Chapter 140
"Now uh..wait a second," Sailor Mars said.
"What?" Sailor Moon said.
"You know we can wipe the floor with you," Mars said.
"Are you sure that's the right tactic to take," Guardian Uranus said.
"Trust me," Mars said. "There are..uh..ten of us and one of you."
"Make that fourteen," Sailor Pluto said as the other four arrived.
"Ah I see..you think that you can somehow beat me with numbers," Sailor Moon said and pulled off her brooch. "Perhaps this will convince you otherwise."
"Sailor Moon, you know that using that will kill you," Sailor Uranus said.
"Ah...Sailor Uranus, you seem to have gotten the wrong idea about me," Sailor Moon said. "I could care less about my own survival."
"Uh oh," Guardian Neptune said.
"Not words we wanted to hear," Sailor Venus said.
"Though I would prepare to survive you understand," Sailor Moon said. "Her wand appeared."
"Aim for the crystal.." Sailor Pluto whispered. The Guardians, Outer Sailors, Maverick, and Tuxedo Mask readied themselves.
"Hmm..now the big question is do I wipe all of you out now..or let you live so you can watch the rest of your city be destroyed," Sailor Moon said. "Which would you pick?"
"Fire!" Sailor Pluto barked.
The group all let their attacks go.
"Moon Sceptre Elimination!" Sailor Moon said and blasted the attacks away.
"Didn't work did it..let me make this clear..you all make a move and I use the crystal," Sailor Moon said.
"If she did, she'd be vulnerable," Sailor Uranus said. "We could stop her before she did any damage."
"Even a short use could kill her," Sailor Mercury said.
"Besides Uranus, she's not expendable," Sailor Mars said.
"Now we can't fan out to take better positions either," Sailor Uranus growled.
"We have to break her concentration," Sailor Pluto said.
"What if we rushed her all at once," Guardian Pluto said.
"She could still use her sceptre," Jupiter said.
"Does it have such a wide range?" Sailor Neptune said.
"I believe it does now," Sailor Mercury said. "She certainly seems capable of modifying the size of the attack."
"It's very possible," Sailor Pluto said.
"Once she's energized it she can keep firing too..and that would give her time to energize the crystal," Mars said.
"Is there any chance we can reason with her?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
"In this state, that's highly unlikely," Sailor Pluto said.
"Maybe not.." Mars said. "Look...the evil consumes the person they inhabit, but..it can be fought, Lita fought it. I did too. If we could get Serena to fight it...maybe she could distract it long enough for us to get the crystal."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Guardian Uranus asked.
"Well..we all know that we can hear what being said, we just can't do anything about it," Mars said.
"Good point, if we could somehow convince Serena through the evil Sailor Moon.." Jupiter said.
"It's worth a shot," Sailor Pluto said. "But remember this is Serena."
"So it may take some time, let's try it," Mars said.
The evil Sailor Moon kept her energy screptre ready.
"You know I've been thinking about it and I guess I'll just have to destroy you, because if I don't...well..you'll keep trying to stop me," Sailor Moon said.
"Uh..wait a sec," Venus said.
"What is it?"
"Well..you know..I was just wondering..um..is Serena in there?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I mean..the real Serena. The one's who body you took over."
"I took over no one's body, I am Serena and Sailor Moon, just eviler."
"No you're not, you're a foreign being," Mercury said.
"Absolutely not! I am real," the creature said.
"Real, yes, but not Sailor Moon," Sailor Neptune said.
"Well..you are.but not the same Sailor Moon," Guardian Saturn said.
"Sailor Moon would never do this," Mars said.
"I am Sailor Moon, under the power of evil, it's that simple," Sailor Moon said.
"Then you're not Sailor Moon," Sailor Saturn said.
"Huh?" Sailor Moon asked.
"The real Sailor Moon is buried inside you, trying to come out. You are not her."
"I'm not convinced."
"You say that you are Sailor Moon under the power of evil. But Sailor Moon cannot be brough under the power of evil, only her powers and her body. Your Sailor Moon is an entirely different conciousness."
"You're confusing me.."
"Why don't you ask the other Serena, she'll tell you," Guardian Neptune said.
"There is no other Serena!"
"Sure there is.." Guardian Uranus said. "We'd like to talk to her."
"We could use her help right now," Mars said.
"You won't get it," Sailor Moon said and then winced. "NO! Get back inside!"
"NOW!" Pluto barked. The scouts that could all opened fire. Maverick and Sailors Uranus and Sailor Neptune instincitvely leapt forward. The crystal was blasted from Sailor Moon's hand. Sailor Uranus leapt up and caught it. Maverick landed on a roof top. Sailor Moon flailed off balance and finally fell. Sailor Neptune caught her. Sailor Moon began to glow.
"Wait! Neptune!" Mercury shouted. "If Sailor Moon doesn't have her crystal she loses her transformation!"
"Oh I see.." Neptune said. "This could be a problem," Neptune said and leapt off. Uranus jumped back to the group and handed Sailor Pluto the crystal.
"You'd better hold this," Uranus said.
"I'll keep it with me," Pluto said.
Meanwhile there was a large screech.
"What's happening?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"She's turning into the monster she originally turned into since there was nothing to keep her as a Sailor Scout," Guardian Saturn replied.
"Well let's go stop her," Guardian Uranus said and the four Guardian Scouts leapt up to Maverick's perch. The other scouts leapt to the rooftop Sailor Moon had been standing on. They all looked down to see Serena her face and body intact covered with an amalgamation of negaverse uniform, plant outfit, and a few other assorted traits. Some of her was colored green the color of Alan and Ann. Her hair went white.
"That's not a pretty site," Guardian Neptune said.
"Never mind that," Maverick said and aimed his sword. The Guardian Scouts let loose their attacks. They flew at Serena who stood there. The attacks disapeared before they hit her.
"What?" Guardian Saturn shouted.
Sailor Moon raised her left arm and two large pink razor bolts flew from them straight at the five. Maverick swung and knocked one of them into the roof, the other smashed into his abdomen, he rolled off the roof and fell to the ground. The other four Guardians had dived out of the way.
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"
"Jupiter Thunder Crash!"
The four outer scouts used their weapons. The attacks flew right at Sailor Moon. She stood there and then pulled out her right hand. The attacks bounced off of something and flew right back at them. The scouts all leapt off the roof as it exploded.
The Guardian Scouts joined them on the ground. The group watched as Sailor Moon floated upward and hovered over them. She flexed both of her arms and massive energy balls flew at the scouts. They all jumped out of the way, but some were hit by the debris.
"Maybe a frontal assault!" Guardian Uranus shouted and leapt upwards swinging his sword, it hit something, he felt off balance and then was hit with an energy blast and knocked across the street into a telephone pole.
"This isn't looking good at all," Sailor Pluto said.
"I will make an opportunity," Sailor Saturn said.
"What? You can't..."
"I will.." Saturn said picking up her scythe. "My weapon is forged from more then the power of the moon. It has the powers of several solar systems inside it."
"Yes Saturn..but.." Sailor Pluto began. A rain of energy balls caused them to jump out of the way again.
"It is decided," Sailor Saturn said and vaulted upward propelling her scythe forward, it smashed into the energy shield and Sailor Moon fired blasting Sailor Saturn back to the ground. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune fired their weapons in through the hole and hit Sailor Moon straight on, she fell back slightly in the air.
The three remaining Guardians leapt up and vaulted off the roof digging their swords into the hole and firing. Sailor Moon blasted them and knocked them over a house and into the ground hard, but she winced.
"You cannot defeat me!" she shouted and blew the house apart with a wave of her hand. The scouts ducked for debris.
"I hope no one was home," Venus said.
"Doesn't seem like it," Mars said.
"Never mind, attack!" Pluto said and used her staff. Neptune and Uranus fired. The four scouts used their basic attacks. They bounced off a shield and hit the rubble.
The scouts looked on in surprise.
Several roses flew through the air and smashed into Serena's back, she screamed.
"She had to change where the shield was," Sailor Pluto said.
Tuxedo Mask leapt from a tree and fired his staff, Serena whirled and blasted him with an energy ball. He cried out and fell to the ground.
The scouts as a group let their attacks go. Serena was hit, and she weaved, and fell several feet before regaining herself.
"Everyone..heal her!" Sailor Mars said. The scouts in whatver condition they were pulled out their powers sticks.
"Mars.."
"Venus.."
"Mercury.."
"Jupiter.."
"Uranus.."
"Uranus.."
"Neptune.."
"Neptune.."
"Pluto.."
"Pluto.."
"Saturn.."
"Saturn.."
"Healing power!" the twelve shouted.
The energy flew at Serena and covered her in energy. She strained against it. The scouts all strained doing all they could to wish Serena back to her old self. The uniform began to fall away. Serena let out a massive shout. Then suddenly she fell to the ground. The scouts all rushed over.
"Is she healed?" Sailor Uranus said keeping her distance.
"It seems that way," Sailor Pluto said.
"Whew..that was fun wasn't it?" Sailor Jupiter said sarcastically.
"I hate telephone poles," Guardian Uranus said limping up.
"You'll learn to live with it," Maverick said staggering up.
Tuxedo mask limped out of the other side of the yard.
Serena's eyes opened.
"Hey everyone," she said. "How's it going?"
Then she went to sleep.
"Um..excuse me.." General Nagumo said to the assembled group. They all turned to look at him.
"About this problem in the water, I think you might want to see it," the General in Chief said.
"You've found something?" Mercury asked.
"I'd say so," Nagumo said.
"Guardians, stay and rest, Tuxedo Mask stay with Serena. Maverick..go get something for that wound," Sailor Pluto said.
"It's superficial," Maverick said.
"Sailors, got check it out," Pluto said. "Me and Saturn will stay here too."
"We'll do.." Mars said and the six Sailors followed Nagumo.
Minutes later. The scouts were standing in a sewer viaduct looking into a darkened water pipeline illuminated with spotlight, several army troops stood around.
"Look at the water, it seems to be alive," Venus said.
Mercury glanced at her computer.
"My computer's barely able to function, but there's definately energy in there," Mercury said.
"What should we do about it?" Uranus said.
"Good question heal it or blast it," Mars said.
"We don't know how far this goes," Mercury said.
"Actually we do," Nagumo said. "We've teams all over the city, and I've got a map here."
"Oh I see," Mercury said.
"See..this circle is the limit, all the pipelines inside are affected," Nagumo said.
"We need to clear the entire pipeline out then," Jupiter said.
"Sailor Moon could do it in one shot," Venus said.
"General, you might as well move your people out, we know what we have to do, we just have to wait for Sailor Moon to be well enough," Mercury said.
"How long will that be?" Nagumo asked.
"Hopefully hours," Mercury said.
"We don't want to push her though," Venus said.
"She'll do what has to be done," Uranus said.
"This can wait," Venus said.
"Not much longer," Uranus said.
"Let's just go check on her okay?" Jupiter said.
When they arrived back, Serena was sitting up. The Guardians were all lying down to rest. Tuxedo Mask was leaning against a tree to hold himself up. Maverick was wrapping his stomach with tape.
"Maverick aren't you in pain?" Pluto asked.
"Always," Maverick said. "You overestimate physical pain as compared to all the others."
"He's right you do," Sailor Saturn said. "Though it is a common error."
"How's Serena?" Venus asked.
"I'm tired," Serena said.
"Oh...well this can wait," Mars said.
"It can't we have to end this now," Sailor Uranus said.
"End what?" Serena asked.
"The source of this, it's the water supply, we can stop it but we need you," Jupiter said.
"We want you rest though," Mercury said.
"No..I can rest later..let's go..wait..my crystal..did I lose it?"
"No Serena," Pluto said and pulled out the brooch. "Here."
"Oh..there it is," Serena said and caught it. "Celestial Moon Power!" she shouted and transformed.
"Now..let's go."
"Sailor Moon, you're in no condition.." Mercury said.
"Ehh.." Sailor Moon said. "Come on..lead the way."
"Follow me," Sailor Uranus said.
"Shes' surprisingly determined," Mars said.
"Well..can't blame her for that," Venus said.
The scouts jumped off leaving only the males.
"Hey...all right..I thought they'd never leave," Guardian Neptune said and stood up.
"You were faking?" Pluto said.
"No...but..I wanted you to think I was," Neptune said and laid back down.
"You are such a fool," Pluto said.
"How's it going over there Tuxedo Mask?" Uranus said.
"Not great, but I've felt worse," Tuxedo Mask said.
"That's the spirit..but can I ask you something man to man?"
"Why not..good as time as any."
"What's with the name Tuxedo Mask..I mean..it's hard to say, it's long, it's not fearsome at all.."
"I don't know why I call myself that, but I have and the name stuck. Serena won't let me change it."
"Hey...I think instead you should call yourself Hatman," Neptune said.
"There's a thought," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Say..didn't you two fight tonight?" Pluto asked..."You know, you and Maverick."
"We did," Tuxedo Mask said.
"So..who won?" Uranus asked.
"Neither of us did," Maverick said.
"What?" Neptune said. "Neither..aw..come on..you guys have to fight a rematch."
"No," Maverick and Tuxedo Mask said.
"Why?" the others, except Saturn said.
"We're incapable of beating each other," Maverick said.
"That's right," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Well maybe the rules were tilted one way or it wasn't fair, you know.." Pluto said.
"Doesn't matter, we've fought to a draw," Tuxedo Mask said.
"And we'll remember that," Maverick said.
"But..that doesn't settle anything," the three guys muttered.
"Moon Crystal Healing Power!" Sailor Moon shouted. A massive blast of energy went flying into the water viaduct and through the various pipes.
General Nagumo who had arrived again to observe picked up a radio.
"It's clear on our end, how about yours," he said to all his various troops stationed around the city.
"Did we get it?" Jupiter asked.
"So far so good," Nagumo said listening to the reports come in. "My eastern quadrants are taking some time to call in."
"The East?" Saturn said.
"Uh huh."
"I see.." Saturn said.
"What is it?" Pluto asked.
"Nothing yet." Saturn said. "But that will change."
"My computer's working again," Mercury said.
"Let's check the communicators," Mars said and pulled hers out.
"Hey..Guardian Uranus.." she said.
"Huh..oh..uh..guess this means the communicators work," Uranus replied after a few seconds.
"Looks that way," Mars said.
"I just got the last report, everything looks clear," Nagumo said.
"Have you sent troops into the center of it?" Pluto asked.
"Well no," Nagumo said.
"That's all right, we'll check it," Pluto said. "Thank you for your assistance."
"Uh..sure," Nagumo said. "You're welcome."
"We will check the center now to resolve this," Sailor Uranus said. "Just tell us where that is."
"Give me a sec,"Mercury said punching some information into her computer. "Based on the spreading and some geometry..it should be near the corner of 4th and Akiko streets.
Uranus and Neptune leapt off.
"They're in a hurry aren't they?" Jupiter said.
"They just want to make sure they've solved the problem," Pluto said.
"I'm tired," Sailor Moon said. "I wanna go home to rest."
"You should then," Pluto said.
"What time is it anyway?" Venus said.
"Around four AM," Pluto said.
"Ah..we have school tommorow," Venus shrieked.
"This will be fun won't it?" Jupiter said.
"You girls go home and rest, I'll go talk to the guys," Pluto said and with Saturn she jumped off.
"Saturn? Are you sensing something?"
"I did sense something. I don't know what yet. But..it will be important."
"Something happened in the east didn't it?"
"That I am sure of. What happened I do not know."
"Oh..well..I'll check it out later."
"I don't think you will find anything."
"Why?"
"It is just a feeling."
"Oh."
Back near Serena's house.
"Hey..you know we did a little better then usual on this one," Neptune said.
"Yeah, it wasn't bad at all," Pluto said.
"Hey..Maverick.." Uranus said.
"What?" Maverick said.
"Why'd you take those blade shots, while the rest of us just dodged them?" Uranus asked.
"If those blades were like the originals, they would have boomeranged back on you and probably hit you as you landed, they had to be deflected. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to stop both without getting hit," Maverick said.
"Hey, it's good to have you back man, you're always thinking," Uranus said.
Pluto and Saturn dropped to the ground.
"We believe it's over now," Pluto said.
"Heh, like it's ever really over," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Well..we believe this round is over, you can all go home, assuming you have the strength to do so," Pluto said.
"I think we can do it..you okay Tuxie?" Neptune asked.
"Don't call me that please," Tuxedo Mask said.
"How about just T-Mask," Neptune said.
"No," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Whatever..can you make it home?"
"I can now."
The scouts all headed off.
"They're getting better I think," Pluto said.
"Better at what?" Saturn asked stoically. Pluto glanced at her and started laughing.
"Was that funny?" Saturn asked. "I do not know."
"It was funny to me," Pluto said..
The next day, the scouts staggered into school all very tired. Serena immediately put her head on the desk and went to sleep. Mina, Lita, Raye, Mike, Rick, and Steve, followed. Amy and Greg found themselves both blinking to try and keep awake.
"Just how many cups of coffee did you have this morning Haruka?" Michiru asked at the front.
"I don't know..several," Haruka said blinking. "It isn't helping."
"That's too bad."
"How are you so awake?"
"Oh..I just never went to sleep, you may have to carry me home after school though."
"I'll try," Haruka said.
Miss Haruna walked in and saw the sorry state of half of her class.
"Did I miss something?" Miss Haruna asked. "What are you all doing?"
"Miss H..we just had a long night," Amy said.