Chapter 3: A New War Begins
The entire group froze at Kayla's revelation. A prince of the Moon Kingdom seemed unfathomable, even impossible. But here they were, facing that reality. Luna and Artemis wanted to question the validity of Kayla's claims, but the fact that Kayla possessed the Legacy proved her word was good. It was still just hard to grasp. It took nearly two minutes for anyone to speak again.
"But-but-but-but…" Usagi stuttered, "Shingo's my only brother!" She blinked. "I-I-I mean, he's not… there's no way!"
"No," Kayla confirmed. "Shingo isn't the brother I'm talking about. Prince Kenshin left before the Moon Kingdom fell, with the Honor Guard to Utria. From how I heard it… it's a long story."
"It must be!" Luna shook her head, "I… I don't remember Kenshin."
"Me, neither," Artemis admitted.
The Inner Guardians looked at the cats, stunned. "Wait, what?!" Minako asked.
"Yeah," Kayla confirmed. "I was told you wouldn't remember. There's a lot to the story. I don't know everything, but I do know some things. As I understand it, when he was born, Prince Kenshin had an affinity for shadow powers."
"Like Victor," Rei mused, quietly.
"So, because of that, he ended up… well, technically, exiled, but his 'exile' just meant he was made a Black Lotus. Somehow, everyone was made to forget him. I still don't know how that was possible. I'm not even sure the exact why. I just know the 'shadow' thing is connected to it." Kayla stopped, realizing she wasn't explaining things well. "Like I said… complicated."
The Guardians, Luna, and Artemis stopped, trying to come to terms with this situation. The silence was deafening. Ami looked at Usagi, who had a deeply confused expression on her face. "Usagi?" Ami asked.
Usagi just looked up, unable to speak.
"Why don't we remember him?" Luna whispered.
Artemis looked at Kayla, "Do you know anything else about Kenshin?"
"Not really, no," Kayla answered.
Artemis considered everything. "Hmm. If Kenshin really is a member of the royal family, and he possessed shadow powers, placing him in the Honor Guard would lessen the chance of anyone discovering his connection to the royal family."
"That actually does make a lot of sense," Luna admitted. "Typically, only the commanders of Honor Guard knew everything about the members the Guard."
"Why?" Ami asked.
"It protected anyone else from the burden of knowing of potentially dangerous or unpopular Honor Guard members. The purpose of the Shadow Honor Guard was to get the job done. How… was best kept a secret."
Usagi looked up. "So… all of this is true? I… I really have a brother? On some other world?"
Luna looked at Usagi, her mouth agape. It was a handful of seconds before Luna could speak, "Usagi, I… I don't know."
"I know just dropped a ton of information on all of you," Kayla declared, nervously. "But… believe me, I only did because all of this is about to go down in a big way. If it were at all possible to do any of this by myself, I would. Believe me. I'm a Sailor Moon fangirl, so I already know you guys have plenty to deal with. But…" she sighed, "…I can't do this alone anymore. I mean… me and Cairo can't. I want to save the Lotuses. I've had dream after dream about them and you, and I just… I feel like I have to save them now. But please…" Kayla shifted her posture and kowtowed to the group. "Please. I need help to fight the Agonia. I've been trying to… keep this up. But it's so hard. Now… I just need help. You can say 'no' but please. I… just need help."
"Kayla…" Mako whispered.
Usagi shook her head. She moved over to Kayla and put her hand on Kayla's shoulder, "Hey."
Kayla looked up.
Usagi smiled. "You don't have to bow."
"Yeah, I do," Kayla replied. "It's only right."
"We appreciate it, seriously. But you're a Guardian now." Usagi guided Kayla to sit up, "You've been doing all this on your own." Usagi looked at Minako, "Only one of us knows what that's like."
"Don't sell yourself short, Usagi," Minako replied. "You did it on your own for a while, too."
Usagi held her smile and looked back at Kayla. "Yeah. You… gave me a lot I need to… figure out but… I'll work on it. The most important thing right now is for me to say this… you're not alone anymore. Welcome to the team."
Kayla's smile was instant. "Really?"
"Well, yeah!" Mako grinned. "You're a Sailor Guardian! You're one of us!"
Kayla's eyes began to well up. She sniffed. "Thanks."
Usagi smiled, "Thank you for all you've done."
"Usagi's right," Luna agreed. "All of this? You did it by yourself? That's more than commendable."
"Thank you," Kayla nodded. "I'll do my best! I promise not to let any of you down!"
"I already know you won't," Usagi reassured.
Rei gasped.
A scowl came over Kayla's face and she looked toward the door.
"Kayla… is that…"
"Yeah," Kayla gritted. "That's one of the Agonia. The one who's been chasing me. He's called Trulgan."
"Let's see if we can track him down!" Minako ordered.
"Won't be hard. He'll find us."
"Even better!" Mako smiled.
Minutes later, the girls and the cats arrived near the center of Tokyo, in a large, open-air shopping center. As they stood on a bridge overlooking the area, they didn't see any trouble yet, but they could sense it was on the way.
"He's coming," Kayla growled.
Ami looked around then saw a familiar face approach. "Mamoru!"
Mamoru walked over to them, "Hey, all."
"Mamo!" Usagi ran and hugged him.
Mamoru hugged her back, "What's going on?"
Usagi looked up at him. "I have… a lot to tell you."
Mamoru jerked his head back, concerned at her tone. "Alright. Is everything okay?"
Usagi opened her mouth but stopped. "Uhh…. it's complicated. We'll talk later."
"Like… privately?"
"No, not really. The girls, Luna, and Artemis know. It's just… yeah, I'll tell you everything later."
Mamoru studied Usagi then slowly nodded. "Okay."
"We take it you sensed something, too?" Luna asked.
"Hard not to." Mamoru looked at Kayla. "Oh. Hello!"
"Mamoru Chiba," Kayla said in wonder. "Tuxedo Mask. Wow! It's you."
Mamoru blinked in confusion. "I'm… sorry. Do we know each other?"
"No. It's just… it's a long story."
"Very," Mako confirmed.
"She's our new friend," Rei explained. "Kayla Shields."
"Great!" Mamoru smiled. He looked at Kayla and nodded, "A pleasure to meet you, Kayla."
"Likewise," Kayla returned the nod.
Mako looked around and smiled, "Hey! Look who it is!"
The girls turned to see Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, and Hotaru approach.
Kayla gasped. "The other Guardians!"
"You really are well-informed," Artemis noted.
"Hey!" Haruka greeted once they were close.
"Hello, everyone," Michiru said.
"Good to see you all," Setsuna added, receiving greetings in return.
"So, all of you are here," Ami noted. "Let me guess…"
"We sensed a dark, malevolent force," Hotaru replied. "Not attacking yet, but definitely here."
"Oh, he'll attack," Kayla declared. "Sooner or later."
The Outer Guardians looked at Kayla. "And you are?" Michiru asked.
"Kayla Shields. Sailor Terra."
Mamoru blinked. "She's a Sailor Guardian?"
"Yeah," Ami confirmed.
"But…" Setsuna said, "there is no Sailor Terra."
Kayla took a quick breath and exhaled, "Yeah. That's complicated, too."
"Huh!" Mako blinked. "Yeah! Yeah, we kinda skipped past that."
"I noticed, too," Ami admitted. "But I figured it would factor in later."
"I promise to explain as soon as I can," Kayla declared.
"No problem."
"Yeah, the best way to sum things up with Kay right now is 'it's a long story'," Usagi explained to the others.
Everyone felt the strong, dangerous power swiftly increase and looked down the street to see a man standing about eight-foot-tall, wearing heavy armor and carried a broadsword. He had dark blue skin and large horns protruding from his forehead.
"That's Trulgan," Kayla breathed out.
"He's ugly," Minako noted.
"Tell me about it."
As people ran away from him, Trulgan lifted his sword in the air and several portals opened next to him. From the portals emerged dozens of creatures that were humanoid but possessed elongated limbs, sunken eyes, talons, and fangs.
"What in the hell are those things?!" Haruka growled.
"They're called the Frenzy," Kayla answered. "But… he's never summoned this many before." She sighed, "I'm sorry. They must know I completed the Legacy. This is my fault."
"Legacy?" Michiru asked.
"Again, long story," Usagi answered.
"Don't worry," Minako said to Kayla. "Bad guys are always after Sailor Guardians."
"I'm just used to them only being after me," Kayla shrugged.
"Well, if they want you, that means they want a problem with all of us now!" Mako punched the inside of her fist. "Like we said… you're one of us!"
Kayla smiled. "Thanks."
They looked back at Trulgan and the Frenzy.
"Everyone ready?" Minako asked.
The other Guardians and Mamoru nodded.
Minako looked at Kayla, "You, too?"
"To fight with other Sailor Guardians?" Kayla grinned. "You wouldn't believe how ready I am!"
"Let's transform!" Usagi shouted. "Moon Eternal, Make Up!"
"Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Uranus Planet Power, Make Up!"
"Neptune Planet Power, Make Up!"
"Pluto Planet Power, Make Up!"
"Saturn Planet Power, Make Up!"
Kayla lifted her Power Stick, "Terra Planet Power! Make Up!"
Mamoru summoned rose to his hand then a flood of rose petals surrounded him, before dispersing and transforming him into Tuxedo Mask.
The powers and magic of the Sailor Guardians engulfed them all, giving them their Sailor Guardian uniforms. After they transformed, the other Guardians took note of Kayla's Sailor Terra Guardian form. Terra's uniform was identical to the others in style; Terra's color scheme was primarily green and brown with earth-symbol earrings and an earth symbol emblem on her choker. But the primary difference in Terra's uniform was she possessed a war hammer with a long-staff handle.
"Is that a war hammer?" Uranus asked.
"Yeah," Terra replied. "It's called Iron Oak."
Jupiter blinked. "No, seriously. That's so cool!"
Venus looked back at the Frenzy. "Let's do this!"
The Guardians and Tuxedo Mask attacked the Frenzy, making their way to Trulgan, who was still summoning Frenzy but ordered them to stop upon seeing the heroes.
Trulgan laughed. "As my master predicted!"
As the Guardians and Mask confronted Trulgan, Terra gritted her teeth, "Trulgan!"
"Sailor Terra!" Trulgan chuckled. "How long has it been? How many days?"
"Humans call it 'a year'. But here I was hoping I'd never see you again."
"Oh, trust me: this will be our very last meeting!"
"Damn right it will, horn-head!"
Trulgan grunted and looked at the others. "I'll be courteous and give you all one chance to surrender Sailor Terra to me."
"Why don't you go chug cement?" Jupiter growled.
"Hmph. Humans. Always so impudent."
"Like you're a gentleman," Terra replied, sarcastically.
"You're not gonna hurt Terra!" Moon declared. "We'll all stop you. I am the pretty guardian who fights for love and for justice! I am Sailor Moon!"
"I know of you, Sailor Moon," Trulgan sneered. "And of the Sailor Guardians. Trust me when I say… you won't make a difference."
"Keep thinking that, freak," Uranus growled.
"My offer to surrender Terra was a courtesy. But I am a conqueror. I prefer the hunt. I prefer the battle… and the kill."
"You want a battle?!" Terra growled. "Oh, I'll give you a battle, you piece of crap! The last battle of your miserable life!"
"That so? By all means, girl… show me. But, please, make it interesting. I'd rather have fun before I remove your head."
"BRING IT!" Terra rushed at Trulgan.
Terra and Trulgan collided, and the power forced the heroes to cover their faces from the backdraft.
"Wow!" Jupiter shouted.
"She's not as strong as the demon," Neptune noted, "but she's damn sure not afraid."
Venus looked at the Frenzy surrounding them. "Let's back her up. Everyone ready?!"
"Yeah!" the rest of the heroes shouted.
"Let's do it!"
Terra brought down her hammer on Trulgan and he blocked the strike. While they struggled, Terra saw the rest of the Frenzy starting to charge at random citizens.
"CAIRO!" Terra screamed. "GUARD THE CROWD!"
"You're calling for your cat?" Uranus kicked a Frenzy away. "What can he do?"
"What he does best… he bites! SIC 'EM, BOY!"
Cairo ran at the Frenzy and leapt into the air. During Cairo's jump, in an instant, he morphed into a tattooed panther and pounced on the monster, ripping it apart with his claws and fangs, before moving to the next Frenzy.
Watching from a nearby alley, Luna and Artemis stared in wonder at Cairo. "Wow…" they breathed out.
Jupiter punched a Frenzy down and looked at Cairo. "Okay, that's seriously cool!"
The battle raged on, with the Guardians doing all they could to protect the citizens who hadn't escaped that the Frenzy were actively trying to kill. Trulgan managed to separate Terra from the others.
Terra jumped back and charged Iron Oak with energy, then swung the hammer, screaming, "POWER WAVES!" Blades of energy blasts flew from her hammer, rushing at Trulgan.
Trulgan just barely managed to block them while the Waves destroyed a few Frenzy.
Trulgan grunted. "A bit stronger. But not enough, girl."
"I did my job, Trulgan," Terra declared. "The Sailor Guardians know! About you and your masters. They'll take all of you down. As for me, as long as I take you out, I'm good."
"Then you will die disappointed!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
Trulgan turned in time to block the ball of lightning.
Jupiter glared at Trulgan. "She's not gonna die."
"Venus Love-Me Chain!"
Trulgan just barely managed to dodge the attack. He growled and looked at Venus.
"'Cause she's not alone!" Venus declared.
Trulgan grunted. "You'd risk your life for someone you've known for… I must presume, a day?"
"A day? Please! We met her, like, an hour ago."
Trulgan narrowed his eyes.
"But to answer your question…" Jupiter surged lightning around her, "you're damn right we would!"
"You children are more foolish than I thought." Trulgan slammed his blade into the ground, denotating a explosion of energy and throwing Venus, Jupiter, and Terra back from the blast.
The explosion got the attention of other heroes. Trulgan then summoned more Frenzy to attack, keeping the heroes occupied.
As Jupiter was shaking off her dizziness from the attack, Trulgan stalked toward her. "You wish to die for Sailor Terra. I'll shall oblige you, Sailor Guardian." He raised his sword.
Jupiter looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened.
"NO!" Terra fought to get to her feet.
"JUPITER!" Moon screamed.
The other heroes all looked in fear as Trulgan swiftly brought his sword down.
A/N: Real quick note: Cairo inspired by Data-7 from Cybersix.
The war has begun. What will happen next? Get ready for it!