Tales of The Multiverse
Chapter 10
A hot reception, meet Volcana
-X Mansion-
Selina was sitting alone in a dimly lit room, specifically a large sitting room with a fireplace, and tall double pane windows. The fire wasn't burning and presently it was night time as she was in heavy contemplation. However the air chilled a bit as her hair fluttered, hearing the wind blow, looking in surprise she saw a set had been opened. Getting up she peered out, and saw nothing in he ground. Curious she closed the window shut but froze the instant she felt a presence in the room. Her eyes widened for a moment when she felt it almost directly behind her, but she firmly blinked, regaining her composure, and she looked over to see that familiar silhouette and piercing white eyes.
"Even when the house is an open invitation to enter you always choose the unethical discrete way," she remarked as she turned around.
"Old habit, but it's better to stay in practice," Batman replied.
"I guess so. In essence I'll have to resort to practice thefts to keep myself sharp for when I have to pinch something important," Selina said. "And no. I won't be pinching from any homes or stores to keep up the skill set. I certainly know better now. But it'll be still hard to kick since it's what I had to do to survive."
"Survive?" Batman asked, a bit surprised.
"Never did learn that did you? Thieving was my way of life because I had to. It was either that or die in poverty. I improved what I could of myself for free, before then starting to take from people with exceptionally deep pockets that would never give," Selina replied. "In the end I never really stopped my crusade in a sense, much like you've never stopped yours."
"That's where the similarities end I'm afraid."
"Maybe. But I've come to my senses. Things are much bigger than you or me and well...this brings me to something important. When you've gone through senses of trauma, you can tell it within others. Jennifer is certainly traumatized."
"Who's Jennifer?"
"You haven't met her yet but I know you'd certainly be able to likely pick it up yourself but...I just know she's suffered something terrible. She's certainly trying to be normal as best as she can due to circumstances. Poor door shrieked such a fright when Kurt bamfed into the room. She quickly calmed down when she realized he was friendly, but, who wouldn't scream under such a circumstance? Regardless though she is deeply troubled by a burden, a suffering perhaps not too different from your own."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Then I'll get to the point." she then strode right up to him and looked up at him slightly, gazing him straight in the eye. "I know you and the others have a moral compass that won't let you kill. I did nearly cross that line myself. At least when it came to one individual. Not quite a justifiable killing I know...but, some of us aren't too squeamish about spilling blood. You maybe able to convince them to spare some lives, however when push comes to shove, if it means to save a life or several lives, it maybe difficult but...it maybe best to just let it happen. I'm not trying to say to just let any murder happen but...this is bigger than just locking up some random person in jail or throwing them in the nut house. If I ultimately have to choose between preserving the life of an innocent, or the life of a hardened insane criminal, I'm going to save the innocent. I hope you can understand that." there was then a bit of a silence as the two simply looked at each other in a growing tense air before she finally let out a sigh.
"Well. I suppose you need some filling in," Selina said as she crossed her arms and started to walk through the room. "Things so far have been a bit on the calm side, at least on our end around here. Things were rather touch and go with our, away team as it were. Hannah's disappeared. But other than that I'm not sure what else to really make of our situation. I want to say we're doing fine but things can be overly deceptive. Also...I'd be lying if I didn't mention I've felt off for the past few hours." she put her hands to her brow and started rubbing.
"It's like as if...the whole world is...moving and changing in an unusual way. I can't put it into the words but I guess...everything feels so distorted..." she continued before sitting down again. "This isn't the injury I can say that for certain but it's...a similar disoriented feeling when that virus coursing through my veins but not as severe but no less pleasant..."
-The Cerebro room-
Psylocke had ventured into the large room where they had installed Cerebro's core and found Jean in there in deep thought.
"What are you looking for?" she asked.
"Things have been feeling off all of a sudden. I'm, trying to figure it out," Jean replied.
"I noticed that too. Why don't I assist?" Psylocke took a spare helmet and put it on, proceeding to venture out into the world to help search in a broader sweep. They were searching on a bit of a global scale, feeling it seeming to encompass the whole planet in an unusual way. And things were looking and feeling different as they essentially floated along as unseen spirits.
-Somewhere in Sherwood forest-
A few days had passed since the archery tournament, and presently Sora was moving his way through the woods with a bit of purpose in his step. Eventually he found the laying visage of Baraluda, looking rather beautiful as she was laying in a meadow. One leg was resting on it's foot, while she had one hand holding her right side for some reason, but despite this her expression finally looked calm, peaceful, if not even outright sweet, her helmet laying beside her and thus her lovely hair was on true full display. Sora briefly wondered if she was in fact sleeping, but then her brows took on that serious expression, and her vivid pinkish red eyes opened, looking right at him. This resulted in him making a momentary flinch as he had to fight the urge to freak out completely.
"You're impolitely staring child," she said firmly, not budging an inch.
"Hey, I told ya before I ain't no kid no more!" Sora protested. "I mean...sure you're taller than me, but height don't dictate age! I outta know!" he gestured a thumb to himself.
"You adolescent behavior dictates otherwise," she replied calmly. "In a way it's endearing." she added as Sora was about to retort but was taken a bit aback by this.
"Your name is Sora, isn't it?" she then eventually asked.
"Yes it is, why?"
"What can you tell me about yourself? And what it is your companions do?"
"Well we...uhhh..."
"...you can't really tell anyone can you, even though you're clearly strangers to this realm?"
"Well you aren't exactly a dead ringer of a resident either." Sora ended up flinching as he realized after saying that this woman wasn't above slapping people for being that casual, and a bit rude.
"Neither were those beings from Hyrule that woman mentioned. You're keepers, aren't you?"
"Keepers?"
"Those weapons you wielded, they're in the shape of technically swords and keys. I assume they hold a particular purpose?"
"Well it's a bit...complicated...I'm not really the one to explain it. But. I can give you a warning."
"Is that a threat?" she smiled and, with how she said it, scared Sora out of his wits a bit.
"Nonononononono! I wasn't..." he tried to rationalize the situation a bit in a very frazzled state.
"I was only jesting," she chuckled, making Sora exhale a bit harshly.
"Don't do that! I was being serious!" he waved his arms a bit frantically about before collecting himself quickly. "Anyway...if you're traveling the worlds, then, you should be careful of Organization XIII. They all wear black robes, with deep dark good, gloves, and I think even black boots. They're very dangerous."
"And yet you're still in one piece it seems."
"Technically I am and a bit lucky to still be to be honest but...I have to ask something."
"Very well. What is it?"
"I've...noticed you tend to grip your right side on occasion. Is...something wrong?" Baraluda went silent for a bit before sighing softly, moving her hand to where only her fingers were touching a specific spot on her right side.
"It's where my rival struck me."
"Your...rival?"
"A fellow Queen of the Stars. The universe."
"A...another Queen?"
"Emeraldas. The only other woman in the Galaxy that's my equal, at least to my eyes." her eyes then gazed upwards a bit, able to picture the rough outline of the woman, seeing the outline of her reddish blond hair, and her dark cape billowing in the wind. "Queen Emeraldas may not rule anywhere, but she is one of the most fiercest warriors in the cosmos. She is a rebel, and is the only other person to bear the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger as a symbol of hope besides Captain Harlock. He too is my rival although we've yet to meet, but I know his face well..." she began to picture the most telling traits, the lone dark eye on his left, the concealed dark patch to the right, despite being alone that one eye has a strong gaze of purpose, and that defining scar. The man was a living legend.
"So...are you searching for Emeraldas to fight her?" Sora asked, prompting Baraluda to look at him with only her eyes in silence for a moment, it was about a minute before she seemed to figure how to best respond.
"To merely settle an old score and debt. We have unfinished business, that much we agreed upon." she then slowly stood up, her cape then draping around her shoulders as she stood up tall, still towering over Sora by a few good feet. But he retrieved her helmet from the ground as it sat nearby.
"Then if you don't mind my asking, why are you lingering around here then exactly?" he held the helmet out to her, but went very stiff when she put her hand upon his shoulder, feeling the intense stare looking down at him although, the gaze was softened a bit, there was no denying the presence she had.
"Harlock and Emeraldas are rebels as I've said. They fight for the people, the oppressed, those who can not defend themselves. Much like Robin Hood, although they're far more willing to spill blood. But dare I say it I doubt they'd even slay this Prince John. In the end I'm staying here to try and acquire a better understanding of them." she took the helmet from Sora, and soon removed her hand from his shoulder, placing the helmet upon her head. "Call it a form of admiration, fascination, or even maybe fixation. Either way, if I can come to comprehend how they think and operate, I can in turn come closer to them in a way. And perhaps find them. For if we walk the same path, we'll eventually run into each other again." and with that she started walking off into the forest in a powerful stride as she started vanishing into the thicket.
"She is getting better," Looda suddenly spoke, making Sora jump a bit.
"Don't scare me like that!" he protested.
"I apologize. I just didn't want to interrupt," she said.
"But, what do you mean getting better?" he asked.
"Well, she is, in a way, softening. Becoming calmer, gentler. It may not look like much to you but, having spent a number of years of my life in her service, I noticed," Looda replied. Sora looked where Baraluda had wandered off to in a deep bit of pondering, meanwhile as rain started falling, Goeniko was making her way to town to have a mild check on things when it really started pouring. By the time she arrived in town, things had taken on a dark, muddy look as it was a relentless downpour, things were getting rather hard to see a bit. But as she walked into town, there was a rather unusual feel in the air, something was very off suddenly. She walked carefully along with an air of caution as she looked around the buildings, streets, paths in and out of town as her boots would softly splash into puddles and would sink slightly and slowly into the soggy mud.
"EIYAH!" she heard Kairi yelp, prompting her to turn and reach, swiftly grabbing the girl before she fell as she wound up slipping.
"Careful child! What are you doing here?" Goeniko asked, a bit surprised.
"I was coming to check on the rabbit family," Kairi replied.
"I wouldn't go right now. The town it doesn't feel right," Goeniko stated.
"It'd be a waste of a trip," Baraluda spoke, startling them both as they saw her imposing visage cutting through the rain and soon stood before them, the rain plinking off of her helmet.
"W...what do you mean!?" Kairi asked, a bit alarmed.
"I just came from there, and did a quick sweep of the town. And it's not just them, it's everyone. They're all gone," Baraluda replied.
"Gone?" Goeniko asked as she took a quick glance about. "No wonder I had this sudden haunting feeling of isolation."
"But why? What happened to them?" Kairi asked.
"Unfortunately it's the law taking it's course, such as it is," Little John spoke as he came out of a nearby shop. "If you can't pay your taxes, you go to jail."
"What? But doesn't Prince John know he HAS all the money in the kingdom if that's the case?" Kairi asked.
"Hah! Common sense, awareness and "courtesy" are bout as foreign to him as "compassion and benevolence", and humility," John remarked and gestured, his voice dripping with heavy with so much sarcasm that one could choke on it.
"A near sighted fool. All the wealth just sitting makes it all worthless," Baraluda said.
"So...everyone is locked in prison? Even the children," Kairi asked.
"Fraid so. Bought the only ones left really are the friar, the priest of the church and his wife," John replied, but upon speaking of a holy place, Goeniko winced suddenly which Baraluda noticed, raising a brow but Goeniko started rubbing her arms and sorta danced in place.
"It's getting a bit chilly out here, the rain's cooled things off so much huh?" she chuckled a little.
"Yeah well you outta get goin, last thing ya want is to get spotted and hauled in by ol butcho britches," John remarked as he turned them and started ushering them outta town.
-Back at the X Mansion-
Jennifer was roaming the halls a bit aimlessly, holding her arms close to herself as her mind wandered heavily. She was worried sick about not being quite able to contact Helen, but then she paused in her walk as she heard additional soft steps, not too different from her own. Looking back she saw a girl of Asian decent, with short, wild jet black hair approach. Upon her head was a pair of big pink glasses, and a unique side button pink shirt, under a big yellow jacket. And lastly she had on a pair of blue gloves, shorts and knee high boots. She had a bright and cheery disposition.
"Hey, Jennifer. Sorry about all the technical weirdness. You doing alright?" she asked.
"Well, for the most part yes," Jennifer replied. "But...I don't think I quite got your name."
"Jubilee. And I gotta be honest, it's, kinda nice to have someone my age around again," she replied with a cheery laugh.
"Well, while I guess I can find some solace in that you're still, rather different than me on a lotta levels. But, that doesn't mean much does it?"
"Not really. But in the end, you're kinda anxious to get home aren't you?"
"Yes but...I can't really just stay there I don't think. I...can't. Not while I know what's going on...to an extent."
"Well, why don't we bring you guardian here?"
"A...are you sure? But how?"
"Well, everyone is basically busy, but I'm not. And I know how to fly our jet without issue. And besides, it can get us there and back in no time."
"Really?"
"Hey, if I can get it to Russia I can get it to London in no time. Although, we should make one stop on the way back. But come on, follow me." and with that Jubilee lead Jennifer through the mansion and down into the underground passageways that made up the complex beneath the estate. They eventually came to the hanger and found a small, sleek yellow and blue aircraft near a big blue craft. The smaller one was what they were going to take as Jubilee climbed into the cockpit, and Jennifer got into the back seat behind the pilot. Jubilee then began pressing some buttons and the cockpit but as it was closing.
"Hey!" a woman's voice spoke as a yellow gloved hand gripped the cockpit and pushed it open slightly, startling them both. Before them was a woman in a bright green and yellow patterned jumpsuit, with a brown leather jacket that had it's gloves rolled up, yellow gloves, and tall yellow boots with green straps at the top. The most striking detail about this woman was the white streak in her otherwise long wild brown hair. "And just where do you think you two little girls are headin off to?" she asked with a southern accent while having the back of her other hand on her hip.
"Rogue don't scare me like that!" Jubilee protested. "Anyway, we won't be gone long. We're just heading to London to pick up, Helen was it?"
"Yes, Helen Maxwell. She's probably having a panic attack without me," Jennifer replied.
"And what makes you think it's this London that you'll find her?" Rogue asked with a raised brow, aware that Jennifer seemed to come from a world without mutants and heroes.
"But...I..." Jennifer now seemed a lot more distraught.
"We have to at least try. Besides, I do want to pick up one other person on the way back. And we got to at least try," Jubilee said.
"Alright. Just make sure not to get into trouble now," Rogue said with a coy tilt of her head before gingerly slamming the cockpit shut. Jubilee puffed her cheeks in mild annoyance before finishing firing up the jet as Rogue got clear for them to take off as the ceiling opened up, and out the went in a flash.
"So, who's this other person we'll be picking up on the way back from London?" Jennifer asked.
"Wanda, the Scarlet Witch. She's real in tune to the fabric of reality itself and such, pretty capable of manipulating it herself," Jubilee replied.
"R...really?" Jennifer asked, a bit alarmed.
"Don't worry. She's on our side, and besides. If anyone is in tune to what's going on around here and would have some explanation, it'd be her," Jubilee replied.
-Meanwhile in Japan-
Hannah's eyes slowly fluttered open as the bright sun was shining through the windows into a very bright room. She squinted a bit as everything felt so hazy and her head foggy. She slowly sat up as the blanket slid off herself, as she found herself in a rather cheerful setting and room, drawing a complete blank of where she was and how she got here. Putting a hand to her forehead she turned to ease her legs off the bed, but then noticed something felt a bit off, the bed was practically on the floor.
"Wha...where's...?" she very awkwardly got to her feet and wobbled, blinking hard a few times before a very unusual scent hit her nose, and her stomach almost felt very empty in an instant. She opened the door and peered down the hallway and stairs, and gingerly hurried on down and back into the kitchen area as she felt waves of familiarity wash over her, now remembering where she was. Inside the kitchen was Lita as she was whipping up a quick filling breakfast.
"Hey, you're awake!" Ami said.
"I had a hunch this might bring her down," Lita remarked.
"Are you alright?" Usagi asked.
"I think so but...I didn't realize how starving I was," Hannah replied.
"Lita's cooking has that effect," Usagi said.
"By the way, Hannah, shouldn't you...?" Ami was trying to figure how to say it politely as she gestured to her feet.
"It's fine, Ami," Lita said.
"Huh? What's...?" Hannah was left a bit confused.
"It's Japanese tradition to take your shoes, and boots off while in someone's house. Admittedly we couldn't quite take yours off when we put you to bed. They're a bit snug," Usagi replied.
"As they should be. Don't want them to come loose while I'm running in the jungle or whatever," Hannah said.
"Well, breakfast will be ready in a minute. I imagine you never had a meal like this before," Lita said with confidence.
"Oh! Just a second!" Hannah said as she ran back upstairs for a second, and then came back down, fastening her second belt back around her hips. "Really don't wanna forget this. I swore something felt a little off."
"What do you have in there?" Ami asked.
"Well, tools for survival essentially. My knife, medicine, and other items," Hannah replied.
"Well, once we eat we'll be heading to Rei's to get you a fire reading," Lita said as she started serving the food.
"Fire reading?" Hannah asked.
"It's a touch complicated and it's better to be shown than told," Ami replied.
"Well, we'll focus on that later. Go on, dig in," Lita urged Hannah as she saw her staring at the food as it was basically so well made it wasn't something she had ever seen before. Taking one of the utensils she suddenly looked rather blown away, to the point of she began eating rather happily, more than she had ever happily eaten before in her whole life up to this point.
"Well, someone sure enjoys your cooking as much as Usagi does," Ami remarked.
"It's just so good! Our resources are so limited, I never tasted food that was this delicious before!" Hannah stated.
-Back at the X Mansion-
Link was wandering around, trying to figure what to do when he eventually came to the garage and soon spotted Jack moving around. He was mostly gathering tools, and doing adjustments on the Cadillac but he appeared to be greatly distracted.
"You really miss her don't you?" Link asked, sorta surprising him but he resumed work within a second.
"I'm worried about her, yes," Jack replied.
"Well we all are but, you've been acting a bit off ever since we lost her. It's subtle but, you aren't really yourself," Link stated.
"And just what's that supposed to mean?" Jack asked.
"What I mean is you aren't hiding the fact you actually like her, perhaps even more than that, as you think you maybe hiding," Link replied.
"I'm not hiding anything!" Jack protested, feigning offense at the insinuation although not very well as it came off more sarcastic like he typically responds.
"Alright, then if you aren't hiding anything then you should have no trouble professing your feelings to her when we find her," Link retorted.
"You must be joking!" Jack protested.
"Oh quit the macho act. It's clearly playful banter between you two I know but, she may very well be expecting something a bit more when we do reunite with her," Link said. "At least, I assume the feelings might be mutual. You'll never know unless you at least try. You have a lot of time to think it over. Or not maybe. We'll see." and with that Link departed, leaving Jack a bit in a disgruntled state, and as much as he hated it really Jack knew Link was right. Meanwhile, Spidey had quickly taken to web swinging through the city again real quick, having a destination in mind. At said destination, within a lab room in a science wing, a woman with long smooth blond hair was at work. She had a black head band on, and wore a long sleeve black shirt that was typically under a large green coat. Said coat was placed upon a chair in the room, and in addition she had on a short purple skirt and black boots as she was presently working on blending some chemicals. She was a fine young woman, fairly tell and had a fine slim build, and had a clearly brilliant mind as she carefully worked. After checking a tube momentarily she set it back down carefully and eased back a bit. A couple seconds afterwards she heard a rap on the window to her right, prompting her to turn in that direction in surprise. She quickly rushed to it after seeing the familiar web head on the other side and swiftly opened it up for him.
"Tiger, when did you get back?" she asked, a bit astonished but also relieved.
"Sorry I didn't call. I could've called but well, things got hectic a bit and well I figured I may as well actually pop over. Still in one piece," he replied, waving his arms a bit.
"Despite going where the animals are twice as big with teeth twice as sharp, I can't say I'm too surprised you're still intact," she remarked a touch coyly as she went to her coat and started to put it on. "So, what exactly is going on?"
"Well Gwen, it's a bit complicated. It's a bit hard to say where to begin," Spider-Man replied.
"Hun, everything's very complicated. Just start where things basically truly kicked off and we'll go from there," Gwen stated.
-London-
Helen sat at the breakfast table alone, a very heavy expression of worry and stress on her features as she gazed off into space while she held onto a hot cup of coffee, the hot steam waving off of it as she had barely drank it at all. She didn't even really care about the creatures that had been shot and attacked, Jennifer having seemingly vanished without a trace terrified her and left her so distraught, a heavy weight of failure was tearing at her. And after everything she had been through with Jennifer only to lose her now. However she heard this very peculiar engine sound drawing closer and closer, soon sounding like it was right outside the house and getting louder near the back, things were rattling a bit until the noise died down. Rather puzzled she snugged up the belt around her robe as she quickly went to the back door to investigate but froze when she heard a voice.
"Helen? Helen are you home?" Jennifer's voice called from outside, soon knocking on the door. Helen without even checking, swiftly opened the door to find Jennifer on the other side, with not even a scratch on her. She was a bit startled, but more so when Helen firmly Helen firmly embraced her.
"Oh Jennifer you're alright! You're alright..." Helen exclaimed in a mixture of joy and relief. She mildly sobbed and took a staggering deep breath as she had one hand on Jennifer's back and the back of her hair.
"I'm so sorry Helen...I legitimately didn't mean to make you worry so much, I didn't even have access to a phone to call you..." Jennifer said.
"I understand...what's important is that you're alright," Helen said as she stepped back a little bit to have a nice look at her, indeed finding she was perfectly fine. But it was then she noticed Jubilee waving at her with a pleasant smile on her face, and then noticed the aircraft. "...who are you?"
"I'm Jubilee. I'm the one who helped Jennifer get home," she replied.
"By...flying?" Helen asked, a bit stunned as she started processing this information a bit. "Jennifer, where did you end up?" she seemed a bit exasperated to comprehend what had actually happened to Jennifer.
"...you might not believe this but I ended up in a jungle," Jennifer replied. "And I hate to say it, even though I'm back, we have to leave."
"L...leave?" Helen asked.
"This is a lot bigger than what I've gone through before and well...these people not all the help they can get and I...just can't turn my back on them," Jennifer replied. Helen was left a bit stunned by this sudden behavior change in Jennifer but realized how important this was in more ways than one. Jennifer was typically one who didn't really want anything to do with danger, let alone go out of her way to face it unless it was absolutely necessary.
"I think I understand. Let me get ready and make some calls," Helen said, seeming to be a bit revitalized by Jennifer's return and seemingly boost of courage.
-In Japan-
After having breakfast and sorting out some things, Hannah was following the girls through town, where they had met up with another girl with long lush blond hair by the name of Minako Aino and were on their way to the shrine.
"So you can really understand what we're saying, just like we can perfectly understand you?" Minako asked as she leaned over a bit to look at Hannah.
"I can. Clearly through some sort of magic it seems," Hannah replied.
"And you sound just like Lita. Pretty interesting stuff," Minako remarked.
"Although it does bring the question of who truly sounds like who," Artemis, a white cat who had the same crescent moon mark on his forehead like Luna said.
"How do you mean?" Luna asked.
"Well, did Ms. Hannah here sound like Lita before? Or did Lita sound like her before?" Artemis asked.
"Does it really matter?" Lita asked.
"I suppose not," Artemis said before he wound up looking at Hannah for a bit, and she did look back once she finally noticed his stare.
"What?" she asked.
"So you really aren't weirded out by talking cats?" he asked.
"Considering what I've seen and been through, I'd be a fool to be weirded out by a talking cat at this point," Hannah retorted.
"I wouldn't really call it foolishness, as much as just merely being severely in denial of what is or isn't possible by this point. Not saying to abandon all logic and reason for there are still things with limits of course," Luna said. "I must say for a scientist you're actually far more open to what's going on than one could predict."
"Well, when your world is virtually turned upside down by running into literal beings of magic, deities, and mythical artifacts that quintessentially bend the very laws of nature, it's, hard to be overly critical on the science behind it all. I'd be satisfied with understanding the bare basics," Hannah said.
"Well, we're here. Rei should be ready and expecting us," Ami said as they reached a set of stairs at the base of a hill.
"Be mindful if Rei's grandpa is around. He's, a bit of a flirt," Lita remarked as they started walking up together.
"Skirt chaser is more accurate. But, can't judge too much I suppose," Usagi quipped. Hannah had technically encountered someone who was overly flirty before and had very good reason for not liking him, and realized how big of a creep he was and was seriously hoping she wouldn't have to deal with it again. Once they were atop the hill, it almost felt like Hannah had yet again stepped into another world since past the large archway was a heavily wooded area with a pond near a shrine, and not far from it was also a house. As they got closer a door to the shrine slid open, and out stepped a young woman with very long lush black hair, about as long and lush as Minako's and she had vivid violet eyes. Presently her garb was comprised of a large loose white top with very big sleeves, and fairly big red pants. However her eyes locked with Hannah's a bit sternly, causing Hannah to freeze in her steps, and the other girls went a couple more steps before noticing what was going on. They looked back and forth briefly as the woman started walking towards Hannah with a firm, stern stride which caused Hannah to fearfully inch back a bit.
"Rei what's wrong?" Lita asked, a bit alarmed by this behavior, and with that Rei did stop a few feet from Hannah, whom at this point was a bit terrified as this woman despite looking young as she did, just had this powerful intimidating aura about her.
"Sorry, just I felt her approach and it's very powerful," Rei replied before quickly whipping out a power talisman she started to swiftly move in at Hannah, who while utterly shocked, managed to react a bit on self defense instinct, firmly grasped Rei by the wrist with one hand, and then by her bicep with the other. And before Rei could register although the girls quickly realized what was happening, quickly darted around Hannah as she instinctively began flinging Rei over herself with one swift motion, and the girls managed to catch her, although they did fall to their knees but no one was hurt.
"Wh...what in the world was that for!?" Hannah protested.
"Well she's certainly as strong as you Lita...sheesh..." Rei gasped a bit. But then blinked and looked at her, from her now technical upside down position. "And...sound like you too!"
"Didn't I tell you that over the phone?" Usagi asked.
"...I think I forgot in the heat of the moment," Rei replied.
"Geeze..." Lita sighed. A bit of time later inside the large open shrine room as everyone sat in a bit of a circle, and Hannah and the others had explained her situation somewhat.
"So...you sensed something powerful in me?" Hannah asked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that...when I detect something powerful I...well, tend to act to contain it and take preventive measures without quite thinking through sometimes," Rei replied.
"That talisman might've immobilized you. Or just the act of Rei putting it on your face might've floored you," Usagi remarked.
"Yeah I think I've been rendered immobilized enough," Hannah remarked as she glanced off to the side slightly. Everyone then gave her a fairly curious look, which she then noticed before shaking her head. "N...never mind. What is important is...Rei I...I...I want to know who I am, who my parents are."
"Will the fire reading be able to do something that specific?" Ami asked.
"If I can divine who evil is, true forms, and so on, getting at least some sort of visual representation of someone's family shouldn't be difficult," Rei replied. "But, if you're as off world as you say, it may pose a problem but. I'll do my very, very best."
"That's all I can really ask for...I feel so lost..." Hannah said, looking very visibly sad, sadder than she's ever looked as far as anyone knew.
"Alright, just sit back and relax," Rei said as she turned to the fire pit and started the flames. Much to Hannah's surprise when the flames went up, the whole room seemed to go dark as the flames emitted seemingly the only light in the room, it was quite unusual. Rei closed her eyes and focused intently, the flames grew wilder and more intense, and much to Hannah's shock, she could start to see images within the flame, blurry but still it was an image. Rei really struggled to bring it into focus, soon tossing in some incense with made the flame burst slightly, and the image started growing clearer, a sequence of images. Several figures in robes, traversing various locations, inscribing scrolls, tomes and books, all their faces obscured. However things started to seem to focus in on two individuals it seemed, causing Hannah to rise slightly as an anxiety welled up in her, realizing what might be happening.
"Shhh...don't say anything or move, let her focus," Lita said as she sat Hannah back down, and while Hannah did so she couldn't stop her heart from racing, realizing who was likely coming into view. However within an instant, the flame instantly went out. But a split second afterwards before one could register this detail, there was a blinding eruption, and intense wave of heat, a gust of air. An explosion burst in a massive wave from the pit, blowing everyone away and blasted out the wall behind them, everyone screamed as they flew out and spiraled uncontrollably before tumbling on the ground a bit and then coming to a halt. Hannah heard herself and everyone screaming as they were sent flying from the explosion, and knocked for a loop. However she distinctively heard a loud splash after she hit the ground.
"Wh...what happened?!" Minako asked, in as total a state of shock as one would expect.
"Is...everyone alright though?" Usagi asked.
"I think so...nothing's broken or anything but I think we're alright," Ami replied, although Hannah looked around, and only counted four of the group.
"Rei?" Hannah asked up calling, this prompted everyone to do a quick check to realize she was absent.
"Where's Rei?" Lita asked as they staggered to their feet, while Hannah looked over to the pond and saw a shape sticking out of the water slightly.
"REI!" Hannah cried out as she got to her feet and darted for the pond, taking a mild jump into it and quickly splashed over to the shape, finding it was indeed Rei, laying face first in the water, she quickly grabbed her and lifted her up, turning her over in her arms. "Rei are you alright? Answer me please! REI!" she was getting a bit panicked as everyone else ran over as well, all rather horrified and concerned as Rei didn't seem to be making any sort of response as she looked a bit more battered than the rest of them.
-After a tense few minutes later-
"Do I still have my eyebrows? Gieh!" Rei winched as Hannah was busy touching up her cuts and bruises with medical wipes.
"You were practically blown up point blank and that's your chief concern?! Hannah was practically overwrought with worry, having thought she got you killed on her account!" Usagi protested.
"You should consider yourself lucky you aren't fried to a crisp, are deaf or blind, or all combined," Hannah remarked.
"Well it's not your fault. Apparently your people are very protective. EYIAH! Careful!" Rei protested.
"Quit moving around so much and talking and it won't hurt so much," Hannah retorted as she continued patching Rei up.
"And I thought you were a good medical doctor," Rei quipped, which made Hannah give the meanest glare she could muster before balling up a clothing in one hand, and then firmly dabbed a sore spot. "OOWWWGLH*" as Rei screamed Hannah then firmly shoved said cloth in.
"Now you keep that in there and keep quiet until I'm finished," Hannah said firmly as she resumed working proper, not even opening her eyes at this point since she knew where she had to work. Rei could only growl in annoyance but knew when she was had and just let Hannah work.
"We've experienced a number of things through the fire readings before, but nothing ever quite like this," Ami remarked.
"So, what can we make of all this?" Lita asked.
"It seems as though Hannah's people are a fairly secretive bunch, if they're able to utilize a powerful magic to keep people from diving their presence as it were. You'll notice on how it was able to show things that were of no pertinent information, but as soon as it began to try and focus in on something truly important, the spell in a word, self destructed," Artemis replied.
"That is unusual," Usagi commented before she noticed Hannah leaving.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lita asked.
"I just...need to clear my head. Don't worry, I won't go far," Hannah replied as she slid the door open and went out, making sure the door was shut behind her.
"I better keep an eye on her. Girls, I suggest you stay on alert. For all we know that whole backfire might've attracted some attention," Luna said as she went to a window for a moment before leaping out. And with that she began to follow Hannah from a distance, watching her as she went down the steps and out to the street, heading to one of the buildings across the way and just leaned up against it slightly with one hand partially placed upon it. Her expression was a bit vacant and forlorn, perhaps even more lost than ever. "It might not be my business." hearing Luna's voice at her feet caused Hannah to look down to see those big eyes gazing up at her.
"But, clearly getting some inclination of your origins seems to have, left you seemingly worse off than before," Luna turned her head a little to the side.
"At this point I...don't know who I am but yet now...I'm not sure I want to know," Hannah replied.
"Oh come now, Hannah. Does this information and technical lack thereof make the life you've lived so far any less a defining part of who you are now?" Luna asked somewhat coyly. "This much was made clear to me when we mind melded, and, well, what time we have spent together. You have a brilliant mind, and are wise and compassionate as you are beautiful. And do have a bit of spunk to where, well dare I say it you basically fit in with this bunch like as if you were one of the family."
"You do have a point...the life I've lived isn't any less a valid part of myself and who I am but...I guess I have to wonder if my identity now will still mesh with the truth perhaps. Although, do you think I really fit in?" Hannah asked rather curiously.
"Indeed I do. Why if we were still "missing" a fellow senshi I'd swear you'd be the missing one. And if I certainly had the power for even if you weren't I'd make you into one. Granted in the end you certainly haven't needed any magic so far. Your worth and skill have seen you through a lot, so in a unique way you're a senshi in your own right," Luna replied.
"What's with the shower of compliments all of a sudden?" Hannah chuckled.
"Truthfully speaking, come what may Hannah, there's just this welcoming familiarity about you. And whoever or whatever you turn out to be, it shouldn't change who you are in the end. And if need be, well, you can find a home here and be welcome," Luna said. "After all, you will find friends in the unlikeliest of places. That much you should know already. But more to the point, you..." as she tried to continue she went a bit stiff as she heard steps approaching, and not from the direction of the shrine, but instead coming from down the sidewalk. Hannah picked her head up in surprise to see a woman she didn't recognize approaching, and was clearly not from around here. Her appearance was very striking, with incredibly long orange, fiery hair that went almost to her feet, and similarly colored eyes. She wore what appeared to be a black mini dress, with a short red jacket with red gloves and tall knee high boots to match.
"Well well, chatting with the wise kitty are we?" she spoke with her arms crossed, and approached with a confident feminine strut as her hips tilted while placing each foot in front of the other, and her hair swishing side to side. "You're a tough woman to track down, Wassoon Ambassador Dundee."
"You...know who I am? Who are you?" Hannah asked as she and Luna took a few cautious steps back, trying to determine just who this woman was.
"Allow my to introduce myself then. I, am Claire Selton," she replied as she stopped with her legs together, gingerly put some fingers to her chest as she then bowed a little bit. "My sister, would like to conduct business with you. So if you'd be so kind and courteous to accept her invitation?" she straightened up slightly and held her arm forward, and flexed her fingers in the "come hither" fashion, with a bit of an intimidating smile on her face. Hannah looked at her in a bit of a mute fright and confusion before she and Luna shared glances.
"And...who might your sister be? And what does she want with me if you have liberty to state the business?" Hannah asked as she turned her head away slightly.
"My sister is often called "Mistress" or "Lady", but you have in fact made her acquaintance at least three times now," Claire replied as she assumed a more casual feminine stance as she crossed her arms again. "However her business is help you learn who you truly are. She too had lost her way once before finding her true calling. And in turn, has helped several others find their true purpose and enlightenment as it were. After all, I wouldn't be here if now for her help. Least of all in my present condition and state of mind most likely."
"Hannah I wouldn't risk it," Luna whispered.
"It is a bit too good to be true," Hannah whispered back.
"Oh, and by the way she apologizes for clonking you on the head a few days ago," Claire said as she turned her head and lightly rapped on the back of her skull. This made Hannah's eyes widen as she realized now who this woman's sister was after she took a second to remember when she precisely took a blow to the head.
"Hannah?" Luna asked a touch anxiously.
"RUN!" Hannah shouted as she bolted across the street, and Luna followed suit, but before they could even remotely get close to the stairs, a wall of fire erupted in front of them, causing the pair to stagger back in fright, and then the flames quickly closed around them in a circle formation, trapping them.
"Well I did try and offer you to come along peacefully," Claire spoke before literally coming up behind Hannah and put a cloth over her mouth and when Hannah tried to pry that hand away, Claire wrapped her other arm over Hannah's forearms, pinning them their while the fire circle vanished. Hannah struggled frantically for a few seconds before passing out and going limp in Claire's arms. She smirked with confidence before hearing a gust of wind approaching, prompting her to lean her head back.
"HYIAH!" Jade bellowed as she whizzed in front of her face with a jump kick, but did manage to land safely despite missing.
"Oh great, I forgot she met the Chan family," Claire groaned as she turned to face Jade for a moment before looking back to see Jackie and the others approaching before she turned her front to the stairs and started backing up with Hannah across the street. "If you don't want any trouble." she paused as she eased Hannah down onto the street and then backed up a couple more steps.
"I suggest you just leave here and let me be on my way," she requested. But then she heard the tail end of a chant, and then a spiraling fireball came from the steps down right at her. She quickly held her palm up and just the fireball hit, it then split into two, spiraled down her arm and then swirled around her body. She then chuckled menacingly while holding her arms up in the air, as the Sailor Scouts came partway down the steps. Their attire was composed of what looked like a Japanese seifuku uniform, but a bit more fantasy and mythical in nature. The identical parts of their attire were the following. A leotard with a short skirt over it and padding along the shoulder and were sleeveless, a sailor collar, bows on the front of their chest and the back above the skirt, a choker around their necks, a tiara upon their brows, and gloves that went up to their elbows. What differentiated the uniform aside from the girls themselves was the color of the skirt, ribbons, and the padding around the elbows. And their footwear being different as well. Usagi having turned into Sailor Moon with knee high red boots with a white edging at the top with a pointed tip, little crescent moons just below the tip as well. The ribbons were red along with the elbow pads, and her skirt and collar were blue. Ami turned into Mercury and had near identical boots to Moon's but they, and all the ribbons, collar and skirt were blue. Rei turned into Mars, and had on a pair of red shoes, the collar and ribbon in back were red with the elbow pads as well, while the ribbon on her chest was actually black. Lita turned into Jupiter, with her skirt and collar being green along with her knee high green boots, but were lace up style with white laces. As her ribbons were a bright pink. And Minako turned into Venus, and save for her blue chest ribbon everything else was basically orange as she had on heels too with an ankle strap.
"How'd she do that!?" Moon exclaimed in shock.
"Sh...she just split my Mars' fire!" Mars protested.
"Hmmmhmhmhahahaha...I am Claire Selton. Neifirst's adopted sister. I have ESP, power in pyrokenisis," Claire said as she slowly held her arms out to the sides, and the spiraling flames went to her palms and turned into flame. "Oohhhh hohooo this magical fire feels so potent! My sister trained me well! And I learned this lesson well. Practice your power to the utmost degree and you'll outshine even the most prominent so called experts in their field!" she then held her palms together in the air and made a massive fireball.
"I am, Volcana!" she proclaimed before pitching the fireball at the scouts, causing most of them to dive off to the sides, while Jupiter did a frontal drop kick towards Volcana, whom was surprised by how far and fast Jupiter had leaped, just managing to block the kick with her forearms but was dropped to one knee when Jupiter kick flipped off. But Volcana seized the moment when Jupiter just landed on one foot, and did a swift sweep kick, knocking Jupiter's leg off the pavement.
"AUH!" Jupiter yelped as her landing was thrown off as she fell, but managed to catch herself on her other foot and hands and kept herself from painfully bashing into the ground. Before Volcana could try anything, Jackie ran right up to her and tried to hit her with a swift kick, but she managed to hop backwards enough to evade being hit, and as Jackie turned Volcana turned and used one foot to raise herself up in one swift moment, attempting to hit him with a rising knee, but he saw it coming and managed to block it with his palm, before he tried striking with a right hook. She simply blocked it by raising her left forearm, and holding her fingers together and straight in her right hand she thrust it at his face, and he just narrowly leaned his face aside, feeling a minor cut from this motion. He then retaliated by doing a quick spin via turning right on his left foot and tried to nail her with a kick from his right leg on the way back, but she simply leaned back to avoid it, while going into her own right spin afterwards, raising her right leg high and firmly whipped it in his direction with her knee still in the air as she send an arc of fire, which Jackie avoided back back flipping away from.
As Volcana was still in her stance from her fire kick, Jupiter got behind her and got her arms pinned in an awkward position, much to her surprise, but when Jupiter tried to suplex her onto the pavement, Volcana ignited a flame beneath herself and quickly used the flame to send both of them spiraling backwards through the air as a flaming wheel, taking Jupiter very much by surprise on this motion as they went upwards. Sadly she couldn't hang on from this motion and fell, although only momentarily as Volcana then grasped her firmly by the neck with both hands and held her upright.
"Now you're just being a pest," Volcana quipped.
"I...won't let you take her!" Jupiter protested as she tried to fight against Volcana's grip, surprised by how strong she was.
"Tsk tsk. I wish no harm or will ill on her or any of you. But, as sister predicted, you're not letting go without a fight," Volcana retorted, but almost as if on cue suddenly a golden heart chain wrapped around her neck, causing her to gag and drop Jupiter into the arms of Mars, Moon and Mercury. Venus gave a few firm yanks to try and pull Volcana down, before receiving a glare as Volcana gripped the chain, and spun in a twist arc, and slammed Venus into a cloth awning of a nearby building, making her lose grip on her chain as she partially tore through it. "If I had wanted jewelry I'd have bought it." she removed the chain from around her neck, a bit disgruntled before landing with her back to an alleyway. However she quickly raised her right hand behind herself, stopping a wooden pole safely with her palm, and looked over her shoulder to see Jackie holding onto it.
"Come now, Chan, how long do you think we can do this dance?" she asked coyly as she turned around and slowly moved the staff aside, before Jackie quickly spun it, and she deflected the hit with a left chop of her hand, and sent a straight jab back, only to squarely punch the pole. She then raised her right leg just right to block another strike, and quickly switched to her left to try and strike swiftly with her left but again got blocked. She leaned very far back to avoid a sweep, to the point she planted her hands on the ground and flipped away, almost hitting Jupiter on her way back landing and spun around, blocking and parrying a barrage of punches and kicks from Jupiter. "Shame, you're about the only one who knows how to actually fight as it were."
"And your boastful confidence is annoying!" Jupiter protested. However as Volcana was a bit distracted, Jackie managed to weave the pole into her hair, tying it with a quick twist and yanked back, causing Volcana to stagger back in pain.
"AHHH! OWOWOWOW!" Volcana yelped as she held onto her scalp while leaning back a touch awkwardly.
"That's it! Hold her!" Jupiter called as she charged to try and floor Volcana with one punch, however her hair glowed and the pole around where it had the hair in the middle, glowed red briefly before bursting in flame and snapped perfectly in the middle as Volcana then whipped her hair at Jupiter, making her jump to the side in shock and fright as the long fiery hair struck the pavement, making a flame appear and then a wall of fire rose, blocking Jupiter off as Volcana turned around as Jackie looked at the pole ends in surprise, but they burst into flame, causing him to drop them while she approached, before standing on one leg in a combative stance, and then sent a barrage of kicks in his direction, doing a mixture of swipes, thrusts at varying heights and angles, all the while doing a mild hop forward with each kick, forcing Jackie back a few steps with each kick. And with each kick she did made a brief arc or burst of fire from her foot, and with how fast she was striking, she was moving perpetually forward in almost a gliding fashion.
The end of this alleyway lead to a construction site and there was big dug out hole at the mouth of the alley, which Jackie noticed and stopped a few inches in front of, and Volcana stopped as well, basically maintaining the same distance as Jackie had a tougher time to avoid her strikes from here, but after one last swipe he managed to perform a big back flip and cleared the hole, landing on the other side. She was left a bit surprised by this momentarily but realized this was well within his capability range. Before she could consider a plan of action though, she heard yet something else whizzing through the air from above, prompting her to lean and quickly hold up her hand, and wince slightly. Looking she saw she did manage to catch a bright red rose between two fingers, but it slightly tore the glove and cut her.
"Still not nearly as good as sis is with that maneuver..." she berated herself a little. Looking over her should she spotted a tall man in a black tuxedo, top hat, and a black eye masked that hid his eyes. "Tuxedo Kamen I see. Far more dashing in person I must say. However, don't you know that using a token of love as a weapon dart is unfortunately, makes one less of a gentlemen?" she held the rose to her nose for a moment as she turned around to look towards him, and then gingerly flung the rose into the air while catching it ablaze in such a way as to maintain the rose's form, burning it to ash as the petals flew off. However as she was busy showing off, she failed to catching Sailor Moon dashing full speed at her, leaping into the air and firmly planted a firm double kicking squarely into her chest.
"OWUAH! UWAAAH GUH!" Volcana yelped as she staggered back in shock, and teetered right off the edge and fell backwards into the hole, grunting loudly with a firm thud as she laid sprawled at the bottom. Sailor Moon herself however managed to land on her feet and stay standing, gazing down into the hole.
"Good hit!" Jupiter said as she and Mercury joined her as they gazed down from the ledge, the hole was fairly deep as Volcana was a ways down.
"But how do we actually stop her? She's human still, just she has actual powers of her own," Moon said.
"Hmmm. It seems like her powers are technically based upon air she has access to. Capable of producing heat and fire at will. Even able to use it to propel herself. I may have an idea to at least detain her," Mercury replied as she began motioning her hands to do a spell.
Chapter end.