Episode 3

Part 2

Looking at her target, Junonia watched the young man's stare turn from surprise into an uncomfortable look as he replied with an uneasy smile, "Um, can I help you?"

Her grin remaining, she replied brightly, "You most certainly can!" Though quickly, she added, putting on her best cute smile, "Or actually I think I can do something for you!"

"Uh!" The young man was clearly made further uncomfortable by this and told her, "... Are you trying to recruit me for something?"

Chuckling, she replied, "Oh, goodness no!" Then, waving the foolish thought away, she told him, "I'm here to help!" For looking at his clutched hand, she moved boldly and put her own hand over his and said, "With anything that ails you!"

As she suddenly touched him, he shivered somehow at her touch. He looked unnerved, Junonia only smiled more at this reaction.

Quiet as she held his hand, he stared at her perplexed. Then-!

DING! DING!

Fortunately, the bus was coming to its next stop, and he visibly became relieved. With a sigh, he told Junonia, trying obviously to appear civil, "I thank you for the offer Miss, but I have to be going!" Then, moving past with some hurry, he added fast, "And besides, there's nothing you can do for me anyway!"

Seeing him go, Junonia let him move some distance away before she smirked and replied, "That's what you think!" Then, as her target got to the halfway of the walkway-!

KLINK!

"Agh!"

Her target stilled in shock as he saw the heavy line of dark chains surrounding his wrists that were covered in manacles! As he stilled, he turned around and saw where they led, back to Junonia, who held them tightly with a triumphant smile.

As he stared at her with wide eyes, she told him, "Impressed are ya?"

The young man was silent, then looking around, he cried out, "Hey! Anyone! Help me! This girl is-!"

"Uh, uh, uh, darling!"

Making her way swiftly over to him, she pressed a single silencing finger to his lips and told him, "You shouldn't make such a fuss! You're disturbing everyone else here!"

He shivered, then looked around. Junonia knew what he would see, all of them staring at him oddly, with their own shining gold chains around their wrists, with no care in the world!

As he looked about with some terror, he asked, "Why? Why isn't anyone-?"

"They won't help you!" These words instantly got his attention, and as he looked down at her startled, she added with a cunning smirk, "Because you don't matter to them!"

He became horrified, then before he could say a word more-!

"Oi! You two!"

It was the bus driver; as he turned to look at them with irritated eyes, he demanded, "Are you gettin' off my bus or what?"

"Of course sir, sorry!" Then Junonia walked forward, pulling the young man reluctantly by his dark and invisible chains. She told him, continuing to smile, "Now, let's find a little spot for ourselves, so I can hear out your problems... darling!" Then, with her captive in tow, they headed off the bus and searched for somewhere she could take her time and understand her target better so it would help create the best Tocsin that wouldn't falter against any meddling interrupters!

XXXXXXXXXX

"Let's ride! Seance Wolf!"

"OOOHHH!"

Laughing at her reaction, Usagi, sitting with Iris on Mako's couch, was watching a new show that had begun airing. 'The dreams of Seance Wolf!' The tales of a young man, Neva and his enormous white spirit wolf, who helps him contact and solve the mysteries that plague the dead!

"You really like this show, huh, Iris?" She asked the little Sprite.

Nodding energetically as she sat on her lap. She turned up to Usagi and told her, "Yeah! I never knew humans possessed such magic!" Then, watching eagerly, she added, "What an amazing way to tell a story!"

Laughing herself, Rei couldn't help but say, "Wow! Whoever thought a little fairy would get entranced by Television!"

Annoyed, Usagi told her, "She's a Sprite Rei!" Then, patting Iris on the head, she added, "Stop making me have to tell you!"

"Sure, sure!" Waving away her complaint, she obviously didn't care much for it.

Minako, who was already entranced by the show, told the two loudmouths, "Ssshhh! Quiet you guys this is getting really good!"

"Tch, as if something like this can be-!"

"AAAWWWOOO!"

Then suddenly, from the screen, the majestic white wolf howled and immediately the protagonist cried, "Yes I see her, the victim! She's-!"

With that, everyone sitting around the TV couldn't help but watch with keen interest in how the plot would unfold!

…

"Glad to see everyone's enjoying themselves!" Mako laughed, cooking the meat in the kitchen. The Guardian of Jupiter enjoyed having everyone over and watching the beef simmer with the soy sauce and mirin. She could already smell the delicious flavour of the onions and the slight sweetness of sugar, which would help make this a fantastic meal!

"Um, Mako-chan?"

"Hm?" Hearing her, taken out of her moment. Mako looked over at Ami and heard her ask, as she held the pan, "Are the eggs okay, do you think?"

As she asked her, she replied, "Oh, I'll have a look!" Then, doing this, she was silent as she observed, holding Ami's shoulder.

After a little bit, she nodded and smiled, "Yeah it looks great! Keep at it!"

"Okay!" Ami smiled with a happy blush on her cheeks.

This made her mood brighter, then as she continued cooking the meal. She looked up and asked, "So what do you think of our new arrival so far?"

Quiet as this was put to her, Ami replied, "Iris-chan?"

Nodding, Mako then, looking in the direction where everyone was sitting, asked, "I mean, don't you think it's strange how she's never been mentioned by Luna and Artemis given she came from the Moon Kingdom?" Then, thinking more, she asked, "Also the fact we had our own Sprites, wouldn't they have been useful to have with us now?"

As Mako explained her thoughts, Ami replied, "Those are some good points." Then she added, "And also, I couldn't help but feel there was something strange in what Iris-chan talked about."

Surprised, Mako asked, "Something strange?"

Ami said, "Yes, that Iris-chan said Queen Serenity wouldn't tell her the reasons for sealing her away or the others." Silent for a moment as she thought about it, she added after some deliberation, "How could that ever be helpful to us back then... what must have happened to have forced such secrecy onto them, to the point their very existence was hidden, I don't understand it."

Quiet momentarily, Mako replied, "True, it doesn't make any sense, I don't understand it either!" But before she could talk more about it, "Oh, Ami! The eggs!"

"Huh?" Then, seeing the near-disaster she was causing, the Guardian of Mercury cried, "Oh!" Then quickly, she retrieved the eggs before they could become more horribly burnt!

Full of relief, Mako told her, "Whoa! That was close!" Then she told her, "Put the pan on the side, I'm almost done cooking the meant, the rice should be done too now."

"Okay!" Ami replied sadly, adding, "Sorry for the panic there."

"It's fine don't worry!" Mako smiled, then was silent for a little more. She decided, "I say for now we shouldn't worry too much about the past."

Surprised, Ami asked her, "What makes you say that?"

Mako explained, "Well Iris-chan doesn't seem to be hostile and I don't think she has any malicious intent, otherwise she wouldn't have helped Usagi like she did."

As this was stated, Ami blinked. Then, as a look of realisation came to her, she replied, "That's true I suppose."

Mako smiled, and then she said, "I think we'll discover more as time goes on and I agree with Usagi, we should wait for Iris to be ready to explain things fully, I wouldn't want to force her to tell us everything when we've only just met."

Ami stared at her, then looked at the others, and as they continued watching the show. She couldn't help but smile at how in tune they were, all enthralled by the spectacle of the new show. It made her smile, and as the warm energy was sent to her, she nodded and said, "Yeah, I agree Mako-chan! I'll wait to see how things develop."

Mako was glad for this; she didn't want suspicion and paranoia to eat away at the happy atmosphere. Especially after the effort she and Ami had spent preparing everything for everyone, so with this in mind, the two Guardians worked together to finish the meal they would all soon eat with everyone.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Fu, fu, fu, fu, fu!"

Highly amused, as she dragged her unwilling target behind her by his chains, looking about, Junonia searched for somewhere that would be an excellent place to chat. Her free hand over her eyes, she searched and searched until, "Ah ha! Target located!" Then, smiling brightly, she said, "Come along darling!"

Angry, he complained, "I'm not your darling!" Then he struggled against her hold. However, it was useless, and he complained, "Why can't I fight this! Why am I so much weaker than you with these on! I-!"

"Because I'M in control!" Junonia told him, annoyed, then with a hard tug, she told him, "Now c'mon! I wanna eat!"

"Hey!" He nearly tripped up, but Junonia didn't care, and with that, they entered the establishment she'd chosen for them.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Here you are, your deluxe Hot Chocolate and our special Mont Blanc!"

"Oh!" She squealed loudly at the delivery of the dishes, then as soon as the waiter put the meal down for her, she grabbed the spoon and immediately added a couple of sugar cubes to the hot chocolate.

With a disgusted look, Tomo couldn't help but wonder, 'Isn't it sweet enough?' Then, with a sigh, he looked about himself and saw more of the place they entered.

It was a high-class cafe; it had strong colours made by the brown bricking of the walls and the fancy creamy yellows of the delicately decorated wallpaper, with many vases and countless vibrant flowers in rich-looking vases. The people around them seemed quite high-class; seeing them all, he felt completely out of place.

He'd never been to such a location and asked, "What is this place anyway?"

"Showa cafe!" His captor told him, as she finished stirring into her drink, she added, "This place has the best desserts and it's good to chat in, a double bonus for me!"

"Tch!" He really didn't like this girl; she was utterly selfish! He needed to go. However, it was clear she wouldn't release him until she got whatever she wanted out of him. So sighing, he asked her, "What is it you think you can do for me anyway?"

Finishing her sip, the girl looked at him with her devious amber eyes and told him, "Something that can change your fate!"

Baffled, he repeated doubtfully, "Change...my fate?"

With a single nod, she told him, "That's right!" Then, running her fingers over the dark chains still on her lap, she told him, "After all these little guys have revealed to me you're unhappy with something." Then, looking back at him, she added, "That's eating away at your heart."

Feeling a chill as she said this so casually, he couldn't believe her or this situation he was stuck in! However, looking at the chains that held him down fast against his will, he couldn't deny it... the pain that was eating away at him inside.

As he gripped his hands against his knees, he hadn't talked about this with anyone. Why could this girl see it so easily? Hadn't he tried hard enough or-?

"Now! Why don't you tell me all about it?"

Taken out of his struggling thoughts, he looked at her baffled and uttered, "What?"

"Your problems! Tell me about 'em!" Then, taking a spoonful of her Mont Blanc, she smiled again cunningly and revealed, "And when you do, I can give you the power to change your awful fate!" With that she ate.

He'd never have believed her if he hadn't been forced to come here. But feeling the heaviness of the chains that kept him pinned there, could this girl change something for him? After all, modern science hadn't for him and...

Though hesitant and scared, he knew he had nothing to lose. So he opened his mouth and began, "...It's my Grandpa."

"Oh?" She became clearly curious. However, she said nothing more and listened to him as he continued to reveal the awful circumstances he was stuck in...

XXXXXXXXXX

"Wow!"

Exclaiming loudly, Iris was amazed by the sight of the meal that Usagi had just been handed. While the Guardian of the Moon looked on pleased at the bowl she'd been given, turning to the wondrous cook, she told her, "Mako-chan thanks this looks great!"

"Should be!" She smiled, then sat down with the others at the dinner table and told them, "It's the best I could whip up with what ingredients I had on hand!"

"You shouldn't be so modest!" Rei told her, then she added, getting her chopsticks ready, "Besides you have us beat when it comes to cooking, so no one else could ever compete!"

"True!" Minako smiled, and with that, she went to dig in when-!

"Hold it!"

Stopping her in her tracks, Ami told her sternly, "We have to say our thanks!"

Stilling, Minako apologised and told her, "Oh, sorry! I was too eager! I haven't had Mako- chan's cooking in so long, it's like a huge gift from the heavens from having to study so much!"

With a sigh, Ami told her, "I can understand that but you shouldn't neglect courtesy, especially here if you want to pay Mako-chan's cooking reverence."

Staring at her perplexed, Usagi couldn't help but sweat a little and utter, "Urgh, it feels like Ami-chan is becoming more like a teacher by the day!"

Iris only stared quietly, curious about the interactions between them all. Then everyone moved and clapped their hands together and said in unison,

"Thanks for the meal!"

With that, they all dug straight in! As she did, Iris remained quiet and then heard Usagi say, with a happy, dreamy expression, "Ah! This is Heaven!"

Blinking, Iris asked, "Is it really that nice?"

"It sure is!" Then, taking a white rice spoon in hand, Usagi took out a little and told her, "Here Iris-chan give it a try!"

Surprised, the pink-haired Sprite stared. After a little, she replied and nodded, "Um, okay!" She took the spoon and ate a little of the offered sample.

Quietly, as she stared at her, Usagi, with a smile, asked, "How is it? It's good, right?"

Iris remained silent for a bit before her eyes lit up, and she replied, "It is! It's amazing!" Then, looking over at Mako, she told her, "Princess Jupiter, this meal is exquisite!"

Stunned by her exclamation, Mako smiled and replied, "Glad you think so!" Then, after a quick thought, she said, "Oh, hang on!" With that, she got up and fetched something.

Usagi wondered what she was getting before Mako returned with a tiny bowl and said, "Here Iris-chan you can have this like a soup!"

Amazed, as the small meal was placed in front of her. The little Sprite asked, "I can eat with you all?"

"Of course!" Mako smiled, and then she told her, "You're a welcomed guest here, we can't leave you out!"

She looked startled, smiled brightly, nodded and replied happily, "Thank you!"

This reaction cheered everyone, and they ate away quietly, enjoying the warm, comforting atmosphere a good meal provided.

…

"Oh! That was fantastic!" Usagi uttered, fully satisfied.

"It was!" Iris agreed, with some rice on her face. She continued, "I haven't had a meal like that in forever!"

Usagi smiled and quickly noticed, "Oh! Iris-chan you got rice on your face!"Getting a napkin nearby, she told her, "Here!" Then she quietly cleaned her, removing the grains from her tiny form.

"Awww! How cute!" Minako uttered, finding the scene utterly adorable.

Rei smiled and replied, "Well this'll be good practise for Usagi-chan until she becomes a Mom for real!"

"True!" Ami replied, nodding in agreement. However, remembering the serious matter that needed to be discussed, she cleared she throat and began, "Iris-chan?"

"Hm?" As Usagi finished cleaning her, the little Sprite looked over at her.

"Before in the park you mentioned the new enemy we're facing, the Tocsins you called them, correct?"

Blinking, she nodded and replied, "Yes, that's correct!"

She seemed more relaxed when talking now, which was a good sign. So Ami asked, "Could you please explain what they are now to us?" Then, as Iris stared at her, she emphasised its importance: "We need to understand better so we may combat them effectively."

As she said this, Iris became serious and replied, "Yes, but of course! I'll be more than glad to!" With that, she floated into the air over the table and-!

GLOW!

A white light began to shine, and quickly, she morphed it into a human shape. Everyone stared in amazement and quietly listened to Iris's explanations.

"All living beings and particularly human beings shine with light, the light of promise."

Minako asked her, "The light of promise?"

Nodding, Iris smiled and said, "Yes! It's basically the potential you all shine with inside your hearts, that lets you do incredible things!" Then she moved her hands, and the human figure began enacting many different activities, like singing, painting, writing, running, and then leaping, making incredible feats as it moved in the air.

"This often takes the form of talents and qualities that one finds high worth in themselves that gives their lives meaning." Iris continued.

"Wow!" Usagi uttered in amazement. Then she realised, "Like Mako-chan and her cooking right!"

"Exactly!" Iris smiled in agreement.

Surprised, Mako, looking bashful, replied, "Uh, well I wouldn't call that something I shine with, it's just-!"

"Knock it off with the modesty!" Rei told her, then she added, "Be proud of your shine!"

"Yeah, I agree!" Minako replied with a bright nod. Then, putting a proud hand to her chest, she stated, "It's important; otherwise you'll never get that far. I should know as an up-and-coming actress/pop idol!"

Everyone stared awkwardly at this demonstration. However, returning to the topic, Ami gently said, "Please continue, Iris-chan!"

She nodded and replied, "Of course!"

Then, moving the figure with her magic, she continued, "However, at points in one's life, there will be strain and despair that begins to infect one's core, from trials and hardships they will face."

GLOOM...

The glowing white figure quickly fell to its knees as a dark hole ate away at its innermost core.

Everyone looking on felt a chill come over them; even Iris looked troubled as she continued, "When this occurs, resentment and pain will begin to cloud over that light, obscuring it and they become polluted..."

Then quickly, the figure changed again, doubling over entirely in pain, as countless plumes of something like dark smoke leaked out of their diseased form. As it did, sadly, Iris continued, "Then they release toxic particles of misery, that can infect others with that same pain and then, in the worst-case scenario!"

"RRRAAAGGGHHHH!"

The particles rearranged and became a terrifying monstrous shadowed entity, towering over the figure, "A monster the Tocsin is formed from those turbulent and painful emotions and if they're allowed to run rampant!"

The monster then moved to devour the helpless figure of light, and Usagi, in worry, cried out, "No!" But she couldn't stop the illusion, as her hand went right through it!

No one could blame her for this reaction. However, Iris spoke again, "But if the suffering person is given hope!"

SHINE!

Quickly, a brighter golden light shone, wiping out the monster and making it become a harmless cloud again. As it did, the infection within the white figure faded, and it stood upright and healthy again. In amazement, everyone heard Iris say, "They can be saved from their despaired state, and the Tocsin will cease to be a threat."

With that, the explanation came to an end. As it did, realising what they were dealing with, Ami said, "We need to give those suffering people who make the Tocsins back their hope, then?"

"Yes!" Then, looking at everyone, Iris told them, "I'm sure all of you here as Sailor Guardians will be able to do something." Then, with a warm smile, she added, "Because I have hope in all of you."

Hearing her say this, Usagi was so moved that, quickly holding her in her hands again, she uttered, "Oh, Iris-chan!" With that, she held her close, giving her a warm hug that the Sprite enjoyed.

This warmed everyone, but Rei had to ask, "So the enemy wants to infect everyone with misery and despair then?"

"Why, though?" Minako asked, finding it hard to digest mentally. Then trying hard to figure it out, "What's the benefit of that?"

"No idea!" Mako replied, then looking at their leader as she continued to hug Iris. She decided to ask her, "Usagi-chan?" Then, as she looked at her, she continued, "Was there anything else you heard when encountering this Tocsin?"

"Anything else?" Usagi repeated, and Mako nodded. Usagi thought hard in concentration and remembered everything she could that happened; she realised, "Oh, wait! I do remember something?"

"What?" Rei asked her.

"There was this bratty red-haired girl, called Jun...Jun-chan?" Usagi looked puzzled and unsure of how to pronounce her weird name. Then, she said, "She said she was a part of these guys called the Chain Raiders!"

"Chain Raiders?" Ami asked her, and as Usagi nodded, she said, "Please tell us everything you can from last night!"

"Okay!" With that, Usagi divulged everything she could remember from the fight with Narpy and what 'Jun-chan' had done as she fought her with Iris...

XXXXXXXXXX

"And that's what the Doctors have said..." Tomo revealed to her. He looked down at his knees, hating the horrible truth.

"Whoa, that sucks!" His captor replied, then finishing the last bite of her Mont Blanc, she said, "Only half a year more to live, huh? If that can even be called living being in that bedridden state?"

"It can't be helped," Tomo said sadly. Then, gripping his trousers, he said, "If he's to have a chance to survive his brain injuries, they had to do everything they could!" However, pursing his lips, he said, "And it's my fault he became that way!"

"Nah, it was that stupid drunk!" She told him, then with irritation, "Don't put it fully on yourself idiot! Especially if your Grandpa raced in to save you from that truck!" Then, narrowing her eyes, she added, "Never mock sacrifices like that!"

Staring at her in shock, Tomo couldn't accept it and said, "But! I couldn't do anything and I still can't!" Now biting his lip, he said, "The only thing I can do is fire arrows and try and win the award he did! To make him proud! That's been pounded into me over and over, and it's the only thing I can think of to wake him up, I-!"

"It's not enough right?" His captor finished for him with a knowing smile.

Looking at her, he was silent before he replied, his frustration revealed, "No... it's not!"

CLAP! CLAP!

"Well then! We better take things into our own hands!" She told him with a decided smirk.

"Huh?" He uttered, then as she got up to leave, he asked her, "What do you mean, what're we-?"

"We're gonna take Destiny by its horns!" she proclaimed, then squeezing his shoulder, she told him, "Now come on, darling. Show me where this Grandpa of yours is, and then I'll see to it that both your fates are changed!"

Hearing the confidence in her voice, Tomo couldn't believe her. But if there was even a chance he could do something to save his Grandpa, there was no way he'd refuse. So, with a cautious nod, he got up and followed her out of the cafe...

XXXXXXXXXX

Walking out into the city again after hearing everything Usagi had disclosed, to walk everyone home. The group remained confused and perplexed despite learning everything.

Minako scratched her cheek and said, "I still don't get it!" Then, looking over at their Princess, she asked her, "What do you think she meant by a harvest?"

Usagi was walking with Iris, who stayed in her hands, mimicking a doll. She shook her head and said, "No idea!"

"And who could this mysterious he be?" Rei added, then she asked her again, "Are you sure there was nothing else Wamea-chan could tell you after she woke up?"

Again, Usagi shook her head and said, "No, she didn't remember anything after that, she told me that. She felt like she'd woken up from a weird dream."

With a sigh, Rei uttered, annoyed with sarcasm, "How helpful!" Then, folding her arms, she asked, "How's any of this even gonna help us against these Chain Raiders?"

"No clue!" Mako replied. She would have liked more info, like Rei, but before she could say anything else, she noticed the Guardian of Mercury had her little computer up and running as she typed into it quietly.

Somehow, Mako felt like she might be on to something, so she asked, "Ami-chan have you realised something?"

"I'm just doing a little research," she replied. Then, after a few more button presses, she stopped and said, "The word raider means, 'One who invades and takes.'"

Blinking, Usagi repeated, "Invades and takes?"

Nodding, Ami looked at her and explained a little more: "Yes, an attacker who forcefully invades a territory and plunders, taking everything insight."

"Oh?" Usagi replied, then something came to her and she said, "Like a pirate right?"

Looking sceptical, Rei asked, "A pirate?"

"Yeah like in the old fairy stories, like the one green flying kid, Peter Pan!" Usagi said brightly. Then she realised, as everyone looked at her sceptically, as she thought about the fight, "Jun-chan did kind of have the air of someone like that!"

Silent, no one knew what to say. Rei retorted, "Well, I don't wanna don a pair of green tights to fight the enemy thanks!"

Laughing, Minako agreed, "Yeah ditto!"

"I guess that's what we'll dub them as for now then!" Mako smiled.

"Yeah, not a bad idea!" Ami agreed, and then, thinking about what she thought of, she continued, "But if these pirates target people with dark chains, that begs this question?"

"What's that?" Usagi asked.

"What are the chains connected to?" Ami revealed, and then she continued her explanation: "It's the only thing I can think of what they might be targeting if they want something. Otherwise, they would have just taken the chains themselves."

"Oh! Good thinking, Ami-chan!" Minako smiled and told her, "You're turning into a real detective Homu, huh?"

Staring at her, baffled, Usagi repeated, "Homu?" Then, trying to understand her, she said, "Um, Minako-chan I know we're going home, but how does that make Ami-chan smart?"

"What?" Minako just looked perplexed herself.

While Ami already knew what was happening and said, "You mean Homma, as in referring to the famous Detective Sherlock Holmes, right?"

Silent momentarily, Minako brightened and replied, "Yeah! Yeah that's the one!" Then, clapping her on the back, she told her joyfully, "You see this is why you're the smart one!"

Ami looked embarrassed while Rei retorted, "Well someone has to be to balance out our bunch of dummies."

Ami laughed at this, then as Minako finished. She turned to Iris and asked, "Anyway, Iris-chan what do the chains connect to? Do you know?"

As everyone gathered around Usagi, who held her, the tiny Sprite looked down in thought. Then, looking uneasy as she realised something, she turned to them and said, "The Chains are connected to a precious light that's kept in one's core. As one grows, it crystallises and becomes a Destiny Jewel."

Shocked to hear this, Usagi asked her, "A Destiny Jewel?"

Nodding, the tiny Sprite continued, "Yes, it's the source of a person's light of promise, that becomes integral to their life and without it... the person will die and cease to be in reality."

Everyone became visibly horrified hearing this, then with dreadful realisation, the group understood, "That's their goal then? To rob people of their lives?"

Silent, Usagi couldn't believe it! But then she asked, "But if they just wanted to kill them, why would they-!"

"Oh, no!"

Feeling a sudden shiver in her hands, worried Usagi looked down and saw Iris. She saw her look troubled, and as she did, she asked, "Iris-chan, what's wrong!?"

"The link of a dark polluted chain I can see it!" She cried.

Concerned immediately, Mako looked around and said, "Where!? I can't!"

"You won't be able to!" Then, as the group looked at the Sprite again, they heard her say, "Only beings of the Astral realm like I can!"

Baffled, Rei asked her, "Why only you?"

"Because we're people who can see past the physical, we see the links to ones heart and soul, that helps us be Messengers!" Then, looking up to her Princess, she told her, "That's why I was able to find you and be with you now, my Highness!"

"Iris-chan..." Then, hugging her close, she asked, "If I transform with you, will I be able to see it?"

"Of course!" Iris replied.

Glad, Usagi told her, "Good!" Then, thinking fast, she said, "Everyone, let's go! We have to stop them from taking any Destiny Jewels!"

"Right!"

As everyone cried this in unison, they then chased after Usagi, who prepared to transform!

XXXXXXXXXX

After hopping off another bus, they walked in silence together. Tomo wondered what this girl could do to save her Grandpa. Then, looking at his dark shackles as they turned a corner down a quiet and lifeless market street, he wondered if she could remove these or maybe the ones on his hurting Grandparent. If she could, would he finally wake up?

Thinking of him, he wanted to speak with him. It'd been so long he missed his wise words and the jokes they'd exchanged. He wanted him back so badly! He-!

"You know...?"

"Huh?" Brought out of his thoughts, Tomo stopped and looked at her.

She looked at him curiously and said, "I just wanted to ask again. Are you sure it was half a year he had left?"

Wondering why that was important, Tomo replied, "Yeah,why?"

"Well, it's just with the way with how you described the accident, I can't help but feel it's a little too good to be true!" Then, with a sinister smirk, she added, "You know how adults can lie to younger people, right?"

Tomo asked her feeling uneasy, "What do you mean?"

"I just want some clarification!" Then-!

GRAB!

"Hey!"

She took hold of both his wrists, and then as she squeezed the manacles that bound him-!

SHINE!

Suddenly, a shape emerged and shone between his hands. It looked like a big dark yen coin. As it spun in the air, he was baffled, and then he heard his captor say, "Ah, it looks like you're gonna be real lucky, for a Virtuoso in the future!"

"Huh? A what?" Tomo asked her, perplexed.

"That's your personality type! Someone who's bold and a Master of Tools, I would have thought so seeing these chaffed archer hands of yours." Then, stroking a finger over one of his frozen hands, she asked, "You're a real go-getter when you wanna be, huh?"

Finding this weird magic invasive, he told her, "Knock it off! Just what do you think you're-!"

"I'm getting a better reading of you!" she told him, then moving the hand that touched him over the shape in its centre, she said, "And now for your Grandpa!"

GLOOM!

"Urgh...!" Something was being forced out of him; it was painful and awful!

CHINK!

Then suddenly, another chain appeared out of his chest, leading away far into the distance! As it did, he gasped and asked, terrified, "What's this!?"

"The link that binds you to your dear Grandpa!" she revealed, then taking hold of it. As he collapsed to his knees, she continued as he ached, "Though I won't be able to see his overall fate link like yours, I can still get a better idea of his condition by looking at this." With that, she took the precious chain and studied it.

Breathless, it hurt! It felt like she'd ripped something out of his heart! But why! What did she get by-!

"Ha! Ha! I knew it!"

Hearing this cackle, he demanded, "What! What have you found out!?"

"This!" she told him, then moved straight over and revealed, "Your Grandpa doesn't have six months!"

Forgetting his pain, Tomo felt his heart freeze over. With wide eyes, all he could utter was, "What...?"

"He's got half that! Maybe less?" Then she took Tomo's hands and let him hold the precious bond that connected him to his dear Grandparent.

Looking at it, he saw something like thorns on the sides of the chains. The link felt painful and heavy, yet so weak. Then he could see it - cracks all over the metal - and as he shivered-!

CRACK! CRACK!

He gasped, and then he could see it. It was slowly crumbling, and this meant! His Grandpa wouldn't be around for much longer! He would-!

"I'm gonna lose him!" He realised with horror as tears began to brim.

"Yeah, real soon!" The girl smirked, then kneeled in front of him, with a curious hand to her cheek, asked, "How's that make you feel?"

Staring at her, he repeated, puzzled, "Feel?"

"Yeah!" Then she told him, "Doesn't this make you furious? Having the truth hidden from you!? Knowing he's gonna die real soon, without you knowing any better!" Then, grabbing his shirt, she added, narrowing her amber eyes, "That all your effort has been for utterly nothing!?"

Hearing this silently, Tomo froze. Then he thought and remembered his parents, who had informed him before and assured him he had plenty of time to wake his Grandpa. Then there were the other times when he'd seen the sorrowful and regretful looks after phone calls and hospital visits, the turning away at his questions, and the painful silence when he ate dinner with them as a family.

He gritted his teeth and realised the truth. They lied! They lied the whole time!

"Hate...!"

"Huh? What was that?" His captor mocked him, "No one will ever be able to hear you if-!"

"I HATE THEM ALL!"

VOOM!

Wisps of darkness multiplied over and over him! Shrouding him thickly as they burned with his outrage and pain, as his tears poured down!

"HA! HA! HA! That's more like it!"

Hearing her, the dark flames of his rage only increased. Then he heard her ask with a smirk, "Now? What're you gonna do about it!?"

"I'LL GET THEM! I'LL GET THEM ALL!"

Then, the darkness completely overwhelmed him, and the burning whisps of darkness quickly came away from Tomo's body and stormed into a new shape! That grew enormous with pulsing thick veined huge dark grey muscles, with a black horse-like body beneath its human torso. It swished its red tail and dug its hoof into the ground! Then its human face formed with red rage-filled eyes, with a thick mane of red hair rolling down in a mad mess. It was fully realised as it screamed its name-!

"KENATUSSSSS!"

Pleased at the sight of it, Junonia smiled and said, "Beautiful!" Then, looking down at him, she said, "I knew you were the best choice, darling!" Then, with that, she kneeled down to his lifeless shape and said, "Now let's go finish our date and get your Grandpa!" With that, she then kissed his cheek!

GLOOM!

Quickly, his body was placed within a dark sphere and she had him float beside her like a balloon. Then she flew over, sat on the newly formed Tocsin's back, and said, "Alright, Kenatus! Let's go and have a wild time!"

"KENATUSSSSS!"

With that, the hulking centaur monster reached its hands out and-!

VOOM!

A massive black bow emerged, and as it took aim-!

GLOW!

A burning red arrow emerged, pulsing with the rage of its initiator, and as they raced into the city. They would wreak havoc and devastation to punish all the liars and rescue Tomo's precious Grandparent from the clutches of his oncoming death!