Moon Knight
This is a work of Fan fiction. All of the original characters, organizations, techniques, and events portrayed in this fictional literature are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. The majority of the events and most characters take place in and are a part of manga artist Naoko Takeuchi's world Sailor Moon.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Sailor Moon or any other manga or stories. I do have ownership of the techniques, the originality of this plot, the story I created, and some other things in this story. But the elements from manga artist, etc I do not own.
Techniques, Spells, Abilities, Japanese translation: Mikazuki Rasengan (Crescent Moon Rasengan)
Normal speech: What kind of warriors wear short skirts into battle?
Youma/Metalia/Possession: It's fashionable?
Human Thinking: It's impractical!
Youma/Metalia: Quit bitching! If anything they're not short enough!
Summary: Were one to tell Naruto, cousin of Usagi Tsukino, that evil kingdoms, supernatural beings, and aliens were hellbent on taking over Earth, he'd have said that was the worst joke ever told. That is until he finds himself targeted by said forces. If that weren't enough, his presence has severely changed the course of history, and Pluto can't tell if that's a good or bad thing.
Act 1 - Uzumaki Naruto
"Another burglary thwarted by Sailor Moon, Mercury and … Sailor Mars? Oh, my. Another one. First Sailor V. Then Sailor Moon. Mercury and now Mars. Just how many more are going to show up?" Ikoku wondered.
"Ah! I'm gonna be late! Stupid mom! Why didn't you wake me up earlier!"
Tsukino Ikoku, wife and on days like this - which were pretty much every day, actually - exasperated mother, could only sigh as her crybaby of a daughter rushed out of her room, came down the stairs - fell was more like it - as she brushed her teeth, and ran out the door towards school like clockwork. Except…
"She knows it's Saturday, right?" Shingo, the only son of the family asked.
"She'll know soon enough," Kenji told him, the patriarch was unbothered by the scene.
"Morning," came a voice from the stairs.
"Morning," both Kenji and Ikoku greeted their nephew.
"Morning, Naruto-niisan," Shingo greeted.
"Any coffee left?" Naruto asked, the empty rattling was his answer and Naruto sighed.
"Bad night's sleep again?" Ikoku asked, her hand pressed against his head once more, "Should you see the doctor?"
"I'm fine, Ikoku-baachan," Naruto told her. And got a whack on the head for his troubles, "Ow!"
"What did I say about calling me that?" Ikoku told him.
"Sorry, neechan," Naruto apologized. Aunt or not, Ikoku disliked being called baachan. Saying she was too young to be called that. The dynamics of the Usagi family were a blend of unique and typical everyday family events.
Case and point, "AH! Can't believe I forgot my lunch!" Usagi cried as she rushed back into the house. "Morning, Naruto-niichan!"
Naruto blinked as he observed his younger cousin go into the kitchen and search in vain for the packed bento box Ikoku normally made for her during the week, "Forgot it's Saturday?" whispered the blond. Ikoku merely put a finger to her lips and winked. Well played.
"Mama! Where's my lunch!? I can't go to school without it! I'll starve!"
"Yeah, cuz that's what's important when going to school. Airhead," Shingo commented.
"I heard that! Sailor V Ki-"
"No kicking in the house!" Kenji stopped his daughter.
"But…" Kenji's look silenced her and Shingo stuck out his tongue from behind his father's back, "Grrrr!"
"Usagi-chan, here," Naruto handed the pigtailed blond a few bills, "Buy yourself lunch."
"Waahh! I love you, Naruto-oniichan!" cried the thankful blonde. Now she wouldn't go hungry. Why couldn't Naruto have been her brother instead?
"Yes. Yes. I'm awesome. And you're gonna be late," Naruto told his cousin.
"Crap!" And out she went once more.
Waiting a few seconds, Naruto turned to the family and asked, "Any bets on when she'll realize those bills were fake?"
"Don't you mean if?" Shingo said.
"I'd like to give her some credit," the rest of the family laughed. Sweet and kind as she was, Usagi was unfortunately an airhead and klutz at times. And a crybaby.
"First off, I'd say a little after 9:00 AM but before 9:30. Secondly, back to what I asked: you're certain you're fine?" Ikoku had a look of worry, "Ever since the accident-"
"I'm fine, Ikoku-neechan, don't worry," Naruto reassured and perhaps he did so a little too quickly as the matriarch wasn't convinced, making him sigh, "If it'll make you feel better, I'll call Dr. Mizuno and see if she can squeeze me in tonight."
"Thank you," Ikoku expressed her gratitude by pulling in her much taller than her nephew for a hug, "I've already lost my sister, and I can't lose you either."
"I know," Ikoku told him that many on the scene of the accident that occurred well over two years ago claimed it had been a miracle he survived the incident that took his parents' lives. The exact circumstances were unknown to him, all Naruto could recall was a bright light, a scream and then he woke up almost a year later in the hospital.
But despite that, he remained in tip-top shape and his recovery had astounded every doctor involved. Patients in a coma, even short-term ones, developed muscle atrophy due to lack of use, taking months to fully recover from it. Naruto had no such symptoms. Although he did develop odd sleeping patterns and had trouble sleeping regularly, frequently having odd and vivid dreams. Dreams that didn't make sense and some of which he forgot the exact details. It got better as he started working out and the sleeping problems improved.
But the odd dreams remained.
"Morning!" A voice from outside the home called.
"Neechan!" Shingo went to greet the visitor but found himself running on air, having been hoisted off the ground by Naruto.
"Sit down ya little perv," Naruto scolded the pre-teen, putting him back into his chair and in his place with a whisper, "Move from that spot and I'll tell Usagi where you hide your stash."
Shingo gulped and did as he was told. Not like it was a request anyway. Mom and dad would scold him, his mom more so than his dad. Usagi would use it as blackmail to get him to do whatever she wanted.
"Door's unlocked!" no sooner than he finished saying that did the door open to reveal a teal-haired young teen, a year younger than Naruto, Kaoi Michiru. His classmate, best friend, and occasional workmate. Though aside from Usagi, the rest of the family believed they were more than that.
Something Naruto denied on many occasions, which didn't help when Michiru feigned to be the heartbroken maiden whenever he said that around them. The girl was a tease, a flirt, and a very good actress. In short, a minx.
She was also an immensely skilled violinist, frequently being asked to perform in high-class venues and concerts despite only being fifteen. As her closest friend, Naruto lost count of how many times he had attended her performances.
"You ready?" Michiru asked but one look at him had her say, "Bad dream again?"
Naruto nodded but said nothing.
"Make sure he calls Dr. Mizuno to set up an appointment," Ikoku told her.
"Will do."
"Traitor," Naruto muttered but his friend heard him regardless and merely laughed.
"Come on, whiskers," grabbing his arm, Michiru dragged him out of the house, "Let's go."
"Later baachan!" Naruto said just as the door closed behind him, Ikoku's shout being cut off when it did. Just another day.
"Jadeite has failed me once more," Beryl spoke, "If this continues he will need to be replaced. I cannot suffer ineptitude in my kingdom, not when we are so close to awakening Queen Matelia. But I won't suffer the incompetence of one general only to replace him with an equally incompetent one. Nephrite, you will be in charge of the next mission. "
"It shall be so, Queen Beryl," the man bowed.
Teleporting away to his secluded mansion on the outskirts of Tokyo, Nephrite took on the persona of his alter ego, Sanjouin Masoto, and began to consult the stars.
A firm believer in humanity's fate being guided by the stars, Nephrite didn't believe in Jadeite's half-cocked approach in targeting scores of humans to acquire as much energy as quickly as possible.
It was archaic, inefficient, and lazy.
Did it work? Oh, certainly in the beginning, even if the results weren't substantive, but it was enough to please Queen Beryl. That was before the Senshi became active. Now, because of their interference this strategy ended with an unsatisfactory amount of energy being collected, much of the energy that was collected ended up going back to the humans they came from. And Queen Beryl was growing impatient. Her power greatly weakened when Queen Serenity sealed away Metalia and the rest of the Dark Kingdom ten millennia ago at the cost of her life. For millennia, Metalia had sustained them with her own power at D-Point, until she no longer could and was forced into a deep slumber.
It was only until just recently that the seal that stopped them from leaving D-Point had weakened enough for them to become active again. But even then their army, their powers, and their capabilities were but a shell of what it once was. A consequence of being sealed forced them to cannibalize many Youma to survive once the dark energy of the Dark Kingdom became critically low. Back when Beryl had pledged herself to Metalia and first led their dark god's army against the Moon Kingdom the Youma were beings to be feared! Their current might was truly pathetic by comparison, they were weak to the powers of the Senshi. Especially Sailor Moon's.
By awakening Metalia they would grow stronger and more resilient than they presently were, for as Metalia grew stronger, so too would the byproducts of the Dark Ruler. And the Senshi would be of no match. But the energy required to revive their dark queen was immense, akin to powering up an entire country. And vastly more to restore if they hoped to restore her to full power. Collecting energy was the easy part, having been doing so for the better part of a year now they were getting close, but there were other conditions required according to Queen Beryl.
This was why locating the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou (Phantom Silver Crystal), was so crucial. The legendary artifact had been used by the Goddess of the Moon, Queen Serenity the First to create the Moon Kingdom, and its capabilities and the queens that came afterwards had made the Moon Kingdom the most powerful of the celestial kingdoms of its time.
A power that Metalia had desired. A power she craved. A power that could easily restore her to her former might within a heartbeat and then some! A power she failed to obtain in the end.
And, mostly importantly, a power they had no clue on how to find in their current state. A few leads had occurred every so often, but none had ultimately bore fruit in the end.
Which was why they needed to awaken Metalia once more, and time was of the essence. Three of the Senshi had returned. Fortunately, their strength was not as strong as their past lives, but even then it was enough for them to be a thorn in their side. And each day they would only grow stronger. Unlike the citizens of the Dark Kingdom who drew their strength given to them by Metalia and Beryl, the Sailor gained theirs from their planets and the moon itself. Which was why gathering energy was so important.
Each Shitenno had their own method of gathering energy. Jadeite went after mass audiences, using their greed against them. Zoizite and Kunzite liked to turn humans into Youma, sapping them of their life force while gaining a minion in the process. Nephrite preferred getting involved personally, taking on disguises, and going after a single individual with large amounts of energy.
"Why catch fish when there are whales nearby," one simply needed to know how and possess the means to accomplish it. And Nephrite had since developed a way to use the stars to do so. It was a gift few possessed. Having the celestial map, a device of his own creation, helped as him in this endeavor. That said, the right conditions needed to be met, and luck also played a factor. And patience. Lots, and lots of patience.
But even with the celestial map, it was not as easy as it sounded. Nephrite had spent countless hours looking up at the stars for days on end before he could find anything of substantial worth. And as hours passed without success, Nephrite did one final sweep before he was forced to leave, "Too far. Too weak. Too…what? This can't be right."
Could it?
Focusing, stretching out his senses, his inner eye, and very being, Nephrite couldn't believe what he was seeing. Three energies of great potential: one akin to a tsunami, the other a storm, and the last one, was vastly bigger, comparable to a maelstrom and a hurricane. Compared to it, the other energy holders were more akin to two frogs in a well.
The energy taken from these three would be more than enough to awaken Queen Metalia.
"But not with what I currently possess," even for the smaller energy signatures he doubted the Dark Kingdom's current devices would be strong enough to contain all their energies, let alone the other. This would require special preparations. And as he attempted to look closer Nephrite found his efforts interfered with.
"Begone!"
Suddenly back in his body with a jolt, and falling to the ground, Nephrite found his hand shaking, and left confounded by what just transpired. Never before had he experienced such a thing when using the celestial map.
Regardless of that, Nephrite did uncover one thing. A location. And luckily for him, Juban wasn't that far away. Unfortunately, he already had prior commitments for the night, ones that might make the necessity of these individuals irrelevant. But Nephrite didn't like leaving things to chance, and made a mental note to find them and appease his queen just in case.
(Sometime Later)
"Okay, thanks doc. See you tomorrow," Naruto hung up the phone, "There, ya happy?"
Michiru merely smiled, "I still can't get over how you can be so scared of the doctor's."
"Don't make me get the sock puppet," Naruto fired back.
"You said you got rid of that thing!" Michiru glared.
"I did," Naruto smirked when she developed an embarrassed blush, "When's this event again? I honestly, don't know why I'm going to this thing."
Sure, Princess of the D Kingdom, the world's largest source of precious was visiting Japan. And Naruto and Michiru were invited. Why he was invited he had no idea. Michiru he could understand; she had musical talent.
"7:30PM. And no backing out or I'll tell Ikoku-neechan," Michiru threatened.
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto waved her off just as he jumped to grab a hold of the metal beam above him and began his workout routine. However, realizing he had an audience, Naruto looked down at the ogling Michiru.
"Oh, don't stop on my account," Michiru, ever the flirt that she was, eyed him like piece of prized meat. Naruto had gotten used to it a long time ago, sorta, and he could give just as good when he wanted to. Haruka did the same, it was a game all three played.
Speaking of which, "How's Haruka? Haven't seen her in a while. She gonna be there?" Naruto asked, never once stopping his pull ups, the heavy weights attached to his waist clanging against one another as he did so.
"You know her. Racing from one place to another. And no, prior commitment at another event," was the teal haired teen's reply. It made sense. Haruka was a speed and adrenaline junkie.
"Lucky her. Still don't get racing cars, though," Naruto wasn't as rich as either of his friends. The money left over from his parent's death was substantial. It wasn't the ridiculous amount left by Michiru and Haruka's parents, to the point that he could afford his own helicopter - well, he probably could afford a small one, but he had no desire – or his own series of racing cars like Haruka and many apartment complexes but to each their own. He was very well off suffice to say.
"I'll be honest, and this doesn't leave this room, neither do I," Michiru replied. Give her string instruments, an ocean, a lake or some kind of water-based scenery along with some colours and a sketchbook and she was good to go.
"I know, you get your jollies knowing she's taking risks, rather than the race itself," Naruto stopped, and then began only using one arm.
"Anyone tell you you're too perceptive for your own good at times?" Michiru told him, her gaze never leaving Naruto's form as he did his newest exercise. She honestly didn't know how he did it.
Though she was an excellent swimmer - better than Naruto in terms of skill, though he could swim longer - Michiru wasn't as active or involved in fitness. At least not on the same level as Naruto or Haruka, and even then, Haruka's training intensity was tame when compared to Naruto's. Before Haruka transferred from her old school, Michiru had believed that her friend was just simply good a working out. It wasn't until Haruka told her that few to none in the world could do what Naruto was capable of, and fewer still could do it for even a fraction of the time he lasted.
And he had not even reached his prime. There was only going up for him. It was pretty darn close to superhuman many had said. But then again, she wasn't surprised. Where many went with the norm, Naruto did not. Never Naruto. Naruto didn't believe in barriers and more than once did he break away from the norm on so many levels, and not just physically. It was one of the reasons why they were so close.
"Heard you guys went out last week. Paris, right? How was it?"
"It was nice," was all she said, and she meant it. It had been nice.
"I'm sensing a but," sure enough.
"It's… hard to explain. We had a great time. Unforgettable. Amazing! But something just seemed…I don't know, off?"
"Off?"
"Off. Not in a bad way. Just that it felt like something was missing. I was …antsy, for some reason. Even Haruka."
"…"
"…?"
Naruto blinked, "You're right. That was difficult to understand," and then continued his workout.
"Jerk!" Michiru threw a pillow at him, which did little to stop him, "A fair maiden pours her heart out and you make fun?"
"When don't you pour your heart out, my lady?" Naruto flourished his free arm as though her were a gentleman from one of Michiru's chick flicks.
It earned him a giggle. Few could get away with moments like this. Naruto was one, Haruka the other. But then, Naruto, Michiru and Haruka were close.
Though if asked Haruka and Naruto would admit they were closer to Michiru than each other, very close. Michiru had been his first friend since he woke up from his coma and moved to Juban after all. Due to his foreign looks and incredible height, coupled with his unnatural physical talent, few wanted to approach Naruto, thinking him a thug. A gaijin, he was called in hushed tones.
It was a welcoming if unique relationship they had. They flirted, they got close, there were tender moments between each out, even a kiss on the cheek as well, but nothing more than that.
Naruto had to admit to herself that there were times where it looked like they'd cross over to being more, and it had happened more than once. But they never officially crossed that line. The same thing applied to Haruka. Much like with Naruto, Michiru and Haruka flirted, got close, and they had their moments, too.
Again, they never officially crossed the line, and none of them could explain why. The latest date between the two girls proved that.
It was odd how such a relationship between all three worked. Haruka was purely a woman's woman. Michiru went both ways, and Naruto by contrast was the only straight one of the trio.
Although there was that one Halloween, and Michiru giggled at the memory.
"What's up?" Naruto asked.
"Just remembering a particular Halloween prank you pulled. You know, the one where you embarrassed Haruka?"
"Hey, she flirted with me," Naruto defended himself.
"You kissed."
"She initiated it! How was I to know she'd do that?"
"Well, you were also dressed up as a woman, Naruto. A rather attractive and extremely convincing woman, I might add," Michiru giggled again, "and you danced quite well, too."
Naruto shrugged, "You either go all out or go home," Naruto never did half-assed pranks. Although, in hindsight, this one did get away from him in the end. Naruto had tried to warn Haruka before her lips made contact with his. When she learned it was him she wanted to run him over with her car. Luckily for him, she got over it. Sorta.
"Fairly certain Haruka would have liked to have done the latter if she wasn't the host," Michiru had not let Haruka forget it, nor would she ever, much to her embarrassment.
The blond woman still couldn't believe that she had been attracted to Naruto, at least physically, of all people. It had her briefly question a few things for a bit before she reaffirmed that she was a ladies' lady. And Michiru certainly could attest to that. But Michiru knew that Haruka did have a taste for certain women: tall and blondes were two of her preferences.
And Naruto was indeed tall for a sixteen-year-old adolescent. At 5'11" he was a giant compared to most of his age. And incredibly athletic to boot. His academics had never been the best, Michiru was the brains of the trio - not that neither Haruka nor Naruto weren't intelligent, but it was clear she was the smartest of them - but he wasn't the worst either. On certain subjects, he was almost as bad as his cousin, while in others he was better than even herself and some of the teachers; something that confused many.
Where Naruto truly excelled however was any form of gymnastics and sport he participated in, rarely losing a game and being called a stamina demon despite being in a coma for almost a year. Having broken previously established records both at Juban Middle School and Juban High School, and other schools in the district by a wide margin. His level of stamina was unheard of and baffled doctors and well-established athletes alike. Tests had been done to see if drugs had been used to enhance his performance.
Everything came back negative.
His skill as a mixed martial artist was widely recognized too, having represented Japan on a national level despite his age, much like she did as a violinist, and easily dominating the opposition. During a charity event four months ago, Naruto had gone up against one of the best fighters of Japan of their division group, a man five years his senior. No one had expected Naruto to win, let alone in the first round, though many claimed his opponent did so purposely for the sake of the event, a claim Michiru and Haruka didn't believe and others also had a hard time believing when they watched the recording. Especially when his opponent never got back up.
His aggressive and unpredictable style earned him the moniker Juban no Tokijin (Demon Fighting God of Juban).
Michiru knew many were looking to scout him once he graduated high school, not like money would be a problem for him anytime soon.
Being dubbed the giant of Juban Highschool, along with his impressive physique, unique exotic looks, mainly his blond hair and whisker-like birthmarks – many of which doubted Naruto was even Japanese because of them – Naruto, much like Michiru, had been given a job as a part-time model and on occasion would travel abroad. The amount wasn't anywhere compared to professional or full-time models, but it was easily more than what most in high school could ever dream of making and would allow a very comfortable life.
Some of what he earned he tried giving to his extended family, to which they refused - something Usagi and Shungo complained about - though they finally, if reluctantly, accepted when it was clear that the house needed a few additions due to their home being cramped.
Michiru knew he had enough to own a large house, heck perhaps even a small high-end apartment complex. The studio apartment they were in was given to them by the company, which was mostly used by Michiru and Haruka whenever they wanted to get away, as Naruto seldom used it except for when they hung out or after a photo shoot as he preferred to stay with his family. It had led to a few inconveniences in the beginning with some pushy reporters, of which Haruka and Michiru tried helping out.
Unfortunately, it only made things even more hectic. The moment the press learned of the close friendship all three had, all three had been dubbed the Sanshu no Jingi (Three Sacred Treasures) of Juban High School. Michiru for her once-in-a-generation skill as a violinist that was well known throughout Japan; Haruka for having the greatest wealth, track skill - to which she was captain of the girl's track, and the only one who came close to matching Naruto's speed - and being a famous race car driver; Naruto for his martial arts and athleticism that was very much recognized on a national level.
All three were recommended to be transferred to Mugen Academy – a highly selective and elitist private school for gifted individuals – because of their outstanding qualities. This was despite Naruto's poorer grades in certain subjects.
"Anyway, that's enough showing off for one day. Shower and get dressed," Michiru had to be there early.
"We've got time," Naruto told her.
"Naruto."
Naruto didn't have to look at her to know she was giving him her no-nonsense. Sadly, it was quite effective.
"Fine," Naruto relented, and Michiru smiled victoriously, "But I'm driving."
The smile didn't last long.
"Shit."
"I hate you," Michiru grumbled as she got off the blond's Kawasaki ninja bike, happy to have her feet back on solid ground even if it was on shaky legs. Sports cars were one thing, at least they had seat belts and offered more protection. Even then she held on for dear life.
"You wound me, my lady," Naruto swooned, heartbroken by her remark, "Nice hair by the way."
"Grrr," Michiru smacked him on the arm, only to pout when Naruto merely danced out of arm's reach. Fortunately, neither wore their evening wear so nothing was ruined.
"Halt! IDs and invitations?"
"Kaio Michiru, and-"
"Oh! You're Uzumaki Naruto, the Tokijin! Big fan!" One of the guards had stars in his eyes.
"ID?" the other guard didn't.
"Do you not know what this kid can do?"
"Don't care. ID," he asked once more.
"Say that after you wake up in the hospital without knowing how you got there."
"He can try."
"He doesn't have to try."
"He just wants to get in!" Naruto told the two and showed his invitation and ID.
"…Try not to cause trouble," the guard with a stick up his ass handed his effects back.
Naruto made a mental note to prank the jerk's ass if he had the time.
"Be good. No pranks," Michiru ordered.
"Damn it," she knew him too well. Both went their separate ways to get changed and in Michiru's case, to get herself ready with the rest of the musicians that were hired.
A couple of hours passed and the event was well underway, and Naruto watched as Michiru played along with the rest of the orchestra. Even with the mask she wore, a mask he and others at this event wore, he saw that her eyes were closed but her demeanor was relaxed compared to some of the other players.
"Excuse me?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to dance?" A young woman asked him.
Naruto respectfully declined, "Sorry, promised someone we'd share our first dance of the night."
"Lucky girl," said the young woman, disappointment evident in her voice.
Naruto honestly lost count of how many times he was approached and asked for a dance tonight. Then again, he did draw attention to himself with his white tuxedo, a stark contrast to the black ones worn by the other men at the event.
"Well, at least you're not wearing your orange one," Naruto spotted his uncle - not surprising given he was an editor for a big newspaper company - coming this way.
"Tried. Michiru wouldn't let me," was Naruto's response.
"Remind me the thank her," Kenji told him, and Naruto would remind himself to prank his uncle for that, "Enjoying yourself?"
"It's okay," Naruto was being honest. It wasn't unpleasant, but this wasn't his scene, "Meet the princess yet?"
"Not until a little later," was Kenji's reply, "By the way, did you see a young woman with blonde pigtailed hair?"
"You mean Usagi?" sure sounded like his cousin. What was she doing her?
"I thought so too, but-"
"Thank you, everyone. Please give a big round of applause to the musicians and their incredible performance," a woman announced, and the hall was filled with clapping hands, "The orchestra will now take a short recess. In the meantime, please enjoy yourselves and don't go too far."
Watching Michiru put away her violin, Naruto knew she spotted him, even with a mask on she'd recognized him, as she came his way and excused himself from his uncle, "Having fun?"
"Well, the music's not half bad," he complimented, "You look like you're enjoying yourself?"
"I'm in my element aren't I?" Michiru's smile showed just how content she was. It was no secret her dream was to become a professional violinist who was renowned worldwide. She was already well-known in Japan but had few chances to play overseas.
"Like a fish in water."
"Haruka!" Surprised by the unexpected but welcoming outcome, Michiru hugged the short-haired sandy blonde, her tuxedo cutting a handsome figure, "What are you doing here? Didn't you have an event?"
"Naruto and I wanted to surprise you. His idea," Haruka told her.
"He did?" Wasn't he the one who- "You tricked me!"
"Well, I am good at pranks," Naruto laughed as she swatted his arm, "Careful, this suit's pricey."
"It certainly makes you stand out."
"Says the lady in a suit," and judging by the not-so-subtle glances from other onlookers he was right. Though given her looks it was safe to assume that many assumed she was a man.
Many of those who knew or suspected otherwise didn't hide their disapproval. Homosexuality in Japan wasn't outright banned, but discrimination was still very much alive in many parts of it, and it was expected of them to keep it behind closed doors or conceal it while in public.
Naruto didn't understand that.
"At least I'm making this look good," Haruka smirked.
"At least I can pull off wearing a dress and turn heads," Naruto smirked back.
"Now, now. No need to fight," Michiru told them.
"We're not fighting," both blonds simultaneously said, perhaps a little too loudly if the looks they got were anything. Both blushed while Michiru laughed at their predicament.
"You planned that didn't you," Haruka accused.
"Me? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Well, played milady," Naruto bowed, and Michiru curtsied in return. And then realized what she had just done.
"Damn it," it was now Michiru's turn to blush as Haruka laughed.
"Better luck next time," Naruto grinned; Michiru blushed even harder.
Before anything else could be said - and so engrossed were they in their conversation that they nearly missed the announcer finishing up her speech and a man appeared on the stage. It was apparent he was about to sing.
"Who's that?" Naruto asked, the man looked vaguely familiar.
"Some singer from England, I think. Now, you owe me a dance, remember?"
"Save one for me," Haruka left the two to find her own dance partner.
"Lead the way, milady," Naruto offered her his arm which Michiru gladly took. Both bowed to one another as once they reached the dance floor and the man started singing.
I can remember when we walked together
Sharing a love I thought would last forever
Moonlight to show the way so we can follow
Waiting inside her eyes was my tomorrow
"Wish I knew everything he was saying," Naruto commented, his English was…passable if one wanted to be kind.
"English never was your strongest suit," Michiru poked fun.
Then something changed her mind, her kisses told me
I had no loving arms to hold me
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Knowing that it's cloudy above
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man without love
"Thank you."
"Hmm?"
"For the surprise," Michiru elaborated, her head resting on his chest, "Thank you."
"Anytime," Naruto said back, his head on top of hers.
I cannot face this world that's fallen down on me
So if you see my girl, please send her home to me
Tell her about my heart that's slowly dying
Say I can't stop myself from crying
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Knowing that it's cloudy above
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man … WITHOUT LOVE!
When the song ended the hall was filled with the sound of clapping hands and applause, Michiru and Naruto included. Then the night turned sour.
"Kya!"
"Hime-sama! Get a hold of yourself!"
Looking at the cause of the commotion, Naruto and everyone else watched as Princess D barrelled through the crowd, knocking people down without a care in the world, holding a small jewelry box tightly to her chest.
Naruto and Michiru were surprised when they saw the guards rush her and attempt to contain the seemingly out-of-control princess without causing any harm. Only for some to be knocked back several feet, while others went crashing into the nearby tables, pillars, and guests.
"The hell?" It didn't take a genius to know something was wrong. Just by looking at her, it was clear that there was no way the princess had the build necessary to pull off that kind of move. Seeing her move this way, Naruto moved in front of Michiru and suddenly grabbed the princess in a bear hug to prevent her from doing anything else.
The princess struggled but Naruto's strength proved superior, but even then it was taking his all just to keep her from escaping his grasp.
"Let go! Anyone that gets in my way we'll be offered up as a sacrifice to our Great Ruler!"
"The fuck?!" Great Ruler? Sacrifice?
"I said let go!" The princess ordered with a snarl, struggling to break free.
Naruto denied her, "Not a chance in hell, princess."
Facing her captor, Princess suddenly developed a shocked and then nasty unwelcoming smile, "Very well, then. Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Say what now?
"HAAAAAAHHHHHH"
An ominous dark wave exploded from the princess' form and suddenly began enveloping everyone in the hall. Many fell to the ground the moment it made contact with them. Naruto, however, gritted his teeth in an effort to stave off the waves of lethargy that began sapping away his energy, only he and Michiru as well as Haruka remained awake, but the latter two had since fallen to their knees.
"Impressive! You'll do quite nicely!"
There was no time to ponder on exactly what she meant by that before an aura rose from the princess, took the shape of a man, and delivered a strong blow to the head that had him releasing his grip involuntarily. The blow had him rolling a good dozen feet away from her. The aura soon returned inside her body and the princess took that opportunity to flee the scene just as three new presences entered the room.
"Naruto!" He heard a voice call out his name, a familiar voice. Usagi?
"Sailor Moon! Now's not the time!"
"But!"
"She's right they'll be fine! We have to go!"
The sound of retreating footsteps was all Naruto could hear until they were no longer audible. The blond forced himself back up, his legs akin to lead, a sensation he had not felt since his last triathlon. But that didn't matter. He had to check on Michiru and Haruka.
Due to her being closest, Naruto checked up on Haruka first and breathed a sigh of relief, "Wha…what…" Haruka barely had any energy to finish her sentence.
"Hang on," Naruto grunted, carrying her firemen style and taking her out of the hall. Whatever stunt the princess pulled apparently extended further if the passed-out guards outside the room were any indicator.
Each step chipped away at his stamina more and more and sweat poured from his flushed face, his head akin to a tomato. But Naruto didn't stop and forced himself to move. His friends and family needed him. Fortunately, the effects of whatever that wave was were lessened the moment they arrived outside.
"HEY!" Naruto shouted at the guards standing at the gate.
The guards took one look at him and Haruka and came to his aid, "What happened?!" One asked while the other took Haruka from him.
"An attack. People were knocked out. Call an ambulance!" Naruto told them and rushed back towards the embassy building.
"Hey, wait! Stop!"
Naruto didn't stop as he rushed back inside. Michiru would be next since he had no idea where his uncle was after they parted. The blond gritted his teeth again as the waves of exhaustion began working their magic once more.
Finding Michiru quickly enough, Naruto grabbed her in his arms and lightly shook her to see if she was okay, "Michiru?"
"…"
The lack of reply had him shake his friend a little harder, "Michiru!" please no.
But fortune was kind, "Na-ru-to?"
Naruto released a sigh of relief, "I'm here," he said.
"So…tired," Michiru could barely speak. Hell, she could barely whisper. But she was alive.
"Hang in there. I'll get you out," he promised.
"Sorry to disappoint."
Across the dance floor, Naruto watched in disbelief as a dark portal formed, and from it came a man in a dark grey soldier uniform.
"What the? Who are you," Naruto asked, his instincts telling him this guy was bad news.
"Who I am is of no concern to you. While Nephrite deals with the Senshi, I'll help myself to the spoils he left me," thrusting his hand out, Naruto covered Michiru's body with his own and felt his body going airborne, his back felt as though it were struck by a steel beam, and the air escaping his lungs.
The pain turned to agony when his back crashed into a wall, cracks forming on the structure and most likely his ribs. If he was tired before then this stunt had his stamina shot to hell. But Naruto never once let go of Michiru.
"Ho! I'm impressed! You're a special one aren't you," the sick freak laughed, and Naruto glared at the pompous ass. Were circumstances different, nothing would have made him happier than to cave that pretty little face of his in.
But Naruto had other, much more important priorities. Through sheer willpower, Naruto rose to his feet, Michiru in his arms, and moved to hightail it out of here.
"Oh, yes, very special indeed. You'll do quite nicely," Jadeite had other plans, "Come out! The evils that serve our Great Ruler!"
A stunned Naruto watched as the floor crumpled into fine dust that rose and swirled before forming into two vaguely humanoid shapes. The blond didn't bother sticking around to know what was about to happen next and ran for it!
"After him!" Naruto heard and the sound of scrapping on the floor echoed behind him.
Naruto was fast, very fast, and in the right conditions, he could maintain a running speed of thirty-one kilometers per hour for a solid hour, a world record. His sprinting speed was almost double that and few could catch up to him.
But these weren't optimal conditions, Naruto wasn't in optimal condition, and what chased him wasn't human by any means at all. The blond barely ran for ten seconds before whatever was chasing him backhanded him into the men's room.
Through the wall.
Naruto by now could hardly breathe, his eyes heavier than he ever felt them to be, the left one blurry and its vision impaired. Blood fell from his mouth, he was fairly certain he was missing a tooth, or three. And something was piercing his side and back. Deeply.
"Pity, I was hoping for more. Disappointing really."
With his good eye, Naruto looked on as a spindly, canine-like being entered the damaged room. Naruto went to move Michiru closer to him.
"Oh, what have we here," that is until he realized she was no longer in his arms. Naruto could only look on as the creature hoisted his friend by the throat and squeezed.
"Let … go."
"Ooh, this one's brimming with energy," materializing a cylindrical device from god knows where the device began to glow dark, tendrils branching out from it and latching on to Michiru's exhausted form. The act caused her great discomfort and filled the cylinder with glowing red energy.
"Let 'er go."
"Unbelievable! It's already at one-fourth and still rising! Half full already! How's this possible?"
"Let her go!"
"Full already? Ah, who cares! Jadeite-sama will be pleased!"
Naruto, through sheer willpower, coupled with an unimaginable stubbornness, stood up on barely working legs, blood spilling from his body like a faucet, and lunged, "Let. Her. Go!"
The punch landed on the creature's face by some miracle and a bruise began to form as it dropped Michiru and whatever the hell that device it was using was.
The Youma found itself on the receiving end of the enraged blond's ferocity. Blow after blow thundered upon its face and chest, and when it tried clawing at Naruto's throat, he severed its fingers with its teeth. It was painful for both human and evil being.
"Arrgh! You bastard!" Shouted the angry and hate-filled Youma, "Die!"
"You first!"
Blows were struck by both parties, both were bloody, but even with his monstrous stamina it eventually became clear that Naruto's injuries and subsequent blood loss and whatever that wave was finally proved too much even for him. A clawed fist to the chest from another Youma sent him crashing into the wall where he was left embedded, and even then Naruto tried forcing himself to stand despite his life-threatening injuries.
Having witnessed the scene, Jadeite couldn't help but whistle, "Impressive," and Jadeite was being honest. His hunch that the human before him being special had been spot on.
No ordinary being could face off against a Youma, especially in the hellish condition this one was in. If he lived he'd have to take him back to the Dark Kingdom. Queen Beryl would be intrigued and more than likely welcome having such a powerful soldier on her side. It was clear that the amount of energy he had was unheard of. Luck was on his side this night. It would more than make up for his past failures.
Grabbing the device that had the girl's energy - a full cylinder, too! - had the device sent away to the Dark Kingdom. Impressive indeed. Two birds for the price of one it seemed.
Fortune was kind to him this night.
But Jadeite had other priorities at the moment, especially after hearing a shudder from above, "Damn. Sounds like Nephrite's having trouble with the Senshi. Take him back to the Dark Kingdom. Alive."
The Youma scowled but didn't disobey its master, and took the new device he conjured for it, "As you command, Jadeite-sama."
"What about the girl?" Naruto's heart stopped when he heard this.
"Continue collecting energy from the girl. If she dies, she dies," Jadeite told them. And got a wade of blood-covered phlegm on the back of his uniform.
"Damn it," Naruto had been aiming for his head.
Brimming with anger, Jadeite decided that Naruto's suffering wasn't finished just yet. With a wave of his hand, Naruto felt a minuscule amount of relief. It wasn't not enough to take away the pain but it was much more manageable. Unfortunately, he also found himself unable to move, "Feel free to rough him up a bit before you do. Just make sure he lives. I've no doubt Queen Beryl will be very interested in him."
Sadistic bastard. So that's why he healed him.
The Youma had an evil grin on their faces when they heard that, "It will be done," and with that their master was gone and the two humans were left at their mercy. Tossing the energy collector to its fellow Youma, the injured being moved towards Naruto, its intent evident. And despite his efforts, Naruto's body finally reached its breaking point.
"Get up!" His body refused. He watched as the approaching Youma extended its nails to the length of daggers.
"Get up damn it!" His arm twitched but that was it. And the Youma holding the cylinder began collecting energy from Michiru once more. Her face showed her discomfort as each moment passed.
"God fucking damn it, Naruto! Get your ass up and move!" Michiru was gonna die if he did nothing. Someone, do something for fuck sakes!
"There's no need to shout."
Blinking, Naruto wondered if he was hearing things, "…Who said that? Where are you? Help Michiru!"
"To the first: a friend. To the second: the less you know, the better. And alas, I cannot help your friend. Now shut up and listen! Time is quite limited. If this goes on, your friend will die. And so will you if they take you to the Dark Kingdom. And I can't have that."
"Why do you c-"
"I said we don't have time, idiot! Just tell me this. Do you want to save her?"
"Now who's wasting time with dumb questions."
"A simple yes would have sufficed. Very well. Swear yourself."
"Swear?"
"Swear yourself to me. Swear your life to me, and she will be saved. If not the girl will die and you will suffer an even worse fate."
"Swear myself?" Like, swear his soul or something?
"Do you swear?"
"…Yes."
"And do you swear to protect the travelers of the night and do vengeance upon those who would do them harm? Do you swear to eradicate the enemies of the Light, those who serve Chaos, and end them forevermore?"
Naruto never hesitated, "Yes, damn it!" If it meant protecting Michiru he'd go to hell and back a thousand times over.
"Then rise. Rise. And live again. Rise as my fist of vengeance. Rise, as the Guardian of the Night. Rise as my…Moon Knight!"
"Burning Mandala!"
Nephrite dodged the flying orbs of fire, knowing from last time that Mars' fire attacks weren't to be underestimated. They were strong enough to have overpowered Jadeite's cryokinetic ones and nearly resulted in his death for underestimating the newly awakened senshi. Instead, he opted to use his magic to enable himself to move more quickly. Out of all the Shitenno, he was the most proficient at using this, and it was more than enough for him to move too quickly for the flaming orbs to touch him, and any other attacks the senshi had sent his way.
"He's too fast!" Mars declared, out of all the current senshi she had the most magical energy, likely due to her training as a Miko but she was starting to run low, "Mercury! Give me-AHH!"
"Mars!" Sailor Moon looked and spotted the source of her fellow Senshi's pain: ominous needles were embedded in her legs. A shout from Mercury showed she had also been struck by the man's needles
"Mercury! Waahh!" Sailor Moon by some miracle dodged the ones meant for her, but she lost her balance in the process.
"Tut, tut," chided Nephrite.
"Tut this! Akur-Uhhhggg," Mars saw her vision spin and forced her to support herself with one arm.
"Mars! It's the needles! They're imbued with negative energy! You need to remove them," Mercury declared.
"Shush you!" Jadeite suddenly appeared and kicked the downed Mars into Mercury sending both sprawling.
Now there were two of them to deal with.
Sailor Moon tried paying him back twofold with her Moon Tiara Boomerang but a simple wave from Jadeite's hand stopped it in its tracks and then a wave from the other sent her flying into Tuxedo Kamen, who skidded back from the blow.
"Sailor Moon! You alright?" Tuxedo Kamen asked.
"Owie!" Was her reply.
"Jadeite? What are you doing here?" Nephrite asked, his fellow general of the Dark Kingdom appearing on the same rooftop as he.
"Regaining our queen's favor," Jadeite materialized two energy collectors. One looked mediocre at best, while the other was filled to the brim with potent energy, "While you were busy playing dress up, I helped myself to the spoils you so gracefully left behind. And you?"
"Tch," Nephrite looked again, unwilling to admit this had all been for nothing, and annoyed that Jadeite had stolen his prey.
"So, it was a bust, huh? Queen Beryl's not gonna be happy~"
"How careless of you, Nephrite."
The three Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen, and Luna watched as two others appeared alongside Nephrite and Jadeite in a shroud of darkness. One possessed silver long hair and tan skin, while the other had auburn hair tied in a ponytail.
"Who...who are you!" Sailor Moon asked the quartet.
"I'm Kunzite, a servant who serves our Great Ruler!" spoke the silver-haired one.
"Zoisite," said the ponytailed one.
"Nephrite," the brown-haired one said.
"Jadeite, but then you already knew that," spoke the blond.
"As for who were are? We are the Shitenno of the Dark Kingdom. And as for what we want? Well, you already know that."
"The Silver Crystal," Luna snarled. Her suspicions were correct. Queen Beryl was back! She had hoped only the lower-rank members of the Dark Kingdom had awakened. Her hopes by the revelation.
"Correct. And we will get it at any co-"
CRASH!
All four Shitenno jolted from their spot as the roof section they stood on caved in and shuddered, while Mars and Mercury on the balcony ducked as best they could to avoid something crashing near them at high speed.
"What!" the four generals of the Dark Kingdom watched as a panicking Youma, one that Jadeite recognized as his own, screamed in terror, more like a shriek really, as it tried lifting itself out of the hole it was stuck in.
Only for something to forcefully drag it back in against its will, "No! NO! HELP ME!"
Its nails scrapped on roof tiles, leaving rows of ruined tiles and brick to prevent whatever was dragging it back down. Its efforts were for naught, and it fell back into the building kicking and screaming until its cries could no longer be heard
All who witnessed this could only ponder on what had just transpired until a cloaked, hooded being in white bandage-like clothing bulldozed through the wall beneath the Shitenno faster than they could blink.
Its speed was faster than anything all those present had ever seen that wasn't in a movie or comic. The Senshi and the Shitenno watched as he approached the last Youma
"N-no! Please! MER-AAAHHH!"
Its pleas were ignored as it was kicked to the ground, its chest caved in from the sheer force, much like the deck below it. The Youma vainly tried forcing air to enter its now destroyed lungs before a powerful fist thundered onto its face. The blow resulted in one of its eyes being destroyed along with much of its teeth, the rest went flying from its bloody broken muzzle.
A second blow pulverized its head into ground meat, killing it, but one last blow was struck, one that ended with a loud audible explosion. The head had vaporized and the explosion came from the surrendering stone deck behind it, a hole greater than the size of a man-cover in its place. The sound had the Senshi flinching and left Jadeite bewildered, Nephrite and Zoisite confused, and Kunzite admittedly scared once he saw the being's glowing white eyes and his mind finally registered who this was.
So focused was their attention on the dying Youma that Jadeite registered the pain coming from his leg too late. A crescent metal moon deeply embedded into the bloodied limb and playing havoc with his balance and mind. A cry of agony escaped his throat.
"GAHH!"
"Jadeite!"
Thrusting a hand outwards in retaliation, Jadeite instead found his head swirling, the world spinning and his magic failing to heed his call.
"W-what's happened to-"
A knee suddenly striking Jadeite's head cut the thought short and sent him skywards well over a story high, and likely he would have gone further were it not for before the cloak extended, becoming a coiling rope that wrapped around the damaged leg and slammed the general of the Dark Kingdom back to onto the roof, the pavement caving from the force. Jadeite was made of much sterner stuff than the Youma, but the pain he registered remained intense all the same.
"Moon Knight-sama!"
Moon Knight? "Luna?" Sailor Moon asked.
"I'd given up hope he'd be reincarnated," Luna spoke in a daze, "This… this changes much."
"Luna!" Usagi's shout got the moon cat out of it and also left her ears ringing.
"Nya! Was that necessary!?"
"Says the one who was spaced out!" the Senshi defended herself, "Who is he?"
"An ally… I hope," was Luna's cryptic reply.
"Hope?" Was he an ally or wasn't he?
"It's complicated. But I can assure you of one thing, even if he's not our ally, he most certainly isn't an ally of the Dark Kingdom," Luna was dead certain of that.
"Okay, so not an ally but not an enemy either," that was good…right?
Boom!
"Incredible. Look how powerful he is," Mercury commented. Her goggles registered Jadeite's vitals and they were all over the place. The other Shitenno showed spikes of heightened adrenaline caused by fear. Kunzite's vital being surprisingly higher than the battered Jadeite's.
"He can fly too!" Sailor Moon commented, and sure enough, Mercury saw him use his moon-shaped cape as a means to fly, "Oh, come on that's not fair!"
Mars agreed, but ignored Sailor Moon's rant, "Luna, just how powerful are we talking?"
Before Luna could answer, the group watched as Jadeite went crashing into Nephrite, both going ass over head, Jadeite's arm twisting at an odd and clearly uncomfortable angle judging by his cries. Kunzite and Zoisite attacked him simultaneously with fire and darkness but Moon Knight merely used his cloak to shield himself from their elemental attack.
"Very powerful, as you can see. One that, I have no doubt, would have thwarted Queen Beryl's first invasion had he not been away from the moon."
"He's that powerful?" Mars couldn't help but ask, a stupid question when she saw the devastation he rained down upon the Shitenno.
"I don't know the exact extent of his strength. But it was said that without him the Silver Millennium might not have come to pass had he not dealt with its enemies."
"Gahh!"
"It's out!" Nephrite shouted, a bloody metal crescent in his hand.
"Now!" they heard Kunzite declare. All four Shitenno had their arms stretched out. But rather than aim at the one causing them problems, they aimed at the embassy instead!
"RUN!" Mars declared, getting a glimpse of what was to come.
"Shitenno Ikari (Wrath of the Four Heavenly Kings)!" the spell, their most powerful, a combination of various elements merging into one, left devastation in its wake. The roof of the embassy was utterly destroyed, along with much of the balcony, it would take quite some time before repairs were done.
The only consolation was damage would have been made worse had the Knight not put himself between the blast, his cloak fanning out like wings as a white aura shielded the group from the worst of it. But while he bore the brunt of it, the strength behind the spell was enough to send him crashing through the building.
"Retreat!" Kunzite ordered, and all four battered Shitenno disappeared. But they'd be back. Of that the Senshi were certain.
"Oh, no. Princess D!"
"Mercury!" Sailor Moon wondered what was wrong.
But as she, Mars, Luna, and Tuxedo Kamen approached a shaking Mercury they knew the answer. The princess was dead.
"Luna. Is…is there-" a tear-streaked Usagi tried asking.
Luna sadly shook her head, "Your power over the light will allow you to do many things, Sailor Moon. Bringing back those on the break of death is one, but bringing back the dead isn't," only the wielder of the Silver Crystal had that kind of power. And that in itself costs the user's life. A life for a life.
Needless to say, a distraught Sailor Moon buried her face in a sympathetic Tuxedo Kamen's chest, while Mars comforted an equally upset Mercury.
Luna could understand. Tonight had been their first failure and ended in the death of an innocent. And not just any innocent, but a royal one. But Luna knew that wars weren't won without loss. And this was war. The Senshi would have to accept that loss would be unavoidable. Minimized yes, but unavoidable nonetheless.
"Wait! Naruto-niisan!"
"Sailor Moon!"
Luna and the other Senshi watched as the first Senshi to awaken rushed back into the heavily damaged embassy, followed quickly by Tuxedo Kamen. Mars and Mercury and Luna hot on their tail, the moon cat not trusting the masked man to be alone with her ward. In the end, they were unable to find Sailor Moon's cousin. Instead, they found that Princess D wasn't the only casualty of the night.
"What happened!" Beryl thundered from her throne. Of all the sights she believed she'd see tonight, her four generals beaten and battered was not one of them.
"Complications arose, Queen Beryl. We barely survived," spoke a battered Kunzite, the bloodied Shitenno bowed low, despite the pain and injuries.
"And why should I forgive you?" asked the Queen of the Dark Kingdom.
"My Queen," Beryl turned slightly to look upon Jadeite, of the four he looked the worst, but even then he produced an energy container bursting with energy. With a wave of her hand, Beryl summoned the device towards her, her face alight as she sensed the incredible amount it contained.
"Consider your past failures forgiven, Jadeite," Beryl rewarded, handing off the vial to her personal Youma, Thetis. The blue-skinned Youma's gaze lingered on Jadeite's form. It was no secret to Beryl that her personal Youma harbored affections for the Shitenno. But when she dismissed the Youma she left without question.
"I live to serve," Jadeite thanked, and bit back a grimace as his injuries flared up. He'd be forced to use the other energy vial to heal himself.
"And the crystal?" Beryl inquired, looking at Nephrite, "What of it?"
"A dead end," Nephrite informed her, "The treasure they boast about being nothing more than an ordinary gem," a very large gem, but not a supernatural one.
Beryl frowned but it hadn't been the first time they followed a false lead. At the very least, they didn't come empty-handed. But it also begged the question, "What happened? Have one of the Outer Senshi awakened?" the Inner Senshi, the guardians of the princess, were strong but even at their full might - aside from Venus who had greatly injured her with the now destroyed Silver Crystal Sword - they had posed little threat when Beryl led the war against the Moon Kingdom.
The Outer Senshi did and had they returned - even weakened - she knew even her Shitenno would struggle against them. They were more powerful than the Inner Senshi combined. It was the reason why they were the first line of defense during the Silver Millennium.
"Worse, My Queen. The Moon Knight. He's back," Kunzite revealed.
All were silent and none dared to move or speak as they processed what had just been said and what it meant.
"Im-impossible! If the Moon Knight were back, you wouldn't be standing before me!" He couldn't be back! He just couldn't.
"I wish it weren't so, my Queen," and Kunzite truly did, "We're alive only because the Knight likely just awoke. But we have proof."
"Show me!" Was her command.
Nodding to Nephrite, the man produced a bloodied metal object. A crescent-shaped moon. The Youma that were present backed away from Nephrite as much as possible, and even Beryl couldn't help but flinch. Many had fallen to this weapon.
Before anything else could be said, a tremor shook the room, and before Queen Beryl and the Shitenno did a dark pillar with a red spherical mass at its center take shape in the middle of the throne, and a voice not heard in ages was heard, "The knight …posses a threat to … our plans."
"My Queen," Beryl prostrated herself before the Dark Ruler, along with everyone else in the room, "What is your command."
"…Caution," she spoke.
"Queen Metalia?"
"The knight … is not to be … underestimated," Metalia said, "His power was second… only to Queen Serenity's. He …was their shield… and their sword…"
Queen Beryl knew that all too well. Their invasion of the Moon Kingdom only succeeded because the Moon Knight had been absent. By the time he returned, it had been too late. Her dear beloved Prince Endymion, dead. The Inner Senshi, dead. Their little whore of a princess, dead. And the Moon Knight left grief-stricken but rageful. It was only due to the interference of Queen Serenity that the ultimate goal of their plan had failed.
"The Knight…must die," by the sound of her voice it was clear to Berul that the Dark Ruler was still heavily weakened.
"My Queen, you've only just awakened. Don't push yourself," Queen Beryl implored.
"I am strong enough for this!" Metalia declared, chastising Queen Beryl.
"Forgive me," Beryl prostrated herself even lower. Beryl might be her chosen, and Metalia favored her greatly, but even then there were limits.
"My Queen, I believe I have a solution to our problems," Nephrite announced.
"Speak!"
Nephrite knew he spoke out of turn, and would likely die if he wasted their Dark Ruler's time, "I've located an enormous source of energy in Juban. Three in fact! More than enough to restore you to half your original power."
"… Are you… certain?"
"I have seen them. I have looked upon them with my own eyes. It's merely a matter of locating them, and developing the means to obtaining them," Nephrite declared.
Silence reigned for what seemed like an eternity before Metalia spoke once more.
"You… will fail…" Metalia declared as a matter of fact, "…the knight …will stop you…And you will… lose."
Nephrite lowered his head, knowing she spoke true, and all he had said had not been enough to appease their Dark Ruler. Feeling a surge of power, Nephrite closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable. But nothing was done to him. Instead, a mass of dark energy swirled before him, Jadeite, Kunzite, Zoisite, and Beryl until they condensed into five dark glowing red prisms.
"Use…these…collect…I must…"
"My queen?" Beryl looked up and watched as the Dark Ruler fell back into her slumber.
The awakening had been temporary it seemed, the conditions not fully met for a full awakening, but it had been enough for them to be granted this boon. The prisms were filled with Metalia's potent dark energy, power coursed through her and the Shitenno once their individual geometric gem reached them.
Jadeite felt his wounds heal and his pain subside the moment their ruler's gift reached his hands, strength coursed through him. He felt stronger.
"Your orders, my Queen?" Kunsite asked her. Even with the boost in strength from this gift, it wouldn't be enough to deal with the Moon Knight, and the Sailors would still pose a thorn in their side. Not as much perhaps, but enough to remain a nuisance. Not until Metalia regained much of her former strength.
"Continue collecting energy. And if you find the knight. Kill him by any means necessary," she told them.
"My Queen, I believe I may know of a way to accomplish this," Jadeite announced.
"Oh? Do tell," Beryl was intrigued and in a good mood.
"While Nephrite was playing dress up and dealing with the Senshi," Nephrite scowled at Jadeite's choice of words, "I came upon a very unique human. A very special human."
Zoisite scoffed, "A human? Hardly noteworthy," Beryl frowned at his words. She had been human, once. A nudge from his lover stopped him from making any further remarks. Beryl would punish him still by assigning him a few demeaning tasks.
"Not this one. This one risked his life protecting a girl whose energy we used to awaken the Dark Ruler," Jadeite revealed.
Now that was interesting, Beryl mused, "All that energy came from one human?" 10,000 years ago it was not unheard of, though not common, for some humans to have such energy levels, most being the magic users of Elysium.
During her first year on Earth, when the seal that imprisoned the inhabitants of the Dark King had weakened enough for her and only her to escape, Beryl had scoured the world to find out just how much had changed. It had been an eye-opener.
At the time of the Silver Millennium, back when Beryl was only a low-level sorceress and one of the many apprentices of the court mages at the time, Earth hadn't been anywhere as scientifically advanced as the Moon Kingdom or the other celestial kingdoms. The might of Earth had come from the arcane and eldritch rituals instead.
Fast forward countless centuries later and Earth had advanced by leaps and bounds. Nowhere as close as the former kingdoms' level of technology but the difference was quite evident. In exchange, it seemed ninety-nine percent of humans had long since lost the gift of magic, and those who didn't were no better than charlatans performing cheap tricks. For some humans to have that amount of energy was exceptionally rare in this day and age.
But something nagged at her, "And what became of the girl?" Beryl asked.
Jadeite answered honestly, "I don't know. I had the Youma drain her of her energy but only managed to fill one energy cylinder before the Moon Knight interfered. She was masked, too, like many there. Finding her again will be difficult."
Pity, "What of the boy? What makes him worth our time and effort."
As Jadeite explained, Beryl became more and more intrigued as he retold the events that transpired.
"I remember him," Nephrite added, "He was quite strong. Strong enough to somehow hold my shadow in place and continued to do so even after my spell rendered everyone else unconscious."
Now that was interesting and worth investigating.
Humans turned into Youma were much stronger than those made from elements and materials such as dust, dirt, or water.
Pureblood Youma, Youma born directly from Matelia herself such as the Seven Great Youma, were the strongest of them all but generally only listened to Matelia and Beryl. Unfortunately, their form of imprisonment was different than the rest of the Dark Kingdom. Where they were remained unknown, only Metalia would be able to tell.
And based on what Jadeite and Nephite told her, this human had an exceptionally strong will. And a Youma possessing a human with that kind of willpower had risks. At best the Youma would be driven out of the host, at worst the Youma would find itself possessed instead.
"Who is he?"
Jadeite had no answer, "I don't know. However, I do recall something. Whisker marks!"
"Whisker marks?"
"When his mask fell off I saw he had whisker marks on his face."
"Was he blond?" Nephrite asked, to which Jadeite nodded.
"You know him, Nephrite?" But then, Nephrite was the only one of the four that lived in the human world.
"Hard not to recall. Blond, whisker marks, incredible strength. He's been in the papers more than once for breaking multiple records. He's only sixteen and practically superhuman. His name's Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto. A strong name for a strong soldier of the Dark Kingdom, Beryl noted.
"My Queen, allow me to retrieve him for you, and finish what I started," Jadeite asked.
"You wouldn't even know where to look. Allow me, my Queen," Nephrite.
"No," Beryl denied both of them, "The Moon Knight is active, and chances are he knows this boy was targeted. He'll know what to expect. And will likely be keeping a close eye on him and possibly any family he has."
"What do you suggest then, my Queen?"
Beryl merely smiled a wicked smile that had each of the Shitenno forcing back a shudder.
I'm gonna be honest. I seriously have no idea how this began. All of a sudden an idea just popped into my head and in four days this chapter came into being. 12K words in four days. WTF! I blame ZerotheDestroyer for his two versions of Sailor Moon/Naruto, which while short are still the best ones on Fanfic. This story is partially inspired by them.
Please note a few things:
One, this will be a blend of Crystal and the 90s anime, and AU. Yes, I know Crystal is more faithful to the manga (which is awesome), but I grew up watching the 90s anime and movies (which were also awesome). I do this because it will allow me greater freedom and give more stories to everyone.
Two, this is before the Outer Senshi (which I will be focusing a good deal on well even before they were meant to appear as they play an integral part) awaken their powers, as we don't know when they did or where they regained their powers since the author didn't go too greatly into their development until they began to appear. Naruto's relationship with them will be complex and unique.
Three, Michiru here is bi. If you've read the manga, and watched all the animes you'll know that fandom is divided on this. I know, you know it, so I'm not gonna go into too many details. Safe to say, in this story she's bi. Haruka I agree is 100% pure lesbian, that can't be disputed, and I will never change that. Don't like, well no author can make everyone happy.
Four, yes, this is the Moon Knight from Marvel, only juiced up with Naruto elements. This will be explained further down the line.
Five, Naruto isn't here to solve all of Sailor Moon's, and the other scouts of her group, problems. Will he help? Yes! Will he coddle them? No! His approach to solving a problem is different than theirs. Their goals are aligned. Their methods, however, are different. Again, his relationship with the Inner Senshi, much like the Outer, will be complex.
Six, kindly review. I'd like to get at least 30-40 reviews, just to see if people are interested.