Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 33: Nemesis
By: Sora Kazeno
The long wait is finally over! The time away gave me a chance to plot out the rest of the story… now to find time to write it…?
Eris carefully examined the staff in his hands. He was surprised at how easy it was to obtain the object he sought. All the planning was finally over. They could now move on to the next phase. Once they found the missing pieces their Master would fully mature and they would be unstoppable.
The sound of footsteps directed his attention to the door. Two new faces would join him on Nemesis, Sedena and Ixion. Sedena was a young woman with long pink hair pulled back in a ponytail adorning a pale blue jump suit. Ixion stood next to her, easily a foot taller than her. He kept his emerald green hair short, the black crescent moon mark easily visible on his forehead. He wore a short sleeve white shirt and navy blue slacks. They belonged to an elite group that carried out special missions for Eris.
Ixion noticed the staff in Eris' hands and smiled broadly. "I see our job will be easier." It was his way of congratulating his boss.
"We will find the remaining crystal pieces," assured Sedena, a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. She was excited to finally leave the Earth and return to her home planet.
"Haumea and Quarora will remain on Earth with an army of minions to keep the other senshi busy. Makemake will also remain here to look after the chosen one. I want to find the pieces as soon as possible, so we can finally take what is rightfully ours," Eris explained his plan to the others. "I was surprised to see the Moon Senshi on Earth. I was not aware they had broken free of their crystal imprisonments."
"They… are free?" Ixion questioned in disbelief. "This changes things."
"Agreed," Eris confirmed. "They have a basic understanding on how we operate. It will only be a matter of time until they determine we have taken Sailor Cosmos to Nemesis." He hesitated as he pondered the benefits having them captive for a long period of time. "We have learned a lot from them during the time spent enclosed in the crystal. We were able to learn the weaknesses of those of lunar descent. Given the identity of the Guardian; the information proved to be invaluable."
Sedena nodded her head in agreement. "I wonder how they were able to escape?"
"That is something Ixion and I will investigate while we are here. I am leaving you in charge of watching over our frozen friend," Eris instructed. He glanced at the crystal enclosed form of Sailor Cosmos behind them. "We will be monitoring her as a precaution."
Ixion turned his gaze to the crystallized figure behind him.
"If the Moon Senshi were able to escape it leads me to believe Sailor Cosmos would be able to as well… but it would certainly take her a long time. Since the Moon Senshi's capture, it allowed our ancestors to gather resources and allies for the cause. All of their hard work helped us to progress to where we are now. It is no coincidence to have a weapon to use against those of the White Moon. We knew we would have to face them one day. It took centuries to develop a weapon that was dangerous to them and not to us. But we are finally ready," Eris beamed as the thought of victory entered his mind. "Come Ixion," he said, "It is time we venture out for a while with our new accessory to find the remaining shards."
Several hours passed before the Moon Senshi, Inner Senshi and Starlights stopped to rest. The journey was more difficult then they originally anticipated. The Starlights never realized how much they had relied on their Princess to help them to travel quickly over a long distance. It is extremely taxing.
Sailor Umbriel insisted they stop a while to rest on planet Uranus. The planet's palace was mostly intact, which would allow them shelter before they continued on to Nemesis. They were still three planets away, but the distance between each planet increased drastically. She smiled at the sight of the royal palace; she left the palace when she was thirteen to serve under the Silver Millennium. When the Moon Senshi broke free from the crystal they passed the planet to head to the Silver Millennium as soon as possible.
Sailor Umbriel walked around wide eyed. Everything was how she remembered it to be. She led the senshi down several long corridors, all while pausing momentarily to examine the decor.
Sailor Callisto cleared her throat as a sign to Sailor Umbriel to continue on to their destination.
Sailor Umbriel turned to face Sailor Callisto. "Sorry! We're almost at the lounge area to rest. It is a large enough room for everyone. It was often used by the Queen to entertain guests." Sailor Umbriel focused on her destination. The group continued walking in silence for a few minutes until they arrived outside a set of double oak wood doors.
The door opened to reveal several large couches, a long wooden conference table and an assortment of other furnishings. There was a fireplace at the back of the wall. Hanging above the fireplace was a portrait of the Royal Family of Uranus. The painting included the King, Queen, Prince and Princess. Each was dressed in formal clothes. Haruka appeared to be around the age of sixteen wearing a royal blue spaghetti strapped dress. She wore a silver necklace with a dark blue gem. The symbol of Uranus appeared on everyone's forehead.
Sailor Star Fighter smirked at the painting. "So that is what Haruka-san looks like when she actually wears a dress." Her comments caught everyone by surprise. The Inner Senshi moved forward to examine the painting.
Sailor Venus began to giggle. "It looks so odd!" Her laugher increased as Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury joined. The other two Starlights lightly laughed. It was a scene they had never thought to witness.
Sailor Umbriel stared at the others dumbfounded. "You mean she never wears a dress? But she always wore them here!" Her remarks created another round of laugher.
Once the laughter died down, everyone sat down to rest. Sailor Star Maker asked a question that been bothering her during the entire journey. "There is something I don't understand about this star system. How did all the planets become deserted over time when they all seemed to be so full of life?" Sailor Star Maker struggled with comprehending how an entire galaxy could so quickly be wiped out with the exception of Earth.
Everyone was quiet, while they pondered Sailor Star Maker's question.
"I wish I knew what happened, but we were enclosed in crystals before the fall of the Silver Millennium," said Sailor Charon with downcast eyes. "I don't think it is something we will ever find out."
"We… were not reincarnated yet.." Sailor Mars added. "I guess we are fortunate to have the Earth so prosperous when our time came." The other Inner Senshi nodded their heads in agreement.
"A few months ago, when we each traveled to our respective planets for new abilities, I noticed a change in the atmosphere of Venus. It was very different from what I remember. Venus was always difficult and we joked if you could live on Venus, you could live anywhere." She hesitated as she thought about her journey across the terrain. "When rain fell, it pricked my skin. It even stung my skin… that never happened before."
"You can walk around unharmed by acid rain?" Sailor Star Maker asked in an incredulous tone.
Sailor Venus smiled, "Even before the recent changes… the environment was difficult to live. One had to be born there and have Venusian blood in their veins in order to live on the planet for long periods of time."
"The population on the planet was low compared to others in the Milky Way. Very few were able to migrate to the planet… and be successful." Sailor Callisto added as she recalled some of visitors she encountered.
"Kind of like what happen when Odango visited Kinmoku," Sailor Star Fighter thought out loud. "So it seems to be a common theme in this galaxy."
Sailor Oberon considered Sailor Star Fighter's remarks before she added her own. "Mercury is now like the Moon as well. The atmosphere is almost entirely gone. Like the Moon back in our time, both were vibrant with life. Now, a typical human would never survive." She glanced down at her fuku, "I guess we are fortunate we came from a different time."
"How old are your civilizations?" Sailor Star Healer tried to piece everything together, but the history of this star system continued to elude her. If she was planning to reside here for a while, she wanted to understand its history since history has a habit of repeating itself and another climate change may happen.
"We used to believe it was only a millennia but… after recent events it seems likely our civilization is much older. How long ago did your kingdom visit the Silver Millennium?" Sailor Mars looked at the Starlights awaiting an answer.
"That is something we never really discussed with Princess Kakyuu. There was never a proper moment to discuss it." Sailor Star Maker responded with a frown.
Sailor Mars debated if she should add the last part due to recent problems amongst the group. "Mamoru-san has fewer memories of the Earth Kingdom than we do of the Silver Millennium. Unfortunately, it is not enough to try to piece together with the historical texts of Earth. It is debatable if the remains of the palace have even been found. He can't remember what it looked like."
Sailor Charon prolonged the conversation by adding, "He was the first one I found when I arrived on Earth. He didn't recognize any of us. I remember overhearing something about not having a lot of his memories in this lifetime as well. He's had a lot of struggles. Can you imagine not having your memories from two different lifetimes?" The expression of the others caused the desired response. She needed to find a way to bring the Prince and Princess back together and right now they all felt sorry for Mamoru.
There was a long pause before anyone spoke. Sailor Star Fighter against her better judgment broke the silence, "…What happened in this life time?" She tried to imagine what it would be like to not remember her younger years. She lightly touched the area around her eye. It was still tender from their fight.
Sailor Mars sighed lightly. She brought up the topic, but it did not eliminate the awkwardness of the conversation. She considered her words carefully before she spoke. "His parents died in a car accident when he was really young. He was the only survivor and didn't know who he was."
"It is difficult to lose your parents at such a young age," Sailor Star Healer's voice is full of sadness. She could relate to Mamoru's hardships. "We were lucky Princess Kakyuu was willing to take the three of us in." Her words sparked a few unhappy memories within Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Fighter.
"Very fortunate," Sailor Star Maker echoed. She then chuckled. The sound startled everyone. It wasn't something they expected. "Being the 'cursed children' helped. Once the true nature of our abilities as senshi were discovered everyone in town treated us differentially, as if we carried a contagious plague."
"But once the Princess took us in we were treated differently… almost like humans. Eventually it became our home," concluded Sailor Star Healer.
"…cursed…?" Sailor Venus echoed.
"Anytime the abilities of senshi awaken in men… it leads to disaster for Kinmoku." Sailor Star Healer clarified; there was sadness in her eyes.
"Rebuilding our planet mended a lot of those relationships. We went from outcasts to heroes." Sailor Star Fighter looked at the other two Starlights for confirmation.
Sailor Titan played devil's advocate, "Are you sure you want to leave your home planet to remain here?" Her question was innocent and she believed she had the best interests of the Princess in mind.
Sailor Star Maker came to Sailor Star Fighter's defense. She knew what Sailor Titan was about to imply. "Earth is very different from Kinmoku," she interjected, "But I believe the planet is growing on all of us."
Sailor Charon frowned at the quickness of their response. Sailor Titan had laid the perfect trap, but they gracefully dodged it. She wished she could go back in time and reset everything to the proper events, but her abilities were limited since she held no royal blood ties to the planet of Pluto. Although Setsuna explained it to her, Setsuna was not able to fix what Sailor Cosmos altered. Sailor Charon didn't believe her. It was unlike a member of the Royal Family of Pluto to sit by and let someone change the timeline that they swore to protect.
"It helps to have a good set of people around us… also," chimed in Sailor Star Healer.
"Some of them mean the world to us," Sailor Star Fighter said her voice full of concern. Her thoughts returned to Sailor Cosmos. "We have to keep going if we're going to find her."
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Several senshi slowly stood up and stretched. It would be a long journey to reach the next planet, Neptune.
Setsuna and Hotaru were the first ones off the train. Hotaru's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree at the sight of the amusement park. Shiori, Yuna and Sakura slowly exited; absorbing everything around them. Michiru whispered to Haruka to give it a shot. Mamoru was the last one off the train. He sighed.
"I am amazed at the technology here. It is so fast!" Sakura exclaimed turning around to face the others. "Our transportation system is still being rebuilt… which makes services spotty at best."
"I am confused as to why we have to pay to use this system. It is free for us," Yuna added, "However, I am looking forward to learning more about this planet."
Shiori pressed her lips together. She was not impressed like the others. "I just want to figure out why Fighter likes this place so much."
Sakura shot Shiori an icy glare. Shiori was overstepping their welcome. Sakura had advised Shiori to hold her tongue while they helped the Earth senshi. "We are guests here…" Sakura hissed at her leader. "Be nice."
Shiori didn't respond.
Sakura whispered in a softer tone, "Remember we are guests here and are very fortunate to be allowed here. Very few people from Kinmoku have been given permission to travel this far on official business."
"It's alright," Mamoru interjected. He knew being with them and the Outer Senshi would make the situation difficult. He wanted to try to relax and take his mind off of Usagi's capture for a little while. "Earth is a very unique place and amazing people reside here."
Sakura smiled at Mamoru's words. It didn't take much for her to determine Mamoru was the man Usagi was in love with when Seiya first returned to Kinmoku. She was glad for Seiya when he returned to Kinmoku with Usagi. Looking over at Mamoru, she could see the heartache on his face. The same expression Seiya bore when he first returned home to rebuild Kinmoku.
Yuna continued to stare at the roller coasters in amazement, obvious to the exchange of words between Sakura and Shiori. It was the first time she had witnessed anything so bizarre. "Are… those another type of train? The road looks a little dangerous to travel on… and they loop in a circle."
Shiori chuckled and looked up at the roller coasters. "I bet those are… what did Fighter called them… when she was here the first time…." She tapped the side of her cheek as she tried to recall the correct word. "Roller coasters?"
"Yes…." Setsuna responded slowly. "That is an excellent guess…"
"I remember Fighter talking about going on roller coasters with Usagi-san…" Shiori stopped abruptly as she realized what she had just said to the others. Sakura had just scolded her for her earlier remarks. Maybe they missed what she said? A few quick looks at Haruka and Michiru exchanging displeased glances with each other told her everyone heard her. Mamoru clenched his jaw slightly. The damage was done. "I'm sorry…" Shiori gushed. "I wasn't thinking…" She turned to Mamoru; she hurt him the most. "I forgot… this must be very difficult for you." Her eyes shifted downward and barely audible said, "I know the feeling."
Setsuna's eyes narrowed slightly at Shiori's revelation. It explained more of the exchange between Sailor Star Destroyer and Sailor Star Fighter right before Fighter left on the journey to Nemesis. This made her question Shiori's motives. It seemed clear there was tension between Shiori and Seiya, which caused her to lash out at the others.
Hotaru interrupted Setsuna's thoughts. "Since the three of you have never been on a roller coaster," she directed her comments to Shiori, "Pick the first ride to go on."
Shiori opened her mouth in surprised. "Okay." She warmly smiled at the younger girl. She was trying to help eliminate some of the tension in the air and she seized the opportunity. Shiori spun around to look at the park again. Her eyes settled on a tall metal roller coaster. She pointed to the Fujiyama roller coaster.
Haruka cringed. "Are you… sure?" Her tone emphasized she didn't like Shiori's plan and sounded nervous. Her concerns were dismissed as everybody walked forward. "My, my…" she murmured.
Darkness. She blinked her eyes several times. The darkness remained. She sighed. She turned her head to the right and then to left. Nothing. She felt weak, as if all of her energy had been drained from her. She was alone and scared.
Sailor Cosmos shivered. This was identical to the premonition she forseen at the Three Light's apartment and Princess Kakyuu revealed the true identity of the Guardian. The crystal she was trapped within, was this one created by the Black Moon? This is why she saw her rings as Sailor Cosmos and not her gown as Neo Queen Serenity.
Rei's words echoed in her mind. She had witness a portion of a premonition… this moment was the one she had received as a warning. She had to try and break free from her imprisonment, but she was exhausted. Her eyelids felt heavy once more. She was still recovering from the effects of the gas. She fought to stay awake. She knew everyone would do everything they could to free her, but it was too difficult to remain awake. Her eyes slowly closed shut again.
Eris let out a sound of frustration as he continued to search for the crystal shards. In the past hour they had accomplished nothing.
Ixion accompanied him in silence for most of the journey until now. "How are we supposed to find the shards? This planet is large; they can be anywhere."
Eris tightened his grip on Sailor Cosmos' staff. "This staff will lead us to them." His voice indifferent.
"How is that possible?"
"Her staff is very powerful and within the orb a powerful crystal lies. It should respond to the crystal shards. The crystal within the staff is made of light and the shards are made of darkness. They should naturally react since they are polar opposites." Eris explained in a disgruntled tone.
Ixion focused on the phase 'should naturally react'. This meant there was no guarantee they would and everything could have been for nothing. He had one question on his mind, "What if the staff doesn't work?"
Eris shot Ixion a venomousness glare. "…It has to." He was stubborn and insistent that his plan was fool proof. "We have tried everything else and our research indicated that the crystal from the White Moon family would be the answer to our struggles. If not… at least we can dispose of the Guardian."
Ixion accompanied him silently. This was his opportunity to learn more about the Guardian and Eris' plan. "Is it true that she is granted the powers of the stars?"
"Yes," Eris responded without hesitation. "Who would have thought that the body selected would be the same as our former Queen's daughter? As she matures, her abilities will become frightening. It is why we must act now." Eris paused to examine the staff, unsure if there was a reaction. He eyed the orb closely. No reaction. "Could you imagine to have such incredible raw power?"
"But she is not a threat as long as she is subdued…." Ixion countered. "We could learn a lot about her abilities and the other senshi. It would make it easier to take back the Earth."
Eris wrinkled his mouth in disgust. "We will have everything we need once the dark crystal is whole again." Ixion's words angered him. How could his subordinate question his methods and his plan?
"I'm sorry," Ixion quickly apologized once he realized his mistake; it was never his intention to anger Eris. "I just want everything to go smoothly since we are so close to victory."
"Agreed," Eris responded. "I look forward to the day when we can rebuild our civilization on Earth. It will be the perfect retribution after how our people were so easily discarded by the White Moon. I will teach them the error of their ways by eliminating their Princess and as a bonus their Guardian." He smiled, it was short lived. The staff did not react. He continued to walk idly around. He eyed the staff closely; he knew there was a shard somewhere nearby. The survey results indicated as much. Was he using the staff right? Would it react to the negative energy?
Ixion followed silently behind his leader. This would be a long process and a long day. He hoped something would surface soon.
A flash of light emerged on the surface of Nemesis. When the light faded fifteen Sailor Senshi stood there in plain sight. The Inner Senshi gasped at their surroundings. The planet seemed to consist of dirt with scattered fragments of other objects in the distance. Sections of trees still remained, the wood completely decomposing and rotten. Their journey had been long and strenuous, but the real challenge was about to begin.
Sailor Callisto took charge after a few moments. "We have a lot of ground to cover." Her eyes darted to the side to make sure no one else was around. They were out in the open and would be easy targets. "We should split up into teams to cover more ground." Sailor Callisto's shoulders slumped. This was different than any other mission they had ever been on and they did not have a way to communicate with each other. "Unfortunately, by splitting up we will not have a way to contact each other."
Sailor Venus' eyes widened. "That might not be true… I'm going to go over there for a moment to test something."
Sailor Callisto was about to protest, but Sailor Mercury prevented her, "It's okay. We might have a way to communicate and Minako-chan is checking to see if the technology will still work in this environment."
"Oh." Sailor Callisto continued to look around at their surroundings for any sign of an adversary.
Once she was about ten yards away, Sailor Venus used her communicator to contact Sailor Mercury. It was successful. Relief washed over Sailor Mercury knowing that the technology she created would work on Nemesis just as well as on Earth. "The four of us and the Starlights have communicators that seem to be fully functioning." Sailor Mercury lightly tapped her earring and her pale blue visor appeared over her eyes. Numbers and symbols flashed across her eyes, but it was not conclusive. She frowned at the lack of information. She pulled out her mini-computer and began to type on the keyboard.
Sailor Star Maker walked over to Sailor Mercury to look over her shoulder at the computer screen. "How odd. There seems to be a little signs of life, but there are condemned structures everywhere."
Sailor Mercury gasped slightly when she realized that Sailor Starlight stood behind her. She tried to hide the slight blush on her cheeks.
"We will split up into teams that seem to work the best together. Each group will be accompanied by a Moon Senshi since we are the most familiar with the terrain," Sailor Callisto explained. "I will go with Venus and Healer. Mercury will be with Oberon and Maker. The third group will be Jupiter, Ganymede, Charon and Titan. The final group will be Mars, Fighter, Phobos, Triton and Umbriel." She hoped Sailor Triton would be able to put her differences aside and be able to work with the Starlight. She also wanted to give each Moon Senshi a chance to be with their designated princess and reconnect with them.
Sailor Triton grumbled under her breath not pleased with the arrangement.
Sailor Phobos shot a look at Sailor Triton before she spoke, "Perhaps it will be good for you."
Sailor Triton frowned. "I think we should head south from here. If we each take a different direction we should find her in no time."
Sailor Mercury's computer beeped. "I would like to head North. My computer picked up something I would like to investigate in some caves. The computer will help us if there is anything there."
"Agreed. We will go to the East." Sailor Callisto turned her attention to that direction.
"That leaves us with the West," said Sailor Ganymede. She walked over to Sailor Jupiter and her other group members.
"We will check in with each other every hour, regardless of progress, unless you are working re con. Make sure to let the others know first if you are on re con in order to maintain radio silence," directed Sailor Callisto.
The remaining senshi separated into their respective groups.
Sakura securely fasten her seatbelt. She slowly pulled down on the harness like the previous passengers on the roller coaster had. Yuna sat next to her and mimicked her actions as well. An amusement park worker checked on the restraints to make sure they were probably connected.
Setsuna helped Hotaru with the harness. Hotaru anxiously swung her legs back and forth and occasionally kicked the seat in front of her.
In front of them sat Haruka and Michiru. "Try not to yell too much," Michiru teased Haruka. She smirked at Haruka's annoyed face. Haruka laughed in an effort to relieve the uncomfortableness she felt. She hated roller coasters. She was only on it for Hotaru.
Shiori and Mamoru sat behind Yuna and Sakura. It was a long wait to get on the ride and part of it was spent in silence. Shiori fidgeted in her seat. There was something she wanted to say to Mamoru to make up for her remarks earlier. It would be easier for her tell him now since the others were not at close proximity. "If it helps… I don't think Fighter…err Seiya should be with her either." She wasn't used to calling the other Starlight, Seiya. It was an adjustment. Seiya was very different before his first trip to Earth and she knew the changes he experienced on Earth were long lasting, including reverting back to his original gender.
Mamoru smiled at her attempt to cheer him up. The tram began to lurch forward.
Shiori's eyes widened at the sudden movement, which she did not expect. The tram began to pick up speed as it ascended. Shiori asked, "Is this supposed to be the fun part?"
"We are really high up!" Sakura exclaimed with a glance over the side of the tram at the park below.
Shiori turned her head to her right and gasped when she realized Sakura was correct. "Seriously?"
Mamoru was amused at Shiori's reaction. "We're not even at the top yet."
A few seconds later, the tram reached the peak. The tram hesitated for a few seconds before it plunged downward. As the front cars began their decent, the passengers began to scream. Throughout the ride Haruka yelled the loudest followed by the Starlights. The tram continued on its path with another of yell for each drop. The brakes hit and the tram slowly moved into the station.
Sakura, Yuna and Shiori laughed as they began to walk down the ramp. They talked excitedly about the ride. "We should go on it again," Sakura said happily.
"Maybe later…" said Michiru. She walked over to Hotaru to ask her a question. "Maybe there is a newer ride in the park we've never been on before?"
Hotaru's eyes lit up once she heard Michiru's words. "I'm tall enough now!" She quickly counted everyone in the group and became more excited when she realized there were eight people in the group. "We have enough people too!"
Sailor Venus hummed softly under her breath as the group searched for any sign of their enemy. She did this subconsciously. The song was Ai no Megami no How to Love. She paused when she reached the end of the song.
"You've always have had a great singing voice," said Sailor Callisto. "I remember you would sing all the time on Venus."
Sailor Venus smiled at her kind words. "I love singing. One day I want to be an idol."
"You should. You definitely have the looks and the talent," encouraged Sailor Star Healer. "At some point, there will be peace on Earth and you should give it a shot."
"I'm looking forward to that day." Sailor Venus pushed a few strains of her blonde hair to the side.
"Won't it be hard to be an idol… unless you know someone?" Sailor Callisto asked her Princess. She was confused as to how it would be so easy.
Sailor Venus and Sailor Star Healer laughed in unison.
"Am I missing something?"
"My Earth identity is a part of a male idol group…"
Sailor Callisto's mouth dropped. "No way. You… and the other Starlights?"
"Yes," Sailor Star Healer confirmed. "Minako-chan participated in an idol contest last year and won first place. She is ready… minus Earth constantly under attack."
Sailor Callisto laughed. "I'm glad you will have the opportunity. I will do what I can to help you when this is over by keeping the Earth safe."
Sailor Venus' voice became serious. "I wonder what is in store for the Earth after this? I'm worried about Usagi-chan."
"If you always worry about the future you will not be able to enjoy the present," said Sailor Star Healer trying to cheer up Minako.
"Hmm...It's something I never thought about before," Sailor Venus pondered. She had spent the past couple of years worrying about the future since she became a senshi. She tried to have a personal life and still be solider, but it was extremely difficult to do both. In the end, her personal life was the one that usually suffered. For a while now, she had hope the role would change where her personal life would improve and she would have fewer responsibilities as a senshi.
Sailor Callisto walked quietly next to them. She observed the interactions between Sailor Venus and Sailor Star Healer. Something seemed off.
Five miles from their original arrival point the terrain shifted dramatically. The dirt became pebbles and large boulders appeared. They were able to walk around most of them; sometimes they jumped or climbed over others. The more rocks they encountered the closer they came to the cave.
Sailor Mercury paused periodically to examine her computer to interpret data. She tapped her earring and her visor disappeared from her face.
"Your visor seems incredible," Sailor Star Maker said in awe. "I have seen a prototype for the same technology on Kinmoku, but there were still several problems with the size of the visor and it overheating. Did you have any complications developing it?"
Sailor Mercury blushed. "I wish I could take the credit, but this is from the Silver Millennium. It was developed on Mercury. Back then, Mercury was the most technologically advanced planet." She paused as her mind drifted to her most recent visit. "During my last visit there, I encountered a large library in the ruins of a large city near the remains of the royal palace. The library seemed to be intact and contained thousands of books."
"Millions," corrected Sailor Oberon. "It was the interplanetary library for the Silver Millennium, Bodleian. It was once called a wealth of knowledge, everything at your fingertips." Her voice carried a nostalgic tone. "If the library…is still intact, it would be a wonderful way for you to relearn about our culture."
"That sounds wonderful!" Sailor Mercury exclaimed. "I would like to be able to try to incorporate the lost technology with what we use now."
Sailor Oberon eyes became downcast when she remembered a problem that plagued the planet. "The atmosphere of Mercury was beginning to change; the scientists were unable to determine the cause. The planet was gradually heating up, they called it climate change." She turned to face Sailor Mercury. "I would love to have the opportunity to take you there before it becomes too dangerous."
Sailor Mercury smiled warmly at her offer. Her computer beeped and redirected her attention toward the computer screen. Sailor Mercury gasped as she read the results off her computer. "I believe it found something." Her lips pouted slightly. "It's not close by."
"Lead the way and we will follow," Sailor Oberon instructed.
"What did the palace look like?" Sailor Jupiter asked Sailor Ganymede. She wanted to use this opportunity to learn more about her former home when it was inhabited. "When I was on Jupiter recently, I was not able to find the palace. Instead, I wandered through a large forest.
Sailor Ganymede smiled, "I'm glad sections of the planet are still green. It was said to have the most beautiful forest in the galaxy thriving with life."
"There are fairies that still live there!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed. Once she realized her voice was very loud, she slightly blushed.
"Really?" Sailor Ganymede responded in surprise. "I will have to search for them the next time I am there. Our fuku's are not green by coincidence; it is to represent the forest. But it was more than just a forested area. Your mother was very passionate about animals and created the largest wildlife sanctuary in the galaxy. You often snuck away from the palace to spend time there."
Sailor Titan giggled. "I remember listening to Hana-chan discuss some of the struggles she had trying to locate you."
Sailor Jupiter teared up as she had a flash of a memory of Hana yelling at her to not run off anymore because she would be in a lot of trouble with the Queen if anything happened to her. "I always wanted to ride horses, feed them and brush out their mane," Sailor Jupiter slowly responded. "I wish I could remember more from that time. Hana-chan, what was my family like?"
"Your family…?" Sailor Ganymede slowly repeated. "Well… the Royal Family of Jupiter was very large. You were the eldest daughter which allowed you to become a sailor senshi at age 13. I remember the day you left Jupiter to begin your training; it was the same day I made a promise to myself to become the senshi from Ganymede to serve the Silver Millennium when I was old enough." There was sadness in her eyes as she finished the tale, "Your brother was in the process of finding a bride that would one day become the next Queen. Your family was planning a large celebration and were anxious for the opportunity to have you visit home…we stopped by there on our last mission for accommodations."
Haruka's eyebrow arched at the sight of Takabisha. The first drop was extremely steep. The sight of the roller coaster continued to cause her to cringe. She had never seen anything like it before. She was able to tolerate the last one, but this one was very different.
Hotaru excitedly led the group forward. "This is the steepest roller coaster in the world!" She exclaimed gleefully. "I'm so excited they decided to build it in Japan instead of the United States."
As soon as Haruka heard the phrase 'steepest roller coaster in the world' she made her decision. "I'm not going on that ride. You guys can go ahead."
Michiru frowned at Haruka's declaration. "I'm disappointed."
Shiori used the opportunity to bate Haruka. "Oh? After the way Fighter described you, I thought you would be more formidable… more fearless."
Haruka narrowed her eyes to small slits at Shiori's remarks. "Let's go," she responded in a low voice as she walked forward a few steps behind Hotaru.
Michiru laughed at the sudden change in Haruka's behavior. She turned to Shiori to say, "You know how to push her buttons."
Shiori grinned at the aqua haired woman. "What can I say? It's a gift!" Shiori followed the others and entered the long line for the ride.
Sailor Star Fighter did her best to suppress a yawn from escaping her lips. If the others heard her yawn they would urged her to rest. She had already avoided one rest point since the groups separated. If they stopped, it meant they couldn't look for Usagi. This seemed to be one of the longest days of her life in recent memory. But she pushed herself forward. She was going to find Sailor Cosmos, her love. She kept her thoughts focused on Usagi and kept moving forward. She needed to find her as soon as possible.
Sailor Mars recognized the facial expression on Fighter's face from the previous encounter with Chaos. She was worried about Usagi and displayed the same anguish. "We will find her," she tried to reassure the other woman.
Sailor Star Fighter grimaced. She knew the senshi of fire was trying her best to cheer her up, but it was not working. "How do we know for sure that she is even on this planet?" The uncertainties began to overwhelm her. "What if we are searching for her in the wrong place?"
"I am certain she is here," Sailor Umbriel spoke up. "I know the Black Moon would do everything in their power to find the rest of the dark crystal. We were fairly certain they were searching for other sections of the crystals the last time we were here."
"But why do they need Sailor Cosmos' staff in the first place?" Sailor Triton interjected.
"I think I know the reason behind it," said Sailor Phobos slowly. "It is a theory that we cannot prove until we find members of the Black Moon. The Maboroshi no Ginzuishou is a crystal made of pure light. However, the dark crystal, I'm assuming, is made of dark energy. Crystals made of opposite energies should react to each other."
"A pull of yin and yang," Sailor Mars said softly. "I'm worried if they find the other pieces of the crystal. Back when we visited the future, we saw the dark crystal in its full form and witness them use its power. Its power is truly terrifying."
"Rei-san, how was the Black Moon defeated in the future?" Sailor Phobos inquired. "Any knowledge you can provide could help us defeat them in the future."
"It took the power of two Maboroshi no Ginzuishou, the one from our time line and the one from the future." Sailor Mars conveniently neglected to mention Usagi was possessed by her future self, Neo Queen Serenity, and the user of the second crystal was Chibi-Usa. She did not think the Moon Senshi knew about Chibi-Usa. She didn't want to bring her up. It was not a mystery Sailor Triton did not like Sailor Star Fighter. This information would only infuriate her.
"I agree with Sailor Phobos," said Sailor Triton as she tried to redirect the topic of conversation. "My instinct tells me Sailor Cosmos is here. I wouldn't be surprised if she is close by somewhere." She pushed a few strains of hair behind her ear. "The Black Moon went through a lot of trouble to capture Sailor Cosmos. I don't think they would let her out of their sight so easily. I imagine they would do everything to prevent her from breaking free… or stopping us from rescuing her."
"All the more reason we have to work together," said Sailor Phobos.
Sailor Star Fighter winced inward at the thought of Sailor Cosmos trapped inside the crystal imprisonment.
Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Phobos, Sailor Charon and Sailor Titan stopped to rest for a few moments near the top of a large hill. The terrain they came across became hilly and the need for breaks increased.
Sailor Ganymede heard a noise and gestured for the others to stop talking. Everyone listened intently, their ears perked up at the noise in the distance. "I'm going to go on ahead and see what it is. I'll signal if I find anything."
The other senshi nodded their heads in agreement. "If need be I will contact the others," responded Sailor Jupiter.
"Agreed." Sailor Ganymede confirmed with the others. She slowly crept forward to the top of the hill. She used the hill to hide the rest of her body and slow peered over the top. Her eyes narrowed when she observed Eris with a man she didn't recognize. She watched their actions carefully. She gasped at the sight of Sailor Cosmos' staff. She signaled to the other down below. She hesitated for a few moments but then she began to slowly descend down the hill to inform the others of her discovery.
"What is going on?" Asked Sailor Titan, confused by Sailor Ganymede's actions. "I thought we were going to call the others."
"Eris is on the other side of the hill with another person. He has Sailor Cosmos' staff and they seem to be wandering the area searching for something," Sailor Ganymede explained to the others.
"This changes things a bit." Sailor Jupiter pulled out her communicator and hit a few buttons to be connected to the other senshi. "We found Eris with the staff. They don't know that we are here."
"Let me check everyone's location based on their communicators," Sailor Mercury's voice was heard over the communicator. A minute later she added, "No one is close by to your location and it would take too long for the others to catch up to where you are. Instantly teleporting to you would be noticeable."
"We'll observe them for now. Once they find whatever they are searching for we will catch them by surprise and take it from them," Sailor Charon explained her plan to the others. "It won't be easy, but we can't just stand by and let them keep it. Observation will help us understand their plan. There is also a chance they could lead us to Sailor Cosmos."
Sailor Jupiter was quiet while she thought about the plan formulated by Sailor Charon. Sailor Jupiter was used to running in to a battle and fighting the adversary. This was foreign territory to her to sit back and observe. "Okay…"
"I think that is the best plan," agreed Sailor Venus. Her voice faded out over the communicator. "We still have to find Usagi-chan." After a long hesitation she continued, "We'll be silent on the communicators until you contact us… unless we find Usagi-chan."
"Agreed," echoed Sailor Mars. "Good luck guys." The communications amongst the group ended.
"We should all move forward," whispered Sailor Titan. "I know they will be able to provide us some answers."
"I'll lead the way… it's a tight space so we will have to be careful. I don't want to tip our hand too early." Sailor Ganymede slowly led the other senshi up the hill. The group carefully observed Eris below.
Eris walked back and forth pausing periodically to check the staff. Frustration was written on his face. "I don't understand how such a young girl can use this staff so easily without any problems." He paused again to glare at the staff. "I must be missing something. Is there a way to activate the staff?"
Ixion looked over at Eris and tried to think of a way to help or encourage him. "I can't help, but wonder if we are in the right location. We have been here for an hour with no reaction. Should we consider moving on?" Ixion's impatience was beginning to show. The glare he received from Eris caused him to change his mind quickly. "On the other hand, this is a large area and if we keep searching the staff may finally react."
Eris groaned as he continued to walk around the flat surface. A few minutes later he was fuming at the staff.
Ixion gasped when he noticed a pale light emitting from the crystal orb. "Wait! Don't move!" Ixion exclaimed when he realized what it symbolized. "The staff… I think it's glowing."
Eris' eyes immediately shifted upward to the staff and a smile formed at the corner of his lips. "I think it is glowing." He began to feel hopeful he would accomplish his plan. He looked at the staff again for any indication of which direction to walk.
Ixion was skeptical of Eris' plan from the beginning and was amazed to see it succeed. "How do we know which way to walk once it glows?"
"We don't. I guess we will have to try and determine by process of elimination. I'll try walking in one direction and you watch the crystal for any sign of change," Eris directed.
Ixion pulled out a small notepad and a pen to take notes. He scribbled something down on the pad of paper. He looked up and noticed Eris several steps ahead of him and the crystal seemed to glow slightly brighter. "Now we're getting somewhere."
Sailor Mercury hesitated at the entrance to the caverns. She examined her computer closely. The results of the last test she ran were inconclusive. "I am not detecting any life forms, but the computer is recognizing some type of energy signature." She inspected the screen once more. "It looks like there is a large structure within the cave…"
"It's possible the energy source could be Sailor Cosmos. I don't know if being enclosed in a crystal would prevent the computer from recognizing her. There is no way to know what the readings would look like," Sailor Oberon suggested. She read the results on the computer and tried to make sense of the data.
"I also believe we should follow up on the findings." Sailor Star Maker narrowed her eyes to try to get a closer look at the cavern entrance. It was pitch black at the entrance. "We should systematically explore the area." Sailor Star Maker closed her eyes for a moment and raised her index finger. She focused her energy and was able to create a small sparkle of light. "This will have to do until we find something more…. permanent."
The trio quietly entered the cavern to explore. It did not take the group long to find something of interest. Within a side tunnel, they found something that appeared to be a room. Sailor Star Maker found a torch on the wall. She used the spark of light from her fingertips to light the torch. They gasped at what they saw. They slowly moved forward with a sense of amazement.
Sailor Callisto tried to give the group motivation. "I'm glad they found Eris."
"Are they doing the right thing by just observing?" Asked Sailor Venus; she felt uneasy at the thought of Eris getting away before the other senshi could confront him.
Sailor Callisto smiled. "You're not used to stealth. I guess it is the biggest difference between the two groups of senshi."
Sailor Venus took offense to the comment. "I have used stealth!" She rubbed the back of her head, "It's just been a while… when I was solo as Sailor V. I didn't have a choice since I didn't have teammates until I came to Japan."
"Why were you on your own?"
"My powers as a senshi awakened before the others and… I kind of pretended to be the Moon Princess to protect Princess Serenity until she was found. Back then… we had few of our memories and didn't know much of our former lives." Sailor Venus smiled softly. "I'm lucky I had Artemis to guide me."
Sailor Callisto nodded her head in agreement. She quickly changed the subject back to Eris after she heard the sadness in Sailor Venus' voice. "I think the others are doing the right thing by observing Eris before taking action."
"They might have found Eris, but we still have to find Sailor Cosmos," commented Sailor Star Healer with frustration in her voice. She gestured at the landscape around her. "Based on everything we've found… rather lack of finding anything… I'm not sure if Sailor Cosmos is even here."
Sailor Venus quickly dismissed the Starlight's comment. "We have to keep our eyes open! They took Usagi-chan somewhere and we have to find her. I'm not giving up until we find Usagi-chan. She is somewhere on this planet." Sailor Venus paused to examine the horizon line. "We have to look for anything that seems to be out of the ordinary. Something that could be a hidden entrance. The Black Moon isn't the type to leave Sailor Cosmos out in the open… unless it's a trap."
"But everything is so flat," countered Sailor Star Healer. "This area is pretty much a desert."
Sailor Callisto chuckled at the Starlight's word choice. "All the more reason she should be out here. Who would expect Sailor Cosmos to be hidden within a desert?"
Hotaru beamed as she rushed forward to the front of the eight person car. She convinced the three Starlights to sit in the front row with her. The remaining Outers would sit in the back row with Mamoru. Since the ride only allowed eight people at a time the wait was very long. The time allowed the anticipation for Hotaru to grow and the dread for Haruka to increase.
Sakura watched the previous car take off. "We're next!" She stepped forward once the gate opened. "I'm glad this ride is really fast." Sakura walked to the end of the car and sat down. Yuna, Shiori and Hotaru took their seats.
Haruka hesitated once the gate opened. Michiru nudged her to move forward. Haruka turned around to frown and was met with a glare. She wanted to avoid the ride, but Michiru was blocking her. Dejected, she sat down on the seat. Michiru sat next to her followed by Setsuna and Mamoru. "Let's get this over with."
Setsuna turned to Mamoru to ask him, "How are you holding up?" Her eyes full of concern.
"I'm… managing. I just wish I could have gone with them," he slowly responded. "My powers seem to pale in comparison to the others." He felt inadequate. "I feel like I'm just waiting here…" He dismissed his thought process and changed the topic. "Something the Moon Senshi said this morning has been bothering me. They spoke of something called the Golden Crystal. Have you heard of it before?"
"Yes… but only in the future. It was something Small Lady—" Setsuna abruptly stopped speaking the moment the young girl's name was mentioned. Her eyes were downcast. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" She quickly tried to apologize for mentioning Chibi-Usa.
"It's okay," Mamoru tried to reassure her. "I would appreciate anything you could tell me about it. From what I gather, it is … rather it was an important part of my past." He looked at Setsuna, "If it will help Usako in any way, I have to know."
Setsuna smiled softly at him. "The Golden Crystal is similar to the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou, but it has different elements that make it unique. I am not sure what kind. I do not know where it is. I have never seen it. Unfortunately, that is all I know."
"The way the other senshi talked about it as if they had seen it in their past lives. They implied that it is a crystal with tremendous power. That it is something that would finally let me be able to protect her instead of her always saving me."
Before another word could be exchanged the car bolted forward and the ride began. The car dove into a dark, enclosed area. The car twisted to the right and began to speed up. The train then turned to the left and continued to pick up speed. The car began to ascend as it entered the light. The car turned one more time to the right and instantly picked up more speed.
Hotaru, Sakura, Shiori and Yuna cheered loudly from the front row of the car.
"This is taking too long," Haruka complained.
The car climbed higher, hesitated for a brief second and then bolted forward into daylight climbing at nearly a vertical angle and into a large loop. The car continued at top speed into two enormous corkscrews. The car twisted several more time on the tracks and down a few small drops before it turned the corner into a building. The speed decreased and moved at a crawl.
"That wasn't too bad," Haruka said gleefully. She assumed the ride was over now that they were back inside a tunnel.
Michiru laughed at her partner's remarks. "It's not over yet. The real fun is just beginning!"
Haruka raised an eyebrow at Michiru unsure of what she alluded. Haruka gulped when she saw the large track in front of her. The ascent was steeper than the last one. The car stopped right before it could begin climbing. A few seconds later, the car began to climb at a vertical angle.
"Are you serious?" Haruka shouted at the roller coaster.
"You have survived worse," encouraged Michiru.
The car slowly reached the top and began to creep downward.
"I'm amazed at how high we are. The ride didn't seem this tall!" Sakura exclaimed as she looked at the ground below.
"Don't look down…" teased Michiru as the car seemed to hover at the top.
The car inched forward to the top. Anticipation continued to build as the drop became immanent.
Haruka groaned. The others were enjoying her displeasure of being on a roller coaster. She spoke loudly and in a clear voice, "I hate you all."
A second later, the car plunged downward. Screams erupted from various seats within the car; Haruka was the loudest. Immediately after the drop, the car picked up speed again and climbed on the track in preparation for the next drop. The ride completed two more giant corkscrews before it came to a sudden stop near its point of origin.
Hotaru and the Starlights talked excitedly about the ride. The Outers weren't quite as excited. Hotaru waited for a few moments for Haruka to catch up to her. "What did you think of the ride?"
Haruka hesitated while she thought of what she would respond to Hotaru's question. "…It wasn't as bad as I thought…"
"There is something I don't understand Haruka-san… why don't you like roller coasters if you are a race car driver?"
Michiru raised an eyebrow at Hotaru's candid question. "You make an excellent point," she said to the younger girl. She was amused at her observation. For the longest time, Michiru thought it was silly Haruka hated roller coasters. She already knew the reason and wondered if Haruka would be honest with her.
Haruka tried to laugh off the awkwardness. "It's a lot different to be a passenger in a fast object rather than to be the driver. It's more fun when you can control how fast you are going." Haruka explained; she realized as she spoke it was a control issue. She liked to be in control of everything. It was unheard to not be in control of a fast moving vehicle to her.
Yuna stared at Haruka in awe. She was speechless. She tried to find the words to convey her feelings of shock. "You… you're a race car driver?"
Haruka was taken aback by the sudden outburst. "Ah…" She slowed nodded her head.
Yuna gasped loudly, "That is so awesome!" Yuna continued to gush in amazement. Yuna talked quickly, her words were difficult to understand.
Shiori and Sakura exchanged glances with each other. Yuna loved racing and could talk about the sport for hours. Sakura whispers, "Oh… she just made a new friend."
Haruka raised her eyebrow at Yuna's change in behavior. She was acting like a young schoolgirl, but it was very clear she was passionate about racing. Maybe some of the Starlights were okay.
Ixion continued to follow Eris, who was entertained by the staff he carried. He was still unsure if the staff worked as Eris claimed. Eris went on about how the staff reacted to the crystal shards and they were making some progress seeing how the crystal on the staff was gradually growing brighter. "Darkness cannot exist without light…" He softly repeated out loud. He thought about that phrase and how Eris and the Black Moon represents the darkness, whereas, Sailor Cosmos and the White Moon represent the light. "If darkness cannot exist without the light… what would happen when the light becomes extinguished and the Black Moon rises?"
"Everything will be how it was meant to be," Eris quickly snapped at him. His tone softened as he thought about the future of the Earth. "We will change the balance and correct a great injustice!" Eris laughed evilly as he thought about the revenge he would finally have. The crystal on the staff continued to glow brighter with each step.
The other senshi observed them from above. Sailor Titan sighed while she recalled something Queen Serenity told them a long time ago. "I guess I understand Queen Serenity's warning about the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou even more. The crystal is extremely dangerous if it is in the wrong hands. I never thought I would see this. We can't sit here all day and watch them. We have to stop them." She was becoming anxious observing the Black Moon with a crystal that did not belong to them.
Sailor Charon tried to be the voice of reason. "As soon as we learn how they retrieve the crystal pieces using the staff, I'm going after them. We have to make our move."
Sailor Ganymede glanced at Sailor Charon. "…I agree." She was able to hide her anxiety better than Sailor Charon. "But… we can't move too early." She needed to repeat the phrase since Sailor Charon was known for rushing in too soon.
Sailor Jupiter reflected back to the half black crystal Eris used to enclose Sailor Cosmos in. An alarming thought crossed her mind, "Guys… do you think the dark crystal broke in half or into several pieces?"
Sailor Charon grimaced at the thought. Sailor Jupiter was probably correct. "Well, as long as we get the crystal pieces…we'll stop them."
The group walked in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Sailor Phobos became tired of the silence and took the opportunity to learn more about Sailor Star Fighter. "What is Kinmoku like? I have never met anyone from that star system before."
Sailor Star Fighter was surprised by the sudden interest from a Moon Senshi. She thought of the best way to describe her home. "It is very similar to Earth actually. There are some differences. The biggest difference is the technology… it is more advanced."
"How so?" Sailor Phobos inquired. Sailor Star Fighter's answer made her more curious to learn about the other star system.
"Well… transportation was much faster and we had portable devices that fit into the palm of our hands. We were able to have nearly an unlimited amount of information at our disposal," Sailor Star Fighter said as she thought about how the planet used to be before Galaxia.
"I noticed you said everything in past tense," injected Sailor Mars confused by how Sailor Star Fighter described her home. There was sadness in her voice. Then it dawn on her. "Oh… I guess not everything is rebuilt?" She offered.
"The planet has made a lot of progress…but some of the technology was lost. It will be a while before everything will be as it was. Princess Kakyuu is focusing on restoring the cities to be habitable. Afterwards, the plan is to improve the cities to what they once were, but not until the rest of the population is back to their homes." Sailor Star Fighter explained to the other senshi. Her voice became quieter when she added, "The rebuilding process is taking longer than it was originally estimated. A lot of people perished… we are not sure of the exact number, but it is in the millions. Due to Chaos…" Fighter's tone became even softer. "The population is very small compare to what it was before. It is estimated the planet will be back to normal within the next century."
Sailor Umbriel conveyed a look of sorrow on her face. "That's terrible." She tried to imagine seeing the destruction of her home planet as it happened. For a moment, she was thankful to be enclosed in the crystal to not witness the catastrophe that had occurred at the Silver Millennium.
"We were lucky our planet survived. Some planets were completely obliterated. There are a few planets that disappeared in our solar system. The remains of some planets have become a series of asteroids. There are other planets that were ripped in half and still have a moon orbiting what is left of the planet," Sailor Star Fighter hesitated before she continued her train of thought. "When Chaos rose to power… it displayed that power by showing our star system what it was capable of… I never want to see another planet in that condition again."
Sailor Triton's expression softened as she listened to the Starlight's story. She began to question if she rushed to judgment the Starlight too soon because she was with the Moon Princess. She didn't agree with the Princess' decision, but she still empathized with Sailor Star Fighter's struggles with her home world. After a few moments, she was no longer speechless. "The hardships you must have faced would have been difficult for any senshi."
Sailor Mercury, Sailor Oberon and Sailor Star Maker stood in awe of the ruins before them. It was clear the inhabitants were long gone. Clothing, furniture and other various possessions lay around the area.
"This looks as if it was part of an ancient civilization… the objects here look like something that would belong in a museum," commented Sailor Star Maker. She walked over to a small statue. Her eyes widened as she closely examined the figure. It was of a woman in a long flowing dress. Her hairstyle was up in the same manner as Usagi's. She gingerly placed the statue back on the waist high table.
Sailor Oberon walked around the area. Her eyes caught a few items on another table. She squinted her eyes to examine the paper on the table. She didn't want to touch anything until she was sure. She gasped loudly as she began to recognize some of the objects. "These remains might be from the original colony on Nemesis that we were sent to find." After a moment, she realized they could learn a lot from this room. Her eyes darted back and forth while her mind raced. This room could contain clues about the Black Moon clan and their plan.
"The original colony…" Sailor Mercury repeated. "You mean Eris' ancestors?" Her eyes widened as she hoped to have some answers. "Why are they so angry? What happened to them?"
Sailor Oberon didn't skip a beat. "This colony was originally from the White Moon. They lived a few hours journey from the Silver Millennium. Queen Serenity asked for volunteers to develop a new colony on a newly discovered planet, Nemesis. Eris talked about wanting revenge because the colony was forgotten about."
Sailor Mercury and Sailor Star Maker stared at her in shock. She ignored their looks of confusion and continued, "From the looks of it many died here."
Sailor Star Maker asked, "How do you know all of this?" She was impressed by the wealth of knowledge Sailor Oberon displayed for a room they just entered.
"Over here. This confirms it," Sailor Oberon walked over to a knee high statue of a woman in floor length dress with long sleeves. Her hands folded across her waist in the form of a prayer. The woman had flowing hair to her shoulders, tears running down her cheeks. The statue was on the ground in the left hand corner of the room. Once the other senshi followed her over to the statue, she continued her explanation. "This statue is of a young crying woman overseeing a pile of pebbles. This symbolizes a memorial for lives lost. Each pebble beneath her feet represents a lost life. There are several dozen of them." She hesitated before she spoke the last piece of information. "When there are mass causalities this is a common practice."
Sailor Mercury took in the gravity of her words. "You mean this was a common practice at the Silver Millennium?"
"Yes." Sailor Oberon knelled down to inspect the face of the woman on the statue closely. "This statue is identical. There is no question." She examined the pebbles and noticed a few slashes on several of the stones. "A lot of lives were lost," she repeated. "Some of the pebbles have markings on them, indicating an entire family was lost. No wonder Eris and the others from the Black Moon are so angry."
Two roller coasters later, Haruka was finally beginning to have fun and relax with the others. She was actually starting to enjoy the roller coasters. Once she was able to accept not being in control of a fast moving machine she was able to enjoy the adrenaline rush.
Haruka and Yuna discussed racing for hours. Haruka learned more about the culture on Kinmoku and how racers were treated like JPOP stars in Japan. Prior to the destruction of the planet, they had bi-yearly events that seemed to be equivalent to the Olympics on Earth.
Hotaru watched Haruka's transformation in awe. Michiru laughed at Hotaru's reaction. "It's about time she finally changed her attitude. Haruka can be rather stubborn."
Hotaru nodded her head eagerly. "I'm glad Haruka-san feels this way now because there are a lot of parks throughout Japan I want to go to one day."
Setsuna smiles at her reassuringly, "We will get there one day. I'm sure the Starlights are rather tired from their long and fun day. We should probably be leaving."
"I agree with Setsuna-san," added Mamoru. "It has been a long day for all of us. We need to stay well rested in case of an attack." The others nodded their heads in agreement.
The group slowly left the park and made their way to the train station. As they waited for the train with other people, they couldn't help but overhear…
"I can't believe there is another attack in Tokyo right now!"
"I know! I'm glad we are here. I think we should stay a little later until it is over."
"But by the time we get there, I'm sure the Sailor Moon will stop it. She always does!"
Dejected, the Outers, Starlights and Mamoru exchanged glances at each other. This would be their first battle together without Sailor Moon, or rather Sailor Cosmos, and the city depended on them.
"It's time to get to work," Haruka said with a firm tone. "We can rest later."
How well with the senshi work together against the Black Moon? Will Usagi finally make a decision between Mamoru and Seiya? Eris becomes involved in several battles on Nemesis as the senshi attempt to take the crystal shards.
Stay tune for the next action packed episode! Act 34: The Quest of the Crystal Shards