SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 15 out, this is Chapter 16 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 18: The Accursed Cloth!? The Equuleus Saint!
In the underground passages of Pallasvelda...
A young girl, Selene, was running out from a building, carrying medical supplies in her arms.
"What's this?" a Pallasite stopped in front of Selene who had tripped over a protruding tile.
"You're one of those Equuleus is hiding, aren't you?" a second Pallasite chuckled.
"We finally found you." a third Pallasite cornered Selene. "Would you tell me where you've been hiding?"
Just then, Koga jumped in, punching the Pallasite from the back.
"Where are you looking?" Ryuho asked the Pallasites gathering around Koga.
"Your back is wide open." Haruto tsked, jumping into the fight.
"Come and get me." Subaru issued his challenge.
"This way, hime-chan." Juno pulled Selene off, leaving Juno and Vesta to fend off the girl's attackers.
"Hey." Eden snorted, slamming an electric-charged fist at the Pallasite chasing Juno.
"Look who decided to join the party." Juno joked.
"Thanks to that Mira guy, I'm not as strong." Subaru complained.
"Give it up." the group of Pallasites attacking Subaru grinned when the Steel Saint's 'Steel Bolt' blast backfired.
Equuleus Celeris suddenly stood in front of the defeated Steel Saint and took out the Pallasites attacking him.
"We can't fight Celeris' gang and Pegasus' group simultaneously." the leader of the Pallasites raid protested. "Retreat." he ordered.
"Celeris." Selene ran over to the Equuleus Saint.
"Is he a Saint?" Subaru blinked.
"I'm sorry." Selene muttered. "I wanted to treat your wounds, Celeris."
"Those kind feelings of yours are enough." Celeris assured. "Those feelings will heal my injuries. So, Selene, don't do anything dangerous. Pegasus." he gawked in astonishment, spotting Koga. "I can't believe it. I'm meeting Pegasus."
"Who are you?" Ryuho asked.
"I am Celeris." Celeris beamed. "The Little Horse, Equuleus Celeris. Equuleus shines beside Pegasus and is reputedly its younger brother."
"Celeris!" one of Celeris' fighter group shouted, Subaru had already boarded the transport truck. "Let's hurry."
In the underground hideout later...
"People with strong Cosmo don't freeze." Haruto was stunned to see the number of citizens that still remain unpetrified. "I can't believe so many survivors are this close to the castle."
"Most of the people who were in the city were frozen in time." Celeris revealed. "All those who survived hid and are living here."
"You're fighting for these people, not Athena?" Eden realized.
"I heard Athena's order." Celeris sighed. "As the Saint nearest Pallas' castle, I should be leading the way. It isn't that easy."
"Your destiny?" Ryuho guessed. "Equuleus, is it the destiny that Cloth has laid on you?"
"That's just an old superstition." Celeris laughed. "Selene, invite these people to your tea party."
"What do you mean about the destiny of Equuleus?" Subaru looked at Ryuho.
"I'd heard of it before." the Draco Saint replied. "The Equuleus Cloth is cursed, bringing death to its wearer. The Equuleus Cloth brings great power, but its wearer is destined to die in battle."
"Knowing that, why would anyone wear it?" Eden wondered.
"Because he wants power, even if it costs him his life." Subaru declared.
"Thanks for waiting." Selene pushed in a trolley and was puzzled by the tense atmosphere.
"Have you calmed down a little?" Koga chided Subaru, the group having sipped the hot tea Selene brought them. "Stop picking fights with everyone."
"What are you talking about?" Subaru pouted.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Celeris entered. "Selene, I'll take a cup too."
"Celeris, isn't it time you told us why you've brought us here?" Haruto asked.
Beside him, Vesta nudged his side with an elbow. "You don't have to be so straightforward, you know?" the fire user rebuked.
"This underground city is connected to Pallas' castle." Celeris revealed. "I was born and raised here. That's how I know. I don't know when this underground city was made, but it's laid out like a maze, extending all the way to Pallas' castle."
"Let's head straight there." Subaru was excited.
"I can't go." Celeris stated. "When I was unable to stop the Pallasite attack, I failed to protect many people. I decided that I wouldn't let anyone here get hurt."
"I'm disappointed." Subaru whined. "I thought you wore that Cloth because you wanted to be strong. Turns out, you're just a coward."
"No." Selene snapped. "Celeris is strong. Look how hurt he got while he was trying to protect everyone. He's doing his best to fight for us. He's very brave."
"You made her cry." Ceres gave Steel Saint a rebuking look.
"Fine, I'll go beat up Pallas for you." Subaru sighed.
"Celeris!" one of the underground fighters ran in as the earth above them shook. "I'm sorry, the Pallasites followed us."
Up top...
"Meteor Summon: Demon's Hammer!" Thebe fired off another attack. "Saints and survivors, we know you're hiding in there. Come on out."
In the underground hideout...
"Don't worry." Eden put down his cup. "I'll go take care of them."
"Celeris, you stay here and protect everyone." Koga instructed. "Subaru, you stay here."
"Your Steel Cloth is too damaged." Ryuho agreed.
"You'd only get in the way." Haruto added.
"Let me go!" Subaru wailed as the four Bronze Saints took off.
"Subaru, just leave the one on top to them." Juno rebuked. "We'll deal with the one below."
On the surface...
"You again?" Eden was not impressed to see Thebe.
"Get them." Thebe ordered.
In the basement...
Subaru, Celeris and the Goddess Guardians faced off against Hati and his troops.
"I never imagined the humans would hiding in here, in the path that leads to the palace." Hati snorted. "Fools. If you can get from here to the palace, you can get from the palace to here. Finding my way through this maze is nothing to my ears."
On the surface...
Leaving the others to deal with the foot soldiers, Eden took Thebe on.
In the basement...
"You have nowhere to run." Hati bragged.
"Hati." Subaru growled. "I won't let you have your way."
"What can you do with that beat-up Cloth?" Hati mocked, readying his throwing knives. "Interesting." he noted, Celeris defecting the thrown knife. "You used your Cosmo as a shield against my daggers."
"Going for a head-to-head fight in a Cloth that's nearly broken." Celeris rebuked. "I get it; I can sense how you feel for that Cloth. This Cloth isn't cursed; it's trying to keep me alive. The Equuleus Cloth appears in your hour of deepest need; a kind Cloth which lends its strength to the powerless. They say a star shine the brightest before it dims forever. The Equuleus Cloth is the same way,"
"Then shine and die here in vain." Hati taunted and rained down his throwing knives.
"Light Cannon!"
"Lightning Raging Dragon!"
"Exploding Flame Burst!"
The three Goddess Guardians' attacks canceled Hati's dagger rain.
On the surface...
"Demon's Hammer!" Thebe fired his attack at Eden.
"Furious Thunder Sky!" Eden countered.
"Lionet Burning Fire!" Souma's fire tornado took out Thebe's foot soldiers.
"Divine Tornado!" Yuna's wind hurricane blew the other foot soldiers away.
"I don't care what happens to Hati." Thebe chuckled. "I'll blow all of you away." he swore and channeled the full power of his hammer. "I didn't want to use this. It's so big, I can't control it. It's my forbidden technique."
"Is that what you mean by 'strength'?" Eden scoffed.
"Take this." Thebe roared. "Gigantic Asteroid!"
"Roar, my Cosmo." Eden called out. "Orion's Extermination!" he directed his attack straight towards the descending meteorite, destroying it and Thebe.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.
