Sailor Moon S 'Rise of the Messiah'

by max333

Weeks after the Wiseman is defeated and the dark crystal destroyed, the lives of all that were there or involved have changed, and not all for the better. With the approach of a new enemy and two potential allies do the senshi have what it takes to come together once more? Why are the senshi now acting disorganized? And will Usa's dad ever accept Mamo? SEQUEL to 'Roses & Diamonds'

9. 3 daimons for 3 senshi part 1

damonika2009: Mamoru is loved by nearly everyone, SOMEONE needs to hate this guy, Kenji is perfect. Besides kenji is very attached to the idea of having a little girl and will be having a hard time seeing her as an adult. I did warn you that it'd be an emotional ch/ep.

Adoore (Guest): no they don't, but their the perfect epic love couple.

kera69love: her father has an issue with letting things go so its gonna take a while. Plus and it was a low blow cause it was the only thing he could find.

Setsuna-Chan22: the spatula wouldn't have been enough for that moment. It needs to be something more emotional. When it comes to kaolinite, you will find out VERY SOON. Doing Sailor Moon Supers and Stars…hum….if 'Shaydoe' wants to and we have a storyline to work with it and if the fans want it we will. As for season one retelling…I know a few people are doing that right now so IF we do that it wouldn't be for a while. Have to think on that one.

Guest (1): thanks here you go.

mavebelikova (Guest): Kenji needs time, and a good wack or two for him to see the reality of it all. Amber is planning but she needs a bit of time to think to. She's not gone just yet.

CaughtInAFantasy: exactly and that's what I also wanted to point out. Unless THEY pick the guy they scrutinize EVERY little thing.

NeoPrincessRini: exactly she needs to stick up to him. Fathers can be dense at times over what they think is right…which is ALL the time.

AimlesslyGera: I warned you guys it was a tear jerker! LOL I cried myself and I read it like 3 times. Kenji brought up that bit because he needed something that was concrete and Mamoru had nothing else in his past to warrant negativity for.

FyraBerkaan: Umino developed some back bone and got tired of being used. Amber is not over with yet so know that. As for the comma's. not really tiredness more or less I've always had that problem. Sometimes I just feel like it is a continuous sentence and it's a run on. My bad thought.

GotQuidditch: yeah….Amber's not gone yet and if anything it more or less pissed her off.

LoveInTheBattleField: here's your new ch/ep!

I'm posting early and doubly this week due to the 35 reviews that one week and for the mix up last week. Read and review!

Sailor Moon S 'Rise of the Messiah' ch.10

Kaolinite had become tired of the senshi as they called themselves screwing up her plans. At least with the daimon eggs attacking multiple targets she would have three times the chance to bring home a pure crystal heart. Though she always neglected to own up to her own lack of timing. Her issues with follow through, by not staying to ensure her daimons had the right back up ended up being her demise.

She knew very well at this point how the senshi were formulating as a group. The tactics did get off base and the new senshi got in her way as well - but she still preferred to undermine them.

Always feeling as if she was under whelmed, by how easily they were sent running to regroup in battle. Never taking a look at the bigger picture and accepting that they were contenders to be reckoned with. As it stood she was just not accepting that they were worthwhile foes. Over confident of her superiority, by their youth and somewhat disorganized fighting style, which somehow always seemed to prevail...it baffled her to no end.

Having not wanted to accept that superior arrogance earlier made dealing with them harder on her at the end of the day. Especially when she had previously refused to acknowledge them as worthwhile opponents, as fighters, as soldiers. She was now coming to see the error in her ways and hoped that this new plan of hers would aid her in their destruction. To finally gain the promise of hope to be with the professor. A fantasy of their love blooming in the aftermath of her victory of those wretched Senshi.

She desperately needed a win this time around, Professorial Tomoe was starting to lose faith in her, she knew. The disappointment she had seen in his eyes last time was still haunting her, slowly breaking her heart. Unknowing that the professor knew but cared none for her, only for what she could do for him in his quest.

He held no true care for her. Only hoping that with his sacrifice of three daimon as he had poured extra energy to finish them on time for her, would she be able to accomplish her goal and bring back a talisman. It would be a saving grace if she could. A redemption in his eyes till he saw no more use for her. She was just a tool to him and nothing more, he held not affection for anyone...not since the accident.

The first target, was an ancient pine tree on the grounds of a quaint little shinto temple at the top of Sendai Hill. It had been sitting in wait for hours now. Like a snake in the grass waiting for its willing clueless victim to come to it before striking and taking its prize. The second an innocent handkerchief bestowed from one friend to another. It was a daimon that would use the tie of new bound friendship to snag its victim as it to lay in wait for her to touch it, activating its power hidden within.

The third, was a pool of water for a bright young mind that she saw to distract from her contemplations. To taint the calming water's that gave herself a way to figure out the path before her so she could retain her senses and figure out the problems that lay head of her.

This plan Kaolinite figured was fool proof! There was no way all three daimon would fail. There weren't enough senshi to cover them all if it took most to beat just one down.

She smiled in victory already as she briefly imagined the professor giving her a warm smile before giving into what she believed to be his hearts desires and be with her. Accept her as his second permanently and not just as an assistant.

The day started as any other up on Cherry Hill, with the morning chores of sweeping the porch of the commons building, feeding the chicken and crows and preparing the prayer buildings for the day. Rei and Yuchiro went about their tasks with little words passing between them. Rei lost to her worries, leaning tiredly against the wooden handle of her broom. Yurchiro watching from a discrete distance his features grim with worry. The dawning sky was a palette of glowing color, warming the shadows on the front cobble stones through the red arches of the Torrii.

For Rei she had wanted to try and bind away the evil visions tormenting her. They were an omen of misfortune that plagued her like a cancer. A never ending cycle that refused to obey her heart felt pleas for even a nights worth of peace. So sick and tired of seeing the end of days she just wanted some peace and quiet, just something to allow her room to breathe, to think so she could overcome the new enemy.

The pressure her ancestors were placing on her was starting to give her severe migraines, almost enough to bring her to nose bleeds. She avoided Yurichio knowing his concern would only further complicate matters and did all of her choirs to avoid her grandfather asking to many questions himself. Granted with Yurichio she truly felt bad but at the same time she also knew of how their relationship had been developing.

He cared very deeply for her and would not let himself rest till he knew she was okay. It was a burden she refused to place on him. His heart was good but this was something she felt was for a miko, a senshi to deal with only. Becoming closed off again she felt was right now the best way to deal with the problem at hand. Though she knew she'd have to come up with a better system soon. Having a bigger supply of migraine medication would raise brows pretty soon no matter what the excuse.

Rei gave up getting ready for school, long before she had completed all her chores. Not even attempting to change into her uniform, retreating to the rarely used prayer building at the back of the shrine, to prepare a different endeavor for the day.

The small building was filled with shade, having a musty almost moldy smell to it. The bamboo floors creaking under her sandals, as the dust motes floating in the air were making her sneeze, as she clumsy dealt with lighting the two iron lamps set inside. The fire light soon warming the somber room, that held only a small writing table and several bookcases full of blank parchment and boxes of charms. It looked more like a storage room than anything else.

She set her mind and body to work gathering blank scrolls, ink and brush and knelt before the table to prepare her symbols.

She began to create a spiritual barrier, by placing futa scrolls and harae charms along the periphery of the Shrine. Planting them sporadically upon the old trees that flanked the prayer buildings and back grounds. Wanting to purify the area and ward off any evil spirits. She felt that if she did this she might be able to gain a few more hours here or there, might be able to get enough sleep in to gain a better focus on the enemies plaguing them.

Bitterly she felt her ancestors, wanted to tire her out, their warning a broken record that never changed. Her fear not allowing the vision to complete itself. Her stubbornness in trying to command the scared fire to obey her. In the end preventing her from being able to gain deeper access to the source of this new evil. The dark omen of her friends coming deaths, was draining her mind and spirit. Until she would be forced to resign and give up to the vision. To see the apocalypse to it's ultimate completion of destruction. This she refused to allow.

This cleansing of shrine grounds was to allow her to take a small break. To give her mind some tranquility, but otherwise she refused to give up. Something her ancestors understood and did all they could to block from seeing what she wanted. They were not ready to let her see their enemies just yet, wanting her to understand this vision first. But she was sick was only seeing death, she wanted action...she wanted a target!

Moving from one tree to the next, chanting her prayers for the Kami to watch over her soul and all the people she held dear. To cleanse this holy ground and purge the negative energy she felt pulsing around her.

Focused on her task solely that day, ignoring the cramping of her arms and the sticky film of sweat that coated her skin. Skipping her noon meal and supper as well, nothing was going to pull her from this task. That added to the fact that she had no need to eat anything, no real hunger, her minds task solely on focus and not on her bodies replenishments.

As the sun began to fall towards the towers just beyond the Torrii gates of the main courtyard. The fall sky of low lying clouds glowing faintly through the naked branches. The dried leaves littering the ground crunching softly under her wooden sandals. A cool breeze filled with the scent of decay wafted around her, hinting at the cold days to come.

She finished her rounds feeling that her luck must have changed by now. She headed towards the fortune booth set before the prayer bell and water basin. In which all visitors to the shrine came first to wash themselves and make offerings and wishes to the Kami.

The quaint area of the shrine. In which she and her girlfriends had sold charms to wistful teens not to long ago, filling her with fond memories of hanging out, gossiping and reading manga between customers. Arguing with Usagi and just goofing around when they could. It was also a time when she narrowly avoided her grandfather's wrath of more chores to do by getting caught goofing off, while Usagi would either laugh at her or get stuck helping as either she or grandpa would give her some as well, though that rarely happened.

The rosy thoughts of better times, filled her with an inner warmth she cherished. Cleansing in some small way all the cold darkness the nightly omens had placed upon her soul.

Wanting to test her theory that if she managed to purge the area of dark energy her random future would change to positive as well. Her ancestors would stop blocking her view of the future she sought to see and understand things now are not the way they were a millennia ago. Things were different, changed, better. They had a chance to do something not yet done, a chance to save she knew but not what.

Leaning deep into the shadowed recesses of the booth she muttered softly her hopes for number 27. The fortune scroll that would read (dai-kichi) Great Fortune. With her sandals kicking lightly, grunting with effort she emerged triumphant with a tiny leather bound scroll. She hand out many fortune scrolls herself all week long to any patron wanting to perform O-mikuji. Now she was testing her own luck.

Taking a deep breath she dumped the parchment into a palm. Reading her fortune her hopeful expression falling into a dower frown. Her shoulders sagging with the knowledge of the hopeful fortune dashed yet again. It was a lesser curse that she got on rare occasions. This was one outcome that she wished wouldn't be the case.

Grumbling she headed over to the nearest pine tree. Already filled with tied and folded fortunes other people had discarded. She was regretting all the effort she put in today and even attempting O-mikuji. It had all been for nothing more than a waste, her mood was souring at every step she took towards the tree. Bowing her head she spoke her true wish upon the Kami as she tied her false fortune to a slender branch already filled with other tiny wrinkled scraps of paper.

"I hope that everyone will live happily without anything bad happening...after all that we've done and sacrificed over time I think we deserve a little bit of peace for the battles fought, won, and the sacrifices made by people who didn't need to die…while the people who did got to live…even if only for a short time after that." She sighed, recalling the battle on the Moon Kingdom, Queen Serenity's sacrifice, and bitterly Beryl's life lived after the fact.

Then recalling the battle with Diamond, how Wiseman's true power seemed to have an effect even after it was destroyed. Something she wanted to know more of but had no way of even coming close to finding out. His power was gone, he was gone, yet the memory, the curse of his existence would live on to be told to the next generation.

With all of that to be thought on and the current new evil forces, she was having a hard time believing in her simple wish. Her spiritual senses muddled with sorrow, she never picked up on the residual Heart Snatcher energy now stored within it's wooden skin. The fated tree that Kaolinite had turned, sensed her pure heart clearly through, even if it was in slight pain and in need of warmth. It was enough to want to take it as a prize.

The tree reacted, and transformed itself. The ill wind of evil howled around her, snapping Rei's ebony hair about. As the youma was now screaming to the world as it pulled itself out of the ground, it's branches lengthening and twisting. Turning into pale arms and legs, forming a lithe, sinewy female body. Covered in a yellow kimono with red trim. The remaining leaves entwining into a long red and white braid with large twin bells at the top of her feral shaped head.

"Nani!" Rei gasped backing up stunned as the world reeled around her. Feeling so foolish at not keeping her higher senses alert. Knowing that the daimon could and would attack people at random. She should have known at some point they could or would target someone at the temple, it was only a matter of time before it would happen again.

"I shall have that pure heart that worries for your friends." The Diamon hissed, her red eyes glinting with malice.

"I can't do this here..." Rei growled, casting a look behind her, as she reached into the folds at her breast of her white shrine shirt. "It would only get Grandpa and Yurchiro involved and hurt in the cross fire." Grandpa had been hurt when Rubeus in his evil form had come in. The power her grandfather was able to defend himself with stunned the red head but also made him use more power and force to make the old man submit. His aged body crumbling under the spiritual strain of keeping Rubeus darkness at bay.

Rei wouldn't be able to handle losing someone so beloved and trusted as her grandfather. Nor could she fathom Yurichio getting hurt in the crossfire. It hurt to even think about it.

Rei took off running as it seemed the tree daimon was quite fast, and agile than normal. Chuckling darkly, eager for the hunt she was giving it. "Go on keep running." It nearly cackled. Its voice and tone making Rei tremble, have the need to run even faster.

Soaring after her like a vengeful spirit, exploding through the shrubs behind her like a rocket out of the launching pad. Sending leaves and broken branches skyward in a hurricane of debris. Rei was barely staying ahead of her. Kaolinite flipped back her long red hair arrogantly as she floated high up over the shrine watching her minion's enthusiastic hunt. With a smug certainty of her success.

"It's about time this happened." She smiled with self-satisfaction.

Pulling up her communicator on her wrist, Rei pushed the button for alerting all the Senshi at once, already knowing there would be no time to call individually. "Daimon at the temple! Hurry NOW!" she rounded the corner behind the main building just barely keeping ahead of the speeding daimon, as she slammed her back into the white washed barrier wall at the edge of the outer court yard just in time.

She was able to pull out her transformation wand only to have the tree thing sprout wooden hands that resembled dry claws. Trapping her arms at the wrists to the wall, causing her to drop her wand upon impact. The daimon's sharp talons digging into the wall. The inhuman monster snapped off her bracing hands, floating away arrogantly and reforming new ones. Keeping her prey pinned to the wall to await her judgment.

Transformation pen now far from her, Rei was left glaring fatalistically at it upon the cobble stones at her feet.

While the daimon looked to her confidently, "Damn!" she muttered bitterly, her hand in no way able to reach for it. As she in an obviously attempted a futile effort to reached for it. Her mind willing her body to move it to her hands even though her psychic power did not work like that. She knew deep down it was a wasted effort.

Seeing no possible way of gaining her pen back, struggling pathetically against the strong wooden restraining hands. "Girls…" she muttered fearfully under her breath hoping someone, anyone was nearby. She had a really bad feeling about this. She felt as trapped as the other innocent victims did. In a vain effort in repelling she chanted a spell to keep the daimon away from her.

Unable to get close due to the spell the daimon simply stood back confused. It was Rei's only saving grace she knew. Something to hold the daimon back long enough to give the others a chance to come to her rescue. It was a feeble delay she knew but if it helped she would chant till she had no breath left or until one of the senshi would come to her rescue. It was her only option at this point.

"Your fortune for today is very bad!" It growled a snide smile spreading over her sharp angled facial features.

Seeing the fact that the girl was able to repel her daimon with a chant she could not completely understand made Kaolinite all the more determined to take the heart crystal from her. "This girl may have a talisman. I want it now!" Kaolinite floated down behind the purple skinned Heart Snatcher. Crossing her arms and surveying Rei's prone state with a satisfied grin. She could see beads of sweat forming on the girl's brow as she concentrated all her energy into her ward, keeping the daimon back and protecting herself.

Rei narrowed her eyes at her attackers, her rage building inside. A hot inferno of intense feelings of unjust circumstances, all piling up upon her over the last few months. A bitter rage that the universe was just out to punish her for something she couldn't remember anymore.

All she had wanted was a few months of peace to recoup and reconnect with her loving friends, but this new crisis seemed to have creeped up hidden and unseen during the same time as their battles with Diamond. It was all slowly crushing her indomitable will to fight on, she just wanted to rest.

"MIKUJI!" The Diamon roared a ghost of a smile forming on her thin lips. As she pulled aside the folding collar of her kimono, revealing a black star.

"It will take time to draw out her crystal heart, I shall go check on my other targets." Kaolinite stated, passing Rei a final smug smile before shimmering away.

"I will take your pure heart for Kaolinite!" It cried out triumphantly.

It was Venus that had been nearby that had been able to transform. "Drop dead!" She yelled, shooting it with a 'crescent beam'. Her light blonde hair fluttering in the cool breeze, orange fuku skirts dancing. The soldier of love merely stood upon the top of the white washed wall, her finger still poised standing firm and strong in her battle stance.

The diamon screamed in fright as the blast of pure light shot like a bullet towards her. The shock of the unseen attack, a fierce distraction onto itself. Was enough to knock the monster away, allowing Venus to drop near the transformation pen and grab it. But that was it, the daimon shot a wooden hand at her. Pissed that the blonde haired senshi snuck up on her and was even able to get as close as she did. It would make Kaolinite pissed if she failed.

Unable to move fast enough, Venus screamed as the disembodied hand rocketed her into a nearby tree and metaphorically and literally cuffed her to the bark. Her rescue now screwed, Mar's pen still lost upon the cobble stones.

The miko sighed fatalistically at seeing the pen still so close yet still so far.

"You go near her and I will end you!" Venus screamed, trying in vain to save Rei. Distracting the daimon by ranting to her, upsetting her, getting her to become to angered to think straight. A suffocating fear of losing one of her dear friends swelling inside of her. Along with a cold searing heat began to bathe her soul, she would never allow that evil thing to touch Rei! Her body began to glow with a dark lavender light.

She could only watch as the daimon smiled and reopened the black star on it's chest, to finish what it started. Attacking Rei with black evil lighting. The Miko screamed never having felt so much blinding agony before in her life…scratch that.

Releasing another unending echoing wail of misery and pain that sent the ravens skyward over the temple grounds. She had felt this much raw power once before, when one of the doom and gloom girls, one of Beryl's minions, challenged her. The ending result killed her but she made sure to take the bitch out with her. So in knowing that it was well worth it. She only wished she had kissed Yurichio beforehand, otherwise she had held no regrets. The world had been saved, this time, if this was to be the end. She had more regrets then anything.

But right now, she could not focus on her long list of short comings, as she felt the most pain ever since then. Not even En and Al's final battle had taken such a painful toll on her body. Her skin felt flayed, hot and stunned. As if she was bathed in frozen heat, all her nerves vibrating at the assault this Youma was casting upon her very soul.

She could feel all that she was, her fears, loves, sorrows and happiness balling up...solidifying into something corporeal. It was then that she realized, her crystal was forming inside her body. She knew with her pure heart crystal gone she would soon be dead. How long would she be able to hold out, even as a sailor senshi? She didn't know.

A lone tear sprang from her eye, hoping that Venus would somehow get free from her binding and get her pen to her before the daimon took her life. She wasn't ready to die...wasn't ready to give up...she would do whatever it took to remain alive. To make this Diamon pay for attempting to kill her!

In another part of town Usagi got the summons. She had been headed home, when her wrist communicator had gone off. The evening sun was glinting off the steel towers, blinding the dainty blonde who was shielding her eyes with a hand. Seeking to see the screen of her pink wrist watch style Senshi accessory.

Makoto and Usagi had both been within a block of one another. But Usagi was also a block closer, the blonde was soon dashing at Senshi speed down the back alleys across Azabu. Her twin tails whipping behind her, her heart thundering and deathly worried about transforming in front of Rei. She had yet to reveal her new fuku to any of her girlfriends, except for Makoto for the last week or so.

Makoto had been casting her worried, plaintive looks wanting her to come clean to set up a meeting so they could all talk and figure out what to do and how to handle to new development with their leader. It seemed they rarely met any more. The girls all focused on their own interests. As Usagi and Mamoru seemed to be content with enjoying their time as a couple and taking advantage of any and all time they had to be together. In the end she knew Usagi and he needed it.

The time spent apart when she was with Diamond was heart breaking to both. But it seemed to her that the time spent with Mamoru, took her away from the girls more so. Something he seemed to not care to much about as he kept wanting to savor every moment he got to have with his beloved princess. The girls never put up much a fight either, understanding at first and now just accepting they can second in Usagi's priorities. As it was they only really came out together these days was for battle and little else unless they set it up weeks ahead of time.

When Rei saw her dark transformation she was going to flay her alive, then shout at her till her ears' bled, then flay her some more. Usagi groaned and turned her head down, forcing her fear away and urging her feet to keep racing. She had to face them with the truth she couldn't hide it any longer.

A few blocks away, Makoto was left staring down at the pink scarf in her hands. Leaning casually against a lamp post near a bus stop, her mind unwilling perhaps of forgetting Haruka's kindness. She had been left in a dreamy state all day. Fantasizing over the rather charming Haruka, who had always seemed so mysterious and elegant to her. A strange puppy love making it's way into her heart over their brief encounter this morning.

The fright and horror of the collision now rosy and more romantic in her mind then the harsh reality it had once been. When the wind caught the scarf, her loss grip due to her day dreaming, making it slip away from her. She forgot about the summons, beeping on her wrist, as she started to make a dash for it. Compelled to catch it, like an obsession. She weaved through crowds, an eye on the errant fabric dancing in the breeze. She still wanted to return it to its rightful owner. An excuse to talk to the dusty blonde who had become her newest infatuation.

"Now where did you go?" Makoto griped the chain link fence that bordered the parking lot. The scarf had disappeared over the fence, having led her on silly chase down the side streets of Azabu's Commercial district. Scanning the parked cars and trash littered pavement for her lost excuse. Finally just entered the lot, she began to hunt for it row by pain staking row. Her eyes focused on the pavement, as the flame orange evening sky glowed behind her like a back light on a stage.

Finding it several minutes later, under a car within a secluded section of the parking lot, behind a set of large beige brick towers.

"There you are." She smiled hopefully, finding it huddled like a scared animal against the back tire. Cursing her bad luck, and not wanting to get her white school shirt stained with grease and neither her skirt. Since this was the only uniform that fit her, cursing the office staff at Juban Junior High for never getting around to ordering the right size of Uniform. She knew they were more than likely hoping she would get kicked out of the school as well.

Not wanting her bad record of poor grades and weekly fights, to harm the school's reputation. She knew that much to be true, but still she had been making an effort to stay out trouble. To stay within the group of girls that made life easier to bear and gave her the chance to be true to herself. While not always having to defend who she was or her past or her taller, stronger physic. She knew it scared people away, not used to seeing a girl of her height or someone who could actually beat a guy down.

But she made herself strong not just for herself but for the girls around her. She was protective of them as they were of her. It made her feel loved in a way only their close knit group could make one feel.

Grunting with effort she knelt down beside the dark blue sedan, reaching futilely for the now seemingly mocking scarf. Her communicator went off again, with Rei's determined voice echoing out to her that a Heart Snatcher was attacking the temple. The recorded summons would repeat every five minutes till it was answered.

"Just a little more..." She strained, reaching for the item. Urging the length of her arm to extend beyond it's human limits, her finger's dancing for the cotton fabric. She wanted to get this scarf and head over to Sendai hill as fast as she could.

"Got it!" She cheered as her fingers curled around the softness, pulling up against her palm as she clutched it.

Seconds later to her disbelief and horror it curled itself around her wrist, as if it had become a living thing. Clinging to her with a desperation to remain in close contact to her skin. Forming into a purple skinned hand with long black talons.

"Scar..." A low gravelly voice echoed to her from the shadows beneath the chassis. Makoto glanced up in surprise to find a deathly phantom daimon gazing in fake distress, its glowing red eyes mournful. With long thin brown matt of hair and a long pink scar along it's dark flesh across its demonic left eye.

"What are the odds?" she asked herself wearily. Then grunted out loud, "Maybe we senshi are magnets for daimon or something?" the question wouldn't not be answered though. Tearing her arm out of it's frozen grip and scrambling to her feet. Backing off towards the cement dividing wall at the edge of the parking lot. As the flat rag like shadow practically oozed out from beneath the car.

"I shall take your pure heart...scar..." It hissed, with a breathless moan of the dead. As if it came creeping from a dead pool of souls waiting for hers to join it.

"No, thank you…" Makoto grumbled before grabbing her own senshi pen within her school skirts pocket for transformation. But it was all the time she had. The speed of the daimon was too great even for her lightning fast reflexes. Something the girls praised her on from time to time. Being as fast as the lightning and as powerful as the thunder she commanded.

What had once seemed a shadow was merely a long shawl that hung low near the Youma's slender pale legs. Four long, red fluttering ribbons held the loose garment closed like a sack around the daimon's neck. The ribbons the daimon had on its back shot for her, she barely had time to squeak a cry of protest as they wrapped around her so tightly. Like that of a python grabbing its victim she was caught.

They had been so deadly and quick she had no time to move let alone react. Using her ring finger on her right hand she bent it down to press 'all' on the communicator's button on her opposing wrist. She was determined to not let this thing win at any costs. At the very least she would go out swinging. It's what her ancestors of Jupiter called upon. Even if the war was lost a battle would be won for them.

"Daimon in parking area by - " it was all she could get out as the daimon tightened the ribbons around her. Forcing the breath from her, like an anaconda squeezing the life out of its innocent helpless prey. Constricting her until she was short of breath, gasping and panting. As her brain began to starve for oxygen. She didn't dare speak, feeling the need to conserve her breathing, anything to save her life.

"Scar, get the pure heart crystal!" Kaolinite demanded of her, appearing several feet above the scene in front of her.

Makoto groaned out a curse, as white spots filled her vision thanks to the lack of air. Her skin turning pale as old parchment. Tingling with the lack of blood, she began to twist and spasm in the Heart Snatcher's clutches.

Not like this! Her mind screamed.

"Scar..." The Daimon roared obediently, pulling the flimsy dark material away from her right breast the daimon revealed a big black star. It pulsed and sent a beam of dark light towards her prey. Slowly tapping into Makoto's pure heart energy, it was like a hot knife twisting in her gut without any mercy. Makoto clenched her teeth, drawing blood as she inadvertently bit her lip, splitting it open.

She knew that soon enough she wouldn't be able to deal with the amount of pain and when the deafening scream came from her throat she opened her mouth to let it out, as she was unable to contain it. Her rage building as she attempted to fight off the coming theft. As it ruthlessly began to rob her of her pure crystal heart.

Her scream of rage turned to that of blinding agony. Her thoughts turning to hope that at least one of the senshi could locate her, since Rei seemed to be in danger as well. She managed a look of utter contempt up at Kaolinite who looked on in cold distain, "Bitch…fuck you and the horse you rode in on!" it was all Makoto could spit out, valiantly holding onto her true self, as the pure heart crystal sought to tear out of her chest.

As much as she wasn't for being verbally cursive, a fighter in more of the actual fighting sense and not just someone who cursed their way into fights. Besides…the bitch deserved everything she had coming to her.

The pain was immense as she tried to hold on, as the very fabric of her spirit was being shredded and torn from under her physical body. The more time she held on the more chances she had of survival when the girls got there to help her. She held onto her iron clad will and gripped her heart with all that she had. She would not go down, she would not go gently into the night…or day. She would fight till she had nothing left.

A silky voice echoed deep in her mind, seducing her with a power that would save her. Makoto thought that perhaps she was delirious from the pain, chuckling softly to herself. But the darkness promised her many things, preying upon her desires, her insecurities and above all her doubts. Offering her a deal that at this point she couldn't refuse. She was desperate her life now ebbing away. She was dying and their was no one to save her but herself! Left with a no win scenario, Makoto struggled.

You're gonna have to work for this pure heart crystal! Her mind raged, feeling the darkness taking root inside her soul. The power invigorating her like nothing else. She had agreed to nothing, yet as her body weakened it's power upon her increased.

It just so happened that Haruka was in the area and had seen the attack. Having left the Sport center ahead of her partner, still dressed in her Mugen High uniform. Gripping her black leather school bag, she seemed just an simple student on the streets. Ducking behind the unassuming beige stonework of the nearest tower, she leaped to the upper most cement landing. Folding her arms in a brooding gesture she merely watched the situation escalate.

She looked on mutely as the Diamon violated the young brunette. Calling in Neptune on her wrist communicator, it seemed there was now more than one attack happening. Haruka, now Uranus could only hope that the enemy wouldn't get a pure heart crystal now. She cared for this young soul, Makoto had a wonderfully kind heart. She was bold, honorable and deserved much better than being a sacrifice for this war.

She banished the bitter thought away knowing of her duty and accepting the consequences as always. It was a horrendous burden to bear but if it meant that billions of innocent people would live every day because she and her partner did something half of them couldn't fathom doing, then so be it.

"So Makoto is the victim this time?" A sweet, gentle voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"I couldn't tell if she was the owner of a talisman." She responded bitterly to the image of Neptune on her communicator screen. Her face still flushed from swimming, her luxurious aqua green hair shimmering with residual water.

"This struggle seems like such a waste." Neptune intoned, casting Uranus a sideways glance, her attention diverted momentarily. Her partner was just preparing to leave the Sports center, the metal locker's shining as a dull backdrop behind her. It was a pointed question, cueing the dusty blonde to reveal her loyalties to the mission. Neptune could see the tension of guilt clear on her partner's face before Uranus looked away.

"You ready to surrender?" Haruka quipped, giving Neptune's appalled face a mocking grin. Not taking the bait, her sarcastic remark masking her worry and doubts.

"Ready to team up with Sailor Moon again?" Neptune countered, playing along with her loves little game of side stepping the topic at hand.

Grimacing in regret, as Uranus refused to look at her. Sailor Moon couldn't be trusted, for all they knew she could be the harbinger of Destruction. The human girl she was, an idealistic fool who wanted them all to just get along, to work together for the greater good. That united they could triumph, when in reality she called upon a dark power of perhaps destruction itself. She was a complete contradiction, in her human guise all sweet and innocent. While transformed a wild card of unknown dark potential...not to ever be trusted.

It was when she saw Makoto's body beginning to break that she looked back over. When the daimon raged out against the strong willed girl and poured all of her evil power into the spiritual attack. Her death screams rending the air, pulling the outer Senshi from her thoughts. Forcing her to confront the tragic outcomes of their true mission. Not to save the innocent, but to ultimately stop the Silence from ever awakening.

It was to much of an intensely stressful power consumption, that threatened to pull the girl's body completely asunder. Even Makoto's extra strength from being a senshi could only get her so far. Her mind would out last her body in this case her eyes pulsing a dark violet, as her crystal finally came out. Seeing the glitter of the pure heart crystal of Makoto, Uranus saw her opportunity. She had a mission and she would do whatever it took to see it through and save the world the way they saw fit.

Ami was swimming in the pool of the new Sport Center when it happened to her. Enjoying the crisp cold sensation of the water flowing over her body. As she cut through it on another lap to the other side. The evening sky darkening unto night, just beyond the walls of panoramic windows. Casting the pool area into a somber, almost mournful light. The final glow of the sun fading behind the looming wall of clouds and steel towers of the city.

Having just gotten done racing Michiru and tying with the older woman that she was coming to admire and respect. Another person very passionate about the water, she could tell. Something that she found to be a relief, someone who shared the same connection she did. The race had been intense, pushing her to her physical limits. She thoroughly loved the competition they shared. She was exhilarated to find a kindred spirit.

Though why the woman seemed to spark recognition from before her time on earth she was unsure of. For a moment she wondered if the woman was reborn from the Silver Millennium but the odds of that when she held no real recognition dissipated. Her mind however was conflicted now, troubled by a sense of guilt. Michiru seemed disappointed when the race was over. She had left rather abruptly, leaving the mild mannered Ami floundering as to why.

Wondering if she had done something wrong to make the kindred spirit of water angry or upset with her? Struggling with the disappointment in herself that she never seemed to be able to truly be passionate about anything. That all she was good for was academics. That she had no other passions or talents but for studying.

She had not wanted to win for fear that she might hurt Michiru's feelings. She so wanted the girl to like her and now because of that lack of commitment to give it her all. She had made the passionate girl upset.

So lost in her swim and her self-deprecation she never noticed the egg pass through the dim windows and latch itself to the side of the pool.

Ami's slender toned form launching off the tile at the end of the pool activated the daimon. The pool area lit up as the daimon came to life, as if a barrage of pyrotechnics had exploded over the room. When the light cleared, Ami braced herself against the far end of the pool. Her heart hammering in dread against her chest, as she gazed in terror upon the chosen Heart Snatcher created to take her Crystal heart.

It looked a bit like a mutated human fish, some demented swamp creature with grey scales and sickly yellow cats eyes. With massive fins attached to its sharp angled head, feet that looked like paddles with filmy webbing between the toes and crone like talon hands. That twitched and jerked as if it's brain was miss firing.

"Dolvin..." It hissed, flicking a snakes forked tongue into the air.

Without her senshi wand near, she was defenseless and without her communicator nearby her she couldn't even get a message out. She was on her own and lacked the confidence in herself to truly succeed against this foe. Neptune had been talking to her partner in the locker room when the sounds of battle echoed from the pool area. Cutting off her communication promising to be at Uranus's side soon, Neptune snuck back along the entry corridor to the pool, staying out of view as she watched this vile daimon start it's attack upon Ami.

She watched with cold comfort as Ami's form was being ruthlessly swamped by waves, created by the monster's innate powers. Nearly being drowned before the wave rose up and slammed her against the glass front wall, face first. Ami screamed in fright her voice cut short as she struck, the water keeping her pinned in place. She struggled in the torrent of water, willing herself not to give in. To find her reserves not to just roll over and allow this monster to have it's way.

That obsessive focus she used to study and conquer the academics she had come to resent, found a new target. She held onto her soul tight, striving deeper beyond it's confines into something far more powerful. Something she never knew had seeded itself deep within her Senshi power's. The power to fight back far beyond her current capabilities. It was a foreign element, but it had the potential to save her life so she claimed it. In an act of desperation her soul reached out and grasped the temptation of the darkness and held tight.

As the monster pealed back a patch of scales upon his forehead, the black star pulsing as if alive itself. The power seeking out her pure heart crystal, burrowing through her back, mercilessly violating itself deep inside of her. She screamed to the heavens, as the immeasurable pain coursed through her body. A ripping and tearing against her soul that left her body reeling in a state of intense trauma. Ami's mind was bathed in agony, her vision blurred with tears as all that she was began to separate from her.

Neptune cringed in regret as Ami screamed in pain, losing her grip on the ultimate power. It took her moment of weakness and consumed her. As her pure self was being torn from her soul.

Casting her head to the side unable to bear the sight of Ami's coming death. Her graceful features evening out to a cold detachment she had clung to since this mission started for her. Neptune herself saw an opportunity and used it to her advantage. Even though part of herself felt a tad guilty and hoped that it wasn't a talisman.

The screams echoed like small rockets throughout the cavernous pool area as her pure heart crystal was taken from her. All that she was, all the potential she might have been was brutally taken away. Ripped from her back as a shimmering strata of rose crystals. Her cries went mercifully silent as her life was taken, her head thumping dead against the glass. As her body collapsed onto the tile floor unmoving.

"Deep Submerge!" Using her elemental powers Neptune shocked the daimon away. It screamed in frustration, crashing into the pool in a typhoon of chemical tainted water that started to burn it's sensitive skin.

Dashing up to Ami's crumpled body at the windows, Neptune promptly took a gander at the crystal. Ignoring the Heart Snatcher's writhing and shattering screams of pain, as it swam in panic towards the closest edge.

"It's not a talisman." She mentally sighed in relief, the bright girl would be such a waste if her heart was a talisman, but it would have been to a greater good. Then she noticed the odd hum to Ami's body, a dark lavender pulse echoing from just beneath the surface of her cold skin.

The daimon was upset it had the wrong victim. It would be a disappointment to Kaolinite, and certainly its own death sentence. "Not a talisman? Then you both will die!"

The Daimon hurled a ball of water towards her, intent on drowning her. Neptune launched a 'deep submerge' at the daimon for attempting to kill them both. Glaring at the monster in disgust as it was cast against the white tile of the back wall, screeching in terror. It's voice clipped short as it struck knocking itself cold, as its head was snapped back against the wall. Reduced to a puddle of water as its energy was spent.

Neptune turned back to watch the heart crystal float back to Ami. She saw the girl of water slowly wake up before the crystal had fully submerged itself into her chest, "Neptune." Ami remarked groggily, slowly sitting up cradling her head with a hand. She felt like she had just been hit by a mack truck. A vengeful eighteen wheeler from hell out to cause her immense amounts of physical misery.

Neptune was baffled, the crystal would not go back. Latching onto the space between the girls pert breast. Just touching the bare skin above her blue swimsuit seeking shelter but unable to penetrate the girl's body.

"What the hell..." She breathed, her fearful gaze drawing up towards the scholar's face. Whose unearthly glowing lavender eyes pierced her cold ones.

"Such a nuisance..." Ami growled, plucking the heart crystal off her body. Like some sticky piece of filth.

Neptune was stunned beyond belief as the girl held the Pure heart in her palm. Staring down at it in disgust, cocking her head to the side as she scrutinized the crystal.

"Such a fragile thing...ones purity. This crystal glows with such loyalty." Ami began, her voice holding a clinical detachment. "Such a kind soul, so patient and intelligent..." She mused with a sigh. "A pathetic girl who held no confidence in herself or her own power. Shy and ultimately cowardly always hiding behind her books and refusing to truly live life to the fullest." Ami laughed, but any true laugher resembling hers was not there. "I shall make good use of this new life, I don't need this...weakness inside of me anymore." She grinned, a wicked manic like smile.

"NO...Wait!" Neptune cried in panic, as Ami began to crush the crystal. It wailed against the pressure like shattering glass.

"I will never allow you to destroy her pure self!" Another more commanding voice shouted out.

Both Neptune and Ami snapped their heads to the side, finding the Guardian of Mercury standing determined a step away. Dressed in the Senshi's blue fuku skirt and bow, with white leotard and matching gloves. Her gold tiara gleaming in the half-life of dusk, her blue jewel alive with power. Her deep blue eyes staring mournfully at what her human host had become in the wake of the dark power.

The senshi was semi-transparent as if only a spirit. She cast a ball of blue energy towards Ami's form. The power held Ami's human body frozen, writhing and growling against it. She fought and screamed uselessly until her energy was spent and she fainted. Hanging limply within the confines of the glowing blue ball of energy. As Mercury took the crystal out of her limp grasp, cradling it to her breast protectively.

"I shall keep this safe, until the time comes to return it to it's rightful owner." The Senshi soul of Mercury proclaimed to Neptune.

"What happened to her?" Neptune gasped still trying to calm her stammering heart.

"She was tainted by Chaos. It offered her power, tempted her and in an act of desperation to save her own life she accepted it. But Chaos is an opportunist by nature, it consumed her human half just as her crystal was taken. I can't co-exist with that darkness so I must bide my time until she is healed or reincarnated. What is left is merely a doll, a human husk slowly being poisoned by darkness." Mercury shrugged. "The darkness is growing Neptune. The silence is approaching quickly. I do not relish the grim road ahead for you."

Neptune turned away from her not wanting to hear any more, it was all to over whelming. She felt like a failure, unable to out think this enemy who always seemed to two steps ahead of her all the time.

"Logically I understand you know…" Mercury called to her. As Neptune resolutely started to walk away. Stopping for just a moment to confront the remains of the Senshi of Mercury.

"Do you?" she asked snidely. Mercury nodded, "The talismans mean a great deal to each side, for you as a senshi, you mean to save the world, for them, it's a means of destroying it." Neptune nodded her head, hoping it would convey that the Senshi spirit was figuring it out that people couldn't always be saved, no matter what you did.

"Make no mistake though…" Mercury stated. The defining tone and confidence this senshi had shocking Neptune, "The senshi, will find a way to beat back the rising darkness. I may be lost for now, but I believe in my Guardian Sister's. They will save everyone…it's what they do. They risk their lives and would give them up if it meant every man, woman and child on earth could live out peace filled existences." Neptune swallowed the truth of it, deep in her heart wishing that what this Senshi said was true.

Smart as she was she felt Mercury didn't see the bigger picture. There was a lot more at stake than she thought.

"While I hear you're words, you must understand, the senshi here are less powerful than us. They are not capable of beating this power back. Gomen a sai but, this world will not have an option but to make a few sacrifices unrelated to the senshi if it wants to survive. I feel this is only the beginning. That these inner Senshi are only going to fall one by one. Just as they did it to your 'host' it can and will happen to the rest." Neptune stated, her aqua green eyes cool. An honesty in her words that rippled through the universe.

The size and shape of the coming disturbances were only going to get more intense and powerful. The world may not be able to recover from it.

Both Neptune and Mercury gave one another cold looks as the younger senshi reclaimed her ethereal voice once more. "Had I not seen and been through what I have over time I would agree with you. Cause logically you have the facts and statistics in your favor. But I happened to know for a factor that you're wrong." She remarked.

"Hopefully when you figure it out it won't be to late for you to work along-side them, to join forces and beat back the rising darkness. Cause as it stands, things are going to get worse before they get better." Mercury finished a resolution to her voice.

Neptune didn't want to admit right then that her cold logic may have a flaw in the design of it.

Neptune barely looked back never stopping again, "But I will guarantee you this, Sailor Moon and her senshi will find a way, it's what they do. It's who they are. They wouldn't give up or let a single innocent die. They'd rather take the plunge themselves." Mercury kept on, calling her departing form wanting her to understand the hidden power of hope that her leader always bestowed upon them.

Neptune ignored the words even as Mercury cast herself one last mournful glance before fading away. Taking her pure heart with her back into the spiritual plane to await the outcome of this tragic crisis.

To be continued…