|
A crack of lightening split the sky with a piercing whiteness, illuminating
the blackened sky. It was answered by a rolling boom of thunder that shook
the very earth in all its anger. The clouds were dense and heavy with water.
The heavens opened, releasing the icy liquid, tainted black in the darkness.
The rain slicked the gravely path in the courtyard of the Crystal palace.
The wind had picked up in a fury. It shook the trees and bent the trellises
of the royal garden, sending broken twigs and shredded blossoms into the
guilded pool.
This murky weather was not only completely out of place for this location in
space, but it had become sinister, the shadows and the darkness forever
moving in upon the palace.
Sailor Pluto shuddered as she walked down the marble hall towards her room.
Something's not right here.
The heels on her black boots clicked on the floor. She felt uneasy here, the
noises she made, even when simply walking made her feel out of place and
entirely, as if everyone was focusing on her, as if she was singled out.
She paused by an arched window and gazed out into the gloom. The heavy drops
of water coated the window. She shook the doubt from her head.
Come on Pluto. Nothings wrong.
Lightening once again split the heavens, casting a silver-white sheen on the
ground.
Yeah right. If nothings wrong why do you feel this way?
She grasped the Garnet Rod to her torso. It felt so secure against the dark
silk of her bow. Her gloved fingers edged toward the centre of the silk and
brushed against her transformation brooch. She bit her crimson lip and
continued staring out of the window.
"You feel it, don't you Pluto?"
The voice came without warning from behind her. She span around, her long
dark hair flowing gracefully, as if echoing her movements. The Scout of time
merely looked at the other person, as if silently answering.
"Yeah, no need for words, Setsuna." She began. "I feel it, too."
The other woman approached Pluto with not so much as a sound, her light
blonde hair sheening against the glow of the lighting. She truly was the
Scout of wind, almost invisible to anyone else, unless she wanted to be
known.
"Uranus! I... don't know what your talking about. I'm just tired, is all."
Sailor Uranus smiled at Pluto knowingly.
"No you're not. You liar!" she retorted in mock offence. Pluto simply sighed
in response.
"Well then," She continued, crossing her arms in front of her chest, leaning
calmly against the cool marble wall.
"How do you explain wandering around the Crystal Palace hallways at night,
with full senshi fuku and talisman, no less?"
Her hand slipped down to her waist and rested upon her hip. Her fingers
delicately stroked the jewelled hilt of her Space Sword talisman, to
indicate her meaning. The blade glistened with a deadly sheen.
Pluto glanced at the floor then up again, meeting the unwavering gaze of
Uranus. She coughed.
"Well... I..." she shifted uneasily "Hey! You're doing the exact same thing,
Haruka! Don't accuse me-"
"Relax. I wasn't accusing you of anything. I was agreeing with you."
Pluto relaxed and turned again towards the window.
"Yes. I'm sorry. It's just... I feel so strange... I..."
Uranus nodded.
"You sense something, Setsuna. As do I. But I don't know what it is."
"Haruka, do you feel uneasy? I mean in yourself?"
Pluto blushed slightly. To talk of weakness was to talk of destruction.
The Scout of Wind paused. A sympathetic smile spread across her face.
"Yeah, every movement feels heavy. Danger approaches. But you already know
that, don't you?"
Sailor Pluto closed her eyes against the storm outside the window. Her dark
eyelashes lay heavy on her skin as she tilted her head back, deep in
thought.
"Yes I do." Was her only response.
Uranus stepped forward and placed a hand on her fellow Scout's shoulder.
"Do you know where from?"
Setsuna's brow wrinkled in thought.
".... No."
"I thought as much. I have the same problem."
"and Michiru?"
Haruka frowned
"No. The mirror keeps clouding over. We've tried."
Setsuna swallowed deeply and nervously ran her fingers along her tiara.
"Relax for the moment, Pluto. Whatever it is, it hasn't made a aggressive
move. We've got time. We don't even know what it is. It could just be a
monster of an electrical storm!"
Setsuna smiled weakly.
"You were never very good at comical relief, Uranus"
Haruka laughed gently.
"Yeah well. Us Scouts never have much time to practise our routines."
Pluto relaxed her shoulders. Uranus patted her arm gently for comfort.
"Trust me. We've always done just fine before. And this time.... We're all
together."
"Sailor Scouts..." Pluto nodded "Yes. You're right. But..."
Uranus moved forward, shadow-like and silent. She placed a warm hand on
Pluto's face and looked into her maroon-dark eyes.
"Hush, Pluto. Go and sleep. We will discuss this tomorrow. No point in
worrying now."
Pluto sighed and straightened up.
"I told you I wasn't feeling right. Yes. I am tired."
The two Outer Senshi smiled at each other in mutual appreciation, then
departed company.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serenity pressed a milk-white hand to her lips. Her blonde hair tumbled down
her back and splayed onto the marble floor at her feet like a golden
waterfall.
She looked every inch of the queen that she was, from the glowing crescent
moon in the centre of her forehead that sparkled in anxiety, to the crystal
blue eyes that glistened with suppressed tears.
Her flowing gown sheened in a warm aura of purity. The numerous layers of
delicate silk seemed to flow into equally delicate colours. The material
shimmered white to cream, then light rose-pink as she shifted position on
her golden throne, each tone never darker than the last. The bodice was
scattered with creamy-white pearls that cascaded down her torso as they
increased in number towards the end of the gown.
Upon her waist, spreading upwards were wing-like adornments. They were a
gentle lilac colour and stood firm, despite the look of fragility.
She tapped the floor under her swaying gown with feet clad in glass
slippers. The sharp spike of a heel and silvery aura they emitted once
again expressed angelic fragility, which was exactly what Neo-Queen Serenity
was about.
She clutched in her lap a sceptre. Its gold and red body sparkled under the
crystal chandeliers, reflecting a rainbow of light, all colours steeped in
gold.
She adjusted her crown upon her head as the large silver doors to the throne
room swung open. She stood up swiftly and smiled nervously, reaching out as
in an embrace for her guests.
"My friends! Guys! You're here!" She sounded joyous against the fear in her
eyes.
A large flash of lightening smashed outside, echoed by a howl of wind which
flung debris and branches against the place windows.
Neo-Queen Serenity ran forward and embraced Sailor Venus, followed by Mars,
Mercury and Jupiter. She kissed each of her fellow scouts, and more
importantly, her friends, upon their cheeks.
They smiled joyously, almost forgetting the danger they had felt and the
reason they has been sent for.
The same old Bunny, loving and innocent. They thought.
Tears had begun to fill their eyes also, not in pain, but in relief. It felt
wonderful to see their most precious friend safe and sound in the protective
cocoon of the Crystal Nucleus.
Serenity wiped slick tears from her cheeks.
"My Scouts, my allies, my precious friends. I want you to know I love you
all."
She turned around smoothly and glided back to her throne. She resumed her
seat upon the Moon Goddess seat and smiled.
No... the scouts thought. This is not the same old Bunny. She's stronger,
cleverer and a powerful ruler.
"I have left Small Lady with King Endymion. She is still far too young to
become involved with our battle games. I do not wish to force her Sailor
Scout transformation upon her when she is not ready."
She lowered her eyes.
"Please forgive my selfishness"
Sailor Venus stepped forward.
"Not at all Bun - - Neo- Queen Serenity!" she smiled "Rini is important to
us all!"
Serenity surveyed her audience. Her beautiful scouts never failed to
impress. They stood firm and proud, in their bold-coloured silks and fuku,
presenting the colours and the elements of their guardian planets.
Serenity straightened her stature.
"My Sailor scouts, we have been invaded. By what I do not know, we need to
find out. The Outer Senshi have requested that task. Sailor Uranus, Neptune
and Pluto came to me a day ago. They have took Hotaru with them from the
palace. Sailor Saturn, is newly reborn within her. Her transformation is
complete, the Scout of Silence is among us. That is why I have granted their
request."
Sailor Jupiter pushed forward, a tone of anger shimmering in her green eyes,
"Queen! I could of gone! I, too, am strong!"
Serenity smiled gently, understandingly.
"My dear Jupiter, Makoto. Of course you are. Warrior of the planet of
Lightening, you have the strength to shatter mountains and split the earth.
But your strength is needed here. Will you honour me with your help?"
Jupiter blushed furiously.
"I'm.... so sorry, Queen. I let my bitterness cloud my judgement."
She bowed and stepped back.
"Inner senshi, your roles are vital to the survival of the solar system."
Her clear gaze flickered from on warrior to another. " I hope that the fact
that you have arrived here means that you will agree to my plans?"
"Neo-Queen Serenity!" cried Sailor Mercury "We are willing to give are lives
for the safety of the Moon Kingdom!"
Serenity's eyes began to flow with tears.
"Thank you, my friends!" she tightened her grip on her sceptre. "I have
asked you here to accept roles as my primary warriors, should the darkness
become a imminent danger or unstoppable threat. Your strengths, combined or
separate are awesome,"
She smiled at Jupiter, who shrank back behind Sailor Mars in embarrassment.
Serenity's eyes softened and Jupiter straightened up.
"I need your help. On her own, Sailor Moon, my counterpart is useless. I
gain my power from all of you. Moon Crisis Make Up can prove that. Please,
my friends, I beg of you lend me your help."
Sailor Mars stepped forward.
"The answer is always yes, Queen. When have we ever left our post?"
Serenity's crescent moon glowed an even more intense shade of gold.
"Are you all agreed?"
The Scouts looked at one another, each nodding and smiling. Venus turned to
face the Queen. She slid down upon one knee, in a respectful bow.
"Neo-Queen Serenity, we, the Senshi of the Inner Solar system are agreed."
She raised her head. "We would be honoured to receive our roles!"
Tears glistened upon the Queen's cheeks as she stood up, her gown billowing
around her.
"Thank you, my Scouts"
The Senshi bowed in respect. She lowered her eyes, once again to the floor.
"Guys. Even without the Outer Senshi, I can sense the evil in the
atmosphere. I fear in my heart that this could be one of the last times we
are together."
The Scouts lowered their heads. "Please... allow me to grant you your new
powers, even though I hope with all the fabric of my being that you do not
need to use them."
Serenity glided forward, sceptre in hand. Each scout stood proud, praying to
their Planet that they would succeed against the dark.
Serenity glowed with a fierce aura, warm and strong. She raised the sceptre
high and closed her eyes.
The Scouts responded to her power, feeling the symbol of their guardian
glowing out from their foreheads
"Sailor Mercury, Warrior of ice... Scout of Intelligence!
Sailor Mars, Warrior of fire..... Scout of War
Sailor Venus, Warrior of metal.... Scout of Love
Sailor Jupiter, Warrior of lightening... Scout of Protection.
Arise my scouts and embrace your powers."
|
