Chapter 209
"Dear diary, it's been awhile," Amy said speaking as she wrote the words in
her book. I guess I try and get the most important events in here even if I
don't write everyday. Once again I'm all alone in my house. Greg's still with
his father, he'll be moving back in a few days. Schools going to start soon. My
brother D.V. has headed off to that other dimension again, apparently there is
massive trouble there. I'm sorry to see him go for so many reasons. I hope
everything goes well for him and that he'll be back soon. In the meantime he
left me a note with surprisingly his access code to his room on it, with a
message stating that only I or Greg can enter, or there would be consequences..
I can only assume that to mean he's rigged up some security device I'm sure my
friends would not appreciate meeting up with. He also left one of his
surveillance cameras behind in case we need to use it. I just hope we can handle
this latest evil force, I've got other things to worry about, like school, and
Urawa. He hasn't seen me in a few days. I don't think that's a good idea when
we're first starting out. Though he hasn't called either. Maybe he's
reconsidering. I should call him anyway. I will today.
"Guess Rick's a little late huh," Raye said sitting down across from Mike and Steve.
"We know what we're here to talk about," Mike said.
"Yeah, and it sounds fine to us," Steve said.
"You mean you two don't mind me being part of the band?" Raye asked. "I know you two didn't exactly jump at the chance."
"It's complicated Raye. Neither of us doubt you're a great singer," Mike said.
Steve nodded.
"At first we were a little wary of adding you just because we sort of had a groove," Mike said.
"Yep."
"But..it's also true that without vocals, we won't get anywhere," Mike said.
"Uh huh," Steve said.
"So..it's only reasonable to give you a shot, and given the experiences you've had we think you could be even better now," Mike said.
"That's right," Steve said.
"You guys are sure?" Raye asked. "Cause if your not I want to know."
"We're sure," Mike said.
"Absolutely. For now anyway," Steve said.
"Right for now," Mike said.
"You guys aren't," Raye muttered.
"No...no we are," Mike said.
"Even if we don't seem that way," Steve said.
"Look..Raye..we had our creative differences in the past, but right now..that's just it..it's the past, let's see how it goes," Mike said.
"That's what I think," Steve said.
"Okay.." Raye said.
Rick walked up at that point.
"Hey.." he said.
"We've settled things," Raye said.
"You have?" Rick asked.
"We are go for launch," Mike said.
Steve gave a thumbs up.
"Uh..well..good.." Rick said. "Now we just have to plan this out."
"Plan?" Mike said and ducked under the table.
"What's your problem?" Raye asked.
"We can't plan anything..it's just wrong!" Mike shouted from under the table.
"You're not looking up my skirt are you?" Raye muttered.
"Come on down and check.." Mike said.
Raye kicked him.
"All right I'm up," Mike said.
Mina meanwhile was doing breath exercises.
"Asthma?" Artemas asked.
"NO!" Mina shouted. "It's voice training."
"Don't you have to go to a class for that?"
"I used to, it's like riding a bike though"
"What...if you don't balance things right you fall off?"
"No.." Mina said. "You never forget...now if you don't mind."
"When you finish ahem breathing, are then you gonna sing?"
"Yes.."
"Then you don't have to worry about me I'm leaving."
"Stop being discouraging! You're my guardian."
"No..I joined the Guardian Scouts, I'm their guardian."
"You never talk to them."
"Sure..I do..occasionally."
"Then why are you still living here?"
"Well..I..guess..I always have.."
"If you won't be my Guardian get out."
"Wait Mina..be serious."
"I am."
Artemas sighed and jumped out the window.
There goes his smugness. Mina thought. I'll invite him back in a week or so.
Now back to the breathing.
And she started her exercises again.
Lita meanwhile was sitting in her room meditating as usual. She had gone twenty two minutes. A new record. Her clock went back and forth. The noises outside were all phased out.
The only movement was a small fly zooming back and forth across the room.
She kept silent continuing her exercise.
The fly stopped on a wall.
Lita didn't make a move. The fly crawled around the wall a little more and then flew on a beeline right for her.
She sat silent unmoving.
Until the last second when she reached up and swatted it into the wall. She
returned to her meditation.
"So Greg, how have you been feeling?" his father asked.
"Uh..okay I guess. I haven't seen my friends as much. That's been a bit of a downer."
"Yeah..well you'll see them soon enough when you move back with Amy. You know I miss you when you're not around."
"Me too. But I.."
"It's okay, it's only natural for you to want to move away as you get older. I understand."
"It's not like that..I just...before I met all of my friends, I was nervous and uncomfortable around a lot of people, but...now..I still am..but I'm getting better. I feel more confident. I just seem happier when they're around, and the best of both worlds would be for me to live here and still see them..but it's too hard."
"I know..be with your friends. That's fine. But remember I'll still be here going about my business."
"Yeah I know, I'll come home every weekend."
"That's good. So what are you going to do today?"
"I don't know..maybe read a book or something."
"Reading is always good," Greg's father said.
"Yeah.." Greg said.
"We're just not very good conversation with each other aren't we?"
"I don't know if we're that bad...just a little inept."
"Yeah, a little."
"Hello..Urawa? This is Amy," Amy said into the phone. "Yes I know I haven't called in a while, but neither have you."
She waited for a reply.
"Yes..Urawa..I did enjoy talking with you, and I want to again."
Another reply.
Her eyes widened a little more.
"Tonight..sure...seven...you'll come to my house and we'll figure out what to do...sure? What? My brothers..no they aren't around. Why?"
The reply came.
"Oh they scare you. Well one of them scares everyone..you're not the first. The other...well...you're getting special treatment," she said and laughed.
"Okay..I'll see you then," She said and hung up.
Amy stared at the phone for a good minute.
"Love," She said and stared at the phone again.
"YIPPIE!" she shouted.
Elsewhere, Serena and Darrien stood in the east garden of the imperial palace. It was a majestic park filled with moats and greenery.
"So..this is Higashi Goyen," Darrien said.
"Yeah..guess so," Serena said.
"I've spent my life in Tokyo and never come down here before."
"That's strange, why would you wait so long?" Serena asked.
"Well it is quite beautiful...and I never doubted it when I was told, but I don't know, maybe I didn't want to go until I could share it with someone."
"That sounds nice, but waiting over twenty years..." Serena said. "It seems a little excessive."
"Guess I never thought about it before," Darrien said.
"Strange...it is beautiful though, I've been here tons of times. But you know being here with you does make it a little more special," Serena said.
"That's good," Darrien said. "This place is impressive. I wonder it what it was like hundred of years ago. You know, when there was no skyscrapers."
"Good question, it must have been beautiful though," Serena said. "But..I've been considering all this and I think my imperial palace is nicer than this one."
"You do huh?" Darrien asked.
"Sure...I mean..this is very nice, it's got gardens, and a large citadel..is that what they call it?"
"Yes Serena."
"Well..exactly, but the moon palace had a wonderful view, all sorts of my favorite flowers, and I was a princess too. I liked that."
"Thought you would," Darrien said. "Anywhere special you want to go next?"
"I want to look around here some more, it is quite beautiful," Serena said. "No need to rush."
"You're usually the one's rushing, okay," Darrien said.
Serena found herself attracted to a certain moat. She stared at the water not knowing exactly why she liked this one so much, but still staring all the same.
"Darrien..what do you think of this moat?" She asked.
"Uh..are you kidding?"
"No..no..honestly," Serena said. Darrien looked at it.
"Well..it's nice, beautiful, calm...too.."
"Yes..calm..especially calm I think," Serena said. "It just..seems..good."
"Good?"
"I can't break it down anymore then that. I'm just enjoying looking at it."
"So am I," Darrien said.
A figure walked up behind them and stared at the moat.
The two turned and looked to see a middle aged woman with bright red hair standing there.
"It's a nice moat isn't it?" She asked.
The two nodded.
"I'm surprised, I didn't think anyone got into it like I do," she said.
"You look familiar, have we met?" Darrien asked.
"Using a pickup line in front of your girlfriend..that's fresh.." the woman said. "She is your girlfriend right?"
"Yes?" Serena said defensively grabbing Darrien's arm.
The woman smiled.
"Didn't mean to offend," The woman said and adjusted her hair. Serena and Darrien noticed for the first time it was not her natural hair but a wig.
"Stupid thing..uh..hair..." the woman said. "I didn't mean to disturb you two..sorry."
"Wait..a sec..your Prime Minister Coral aren't you?" Serena said.
"That explains it, I should have known because of the eyes," Darrien said.
"WHY?" Serena snapped.
"Uh..please keep it down," Coral said. "You know how hard it is to sneak away from my bodyguard, just for a few minutes of peace?"
"Is it wise for you to be out like this?" Darrien asked.
"No..probably not from a national point of view, but I have to have some time to myself, I'm only human," Coral said. "This place is close to the Diet building so I can get here on foot. They'll find me eventually, until then..I try and walk around and think. Usually my wig cooperates."
"Sorry it didn't," Serena said.
"Sometimes things happen," Coral said.
"Say..you know my friend Mina don't you?" Serena asked.
"You're one of Mina's friends? I haven't seen her in a while. Though it's not like I could just drop in on her either. How's she doing?" Coral asked.
Serena and Darrien glanced at each other.
"Uh..good.." They said in unison.
Coral's eyes widened slightly.
"What is it..trouble with the law?" Coral asked.
"No.she's just crazy.." Serena said.
"Clinically?"
"Maybe.." Serena said.
"It's nothing, Mina's just..unorthodox at the moment," Darrien said.
"Oh..I see..uh..oh..nice talking to you!" Coral said and took off at a run. About a dozen men in suits came racing down the path.
"Prime Minister! Come back!" they shouted. Coral leaped a hedge and stuck out her tongue.
"Why can't she behave?" one of her bodyguards muttered as they raced by Serena and Darrien. The two grinned.
"Maybe it's not just Mina who's insane," Serena said.
Darrien nodded.
"Serena..I know this might not be the perfect time to say this..but...I was thinking about these attacks and.."
"Darrien..I try not mix business with pleasure."
"I know..but..don't you think you and the other scouts should get together and try to figure out what's happening...you know plan some strategy?"
"Hmm..maybe...you think I should do that now?"
"Well not immediately, but I just thought that."
"You're.right..I should be a leader. We should try and figure this stuff out. I know..we can have a picnic!"
"A picnic?"
"Sure..It'll be the perfect mix of business and pleasure.." Serena said.
"But you just said that.."
Serena held up her hand to stop him.
"What I say, what I think, and what I mean can be different things Darrien. Now..let's roll..I wanna find the guys."
"Uh..all right.." Darrien said.
The next afternoon, the scouts, with the exception of Sailor Pluto and Maverick, of course were all sitting in a park eating.
"We should do this more often?" Serena said taking a bite.
"What..have all of us bring food so you can eat it all?" Raye asked.
"I haven't eaten that..much.." Serena said and took another big gulp.
"You have from where I'm sitting, in your stomach's shadow," Raye said.
Serena bonked her on the head.
"Good...reflexes.." Raye muttered wincing slightly.
"I uh didn't call everyone together just so we could eat," Serena said. "There's something else."
"Run!" Mike said and seemed to make it a good quarter mile away in a mere second.
He wandered back a minute later.
"Anyway..these goddess attacks..we should figure them out," Serena said.
"That's easier said then done," Steve said.
"Especially with the people who usually figure it out gone," Rick said.
"Ehh...we don't need them," Raye said. "I'm sick of hearing how in the dark we are because someone doesn't explain everything to us. We didn't have any idea what the negaverse was up to, and we did fine. All this Maverick stuff is getting on my nerves."
"Well he has his value,"Hotaru said.
"So he makes it a little easier. If it's easy, why do it?" Raye said.
"That's an odd thing to say," Haruka said. "Considering that none of you want to fight evil wouldn't you want to have every advantage?"
"Yes..but.." Raye said. "All I'm saying is that we can get along fine right now. So what's the plan?"
Everyone looked around at each other.
"Michiru and I can work on the scouting. No pun intended. We'll increase our efforts," Haruka said.
"Yeah, we managed to do quite well for ourselves during the pure heart situation," Michiru said.
"I will use my powers to attempt to gain prior knowledge of attacks," Hotaru said.
"Doesn't that hurt you though Hotaru?" Serena asked.
"It's bearable," Hotaru said.
"I don't like the idea of you suffering just to get some information," Lita said.
"You cannot stop me," Hotaru said.
"Yes, but we're asking you not to," Serena said. "Please."
Hotaru looked at all of them. They nodded.
"Very well. For now." Hotaru said.
"Good," Serena said. "Now what's everyone going to do to solve this."
"I can gain access to my brother's computer..but only me..if necessary," Amy said.
"Really?" everyone asked.
"Who cares.." Raye said. "Guys..let's all try to pull this off without even a mention of his name all right?"
"Say..Greg..whatever happened to your future predicting powers?" Mina asked.
"Uh..they disappeared..I don't know why," Greg said. "It's probably because of the Saturn power interfering."
"Hmm..they'd be useful," Mina added.
"Somedays," Greg said.
"Okay...well.." Serena said.
She was cut off by the fact that the ground disappeared and the group was surrounded with black.
The scouts all stood up.
"What's going on?" Darrien said worriedly.
"Transform," Haruka said. The group all did, but they were surprised when they looked to see that they were still wearing the same outfits they had worn before.
"I don't understand..why haven't we transformed?" Serena said worriedly.
"You can't transform, I have dampened your powers..." came a voice. Stepping out of the void was a goddess dressed entirely in white. She launched an attack. The scouts all ducked to avoid it, but some of them were hit anyway.
"I was sure I avoided that!" Haruka said despite wincing.
The goddess unleashed another attack. More of the scouts were hit.
"Still at this rate, it'll take her a while to kill us," Lita noticed.
"Let's get her," Steve said and followed by Mike and Steve they charged the goddess. She launched a massive barrage at them. They were hit and thrown back.
"I am more powerful then anyone you've ever encountered before," the goddess said.
"Saturn..Mist Wave!"
"WHAT?" Everyone shouted.
From Hotaru a massive energy barrage flew across the void and hit the goddess. The goddess stood there.
"Hah..you can't hurt me," she said.
The scouts flickered for a moment, their uniforms appeared and then their normal clothes again.
"It's all an illusion!" Amy said.
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"
The two attacks appeared to disappear in mid air.
"HAH! I am powerful!" The goddess said. The void flickered revealing the park around her.
"Wait a second!" Greg shouted. "She is being hit, it's an illusion that's she not, or why would the illusion she's created around us flicker like that?"
"Yeah!" The scouts all shouted. Soon they unleashed a full barrage. The goddess vanished before the attacks hit. The illusion disappeared.
"Did we get her?" Lita said.
"No..she escaped," Saturn said.
CHAPTER 201 CHAPTER 202 CHAPTER 203 CHAPTER 204 CHAPTER 205
CHAPTER 206 CHAPTER 207 CHAPTER 208 CHAPTER 209 CHAPTER 210
CHAPTER 211 CHAPTER 212 CHAPTER 213 CHAPTER 214 CHAPTER 215
CHAPTER 216 CHAPTER 217 CHAPTER 218 CHAPTER 219 CHAPTER 220
CHAPTER 221 CHAPTER 222 CHAPTER 223 CHAPTER 224 CHAPTER 225