Chapter 156
Raye had guessed correctly that her friends probably wouldn't need her help. After all with the outer scouts and Sailor Moon there, they could probably take care of the enemy and they did. So she had stayed behind to prepare the ceremony which would begin in an hour. She looked over her decorations and confirmed to herself that she had done things satisfactorily. She walked in back of her temple to the gravestones of her family and stood starring at them for a good ten minutes before turning to head back to wait.
People began to arrive soon afterwards. She greeted each one of them with a small bow as they moved to kneel in front of the fires.
She glared at the ground waiting silently for everyone to pass. She became aware that a pair of eyes were looking up at her. Her eyes widened and she looked around with a start to see Serena holding her head turned around and looking up at her.
"What are you doing?" Raye asked.
"Seeing if you were awake," Serena said.
Raye noticed the girls standing there.
"You came," Raye said.
The four smiled.
"What and miss this uh.." Mina glanced around. "Uh..thing.." she said.
Raye managed a brief smile.
"My, you've really made the place look nice haven't you?" came another voice. "What a beautiful design."
The group turned to see, Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna and Hotaru standing at the top of the steps.
"It's good to see all of you," Raye said.
"You have put great effort into this," Haruka said. "It would be a shame if we could not experience the result of that."
"Oh..uh..thank you..for saying so.." Raye said.
The girls moved on.
Raye waited as the last few people filed in.
Hmm...well I guess the guys aren't coming. She thought. I thought for sure
Rick would come. I wonder what they're doing.
At the moment Rick, Steve, and Mike were racing down a hill in a sled in a lighted park along with a large group of people. They skidded to a stop at the bottom.
"Well..there we go.." Mike said.
"I didn't know this hill could run so fast," Steve said.
"It's a hill..it doesn't even jog.." Mike said.
"That's not what I meant," Steve said.
"Of course it's not!" Mike snapped.
"Wha.." Steve said.
"Now you know what's it like to be me.." Mike said with a smile.
They dragged the sled back up to the top.
"Say...Greg...you up for a ride?" Rick asked.
"Well..I don't know..I find it hard to believe that to relax after that battle we decided to go sledding..there are other ways to do it," Greg said.
"Aw..come on..it'll take your mind off of your troubles," Rick said.
"Okay," Greg said.
Greg and Rick got on the sled.
"You guys give us a push," Rick said.
"Okay...we got it..." Mike said.
Mike and Steve grabbed the edge of the sled and dragged it back a few feet.
"Bobsled style.." Steve said with a grin.
"What's that mean?" Greg asked.
"Well it's nothing harmful," Rick said.
"Here we go.." Mike said. The two ran forward pulling the sled with them.
"AHHWEEEEHEEHOWALLEWEELWLE!" Mike and Steve shouted imitating the shouting usually heard when Olympic Bobsled runs began.
"See.." Rick said as they went shooting down the hill.
Meanwhile the prayer ceremony was about to begin. Raye brought her hands
together and bent back her fingers to only the finger closest to each of her
thumbs were held together. Her eyes narrowed, and she began to recite a chant.
The group all listened and let themselves relax as her words filled the room.
"You know if you tilt the slid at a slightly higher angle..we can make turns without diminishing speed very much," Greg said as he and Rick roared down the hill again.
"Wow..really.." Rick said and raised the sled. They turned across the hill and slid back down around heading back down.
"You just steered us towards that patch of ice.." Greg said.
"Oh I did," Rick said.
"Uh huh," Greg said and pulled the sled around narrowly avoiding it.
"How about that?" Rick said.
"Rock!" Greg shouted.
"Rock?" Rick said.
Greg pointed the two saw a rock poking out of the snow. They turned the sled quickly, but it hit dumping them out onto the snow.
"Hmm...you're bad luck you know that," Rick said.
Greg shrugged.
"Look at them having their fun.." Mike said.
"Yeah..fun.." Steve said.
"Don't you ever intentionally crash your sled?"
"Well..sure..but I don't have to run into a rock to do that."
"That's true," Mike said with realization. "Yeah...you don't need a rock..jeez..all those years..carefully moving a rock in the way of my sled..sometimes dragging it up to the middle of a hill..I...my god..I've wasted my life."
Steve glanced at him.
Raye sprinkled some dust on the fire. It crackled and rose slightly. The group sat there silently thinking. Except for Serena who curiously glancing about trying to figure out just what was happening.
Raye sat back down and resumed the prayer. Serena glanced at her watch.
Is it supposed to take this long? She thought to herself. She noticed Mina shifting back and forth nervously.
Yep..she's in the same boat. But she's covering it up better. Serena thought. Just how long does this take? She thought with annoyance. And aren't they supposed to give out food or something?
I'm sure of that...or maybe Raye's just too cheap to buy some...
"See..the Man, is my kind of superhero.." Mike said. "If were a superhero I'd be like him."
"You are a superhero Mike," Steve said.
"No..no..you misunderstand..I mean...a real superhero..and besides I'm speaking theoretically."
"Well just as long as you have that straight," Steve said.
"Yeah..see...he uses his wits not some fancy weapons...a true thinking hero.."
"He ran into that monster with his car..."
"Well of course..only a genius would think to use his car to hurt an enemy..."
"Mike...you're going down the hill now."
"I could ask where the sled is..but I can only guess it's at the bottom of the hill."
"Yeah..where you're going to be.."
"Yep..I figured that.." Mike said.
"Having fun Greg?" Rick asked.
"Yeah..sure.." Greg said.
"Good.." Rick said. "It's not often you have fun.."
"Well I've been busy."
"Yeah..sure you have..don't worry things will work out."
"I hope so...this could destroy my average."
"I guess so..fortunately I don't have that problem..my average is kinda floating in a life raft..the life raft doesn't sink...but it also doesn't exactly fly me to safety either."
"Life rafts don't normally do that."
"Right.." Rick said. "You see what I'm saying."
"Uh..I'm not sure if I want to.." Greg said. "Aren't you supposed to be the normal one?"
"Well..on a relative scale..but you know how misleading those things can be," Rick said with a grin.
"That I do know.." Greg said. Mike landed in the snow near them.
"Hey," he said. The two glanced at him.
"Ah well..no time to talk," Mike said and went trudging back up the hill.
Rick and Greg shrugged.
"You know what..." Rick said.
"What?"
"I was so caught up in this relaxing thing I forgot about Raye's thing tonight."
"Oh..you're right.." Greg said.
"She's going to be angry."
"Why?" Greg asked.
"What do you mean why?"
"Did you tell her you were going to go?"
"No."
"Did you want to go?"
"Well....I'm not into that...but it would have been polite."
"Still...she wasn't forcing you..she shouldn't be angry. She can't expect you to do everything."
"But it meant a lot to her," Rick said.
"You had a rough day.."
"That won't help.she's going to be angry," Rick said. "But I didn't tell her I was going to go..so she shouldn't be that..angry."
"No..of course not."
"Then again..she is..Raye...." he trailed off at the sight of something in the distance.
"Greg..they're at it again."
Greg looked. There was a creature zapping the sledders as they went down and now zapping the fleeing former sledders as they rushed to escape and doing a good job of it since the snow was making it hard to run.
"Well..guess..it's time for more action," Rick said.
"We should call the girls," Greg said.
"And mess up the snow prayer?" Rick asked. "Let's see what we can do without them,"
"That could be trouble.." Greg said.
"We're all about trouble," Rick said with a grin.
"So Rick..now would be a good time to hide huh?" Mike asked.
"Of course so we can transform,"Rick said. "Right Greg?"
"Uh..yeah," Greg said.
"I see...the power has gone to your heads..you've become war loving fiends willing to waste men to achieve victory..can't you see what you've become!" Mike shouted.
The others looked at him.
"Anytime you're ready Mike.." Steve muttered.
"Ehh.." Mike said. "Let's go."
Meanwhile Raye was saying goodbye as the prayers all walked past her and paid their respects before heading down the stairs.
"You did that very maturely.." Haruka said.
"It was quite a remarkable ceremony," Setsuna said.
"Your chanting was quite melodic," Michiru said.
"The soul is rarely touched...but perhaps tonight..it was," Hotaru added.
"Oh..uh..thank you.." Raye said.
"My aching back.." Serena said "My legs hurt too."
"I know what you mean.." Mina said.
"But you're a gymnast Mina..aren't you supposed to be able to bend that way.." Serena said.
"Uh..I've been out of practice," Mina said.
"It was a nice ceremony though," Amy said.
"Yep..Raye did a good job," Lita said.
The group was all interrupted by a scream.
"What was that?" Serena said.
"It came from the fire reading room," Amy said. Raye hurried up. They all looked inside to see the fire itself had formed into a large bird over the flames.
"What's going on?" Serena whined.
"I don't know.." Raye said pulling out one of her magical spell papers and readying it.
The bird flew forward and over their heads they all ducked.
"What was that?" Lita said.
"Could it have been the legendary phoenix?" Amy asked.
"In Raye's temple?" Mina asked.
"Did you uh know that was living there?" Serena asked.
"Of course not," Raye snapped.
"Look out!" came a shout. The girls whirled. A large bolt of energy flew at them. They all ducked it bounced off the wooden temple and dissipated. They looked up. There stood a figure.
"He looks like..the MAN?" Serena said in shock.
"Who?" the other four asked.
"Hah...he is nothing..I am Vical," the figure said. "Where is the bird?"
There was another screech and the firebird dived from the sky towards Vical. Vical dodged out of the way as the fire bird swung around.
"Something tells me this isn't the negaverse at work," Lita said. The four Outer scouts dropped to the ground near them.
"I can guarantee you of that," Pluto said.
"Who are they?" Amy asked.
"It's a very long story.." Pluto said. "You should transform...their energy is very dangerous."
"They're going to destroy my temple aren't they!" Raye shouted.
"No..they can't do that.." Pluto said. "Their energy only works on organic matter."
"Oh.." Raye said.
"What an interesting confrontation," Saturn observed.
The other scouts pulled out their power sticks and transformed in the meantime. Soon the nine were watching as the firebird hovered several feet away from Vical.
"So..you wretched bird you have chosen to awaken..finally...well..so be it," Vical said.
The bird let lose a barrage of fire. Vical blocked it with an energy shield.
"Haven't you learned that that attack doesn't work?" Vical sneered.
"Have they met before?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Yes.." Uranus said.
"Uh..why don't we just blast the evil guy or something.." Sailor Moon said.
"Which evil guy.." Pluto said. "What makes you think the bird is good?"
"Well..I..." Sailor Moon said.
"Never mind..just watch them.." Uranus said.
"We have to be ready in case they take their battle elsewhere," Neptune said.
The four Guardians stood there..their swords at the ready facing the enemy who whose form was mostly hidden by the darkness.
"Hmm..so you four are here to fight me...you dare..think that you insolent fools can destroy me..." the figure said and stepped under a streetlight.
"I AM ARRRRGOOOOOOSANNNNNNNTE," he shouted.
"Argosante?" the four muttered recognizing the familiar form.
"How many of you are there?" Neptune snapped.
"Huh?" Argosante asked. "That's a very odd question...what do you mean?"
"We've already killed two of you already.." Uranus said.
"We did..yeah...we did.." Pluto muttered.
"This is a very strange concept you speak of. I assure you there is only one argosante and I am he..." Argosante said.
"Well..whoever you are..it's time for you to get beaten up big time.." Uranus said.
"Oh I doubt that.." Argosante said.
"And you say we have no reputation," Neptune said with a grin.
"It's customary for us to demand a surrender..but I doubt you'll accept," Saturn said.
"What smart sentients you all are.." Argosante said.
"Why you!" Neptune shouted. The other three grabbed him.
"What? As if I didn't know what sentient means.." he said with a grin.
"Are you four going to fight me..or is this just an attempt to prove to me that your planet isn't worth the trouble of conquering?" Argosante said.
The four glanced at each other.
"Well..." Neptune said.
"Ehh..let's just fight him.."Uranus said.
Argosante drew a pair of swords.
"Are any of you skilled with those weapons?" Argosante asked.
"Skilled...hah..would we have these..if we weren't.." Pluto said.
"Prepare for battle!" Argosante barked.
"Yahh.." the four Guardians shouted and readied themselves.
"I'll show emm.." Neptune said and fired a laser bolt. It was deflected away with a turn of the sword.
"Somehow I thought he'd be able to do that.." Uranus said.
"Okay..how about this.." Pluto said and glanced at Neptune. They both fired their swords. Argosante swatted them away.
The four raised their swords and all fired. Argosante grinned and knocked the blasts away.
"Any other ideas?" Argosante asked.
The four guys shrugged and charged.
Argosante grinned again.
"Accept your fate!" he shouted.
"No thank you!" the four shouted and swung their swords. Argosante blocked it and swung his swords. The four were knocked back with a gust of wind.
"Fast aren't I?" Argosante asked.
"Ehh...so how about you try attacking us," Neptune sneered.
"Very well!" Argosante yelled and started sending energy bolts at them.
"Neptune..you idiot.." Uranus and Pluto shouted as the four guys scrambled out of the way of his attacks.
"I forgot about those..." Neptune muttered.
"I have hunted you for millennia..and now this will be our final meeting," Vical said to the firebird.
The firebird hovered there.
"Okay..simple question..where did they come from?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Space.." Uranus said.
"Oh..space..okay.." Sailor Moon said.
"Hey..they narrowed it down..a little," Venus said.
"It's not that we don't want to satisfy your curiosity..but we must keep focused.." Neptune said.
"Maybe if you told us why we wouldn't have to be focused at something we don't even understand.." Mars said.
"Just keep the two from hurting any civilians.." Pluto said.
"And is that even possible?" Jupiter asked.
"Yes..." Pluto said. "But using your energy attacks will only make them stronger. Wait it out."
"Nice of you to tell us all this beforehand.." Sailor Moon said.
"I have other concerns," Pluto said.
"Are we waiting for someone to win?" Venus asked.
"Neither of them will win.." Uranus said.
"Oh...now I'm beginning to understand.." Venus said.
Vical fired a blast of energy that lit up the sky. The firebird dived under it and Vical. Vical ducked under it and grabbed a hold of the wings his hands crackling with energy. The firebird screamed as did Vical.
Seconds later the two were thrown back by a large explosion.
"Hey..all right..just what we need..a completely random explosion," Jupiter said.
"It's not as random as you'd think.." Neptune said.
The two combatants faced off at each other again.
More waiting. Sailor Moon thought. This is boring. Yes..it's true a couple of
really powerful things are fighting it out right in front of me..but after I've
been in so many battles..it's a little annoying just to watch. Can't they just
get this over with?
"So..you four have proven to be quite worthless as warriors..would you care to try some other tactic?" Argosante asked.
"Hey..maybe we can bribe him.." Neptune said.
"Anyone got any money?" Uranus asked.
"You're not using my money.." Neptune replied.
The others sighed as they still faced Argosante.
"Enough talk.." Argosante said and sent out another energy blast. The four dived out of the way again.
"We need a plan," Uranus said.
"I'm not a very good tactician," Saturn said.
"Anything would do," Uranus said.
"All right..I think I've got it," Saturn said. "But Neptune isn't going to like it."
"Oh?" Uranus said.
"Neptune! Stand and fight him..we're going to uh..go get our secret weapon!" Saturn shouted.
"Okay..." Neptune said and stood his ground. The others leapt off.
"Hmm..this is confusing.." Neptune said.
"What is?" Argosante muttered.
Well I'm the worst fighter and we don't have a secret weapon. He thought.
"SATURN YOU JERK!" Neptune shouted and dived out of the way of another of
Argosante's attacks.
Vical let out a battle cry as he was filled with energy and he charged at the firebird. It swooped in towards him and let lose another cone of fire. The two hit and exploded throwing each of the combatants backwards.
"I don't think they're capable of killing each other..they seem to have a sort of opposite polarity set up," Mercury said looking at her computer.
"What does that mean?" Sailor Moon asked.
"It means that they can't stay close enough to each other to do any real damage..it's like the two opposing ends of a magnet."
"Oh...magnet..huh.." Sailor Moon said.
"You know what a magnet is right?" Everyone muttered.
"Yes...it's what you stick school papers to the refrigerator with.. Except in my case where they're not worth sticking on the refrigerator."
Everyone sighed. Vical and the firebird exploded again.
"How long can they keep this up?" Venus muttered.
Seconds later there was a massive flash and Vical and the bird disappeared.
"Are they gone?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Yes..and they won't be back," Pluto said as the outer scouts moved off.
"Hey..aren't you going to tell us what that's all about?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Sorry..we have to go..maybe some other time," Pluto said.
"HEY!" The girls shouted.
Meanwhile. Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto crept behind a bush and starred at Argosante playfully blasting and occasionally hitting Neptune.
"What now?" Uranus asked.
"We hit him with our attacks," Saturn said.
"That might work," Uranus said. They got ready and brought their attacks up. There was a bright flash a figure jumped through the air swung by Argosante and then jumped away. There was another flash. The attacks flew and hit the wounded Argosante. He exploded.
"Hey we did it," Steve said.
"But who was that guy?" Uranus asked.
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