Chapter 202

A day later in Raye's living room.

"A new enemy.." Raye said.

"Not necessarily, I mean it might just be an isolated incident," Serena said wincing slightly. Her wounds had still fully recovered.

"That's true," Amy said.

"Don't worry, if there's any further problems, I will handle it," Mike said.

"Mike be serious," Mina muttered.

"Serena did the goddess say anything that could tell us where it is from?" Setsuna asked.

"Not much of a goddess is it?" Steve interjected.

"It just said it was the goddess of hunting," Serena said. "It seemed very cold and calculating, until I started fighting back"

"I hate to ask, but how did it know who you were?" Rick asked.

"That is disturbing," Haruka said.

"Yeah, some galactic being pops out of the woodwork and already knows your identity, not very encouraging," Michiru said.

"But there may only be one of them," Serena said.

"The thing that disturbs me is the ease that it was beaten," Haruka said.

"Ease?" Serena asked. "I was this close to being killed. I still haven't fully healed."

"I didn't mean it that way, I'm sorry," Haruka said. "But for being the Goddess of Hunting it showed a relatively poor performance in battle."

"Yeah, she had you for sure Serena, and yet she didn't," Raye said.

"I improvised," Serena said.

"Well maybe she's the only one who calls herself a goddess, that occur to anyone?" Rick asked. "I mean..she wasn't any better then the lesser monsters we've faced."

"Good point," Setsuna said.

"Maybe this wasn't just one creature," Michiru said.

"I hope not...I can take on one nutcase, but I'm sick of fighting off dozens," Serena said.

"Don't let what you hope for blind you," Hotaru said.

The room went silent.

"The expected response," Hotaru said.

"Ehh..phooey. It didn't take long for yet another scourge to the universe to arrive," Mike muttered flipping on his television set. "And once again, I Mike Leslie, will prove to be completely inept in my handling of the situation. Oh well..wrestling's on."

He watched intently as two professional wrestlers started grappling in the center of the ring.

"Oo..what's that?" Came a voice. Mike whirled. Mina had just popped up from behind the couch.

"Where'd you come from?" Mike asked.

"Your mother let me in," Mina said. "You must not have told her about you know what.."

"Mina..I'm not interested in embarrassing you in front of everyone, only your fellow teenagers," Mike said.

"Oh...well..uh..that's good," Mina said.

"As far as my parents know, we broke up on good terms."

"Is such a thing possible?" Mina asked.

"You're here aren't you?"

"That's true," Mina said. "Of course it was all my fault. I don't expect you to forgive me."

"Good..wrestling's on."

"What? What is this?" Mina asked starring at the screen. She became mystified as the two wrestlers continued to fight.

"Finally, the Emperor of Pain is going to get deposed by the Seventh Samurai," Mike said happily.

"What? Is this a political debate of some kind?" Mina asked.

"No..Mina...haven't you ever seen professional wrestling before?" Mike asked.

"No...what I see is too...well built men...fighting it out to prove who is more manly..." Mina said dreamily.

"Uh...right.." Mike said and then grinned.

"They're bringing out the chair!" Mike shouted seconds later.

"Chair? What do they need that for?" Mina asked.

"Watch," Mike said. The Emperor of Pain hit the Seventh Samurai across the back with it. The Seventh Samurai let out a shout.

"That's legal?" Mina asked in surprise.

"No," Mike said. "The ref didn't see it."

"Oh..interesting," Mina said.

"One! Two! No...he didn't get him!" Mike said. "There's still hope."

"Hope of what?"

"I can't explain it now."

"Fine then.." Mina said.

The two continued to watch the screen. The action continued as the two men tried to beat each other, back and forth they went swinging blows left and right and doing all sorts of wrestling moves.

"He got him! All he has to do is go for the pin!" Mike shouted happily.

"Pin?" Mina asked.

"Wait! No!" Mike shouted.

The two watched as someone dressed in a dark jacket ran into the ring, hit the Seventh Samurai in the head and then did some sort of attack move.

"Who's that mysterious stranger?" Mina asked.

"Shadow King, he has a habit of interfering in other people's matches."

"Oh..does he have a good reason?"

"No," Mike said.

"Cool," Mina said.

Shadow King left the ring. The emperor groggily got up and covered the Samurai. He won the match three seconds later.

"That's a gip," Mike said.

"Perhaps the Samurai should complain to the rules committee," Mina said. "Is there a rules committee?"

"Nope," Mike said.

"Well, will there be a fine imposed on that Shadow King for messing around.?"

Mike shook his head.

"Why?" Mina asked.

"Allow me to explain the art of pro wrestling to you," Mike said.

"Wait..something's happening," Mina said.

The two saw a massive battle royal going on between about twenty wrestlers.

"How'd that start?" Mina asked.

"I missed it too, it really doesn't matter," Mike said.

"Wait a sec..is that?" Mina said in shock as a very familiar looking character walked towards the ring.

"Oh..him..he's uh well.."

"He's MAVERICK!" Mina shouted.

"No..no..he's just the wrestler based on the character of Maverick."

"Wait..a second...when did they start basing wrestlers on super heroes?" Mina asked.

"Well..I don't know."

"Why don't I have a wrestler named after me?" Mina asked.

"Uh..well this is male wrestling."

"Well turn on some female wrestling."

"There isn't any on."

"Does it exist?"

"Well..yes...but.." Mike said.

"Find me some!" Mina said.

"It will take some time," Mike said.

"Fine..fine..I will settle for watching men fight it out then. Beautifully molded and framed men locked in mortal combat."

"Yeah..whatever...you'll like the next match, it's got Big Fig in it."

"Big..fig?" Mina asked.

"Yep there he is," Mike said. Mina looked. Walking down to the ring was a three hundred pound man in nothing but a pair of wrestling thong

"UGH!" Mina shouted.

Mike started laughing.

"It is not over, do they not understand this," Hotaru said starring out a window.

"Hotaru, I'm sure the scouts are just hoping it's the end," Setsuna said.

"Unfortunate, but I guess understandable," Hotaru said. "Setsuna, I wish to go to school this year."

"Uh..Hotaru, I'm not sure about that, I mean.."

"I wish to be reintegrated in society," Hotaru said. "I cannot do this being held back."

"Well.Hotaru, I want to get you back into society too, the problem is that you've missed a lot of school, and I don't believe you're ready to be reintegrated."

"I have been learning."

"When?"

"Whenever I could. My father also insisted on teaching me, even when I was under the power of evil. I am not that far behind."

"But just the experience of it," Setsuna said.

"I wish to try it."

"There is the matter of you being socially ready."

"I will attain the level that one of our own is at now. Will that suffice?"

"Well..if you get to the level of any one of us, then it will work out."

"Very well...and I will study in the meantime if that is necessary."

"All right, but Hotaru, I may be quite busy soon, there are things happening on several horizons."

"I understand, I will find a way. Perhaps I could live with my father again. Now that he has been rendered stable?"

"Oh..well that's not a bad idea actually," Setsuna said. "I'm sure he can help you as much as I can," Setsuna said.

"Yes, that was my thinking as well,"

"Okay then, you got it. I'll call up your father and we'll set it up."

"Thank you Setsuna," Hotaru said. "And Sailor Saturn and her powers will be available whenever she is needed."

"I don't want to stress you Hotaru. You have a useful gift, but it also brings you pain doesn't it?"

"Not as much as it used to."

"Still..."

"Sometimes I cannot help it. You might as well make use of it."

"Well let's hope we don't have to very often."

Hotaru nodded.

"You seem committed to joining society again. I have no doubt that you'll achieve that goal."

"If I survive yes," Hotaru said.

"That's a strange thing to say," Setsuna said.

"Yes, I guess it is," Hotaru said. "Still I said it."

"You have to learn to be optimistic Hotaru."

"Yes I do," Hotaru said. "That will be something I will work on."

"Good," Setsuna said.

"What an interesting sport this is," Mina said as she and Mike walked down the sidewalk.

"It isn't a sport. Didn't I tell you it was all scripted?" Mike asked.

"Sure, so it's a little rougher than ballet, perhaps I should have said art."

"Art? You'd call this art?"

"It is, in a way," Mina said.

"Okay..okay..so you're really getting into it?"

"Of course, after all, in just one week, the Baron of Ratenzberg will have to defend the honor of his wife and his country when he battles the evil Count Knucula. It's amazing. Who do you think will win?"

"Hard to say,"Mike said. "However, considering that Knucula has been beating on Ratzenberg for a good month, I'd say the Baron has a good shot."

"You're experienced with the ways of the scripts then."

"There are some patterns..but lately..things haven't been so straightforward."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. It just adds to the fun," Mike said.

The two walked inside the Crown arcade.

"See Mina, I'm sure you would be interested in the JWW," Mike said.

"What's that?" Mina asked.

"Japanese Women of Wrestling..the problem is that they aren't usually televised. In fact they're matches are usually anywhere but Tokyo. Don't ask me why. But I'll see what I can do."

"You'd do that for me Mike? Even after..."

"Mina..look...you were stupid..you did a dumb thing, but I know that deep down, you didn't understand what you were doing, so I can let it go. You do something like that again, forget it. But then again, I'm not dating you..so it won't come to that."

"Oh..thank you Mike. I'm so glad you forgave me!" Mina said.

"You're on probation. Now..listen..I want to show you something," Mike said.

He walked up to one of the gaming consoles.

"Now..you're pretty good at games right?" he asked.

"Better than some worse than others," Mina said.

"Well then," Mike said. "Let's see how good you really are."

"A wrestling game? But I've only been a fan for a few hours."

"The controls are simple," Mike said clutching the joystick. "I'll go easy on you."

"Very well.." Mina said.

The two put in quarters and set up. They then began an electronic fight with each other.

"Hah!" Mike said and pounded Mina's character into the mat.

"Cheater! You know how to play the game!" Mina shouted.

"Let's try round two," Mike said.

Mina's teeth clenched and she tried harder managing to land in a few blows before Mike beat her.

"It takes time to learn," Mike said.

"I'll learn nothing getting beaten by you constantly," Mina said.

"Well then maybe you should watch a good person play and observe," Mike said.

"Couldn't agree more," Came a familiar voice. The two looked to see Haruka flanked by Michiru.

"Haruka," Mina said. "Tell me you know how to play this game."

"I will do more than that," Haruka said. "May I?"

Mina nodded. Haruka moved to the game console.

"Oh..uh..Haruka..hello.." Mike said nervously.

"We will learn just what skills you do possess Mike Leslie," Haruka said her eyes narrowing.

Michiru grinned.

"Haruka loves to mess with men's minds," she whispered to Mina. Mina grinned too.

"Yeah..well..prepare for battle," Mike said.

"Hmm..for irony's sake I shall choose the Maverick wrestler," Haruka said.

"Fine then.." Mike said. "I shall be Admiral Crunch!"

"So be it," Haruka said.

The game started. The two rapidly pressed buttons and moved the joystick trying to gain the advantage. Mike sweated as he tried to keep up, but eventually he was beaten.

"Not bad," Haruka said. "I usually beat opponents in half the time."

"Yeah..you know it!" Mike said.

"Uh..Haruka..you did everything so fast..I had no idea what you did at any point," Mina said.

"Oh..well then I shall have to show you more slowly this time. The computer drone should be an adequate component. That is if you do not mind Mike?"

"No..go ahead..I prefer good opponents, give her some skills," Mike said.

"Come and have a look at this," Haruka said. Mina moved to her side and the game started up again.

"You seem to be getting along well with your ex girlfriend," Michiru said as she and Mike stood off to the side.

"Yeah..what can I say, I forgive people easily," Mike said.

"An endearing quality if not sometimes misguided," Michiru said.

"Yeah..well most endearing qualities involve a little faith."

"So true," Michiru said and glanced at him.

"What did you do with the real Mike Leslie?" she asked.

Mike grinned.

"Surprised you didn't I?" he asked. "I'm only annoying 95 percent of the time."

"You're too modest, it must be 98 percent," Michiru said.

"Touche," Mike said. "It's actually 97.4."

"How did you measure that?" Michiru asked with genuine curiosity.

"Oh...that's one of those questions that can only be answered by a higher power,"Mike said.

Michiru glanced at him again.

"It's right what they say about you," she said.

"And that is?"

"That you see things differently, that you seem to exist in your own world."

"I try to shape the world to fit my preferences, that's no secret."

"It must be interesting to be able to change a world."

"The key is to do it as gradually as possible."

Later.

"Take a look at this..they're having a wrestling event up in the hills," Mina said staring at a poster posted to a telephone pole.

"Oh..yeah..that's a great event. Last year I got to meet the Seventh Samurai, he's a nice guy," Mike said.

"I have to go."

"Why?"

"I have to experience all this live."

"I guess there's nothing wrong with that."

"I'm going you wanna come?"

"Well..maybe.." Mike said.

"I'll pay," Mina said.

"Free wrestling? I'm there," Mike said.

"Say..do you think Steve and Lita are fans of this?" Mina asked.

"Steve..used to be, but I think he got tired of it. Something about it was more fun to draw."

"Interesting..." Mina said unsurely. "But Lita?"

"Lita would seem like the person to get into it. But Lita's also been acting strangely lately. Still I'll ask her. After all this isn't a date," Mina said.

"Absolutely," Mike said.

An hour or so later Mina was poking her head into Lita's room. She found her friend to be glad in a Chinese style silken dress and little else.

"Hey, Lita, " Mina said.

"Oh..hello Mina. What brings you by?" Lita asked.

"That's an interesting outfit you got on there,: Mina said.

"I wear it when I meditate."

"You meditate?"

"I've been trying to learn how."

"From who?" Mina asked.

"Books," Lita said.

"Oh..well..anyway..you like wrestling?"

"I used to watch it. But now...it conflicts with my mental training," Lita said.

"Mental....training?" Mina asked.

"Yep," Lita said. "See..I've learned that if I gain better control of my mind, I can use my aggression instincts only when necessary and when I have to I can focus the energy into it's most efficient form. Wrestling features unchained aggression. Something I must not be tempted to use."

"Oh...okay.." Mina said. "Well..then I'll leave you to your meditation then."

"Uh..all right..was there something you needed?"

"No..no..I just came by to see what you were up to, and I was curious. See Mike introduced me to wrestling, and I love it."

"Oh..well that's odd."

"Yep..see ya," Mina said and hurried out.

A day or so later, Mike and Mina were sitting in a relatively modest wooden arena several miles outside of Tokyo.

"This place is pretty small," Mina said.

"Yep..see..this is a very special event which honors wrestlers from years gone by. So, they don't advertise for it except with paper. No TV, no radio, only paper and word of mouth."

"That makes it special then," Mina said.

"You bet," Mike said. "But many of the best wrestlers show up. Even some women."

"Excellent," Mina said.

The first match began. A couple of relative no names battled back and forth. Then a woman wrestler came out dressed in a green leotard.

"Wow..look at her..she's ripped," Mina said.

"And her opponent," the guest ring announcer said. "Sailor V!"

Mina's eyes widened.

"There is such a wrestler!" she cried and then looked to see a very large well built woman walk in wearing a sailor suit.

"Uh..she's a monster.." Mina said in shock.

Mike started laughing.

The match was a complete brawl, but in the end Sailor V was victorious.

"That's how it should be," Mina said. "Sailor V is always a winner in all forms!"

The night progressed and Mina became even more enthralled by the sites and sounds of the event. The announcer walked into the center of the ring.

"And now..as is the tradition at this event every year. The battle royal!"

The crowd let out a roar.

"All right...I love these," Mina said.

"You've only seen one before," Mike said.

"Yes, I still know I love them!" Mina shouted.

Soon thirty wrestlers were fighting all over the ring. Mina and Mike let out yells of excitement. Then suddenly they were both hit in a flash of light. They both winced and looked up. A strange looking woman leapt at them.

"AHH!" Mina shouted and she and Mike pushed themselves out of the seats and down into the aisle.

"That's a goddess isn't it?" Mina whined as she and Mike had more blasts of light shot at them.

"Ehh..just great," Mike said. The two dived over the railing that separated the wrestlers from the fans as a panic ensued. The two teens avoided the brawl as best they could. Mike palmed his communicator emergency button.

Mina let out a shout.

"I got hit again!" She screeched. Mike whirled. The goddess leapt at them. He charged forward and tackled her. The two rolled around on the ground.

"I am the goddess of excitement feeding on the excitement of others!" the goddess shouted and grabbed Mike draining him.

"Mike!" Mina shouted and rushed forward. She pulled Mike under the ring. The goddess stood up and was it with a yellow blast from behind. Out of seemingly nowhere Sailor Uranus leapt into the fray. She punched and kicked the goddess several times, and then drew her sword. The goddess fired back, but Sailor Uranus avoided the attacks and lunged forward. The goddess leapt into the crowd. Sailor Uranus stopped to get her bearings. An attack flew at her from the goddess. She narrowly avoided it, but was crowded in by the fleeing spectators and confused wrestlers.

"VENUS CRESCENT BEAM SMASH!"

The attack flew straight on and hit the goddess.

"URANUS WORLD SHAKING!" Uranus shouted. She blasted around the floor knocking innocent people out of the way. The goddess was hit with the attack and thrown against the wall.

"That was a bit amoral wasn't it?" Sailor Venus asked.

"Apparently," Uranus said and leapt forward her sword drawn. The goddess leapt outward with her own attack.

"No way!" Guardian Neptune said and leapt up between them he slashed into the goddess.

"Venus...Love Chain Encircle!"

"Uranus World Shaking!"

The two attacks flew out again and hit the goddess. She stood there weak, but not dead.

"No..this isn't over!" she shouted and hit the surprised girls.

"Neptune Golden Triton!" Neptune shouted leaping into the air. "Impale!" He shouted from point blank range. The attack hit the goddess. She vaporized.

"I actually beat one..." he said in shock.

"You had help.." Venus muttered.

"Yeah..I know," Neptune said. "So..what brings you here Uranus?"

"I came to watch the match.." Uranus said with a slight grin. The three looked around at the now empty arena.

"Well..they got a battle royal.." Venus said.

"I fear there will be more enemies like that one though," Sailor Uranus said.

The doors to the arena swung open and a figure rushed in wearing a grey uniform. The three glanced at him.

"I am Maverick! Where is the evil forces!" the wrestler shouted.

"He's delusional," Venus muttered.

"Hmm...so you are Maverick?" Sailor Uranus asked.

"You bet I am," Maverick the wrestler said.

"Well..I'm Sailor Uranus and we have some unfinished business.."