Chapter
((Sorry for the very short chapter! But I promise I'm working on a very long one. Possibly two parter. But I I really wanted to put something here as a sort of preview =D ))
Rei and Katsuro both stared into the doorway in confusion at everything happening and being said in front of them. "Wait…WHAT?!" Rei yelled out anger. She turned completely red, hearing what her friends believed that she and Katsuro were up to in here. "Just what the hell did you all think we were doing?! Minako and Usagi, I can understand. But Ami and Makoto?! You two should KNOW better than to think thoughts like that!" As she yelled, they all simply hung their heads apologetically and in embarrassment.
Katsuro nervously chuckled behind her. "Aw come on, take it easy on them. I guess given the wording we used, that seems like an honest mistake, right?" He asked as her death glare turned to him. "Uh. Nevermind. Butting out!" He bowed and backed away quickly.
"We're sorry Rei!" Usagi and Minako exclaimed together.
"Yeah…we really sure have given you the benefit of the doubt on that one." Makoto gave a sigh.
"So, apologies and everything aside. What really is going on here?" Ami asked, looking between the two. "I'm assuming…that is Katsuro. Right?" She pointed to the red armored figure in the room. "And why are you transformed into Mars?"
Rei slowly regained her composure, flipping her long jet-black hair behind her then crossed her arms. "Yes, that is Katsuro there." She acknowledged and confirmed everything. "Its honestly a bit of a strange and long story…" She slowly changed back to normal. "My guess is that all of this is an after effect of the battle from yesterday and possibly why he was targeted." Rei looked to Katsuro to let him chime in.
"Yes, I started to feel strange last night, and my chest wouldn't stop hurting. I went into this weird dream or realm while my body remained here. And she got pulled in as well. Somehow, I guess she and I became connected, and Rei was pulled in as well. She witnessed this entire trial I went through for these powers. When we awoke, she pretty much was straight forward and to the point. She told me she knew what had happened to me in there and to show her. She also told me that if I did, she would show me her secret as well. We both transformed, and here we all are." He explained.
"Woah, so you're like some super powered…knight?" Usagi asked.
"I guess? I'm not sure what or who I'm supposed to be. I just know some strange voice was guiding me through all of this. Now I have these powers. Honestly, I'm about as lost and confused as all of you." He sighed.
Artemis and Luna had followed the girls after hearing talk of Rei requesting help that something had happened to a person in her care. When the two cats quietly entered the room, their eyes widened. They had seen this form before. "Phoenix Knight…" Artemis quietly stated. Everyone looked to him.
"You know him? Who he is?" Rei questioned, her crossed arms relaxing to her sides as she kneeled to their level.
"In a way, yes. Well, not him exactly, but his predecessor and the one that chose him. The one that gave him his powers. A very wise and powerful being that was one of five that ruled over earth and protected it. The five chose five guardians to uphold peace and enforce justice. There is more though, the five were also associated with the five inner planets." Artemis began to explain to all of them as they listened carefully.
"It is how you and he became connected, Princess of Mars…" An echoing voice filled the room. The girls began looking frantically around for the source. "Artemis, Luna, it is good to see you two are in good health." The voice spoke again as they all looked, as well as Katsuro, to the phoenix shaped jewel that now rested on his waist as a belt. It began to glow.
"I knew it, there is no mistaking it now. The Vermillion Bird of the South, Suzaku, it has been many years since there have been any signs of your existence. So, this boy here, he is your chosen warrior from those thousands of years ago?"
"Wait, Suzaku?! The Celestial Beast? A god?!" Rei's eyes widened, as did the other girls.
"So, is Katsuro a reincarnation like we are?" Makoto questioned.
"Artemis and Luna both know them, are they from our past as well?" Ami asked.
"Hold on, you said five guardians associated with the five inner planets. What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Yes, I am Suzaku, and Katsuro is the young warrior I chose as the guardian and knight to be the vessel that he may utilize my powers to uphold justice and protect this world. Princess of Mars, Sailor Mars, Rei as you go by now, Katsuro is also the knight whose duty is to protect and fight by your side. The five were originally created and bestowed these powers to be as the Four Heavenly Kings were to be for Endymion." The voice spoke.
"Woah woah woah there, you're saying I'm like some bodyguard for Sailor Mars? That's so wild. But I'm also a knight? Like, King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table? This is starting to sound like some whacky fairy tale more than anything." Katsuro became more and more confused with the more he learned.
"Mr. Suzaku, sir, your greatness?" Usagi wasn't sure how to address someone like this, she began stumbling over different ways to try and be polite. "If there were other knights that were supposed to be protecting everyone or being by there side. Where were they when Silver Millenium fell?" Her voice became quieter and more somber. It was a legit question she asked. There was no memory of them having that extra help in that battle. "You say they were to fight with us, to protect us. Why didn't they help save us…?"
Her words managed to strike Rei's heart as the memories began to flood back from that day. Usagi was right, these so-called protectors were nowhere to be found. Her glare shot towards Katsuro and the jewel. "Usagi's right! Some job you did of protecting us! We all died and suffered! Where WERE you in all of this? Where was this protection you speak of?!" Ok, so Rei accidentally let herself become too emotional reacting to all of this. It was a lot to take in at once.
Katsuro became stricken with panic as the attention now turned towards him. He had absolutely no answers for any of this. Not only that, but no memories. How was he supposed to not only be held accountable for everything that happened and not being there, but also offer up a reason or excuse of why not. "I-I-I don't…know. I'm…sorry." He stuttered, tripping over his words. He could feel his legs becoming weak below him.
"Wait, Rei, Usagi, stop." Makoto calmly stated. Her eyes began to swell with tears as well as she started to flash through all those memories again. "Give them a moment to speak. There must be a good reason for why. And even so, he won't have memories of anything of his past right now." She tried to diffuse the situation quickly.
"Thank you, Princess of Jupiter." Suzaku spoke as the jewel began to flash on every word spoken. "You would be correct by there being a reason. As the fight raged on with Silver Millenium, there was another dire situation taking place here on Earth. Another very tragic story was unfolding involving these four brave heroes." The voice became more solemn as it spoke.
"Hold on. You said four brave heroes. Before you said there were five of us though? Did you just make a mistake?" Katsuro asked with confusion in his voice.
"There were, however, the guardian representing the Golden Dragon of the Center, your leader, became tainted with desire and his want power to enforce his own version of justice on this world. Our brother was slain by the guardian he chose. His power drained and absorbed as the warrior became further tainted by darkness. His name is Zeo." Suzaku explained.
"He killed a god?!" Minako exclaimed. "Does that mean he like, became one also if he took in his power?"
"That's impossible Minako. A person can't just BECOME a god." Rei explained.
"No, it is very possible. Zeo became a god in our brother's place that day. He didn't stop there; he went on to destroy mine and the other god's bodies. What was left were the jewels of which you see one upon Katsuro's belt." There was an ominous tone to his voice now.
"Wait, so this Zeo became a god. Then how the hell did anyone stop him? How does someone stop a god? I'm so lost and confused. If I and some others existed in the past, then how the fuck am I standing here now?" His head hurt so much taking this all in and trying to follow it. There was a lot of information to process.
"It is a lot to unveil and speak of. Perhaps…seeing would be more effective." Suzaku spoke.
"Seeing? How are we supposed to watch? I mean, its not like everything was just recorded on DVD or something." Katsuro stated.
"He's right." Rei agreed with Suzaku. "We did something similar on the moon and we were able to see everything from our past. You must have something like that in mind, correct?"
"Yes. I do, if you all are ready to behold it?"
Usagi walked forward to the two of them standing there and nodded. "I want answers as well. And if it is to help our new friend understand everything. Then count me in." There was such a matter of fact and surety in her voice.
"Guess we're in for a field trip then and in-flight movie?" Minako asked with a nod. "Count me in too."
"I'm very curious to know more about all of this as well." Ami stepped forward with them.
"I guess that means I'm going too. Let's do this." Makoto nodded as her and the two cats followed.
"What do we need to do?" Katsuro asked.
"Just everyone gathers around closely. Hold hands and I will handle the rest."
Everyone formed a circle and linked hands together. Katsuro grasped Rei's gently in his then Usagi's in the other as they finished. Luna hopped onto Usagi's shoulder and Artemis onto Minako's.
"Let us now behold the events that took place that fateful day." As the voice spoke, everyone's eyes began to glow. Their planets' symbols began to glow on their foreheads. A large ball of light surrounded them, glowing orange. None of them had the slightest inkling of what all they would see. But they hoped all their questions would be answered, and to learn more of their own pasts as well.