Chapter 9: The Prince
The Earth Palace
A little princess with buns in her hair, wearing a white dress snuck around the courtyard, trying to get a glimpse of a prince. She watched as the black haired man looked around the garden, the prince taking in it's natural beauty. The young girl couldn't help but be entranced by the visage of the future King of Earth.
However, she made one wrong step on a few dry leaves. The sound was enough to get the prince's attention. The young man smiled at the princess and invited him to join her. The sneaky royal smiled as she walked into the garden, relieved that she wasn't scorned. The prince took her by the hand and gave her a tour of the Royal Gardens, much to her delight.
The young girl looked up at the prince, the man with short hair and a defined jawline. The girl was happy that she was spending time with the man. The princess looked ahead for only a couple of seconds and looked back. She couldn't help but be shocked as the face of the man happened to change. Not only that, but she saw that the man stood stronger than the prince, if that was possible, she was with just a couple of seconds ago. The man wore the same uniform, but the stronger build, the more rugged face and the spiky hair threw her off even more.
"Where is my prince?" the woman asked.
The princess wouldn't get her answer, cause the scene went into a white void. The scene changed from the palace during the day, into a strange palace like structure during the night. When she woke up she could feel an energy wash over her. She felt like her strength had returned as she sat up from lying on her back. She looked up and saw a small green alien like person with two antennae. Her head quickly went to the other side and she saw Gohan in a squatting position, like he was watching over her.
Usagi looked at Gohan a little longer. She noticed that he still had on the Tuxedo Mask costume, but no hat or mask. The girl blinked her eyes, as she saw that he looked much like the man that replaced the prince in her dream. She had not a single notion what that dream meant, but she felt happiness come over her. A smile couldn't help but grace her features as she gazed at the young saiyan in front of her.
The smiling girl looked over at the short, green figure on the other side of her and her smile changed to a more neutral look. The girl then stood up and then reached out to the being. Surprise was the feeling of the moment as she had expected something more slimy. Why many people would react with horror, Usagi couldn't help but become curious.
"Are you the one who healed me?" the girl still in the sailor uniform asked the green one.
"Why yes Sailor Moon," the figure replied in a voice that sounded very human to the girl.
"Usagi, this is one of my best friends," Gohan interjected.
"Yes Usagi, my names Dende," the short namekian introduced.
"Thank you Dende," Usagi said as she stood back onto her feet. Her wounds were gone and her energy was back to where it was before she and her friends battled Beryl. It was then that she remembered her friends.
"Don't look so panicked," said a voice. The bun head girl turned toward that direction and saw that the voice belonged to Makoto, who was with the other two senshi. The three of them made their way to their leader, and were relieved to see that she was in full health.
"Dende really is a wonderful healer," Ami said to Usagi.
"Yeah, he really fixed us. We weren't in the best shape," Rei pointed out.
"I'm happy that he had gotten to all of you," Usagi said as the same relief washed over her.
The rest of the group made their way to the senshi and Gohan. Even a certain much taller Namekian was with them, despite the fact that he tends to avoid most humans much of the time. The cat also was with the group as she jumped onto Usagi's shoulder.
"Usagi, I'm glad you're alright," Luna told the girl.
"Aww, thanks Luna," Usagi said as she petted the head of her talking cat.
The senshi and the small part of the Z fighters talked to each other. Introductions were carried out and the girls even learned a little about Namekians and their asexuality. Ami seemed to be most inquisitive, while the other three seemed to be shocked about such biology.
Usagi then put her eyes back onto Gohan. The teen boy smiled back at her, a fact which did not get missed by anyone in the group. Krillen couldn't help but snicker a little, which got a smirk from his wife. The blond, bun-head returned the smile as the other senshi watched.
"Could I have a moment alone with you, Gohan?" Usagi asked.
"Hmm, sure Usagi," Gohan replied.
Krillen laughed even more at this exchange. An urge to tease a friend came to him like a rush of energy. The laughing man with no nose got the attention of the group to say the least.
"Ok Gohan! We can give you a moment with your Girlfriend!" Krillen teased.
Gohan glared at the monk in response. Before the saiyan could say anything however, the group decided to walk away. The senshi did linger a little longer before Luna told the girls to give them a moment to themselves. Ami was a little sad, but decided to give the two of them their space along with the other two girls.
The two of them went inside the lookout, away from prying eyes.
Usagi and Gohan were inside the room, sitting across each other at the small kitchen table. The two of them sat and stared at each other for a while, not knowing what to say to one another. The bun-headed girl had a slight blush on her face as she tried to come up with the words to say to the saiyan.
Gohan was searching for the words to speak as well. This girl looked so much like the princess from his dreams and yet he couldn't confirm this to be the case. The boy was in unfamiliar territory indeed as he was used to this girl fussing at him for one reason or another.
"Thank you," Usagi blurted out.
"Usagi?"Gohan replied.
"Thank you for bringing us up here to get healed. I don't know what we would have done without you," Usagi said, causing Gohan to put his hand behind his head and laugh sheepishly.
"Think nothing of it," Gohan replied.
"And Gohan….do you have your eye mask?" Usagi asked.
The saiyan nodded and took it out of his pocket. The two of them stood up and Usagi made her way over to him to receive the mask. The girl then carefully removed the item from Gohan's hand and placed it over his eyes. The girl smiled as she saw the man who was her hero right before her. Gohan took the item away slowly and put it back into his pocket. The saiyan then wrapped his arms around her, surprising the young senshi. The girl then let her initial shock wear off and looked up to the saiyan. The two of them just stood in that position, looking into each others eyes.
'Those eyes...the prince and Gohan had different color eyes and yet….they are strangely familiar,' Usagi thought as she looked into the dark brown, almost black eyes of Gohan.
The saiyan smiled at the bun-headed girl in his arms. As if a force within Gohan guided him, the boy started lowering his head slowly. Before anything could happen, Usagi turned away. Gohan thought that he did something wrong and unwrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry Gohan...it's just that we both need to figure things out," Usagi told the saiyan.
"Right Usagi..no need to rush things," Gohan replied. The two distanced each other for a moment. Something however was trying to pull them back together, as if it were a strong, magnetic force. For a very short time the two of them stood strong.
Within a few seconds however, the two couldn't resist the pull after all. They walked toward each other and the two of them shared a brief, but passionate kiss. The two broke off and both were blushing profusely.
"I believe we need to get back to the others," Usagi pointed out.
"Right...right Usako," Gohan said.
Usagi caught that name. The girl giggled as she thought of the pet name she was just given by the saiyan. The girl composed herself and took only a few moments to return the favor.
"Ok we really need to go. Gochan," the girl said.
The two of them left the little kitchen to join the others in earnest this time. Though it took much of their will to not kiss each other again.
D Point, North Pole
Zoicite walked around the dark halls of Beryl's castle in a mood for pondering. The general made his way through the corridors, long since healed from the battle. Thoughts of the fallen Nephrite went into his mind as he planned his next move against the Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Mask. The fact that the Dark Kingdom was down two of the Four Heavenly Kings was not something that Zoicite would take lightly.
A figure came out of the darkness. Zoicite smiled as the silver-haired Kunzite made his way out of the shadows. The two commanders made their way toward each other, both seemingly enjoying each others company.
"It seems you have recovered from your injuries," Kunzite pointed out.
"Hmm, True, at least physically," Zoicite replied
"What do you mean?" asked Kunzite.
"I mean I still can't believe that we lost Nephrite to that…..Tuxedo Mask," Zoicite sneered.
Kunzite gave a simple, slightest of nods in understanding. The foremost commander of the Shiitentou could never scold Zoicite like he could the other two commanders. The two were not lovers, but it seems that the silver-haired general did have a soft spot for the pony-tailed one. The Head General placed his hand upon the shoulder of his brother-in-arms.
"We will stop those who oppose us and present their energy to our Great Ruler," Kunzite told the man.
Zoicite beamed at his fellow commander, even thinking about himself offering Tuxedo Mask to this Great Ruler. The power that seemed to come from that particular one would nourish their mysterious True Soverign to no end. At least that's what Zoicite speculated. A sneer graced the androgynous features of the ponytailed officer.
"I would love to offer that brigand Tuxedo Mask to her myself," Zoicite said with spite, for he truly held him in the most contempt.
"Well Zoicite, we might be able to subdue that particular nuisance one day. For now we must report to Queen Beryl," Kunzite told him. Zoicite bowed and the two of them went to the throne room.
At the door to a mysterious chamber…
Queen Beryl walked up to a giant stone door. An orb of purple energy was in her hand as she bowed her head to the door. The queen appeared to humble herself to this stone door as she lifted the hand with the energy up.
"Queen Metallia, your humble servant awaits you," Beryl said in submission.
The door opened and the queen entered. In front of her was a small altar and a giant black and purplish-pink shadow stood. A wail came out of the dark entity as she awaited her latest meal. Beryl knelt before the apparition and lifted up her hand with the energy.
"O great Metallia, I have this energy from the humans. May it be a step to awaken you to your true glory," Beryl said as she sent the energy to Metallia. The shadow swallowed the energy and a face like shape with a pink star on the forehead. The spirit's eyes were green and were bereft any irises or pupils and her mouth was a pink line as she moaned the makeshift facade into existence.
"This energy from the humans is not enough to return me, where is the Legendary Silver Crystal," the Great Ruler wailed to what appears is her head subordinate.
"My apologies, your majesty, but the Sailor Guardians have awakened and thwarted our efforts. Plus they have an ally who seems to have powers not seen in the past,"Beryl pointed out.
"O yes Beryl, I've felt this power. Even sealed as I am I have felt this power as soon as six of your years ago. It could rival that of the crystal. Retrieve the crystal, and the source of that power," Metallia ordered.
"I will do as you ask, Great One," Beryl said before standing to her feet and leaving the chamber, making sure the door shut after she exited.
'Indeed if she had him and the crystal, the universe would not stand a chance. I remember when I discovered D point and went into the Dark Kingdom. Her power called to me and I unsealed Metallia into the world. It may have been my destiny to release her, but I will not surrender the crystal. If this source is who I think it is, then he will be my greatest paladin. The planet and the universe will be mine!" Queen Beryl planned as she made her way to the throne room.
The queen stepped in front of her throne and saw her two generals standing there. The woman called and the two of them knelt before their queen.
"Zoicite, it seems your wounds have healed nicely. Now continue the search for the crystal," Beryl ordered.
"Yes my queen," Zoicite replied. The generals stood up and began to walk away. A sound from Beryl's throat was enough to stop the two men in their tracks.
"And also, bring me Tuxedo Mask. I have use for him," Beryl added. The generals bowed and left the throne room.
A new video rental shop opened and many people were inside. Videl and her two friends, Erasa and Naoko, were looking around the shop and looking at the various movies. Though each movie was a different title, the word DARK was on each disk. No matter the movie the word DARK was on the bottom of the disk label, with the movie title on the top.
"Wow, this will be romantic," Erasa said as she showed the disk with the title "A crystalline romance" to her two friends. Videl rolled her eyes, while Naoko swooned alongside her blond friend.
Sharpner was with a couple of guy friends. One was Toyotaro and the other was Yoshi, a tall man with a slim build. The muscular blond grabbed an action movie and opened up the case. The disk had the title and had the same DARK logo that all the discs seemed to have.
"It's a shame that Son had to not come tonight," Sharpner said.
"Yeah….oh I didn't know you liked the Tale of the Rings series," Yoshi pointed out.
"Don't tell a soul...damn Gohan got me into those," Sharpner replied.
"It does have a lot of action. The books are good too," Toyotaro said.
The other two guys looked at Toyotaro funny. The guy shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't really care all that much that he was a bit of a nerd.
"He also got me into the books," Toyotaro said neutrally, referring to the same Gohan as Sharpner.
The three of them decided not to speak about such things anymore as they went up to the counter. The cashier rang up the order and the boys came out with their rental for the night.
Gohan went into the school the next morning in deep thought. The last few days, the teen had a certain bun-headed girl on his mind. Moving down the halls, he gradually noticed that more and more people seemed to be not like themselves. Much of the student body was walking down the hall in a daze.
The situation was enough to get his mind off of the girl as he sat in his seat. Erasa, Sharpner and Videl sat in their usual seats, but the three of them were in the same glassy-eyed state as a lot of the student body.
"Sailor Moon, capture Sailor Moon for the crystal. Tuxedo Mask, capture Tuxedo Mask for his power," Videl groaned, as if she were under a spell.
Erasa and Sharpner repeated that same phrase. The saiyan noticed more of the student body saying that chant as he went on throughout his day. Gohan noticed his recent friend Yoshi was in the same state and dropped a disk out of one of his books. The saiyan reached down and noticed the title was from the "Tale of the Rings" series he had gotten Sharpner and Toyotaro into around three weeks ago.
The word "DARK" was written on the bottom. Gohan crushed the disk in his hand and a dark wisp came up before dissipating into nothingness.
Luna was inside the command center when a voice came from the monitor. The cat mashed a button and it was a shadowed figure, who didn't have a disguised voice. The cat knew instantly who the person was on the line.
"Hello Sailor V," Luna greeted the figure with a feminine shape and a bow in her hair.
"Yes, Hello Luna. Have the senshi recovered their memories yet," inquired Sailor V in a black shadow.
"Sadly no...Sailor Moon seems to have the most trouble, if she had a little more time," Luna told the blackened figure.
"Time is a luxury we don't have. The enemy will be upon us soon," Sailor V replied.
"In good news we have new allies. I also found out about Tuxedo Mask," Luna told the figure.
"Was he the boy from the Cell Games?" Sailor V inquired.
"Yes," Luna replied.
"Hmm, that might be a point in our favor. Perhaps I could see him for myself soon. Did you get other information from him?" Sailor V responded
"Not so much from him, but his friends told us plenty," Luna told her.
"Perhaps another time you can share the intel. Sailor V out," Sailor V said, cutting out the conversation.
Gohan was out and about that night. The young man noticed that more and more people were zombified the same as his friends. More unfortunate souls were chanting statements about watching the movies and capturing Tuxedo Mask with Sailor Moon. Gohan decided it was time to hop up to the wall and run along the top to avoid the masses.
However, another figure decided to follow him. Though the saiyan saw it's shadow, he could not feel the ki of the mysterious person. The saiyan hopped off of the wall, only for the figure to jump in front of him. Gohan saw a stray, blond hair from the cowl of the person in the all black suit.
"Were you feeling bored 18?" Gohan simply asked.
The cyborg silently cursed at Gohan. She removed the mouth portion of the cowl and gave a steely glare toward the teen. She hadn't had much of a chance to do anything since moving to the shop all those months ago. Now she felt that this was a chance to get out of the house at least.
"Let's just say that Cabin Fever was about to get me," 18 said," And besides, too many customers were acting like mind slaves. Not good for business in my opinion."
"Hmm, that is a good point 18. Just be careful and try not to kill the victims on accident," Gohan told her.
"I know how to stop them without doing that, ok Gohan," Cyborg 18 hissed at the saiyan.
Before Gohan can retort, a crew of mind slaves made their way toward them. The cyborg put the mouth part of her cowl back on as they walked toward them. The blond haired partially organic woman went toward them with blazing speed. In a period of about three seconds, the mind slaves fell down unconscious.
"See Gohan, I've learned," 18 pointed out.
The saiyan just shrugged his shoulders and made his way down the street. Eighteen followed her non-blood related nephew, since Krillen is basically an uncle to Gohan, toward the park. There in a distance, both of them saw Zoicite with his arm around someone's neck. Upon closer inspection in the shadows, the street lights showed the general with his arm around the neck of Sailor Moon.
The saiyan took this moment to magically change into Tuxedo Mask. 18 sort of wondered why he chose now to get into disguise, but she decided not to question him. Gohan simply handed his hat to 18, then he flew into action. The saiyan's forehead crashed onto Zoicite's cheek, sending him flying away from Sailor Moon. The general bounced a couple of times before sliding onto his side into a complete stop. The heroine went limp, but Gohan caught her before she could fall onto the concrete.
"I knew...you would help….Gohan," Usagi got out before she fainted.
The saiyan placed Sailor Moon down onto the ground. 18 joined him a split second later and untied a pouch from a rope around her waist. Pulling a small bean out of the pouch she handed it to Gohan, who woke Usagi up.
"Usagi, eat this," Gohan told her.
Sailor Moon smiled through her daze as Gohan placed the bean in her mouth. The girl chewed the bean and swallowed it. A rush of energy went through her as she woke up instantly. She couldn't help but inspect herself a bit after she stood up.
However, 18 noticed that there were still three senshi who were also down and who were trying to stand up. The cyborg placed a bean in the hands of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. She then ordered the two to give one of the senshi the mysterious bean.
Usagi ran over to Mars and had her chew the bean. Gohan went to Mercury and 18 went to Jupiter. The three senshi had the same sensation as Moon did and all their wounds were healed. The girls stood up like they hadn't even been in a battle.
"What were those things?" Moon asked Gohan.
"Senzu Beans. Though they are limited and it takes time to grow them, they saved my butt many times," Gohan explained to the girl.
A ball of energy came toward Gohan. The blast almost caught the saiyan, but 18 darted in front of the two and kicked the ball into the sky and into space. Gohan took in a breath, because he knew he was off-guard.
"Keep your guard up!" 18 shouted at Gohan without looking at him. The boy cursed himself a little because he knew he messed up.
Zoicite laughed at the group. The general knew he almost caught Tuxedo Mask. Looking at 18 and Gohan, a smirk came upon his face.
"So we have a new fighter in this little game of chess," Zoicite touted.
"You like to hear yourself talk, don't you!" 18 shouted to the general, not really fond of him in the split second that she had seen him.
"Hmm, so some stupid woman decided to get involved. It won't take me long to take care of you," Zoicite boasted.
"Boy, you couldn't 'take care' of me anyway," 18 said, much to the shock and now admiration of the Sailor Senshi.
The general's pride was wounded a bit by 18's trash talk. The cyborg could care less however as she began to crack her knuckles and loosened up her neck muscles.
"18 I can handle him," Gohan said.
"I know, but I want to kick his ass. Make him less pretty before I kill him," 18 told the saiyan.
Zoicite had heard enough and created a sizeable, clear crystal object in the air. The cyborg just smirked since deep down she wanted to make him feel weak anyway. The general laughed as he held the crystal in the air.
"I'm going to drive this thing into you vile woman!" Zoicite shouted.
However, he couldn't throw the projectile because a crescent moon shaped projectile cut straight through and destroyed the attack. Zoicite looked straight up only for a cat-shaped shadow to zoom through and slash his midsection. The general doubled over in pain as the cat made it's way to a spot nearby.
At that same spot, another figure stood. A feminine figure in a white and orange sailor fuku. A crescent moon was on her forehead, the same as Luna and the white cat that stood beside the mysterious senshi.
All four other senshi looked up in disbelief. All the sailor senshi were in awe of the girl.
"Is that Sailor V?" asked Sailor Moon.
Gohan also looked over at the figure and then at 18. The saiyan noticed that the cyborg was not thrilled to see the girl. In fact, he figured that 18 wouldn't need saving, but reasoned that this 'Sailor V' simply did not know what the blond in the cowl could do.
Sailor V removed her eye mask. She looked upon the group with a neutral expression before a smile adorned her face. Mars pondered if she was the same Sailor V from the news and the video game, while Mercury and Jupiter looked up to the young girl in awe.
Zoicite however took this moment to teleport out of the battlefield. The general knew that he was outmatched at that point. Gohan watched him disappear and then turned his attention back to Sailor V, along with Sailor Moon.
"Are you Sailor V?" Moon asked.
"Why yes I am," the woman said as she put her red mask over her eyes to confirm herself to them.
"Oh la de da, I didn't need saving,"18 said, which caught everyone but Gohan off-guard.
"Show some respect Cyborg!" the white cat all of the sudden said. Gohan blanched as part of him wanted to think up this cat's eulogy.
"Ok cat, you have ten seconds to apologize!" 18 ordered. Gohan jumped in front of 18 at that point, not wanting the woman to slay any of his new comrades.
"18 please, calm down. Let them explain,": Gohan told the woman.
"Fine, but if the kitty get's one claw out of line….he's done," 18 said. Gohan nodded because he knew that she was serious.
Gohan then still stood in front of 18 and kept an eye out for if she tried anything. This however didn't stop him from keeping some of his attention toward the cat and Sailor V.
"Ok as I was saying, yes this is Sailor V. There is more however, as my mistress is also Princess Serenity!" proclaimed the feline.
The senshi and Gohan were shocked by this news. The girl took this moment to go toward the group with her white cat companion. The cat in particular stood in front of the cyborg and gave a small bow to her.
"I'm sorry for my outburst, Cyborg 18. I also apologize to you, Gohan Son," the cat said with humility.
"How did you know who we are," 18 said with some scorn in her voice.
"Why the Cell Games of course. Our camera's were much stronger than the human's of ZTV had. I forgot to introduce myself, how rude of me. I am Artemis. I admire what you did against Cell and Luna has kept Sailor V and I informed about what you have done as Tuxedo Mask," Artemis explained to the two Z fighters.
"Hmm...I guess you don't like it when someone scoffs at your Mistress," 18 reasoned to the cat, silently damning herself for being soft and blaming Krillen for said softness.
Gohan wiped his brow, thankful that 18 didn't turn that cat into a cadaver. Sailor V was soaking in the admiration from her fellow senshi, but then turned her attention to the saiyan. She walked up to Tuxedo Mask with a smile, and looked up to Gohan.
"Gohan, could you join us at headquarters. I would like to hear your story," Sailor V said to the saiyan. A simple nod was his reply and the senshi were glad that she was accepting of Tuxedo Mask.
18 took this moment to tell the group that she was going back to the shop. She gave a reason that her little girl was probably still up and she would have to tell her a story before she left. Gohan watched the retreating form of the cyborg before joining the girls.
A/N: And there it is, another chapter done. I was going to add something, but I'm putting that something in the beginning of the next installment. Please Read, Review, Favorite and Follow.