's not even ten yet."
"We've got a situation," the cat replied with some annoyance.
"We've always got a situation," Minako grumbled as she fought her way out from under the sheets. "What happened? Did Diana run off with some alley cat with a bad reputation?"
"Bite your tongue! My daughter has standards! That's something you'd do!" Artemis growled. "Pull up the news streams."
"Unless somebody got nude shots of Toshiro Yamanaki, I don't . . ." Minako began. Then she saw the news item. "Damn. Somebody must have discovered the dragon."
"Dragon?" gasped Artemis over the intercom. "What dragon?"
"Forget I said that," Minako quickly added. "Do the others know?"
"Luna told the other Senshi already. She's briefing the King and Queen now."
"Got it. I assume we're meeting in the briefing room. I'll be there," Minako sighed, pulling herself out of bed. "Teenagers. And you always wondered why I never had kids."
"And I thought it was because you didn't want to look fat," Artemis jabbed, then broke the connection.
"Yeah, there's that, too," Minako mumbled as she pulled on a top.
After Ves had explained the situation to everyone, a stunned group of teens gathered around their princess as she sat on the steps to the cabin.
"I don't think it's a threat to anyone," Ves concluded. "Being in the wild, you get a vibe for things like that. I just think he wants to sit in the water and be left alone."
"I'm sure you're right," Usa nodded. "Aunt Rei didn't think it was a threat, either. If she and you both vouch for it, that's good enough for me." She glanced to the side. "Oh, and you too, Palla-Palla."
"I am familiar with such creatures as well," Helios spoke up. "This dragon seems older and more mature than some who crossed paths with humanity in the past. It seems to desire peace over confrontation."
"Which it's not going to get if that news crew finds out about it," Usa sighed. "That means we have to prepare for what it will do if it is discovered."
"Palla-Palla doesn't want Mr. Dragon-Sir to have to leave," Palla-Palla moaned. "He's ever so happy there. And Palla-Palla wants to know where she can find him when she wants to chat. She might even bring him some tea and cookies." She glanced timidly at Cere. "Can Cere-Cere help Palla-Palla with that?"
"I can bake them, but you're going to have to serve them yourself," Cere replied. "No way I'm getting near a dragon."
The discussion was interrupted by Usa's PDA signaling her of an incoming call. She pulled the device out and glanced at it, then scowled.
"What is it?" Hotaru asked.
"It's Pop," Usa sighed. "I should have known this was coming. Excuse me. I better take this inside."
The Princess got up and went inside of the cabin. Her remaining friends looked at each other, wondering what was coming.
"Maybe the King and Queen will intercede and put the area off limits," Hotaru offered.
"That will REALLY make the news people suspicious," Cere shook her head. "The only way to get them to back off is to convince them that there's no story here. But how do you hide a twenty foot dragon?"
"There must be some way," Jun shrugged. "If he's been around so long, why hasn't anyone but Ves and Palla-Palla seen him?"
"Mr. Dragon-Sir can make himself so you can't see him!" Palla-Palla exclaimed. "When Palla-Palla first met him, she could only hear him with her head!"
"Yeah, same with me," Ves added. "But I don't know if that dragon can move and maintain its invisibility."
"And Mizuno-Sensei was able to detect its mass with her Senshi Computer," Hotaru added. "So it can be tracked."
Further conversation was interrupted when Usa emerged from the cabin. She walked up, grasped Helios by the hand for a few moments, then sat down on the step.
"So what's the word?" Ves asked.
"I got fussed at because you two lost it on those reporters," grumped the Princess.
"Palla-Palla is sorry, Princess," grimaced Palla-Palla.
"Pop's in damage control mode now," Usa explained. "The official story is that there are some 'unusual geologic readings' in that area, you two were just trying to protect everyone from a possible safety hazard and got a little - - um, over-zealous."
"What's 'over-zealous'?" Palla-Palla asked.
"It means we kicked somebody's butt without permission," grumbled Ves.
"Anyway," Usa continued, "Aunt Ami is flying back down this afternoon as part of the cover story. She's going to nose around with a few gadgets very conspicuously and then declare the area safe. End of story - - we hope."
"It could work," Cere nodded.
"Meanwhile, we need to stay away from the area until we're sure the news crews are gone," Usa added. She glanced at Ves and Palla-Palla. "Especially you two. Pop doesn't want any more confrontations or any slips that sabotage the cover story. Otherwise your dragon isn't going to get any peace."
"Palla-Palla will stay here, Princess," Palla-Palla declared. "But she hopes it isn't for too long. She misses Mr. Dragon-Sir."
"You're really sweet on that thing, aren't you?" Jun chuckled.
"Mr. Dragon-Sir is very nice. Palla-Palla likes talking to him," Palla-Palla nodded.
"Maybe if this all blows over, you'll introduce me," Usa smiled. "Now if anybody from any news stream, or for that matter anybody besides us asks about what's going on, none of you know anything. Refer all questions to Aunt Ami."
"Yes, Princess," they all nodded.
But unknown to anyone in the group, a small drone with a directional microphone was hovering just over the roof of the cabin. Its mission complete, the drone turned and flew back to its owner.
Continued in Chapter 6