Chapter 174
Maverick stood there looking at Nehelenia. The scans going through his visor told him that this was the real Queen too.
"How unfortunate of you to be out here.." Nehelenia said.
Maverick said nothing.
"Oh I see..you're not even going to talk to me..very well..I'll have you know that getting rid of you will hardly be a challenge."
Maverick still said nothing and readied his two swords.
"Those won't stop me," she said.
Maverick waited. Nehelenia built up her energy. Maverick swung forward and slid along the ground swinging and firing his swords. Nehelenia blocked the attack with a quick energy blast. She whirled around firing off bolts of energy at him..he raced out of the way of them and fired back the whole way blinding her with flashes of light.
She unleashed a wave of energy. He leapt over it flipping and spinning to fire. She stepped back to dodge the attacks. He swung forward spinning and jumping. She slid backward using her energy to propel her before launching another attack. She had no hand to hand skill, but could make up for it..still..the more energy she used to avoid and shield herself from him, the less she could use to attack him, and she didn't have a large reserve left. She had enough energy to beat him, more then enough, but it would weaken her severely.
Maverick kept moving not giving her a chance to really figure out a strategy.
"ENOUGH!" she shouted. Energy flew out from her in a dome manner. Enveloping the air around her in all directions. Maverick was hit and thrown to the ground. Pain shot through him. The only solace he had was he doubted she could do that again. She couldn't. Instead she lined up a wave of energy bolts and threw them at him. A cloud of dust rose from the impact and mist swept over the area. Nehelenia smiled and waited for the cloud to reveal Maverick to her. It did. He was there standing and facing her. Her eyes widened.
"Trickery!" she shouted though unsure of what kind of trickery it was. She vanished in a flash using her remaining energy. Maverick turned and looked down at Neo-Maverick lying on the ground a few feet away as the mist cleared some more. Neo-Maverick stood up slowly. And looked at his counterpart.
"About time you showed up," Neo-Maverick said wincing heavily at the pain.
When Sailor Moon, Rini, and the others arrived back at the Crystal Tokyo, they found Sailor Saturn waiting for them. Endymion had gone into hiding again and Neo-Queen Serenity was continuing her fake breakdown.
"Any word on the Guardians?" Jupiter asked.
"They were victorious," Sailor Saturn said. "So to speak, we have other problems."
"What kind of other problems?" Mercury asked.
"As if we didn't have enough already," Mars added.
"I'll explain it all in due time..now I had contact with the aliens.." Sailor Saturn said.
"But they're human," Sailor Moon said.
"Whatever..." Sailor Saturn said dismissively not seeming to care. "However you wish to classify them they have stated their desire to remain in orbit and continue to draw Nehelenia's attention...they also said you have been told their reasons."
"Yes.." Sailor Moon said.
"Very well..we will speak of that later," Saturn said. "Our main concern is Queen Nehelenia who despite her losses is still quite strong..she should launch a final attack at any time. And furthermore there is the Kisenian Flower to deal with."
"The what?" the other scouts said.
"It was destroyed wasn't it?" Sailor Uranus said.
"Death and destruction can sometimes be merely a state of transition," Sailor Saturn replied bluntly and pressed a button on the control screen.
"She has been taking control of plants around the city in an attempt to surprise us..as of yet..I believe she still holds that belief of surprise.." Saturn said.
"But how can we fight off both her and Nehelenia?" Venus asked.
"Just how strong is the Kisenian Flower?" Mercury asked.
"Quite strong..we have not had the forces to prevent her assumption of the land," Sailor Saturn said.
"Well shouldn't we do something about this?" Mars asked.
"The answer to that is yes..the dilemma is caused in deciding what do about it.." Saturn said. "Our forces are much smaller. The Guardian Scouts are all alive, but injured. They will be of no help..with the exception of Maverick or should I say the Mavericks.."
"Two of them?" Jupiter asked.
The door slid open and Neo-Maverick limped in slowly followed by Maverick.
"About time you showed up," Mars said to the 20th century version.
"What's our status?" Neo-Maverick asked.
"I was just explaining it," Sailor Saturn said. "I fear our war on two fronts continues, for even though we have gained an ally, we have also gained an enemy."
"The Kisenian Flower.." Neo-Maverick said. "You've found it."
"How did you know?" Sailor Saturn said showing genuine surprise.
"Does it matter?" Neo-Maverick said.
"Didn't we kill it the first time?" Maverick muttered.
"Apparently not," Sailor Uranus said.
"I suggest we get rid of her now.." Neo-Maverick said. "The flower that is. Nehelenia is weak.."
"How do you know?" Neptune asked.
"Because I just fought her.."
"You what?" the others asked.
"Long story," Neo-Maverick said. "Regardless...we have to strike now.."
"Do you have a definite plan?" Sailor Saturn said.
"No...but it won't take long to make one," Neo-Maverick said and moved to the
computer panel and began typing in commands and looking at surveillance camera
views.
In the medical area of the palace, the eight Guardian Scouts and Tuxedo Mask were lying recovering tended to by some nurses.. Maverick walked in.
"Hey..look who's here.." Neptune said. "No scars...you are the guy I'm thinking of right?"
Maverick nodded.
"Hey ya Maverick..you missed the fun," Uranus said.
"I had my own fun so to speak," Maverick said. "You four really look beat up..."
"Yeah..but we actually won this time," Pluto said.
"Really?" Maverick asked. "Congratulations," he said stoically.
"Yeah..and now we're going to be stuck here for days recovering.." Neptune said. "I thought you were the only one whose supposed to get beaten up like this."
"Hey..there goes your mystique," Pluto said.
The Guardians laughed.
"I heard they got Sailor Moon back.." Tuxedo Mask said.
"Yes, they're all safe," Maverick. "Turns out everyone on that ship up there is human."
"You're kidding," Tuxedo Mask said.
"I rarely do.."
"You never do," The four Guardians said.
"So Maverick..just what have you been doing?" Uranus asked.
"Don't ask," Maverick.
"Oh..now we need to know.." Uranus said.
Maverick sighed.
"Well..considering you could probably all use a good laugh..even if it is at my expense...you know how when Tuxedo Mask here used to show up all the girls gawked at him.." Maverick said.
The group nodded.
"Well..in that universe..guess who gets gawked at."
"You?" The five asked in shock.
Maverick nodded.
The guys all started laughing their heads off.
"I thought you'd enjoy it," Maverick muttered and walked out.
Elsewhere, the four Sailor Scouts stood on a balcony looking out through the crystal wall of the palace.
"It's such a shame that this beautiful city has been put through so much," Mercury said.
"Comes with the territory I guess," Mars said.
"Still..everything's so depressing," Venus said.
"It's what we have to look forward to I guess," Jupiter said.
The four sighed.
"Sailor Scouts," came Sailor Saturn's voice. The four turned.
"There is a slight lull in the battle, and I have little use at the moment," Saturn said. "Perhaps now would be an opportune time for you to learn of the events surrounding the dark moon attack."
The four nodded.
Saturn closed her eyes and there was a flash. The scouts could see a projection in front of them.
The scene was crystal Tokyo and the large amount of alien ships dropping towards the surface of the Earth.
Energy beams were shooting out from the ships and smashing into Crystal Tokyo destroying buildings. Queen Serenity came racing out of the palace.
"Rini? Where are you Rini?" she shouted with great concern.
"Rini had touched the silver crystal and drawn it inside of her..." Saturn said over the projection. "She hid. And Queen Serenity was without the silver crystal to defend the city."
"Serenity, get back in the palace. It's too dangerous out here!" the King shouted hurrying out the door.
"I have to find Rini!" Serenity shouted.
"Look out!" the king shouted and pushed Serenity out of the way getting hit with a chunk of crystal. The Sailor Scouts, with the exception of Sailor Saturn, and the Guardians came rushing up as Serenity crouched over the injured King.
"Protect the Queen.." the King said and lapsed into unconsciousness.
"Where's the silver crystal?" Neo-Sailor Mars asked.
"I don't know.." Serenity said.
"We have to protect you.." Neo-Sailor Pluto said.
"But Rini is missing," Serenity said.
"I'll find her," Neo-Sailor Pluto said and headed off.
"We'll get the King to safety," Sailor Uranus said and as she and Sailor Neptune pulled the King from behind the crystal and carried him inside. The Sailor Scouts meanwhile were covering Serenity in a crystal to protect her from attack.
"Get her inside," Neo-Sailor Mars said to Neo-Guardian Uranus.
"Without the silver crystal we'll have to form our own shield," Mercury said.
"Let's go," Venus said. The four Sailor Scouts raced off.
The Guardians carried the crystal of Serenity inside the palace and laid it in her throne room.
"Now what?" Uranus said.
"We should find Maverick," Saturn said.
Uranus flipped open his communicator.
"Maverick where are you?" Uranus said.
Meanwhile. Maverick and a small line of troops were standing firm as a group of troops all bearing the dark upside down crescent moon on their forehead rushed at them.
"Come on fight them off!" Maverick said and the battle began.
"What is it?" Maverick shouted into his communicator.
"Maverick we got big problems..the silver crystal is gone," Neo-Uranus said.
"Gone! Dang it! Get over here now! We've got to take out those ships before they land any more troops. Hone in my signal."
"We're coming," neo-Uranus said.
Maverick leapt into the maelstrom of troops and started swinging his sword,
cutting the enemy down in mass.
The King had been placed in his bedchamber. Sailor Uranus walked over and grabbed a small crystal and placed it in his hand. A hologram of the King appeared.
"Thank you Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, but now you must help defend the kingdom," the King said.
"Of course your highness," Uranus said.
And the two raced out of the chamber. The hologram disappeared only to
reappear in his command center.
"You know that once this energy wall is constructed you will remain in a state of suspended animation until the crisis ends. If the crisis ends," Sailor Saturn said as the four inners stood in a room in the center of the palace.
"We have no choice," Jupiter said.
"We need to protect the kingdom at all costs," Mars said.
"I was obligated to ask anyway," Saturn said.
The four Sailor Scouts got onto a large platform and held hands. Their energy flowed through a large crystal in the center of the platform and raced out over the city surrounding the palace with energy.
"It is done," Sailor Saturn said and walked out of the room.
"So what do we do?" Neo-Uranus asked as the ships descend.
"We have to get aboard those ships," Maverick said. "We'll teleport."
"And what are we going to do on those ships?" Neo-Neptune asked.
"Destroy them of course," Maverick said pulling out his own power item.
The other four did the same.
"Maverick Power."
"Saturn Power."
"Uranus Power."
"Neptune Power."
"Pluto Power."
The five disappeared and reappeared on the deck of a ship. A group of dark
moon crew turned around in shock. The Guardian Scouts opened fire.
As the war continued, one of the dark moon ships blew apart. Followed by another one.
"What's going on up there?" Sailor Uranus said looking up.
"I think the Guardian Scouts are up to their usual tricks," Sailor Neptune said.
"Our services will be needed soon," Sailor Saturn said approaching them.
"Oh.."
Meanwhile inside the palace.
"Rini...are you there?" Neo-Pluto said.
"I..I...didn't...I..." Rini said.
Neo-Pluto found her curled up in a ball in a spare room.
"Rini..are you okay?" Neo-Pluto asked.
"What's happening?" Rini asked.
"We're under attack, but I'll protect you. Come on I need to get you to safety."
"Safety where?"
"With your father," Neo-Pluto said.
"Oh...he's safe."
"So to speak," Neo-Pluto said. "Come on Rini."
Rini took her hand and Neo-Pluto picked her up and began to run through the
halls.
The city inhabitants on the ground let out a shout as another of the ships came crashing to the ground. The five Guardian Scouts continued to teleport from ship to ship destroying their insides.
"How many of these things are there anyway?" Neo-Neptune muttered.
"Does it matter?" Neo-Pluto replied.
"Ehh..." Neo-Uranus said as they swept through another bridge and blew it apart.
"How long do you expect us to keep this up?" Neo-Uranus asked.
"Until we win of course," Neo-Maverick replied.
"Oh..okay.."
"Got it?"Neo- Maverick asked.
"Sure..sure..fun.."
"It's nothing of the sort."
"URANUS WORLD SHAKING!"
"NEPTUNE DEEP SUBMERGE!"
Two waves of energy swept across the ground and blew another enemy line to pieces.
"We're really managing to hold them off," Neptune said.
"Let's hope we can keep it up," Uranus said.
Yet another ship blew to pieces.
"It won't be long now," Sailor Saturn said.
"Till what?" Neptune asked.
Saturn said nothing.
From the clouds dropped an even large spaceship the same spiky design as all
the rest, but immense. Another of the smaller ships were destroyed.
"That must be the command ship," Neo-Sailor Pluto said as she and the hologram of the king looked at it on the view screen. Rini stood in the corner of the room.
"You'd better go...things are going to get worse," The King said.
NEO-Pluto nodded and hurried out.
A face appeared on the view screen.
"I am Prince Diamond, are you prepared to see the end of civilization as you know it," he said.
"I really think you're going to be out of luck there." Endymion said.
"You really have little to say about it."
"Well..personally you're correct, but I'm not the one who has just lost an entire fleet of ships."
"Hmm..inconsequential," Diamond said. "What you will have found is that the rest of your planet has been put into a deep sleep. When all these people awaken they will find themselves subservient to a new ruler. The forces of the dark moon!"
"Nice speech, I've heard better," the King said.
"Hmm.we shall see!"
And he disappeared.
The Five Guardian Scouts stood on the ground watching the command ship descend. They had completed annihilated the rest of the fleet.
"Well..I guess you want us to go up there..." Neptune said.
"Correct," Maverick said.
"Okay..let's get it over with," Uranus said.
The five teleported onto the ship. There was a large amount of energy flowing through it.
"Jeez...this is a little different," Pluto said.
"So it is," Maverick said looking around with his visor.
"YAHHH!" came a battle cry. The five looked. At the end of the hallway stood hundreds of warriors.
"Hmm...there's a lot of them.." Neptune observed.
"So?" Maverick said.
"Uranus Fire Spikes Attack!"
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!"
"Pluto Storm Fist Punch!"
"Neptune Golden Triton Impale."
The four attacks swept into the troops as they charged. Many feel. Maverick slid forward drew his two swords and raced onward cutting through the group. They all fell to the ground. The other Guardians clapped.
"There's no time for that," Maverick said and the group moved forward into a large circular room. There was a crystal crackling in the middle of it.
"There's the power source," Saturn said.
The five aimed their swords.
"Not so fast," came a scratchy voice. The group turned standing in the doorway on the other side of the room were four women, and a man in a vest.
"Now you're in for some real combat," Rubeus said.
The four sisters grinned sinisterly.
The five Guardians readied themselves.
"At the time they had no idea that these would be the people who would travel back in time
in search of Rini and her pursuit of the silver crystal. But you can already guess this battle does not go their way," Sailor Saturn said narrating.
Katsy lined up against Uranus. Bertie against Saturn. Avery against Neptune and Prisma against Pluto Rubeus himself smugly stood at ease facing Maverick. With each of them focused on their one enemy, the other fighters became blocked out of their mind.
"Uranus fire spikes attack!"
The attack flew out. Katsy blasted it away.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!"
Bertie did the same.
"Neptune Triton Impale!"
Avery blasted it out of the air.
"Pluto Storm Fist Punch."
Prisma vaporized the attack with one finger.
"And what about you?" Rubeus said facing Maverick. Maverick's eyes narrowed and he fired, sliding forward at the same time and aiming his other swords at Rubeus legs. Rubeus floated out of the of both attacks which hit the wall. Maverick rolled up and swung his swords.
"Ehh.." Rubeus said and blasted Maverick with a major attack smashing him back across the ground. He skidded scraping his face along the floor.
The other Guardians were distracted and hit with the full force of the four sisters attacks. They were thrown back into the walls. The five all struggled to stand up. More energy slammed into them before they could make do anything.
"They're not honorable in the least," Maverick snapped. "You four get out of here."
"What?" the others said. Another wave flew at them. They all tried to dodge it the best they could, all of them had cuts in various parts of their faces. Maverick leapt forward, and threw his sword. It flew at the energy source. Rubeus blasted away at it and the sword fell away. Maverick threw his second sword. The others leveled him with a blast. The sword smashed into the energy field and caused a crack.
"The power source!" Rubeus shouted.
"Uranus World Shaking!"
"Neptune Deep Submerge!"
"Pluto Dead Scream!"
"Saturn Mist Wave!"
The four attacks hit the sisters and threw them into the wall. The four Sailor Scouts rushed to the aid of the fallen. Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus faced off against Rubeus, the room shook.
Neo-Sailor Pluto hurried up and grabbed Maverick's swords. She then pulled him away from the battle.
"We have to get out of here.." Neo-Sailor Pluto said. The Guardian Scouts could barely stand up.
A dark wave of energy swept through the chamber and hit all of the scouts flinging them into a wall. Prince Diamond strode into the chamber, flanked by Emerald and Saphire.
"Wise Man!" Diamond shouted.
The Wise Man appeared. A new crystal appeared in the place of the damaged one. The ship righted itself.
The scouts looked on in shock as the forces of the dark moon moved in. Another wave of energy swept at them cutting into their faces and all around them. Using what force they had left they teleported off the ship and landed in the palace. They all collapsed.
"They were very drained of energy," Sailor Saturn said. "I should know I was there...we were no good for anything at that point, the energy of the Dark Moon was not only damaging it also induced the deep sleep and soon we all fell into it."
The vision ended there.
"You know the rest," Saturn said.
"So that's why they're so bitter," Venus said.
"Yes," Saturn said."In truth..the efforts of all of the scouts were the only thing that kept us from being overrun. But they couldn't save the city..it was up to you to do that..and to this day they have always been disturbed by that fact."
"Oh...well I can understand that," Mars said.
"Yeah, it must be tough," Jupiter said.
"But they did all they could, unfortunately it wasn't enough," Mercury said.
"So is there any hope for them..I mean to feel better about all this?" Venus asked.
"Well..considering that you were needed again..I don't know.." Saturn said.
"It may be hopeless. But one doesn't know for sure," Saturn said and walked off.
CHAPTER 161 CHAPTER 162 CHAPTER 163 CHAPTER 164
CHAPTER 165 CHAPTER 166 CHAPTER 167 CHAPTER 168
CHAPTER 169 CHAPTER 170 CHAPTER 171 CHAPTER 172
CHAPTER 173 CHAPTER 174 CHAPTER 175 CHAPTER 176
CHAPTER 177 CHAPTER 178 CHAPTER 179 CHAPTER 180