SailorStar9: After getting the prologue out, this is Chapter 1 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.
Chapter 1: The Inherited Cosmo! Shun the Legendary Saint!
"What is this overwhelming Cosmo I feel?" Hound Miguel was scants from finishing off Koga when a powerful Cosmo flooded the valley. "Andromeda Shun." He recognized the cloaked Saint. "Cosmos Mercury…" he was stunned to see the untransformed Senshi with the former Bronze Saint.
"Are you alright?" Ami went into doctor mode, kneeling beside Koga.
"Why are you…" Miguel started.
"Return to the Sanctuary." Shun ordered.
"Thank you…" Koga looked at his two saviors, before noticing the dark patch on Shun's left arm. "What did you do to make a Silver Saint run away?"
"Now then, let's go back to our village." Shun offered. "We need to tend to your wounds, Pegasus Koga."
"How did you know my name?" Koga blinked.
"We heard your name from Ryuho." Ami explained. "Not to mention we've heard of you before."
"Ryuho!" Koga beamed, running to his friend's bedside. "Are you alright?" he blinked, the Dragon Saint started coughing.
"He has no external injuries." Ami started, Shun handing her a cup of water which she passed to their patient. "But he's still quite weakened."
"That's Shiryu's child for you." Shun agreed. "You should rest up a little bit more."
"Why are you here?" Koga wondered.
"I fainted in the desert and was saved by Shun." Ryuho replied.
"He's quite lucky." Ami remarked.
"While we were returning from a neighbouring village, I sensed his weakened Cosmo." Shun explained.
"That should do." Ami covered Koga's wound with a cloth plaster.
"Did you sense my Cosmo and came to rescue me as well?" Koga wondered.
"Yes, I sense a strong Cosmo of Light." Shun replied. "I could hardly believe it was you, Pegasus Koga, about whom Ryuho was talking about earlier."
"This Cosmo he used back then was something else completely." Koga mused.
"He's Andromeda Shun." Ryuho supplied. "The Saint who once fought at Pegasus Seiya and my father's side."
"However, I can't…" Shun trailed off. "I'm going to get some water and have Ami make some tea." He headed out.
"That was a wound inflicted by Darkness." Koga realized.
"Shun…" Ami started. "He can't wear his Cloth anymore."
"Shun…" Koga voiced, following the former Saint outside. "You know about Miss Saori, don't you? I want to save Miss Saori. That's why I want you to tell me what you know about Mars and those Darkness wounds."
"I understand." Shun relented. "It was a time where peace reigned all over the world. That was when Mars' invasion began. We fought to protect Miss Saori. Before the battle was decided, a huge meteor fell to the Earth. It felt like a superheated Cosmo fall from the sky. The meteor brought about an end to the fighting. The Mars crisis was avoided. The explosion from the meteor unleashed a strange power. It not only changed the forms of the Cloths, but also allowed the Saints to use Elemental powers, like Cosmos Mercury. However, we won't the only ones given this new-found power. Donned in new armour, Mars attacked us again. Wounded by Cosmos Mercury and Seiya, he retreated into the Darkness. We were engulfed by Darkness itself. If I burn my Cosmo," his unharmed hand clutched his wounded arm. "I lost my body bit by bit. I can't even wear my Cloth anymore. I don't know the whereabouts of Seiya or Miss Saori. To be so powerless at a time like this…"
"Powerless?" Koga echoed. "Ryuho and I would surely have died if not for your help. You also healed the villagers here. You have plenty of power to help people. This Cosmo…!" he was alerted by an intruding presence.
"I found you, Bronze Saint." Miguel declared.
"You!" Koga glared.
"So, you're hurt, Andromeda?" Miguel taunted. "You can't burn your Cosmo, am I right? I'll add you to my list of prey for willing helping the Bronze traitor."
"Ryuho, you…!" Koga gasped, Ryuho dashing out.
"I have sensed a huge Cosmo." Ryuho replied.
"You can't fight in your condition…" Shun chided.
"Another of the wanted Bronze Saints, huh" Miguel grinned. "This hunt just got more interesting."
"The both of you, stand back." Koga stepped forward for battle.
"Me too!" Ryuho added, both Bronze Saints donning on their Cloths.
"Ground Wave!" Miguel let his dirt wave loose. "You're naïve as ever, Bronze Saints." He taunted, riding the wave.
"Frost Wall!" Ami activated a 'Frost Wall' rune, shielding the trio.
"Even the Dragon's shield is useless against him." Ryuho coughed, the group buried in the dirt, Miguel's wave attack having overwhelmed the barrier rune.
"Where are your other companions that fled that time?" Miguel questioned.
"Like hell I'll tell you." Koga snapped.
"You're being reckless." Shun cautioned.
"It's like Andromeda says," Miguel concurred. "You're the only one left standing and even then you are no match for me."
"He's quick." Ryuho gasped, Miguel easily sidestepped Koga's punch.
"A mere Bronze Saint can't win against a Silver Saint." Miguel jeered, pummelling Koga to the ground. That's common sense. Didn't you learn anything at Palastral? I'm giving you one last chance." He kicked Koga to the ground. "Where is Athena?"
"I don't know." Koga got to his feet.
"I'm done with you." Miguel sighed, sending Koga back to the ground with another kick. "It's quite bothersome, but I can still track them by the smell of their Cosmo. The rest of the Bronze Saints will make for an interesting hunt. I don't need you anymore. It was a fun hunt."
"Stop it!" Shun ordered. "I don't want to see any more people get hurt."
"You can't even burn your Cosmo." Miguel snorted. "What can you possibly do? You don't' want to see anyone get hurt? Show me what you can do to stop me then."
"If you burn your Cosmo, you'll die." Ryuho gasped as Shun powered up.
"That has to be an illusion." Miguel was stunned, seeing Shun wield his Nebula Chains. "Ground Fang: Grand Finale!"
"Nebula Chain!" Shun let his chains fly.
"Been a while since we did this." Ami mused. "Rosen Krone!" she cast her ice rose bush, the spiked brunches entwining with her partner's chains, the combined attack not only smashing through Miguel's rock arrows, it also took out the Silver Saint.
"You sacrificed your arm to protect us." Ryuho gasped, Shun was on his knees, the Darkness infection spreading.
"Even Ami too…" Koga gaped, the ex-Senshi holding her stomach.
"Don't the two of you find it strange, that you can't see my Darkness wound?" Ami asked. "My wound isn't external; Mars infected my organs. Mars' attack took out most of my womb."
"The life that Seiya protected," Shun explained. "The life that Shiryu raised. You are our hope."
"Even if a legendary Saint approves of you," Miguel muttered. "You Bronze Saints are a million years too early to oppose me, a Silver Saint."
"I'll put my life on the line." Ryuho stepped forward.
"Hound Follow!" Miguel renewed his attack.
"Bright Mirror: Clear Water!" Ryuho formed his water shield. "Rozan Rising Dragon!" he fired his attack, after blocking off Miguel.
"You won't defeat me with that!" Miguel readied another attack in mid-air.
"Pegasus Meteor Fist!" Koga took over the fight.
"My Silver Cloth!" Miguel screamed, his armour scattering as he fell into the cavern.
"So, what do you think?" Shun asked his partner.
"I think," Ami giggled. "My 'Water Reflector' just found a new inheritor."
"It's been a while since you had that look." Shun teased, Ami having tucking Ryuho into bed that night, the couple having sent Koga on his way after the battle.
"Motherly instincts kicking in, I suppose." Ami sighed, pushing her hair behind her ear, her wedding band glittering under the moonlight.
"I know you miss her, Ames." Shun hugged her, his own marriage ring strung around his neck. "So do I."
"If only I had figured out what Mars' attack did to me earlier, Senna won't have…" Ami whispered.
"I know, love." Shun soothed the distraught mother. "I know."
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.