Chapter 219
Setsuna Meio was on the run searching for a place to transform. Her assailant had been stupid to try to take her out with one shot and alert her to their presence. However, her assailant had managed to choose to fight her in an area that was well populated. She knew that time was on her side not the enemy's. She had already managed to call for help on the communicator too. She could sense her enemy, but she had yet to be actually attacked again. That worried her. Perhaps this goddess was setting up an ambush. There were many possibilities, and she didn't know how to guard against them all. The fact that certain pedestrians were turning to watch her whenever she turned into an alley was even more annoying. She had hope though. She grabbed a hold of a fire escape and using all the strength she could muster pulled herself up onto it. She was soon running up the steps to the roof. Once she reached the top she sensed the enemy even stronger then before. A figure leapt at her from behind. She whirled and ducked the attack. The goddess dressed in black landed flipped forward and turned facing her with two black energy swords.
The goddess wasted no time and lunged at her again. Setsuna avoided the attack and barely the swords themselves. The darkness of the night was making it hard to see even with the lights of the city. The goddess didn't let up and kept up her attacks. Setsuna began to get concerned. This was a tough enemy. An enemy she wondered she would be even able to face with the enhanced powers of Sailor Pluto behind her.
The enemy struck again managing to cut at her arm. She responded with a chop of her own. The enemy flipped back and grinned slightly.
Setsuna's eyes narrowed.
The enemy attacked again. Setsuna narrowly missed getting cut on the neck, but she could feel the blood trickle from her cheek.
"You goddesses have a nasty habit of doing that!" She replied and threw a relatively awkward kick. It was enough to get the goddess to retreat again. Setsuna moved to another side of the roof and was ready for the next assault. The light proved no better. Her goal though was to somehow throw the goddess off of the roof. However, she knew the goddess was probably well aware of that.
The goddess attacked yet again. Setsuna reached into her pocket and pulled out a small canister of mace. She pressed a button on it and sprayed it's contents into the enemy's face. It dodged the attack and left itself open to a knee to the head from Setsuna. It staggered back. Setsuna grabbed her quickly receiving a cut to the leg in the process she tossed the goddess off the roof, took in a gasp of air and pulled out her transformation crystal.
"Pluto Planet Power!" she shouted and transformed instantly. When she came out of the attack she was surprised to find the light's all disappearing all around her. Darkness enclosed her. She couldn't see anything at all.
She was hit with some energy she stumbled forward wincing. She whirled and
spun her staff as quickly as she could. The goddess had managed to make the area
dark, but she had some defense. The crystal on her staff glowed slightly giving
her partial illumination. The goddess lunged at her swinging her swords. Pluto
barely blocked the attack. The goddess came at her again right afterward she
deflected the attack but received another cut to the arm. Fortunately the
healing power of the transformation had mended the other wounds. The goddess
didn't let up constantly swinging her swords and leaping knowing Pluto had to be
on the defensive. Pluto did her best to block the attacks, but another cut to
her arm caused her to almost drop her staff because of the pain. She held on
tight and waited for the next attack.
With Tuxedo Mask at the wheel, a red sports car turned a corner and raced down the street. Sailor Moon sat in the passenger seat talking into her wrist communicator.
"Now where are we headed Mercury?" she asked.
"Sailor Pluto is at the top of the boutique at 10th and White Rose streets," Mercury said making use of the spy camera she had been lent by her brother.
"We're almost there," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Got it.." Sailor Moon said. "Now..Darrien...remember...
The car was surrounded in blackness. Tuxedo Mask hit the brakes and the car slid to a stop.
"What happened?" Sailor Moon said in surprise.
"There's something going on," Tuxedo Mask said. The two got out of the car.
"I can't see anything," Sailor Moon said. "Hmm..there should be something I can do to light things up, I'm the moon princess."
She felt for her tiara and pulled it off her head.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" she said and held onto it. The area lit up with the light, but she felt it warming up her hand.
"Uh..Tiara..never mind.." she said. The light dimmed.
Sailor Moon. Came a voice in her head. This is Queen Serenity. You're tiara can be a light source. Just put it on your head and ask it to show you the way.
"Uh..okay.." Sailor Moon said and put it on her head.
"Moon Tiara..let there be light!"
A small beam of light flew out of the tiara. She looked around. Tuxedo Mask stood next to the car.
"There you are," She said.
"Yep, here I am," Tuxedo Mask said. "Let's try and get back to where we can see."
"Okay.." Sailor Moon said. They worked their way to a sidewalk and then back out into the light.
"That's odd..it looks like it's well lit," Tuxedo Mask said looking at the street.
"Uh huh," Sailor Moon said. "What do you think's behind all this?"
"Maybe..the goddess Pluto must be fighting."
"You're right," Sailor Moon said. "Uh..stay here..I'm going back in."
"Sailor Moon, I can't just stand by and.."
"Trust me..I'll handle it," Sailor Moon said. "Call the others, tell them what's happening."
"All right," Tuxedo Mask said. "Be careful."
"I will be," she said and walked back into the area.
"Watch out for that..." Tuxedo Mask shouted too late.
"Ouch!" Sailor Moon said as she picked herself off of the ground.
"Fire hydrant," Tuxedo Mask muttered.
Sailor Pluto ducked yet another attack. A blast of energy flew at her. She was hit and stumbled a few steps, the goddess came up behind her and hit her with the swords. She let out a small scream and whirled with her staff connecting with the goddess and knocking her back.
"Just who are you!" she muttered. "The goddess of illusion again?"
"Darkness!" the goddess said. Pluto fired a blast from her staff in that direction.
"Not there!" the goddess said firing her own energy blast. Pluto saw out of the corner of her eye and dodged it.
She is not going to be easy to take down. She thought.
"Ouch.." Sailor Moon said as she bumped into yet another object. "This is getting annoying."
She turned her head to bring the light forward. A figure moved towards her.
She let out a screech until she realized it was just a normal human being.
"Oh..hello," she said.
"What is going on you monster?" the guy said grabbing her.
"Hey..leggo.." Sailor Moon said.
"No..I want some answers.."
Sailor Moon kicked him in the groin.
"Sorry.." She said and moved forward.
"9th Street.." I'm almost there," she said quickening her pace. Another figure stepped out in front of her.
"Ahh.." she said and crashed into her.
Sailor Moon brought her light around and found herself staring into Sailor Mars' face.
"Oh...hello.." Sailor Moon said.
Mars glared at her.
"How'd you get your tiara to do that?" Mars muttered.
"I asked it. Your tiara probably can't do it, I'm the moon princess," Sailor Moon said.
"Tiara..give me some light here," Mars said.
A red beam flew out from it.
Mars stuck her tongue out. Sailor Moon scowled at her.
"Lights..down there..what's going on?" the goddess of darkness said seeing the tiara lights moving closer. Sailor Pluto took the chance to fire of a barrage of energy blasts. The goddess quickly avoided them and charged forward. Sailor Pluto avoided the attacks barely by leaping up into the air. She had no idea where she'd land. She felt the roof, but she was hit dead on by an energy blast and knocked backward. The goddess charged forward and attacked again. She barely managed to block the attacks and then felt herself brush against the roof's edge. She lost her balance. The goddess attack again. She went tumbling off and she hit hard. The goddess leapt at her and attacked. She rolled out of the way and tried to stand up only to get herself cut with one of the swords.
Pluto winced at the pain and tried to block the attacks.
A blue shot flew through the darkness and hit the goddess from behind. She pitched forward and whirled.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" came a shout. The air was filled with fog.
"Let's even up the odds a little," Mercury said.
"MERCURY! Now we can't see any thing!" Sailor Moon shrieked from nearby.
The goddess whirled and fired off energy in all directions. It heard several cries and looked around defensively.
A barrage of blue and black bolts flew through the darkness and hit the creature.
"How can you see?" The goddess shouted.
Mercury studied her visor and the patterns of energy she was getting. She pointed. Guardian Saturn aimed his sword based on her arm position and fired again. Sailor Saturn standing along side did the same. The fog began to clear.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars light shined right on the goddess. She leapt into the air worriedly.
"Now where'd she go?" Mars muttered.
"The roof.." Sailor Mercury said. The five scouts leapt up to the top of the roof. A barrage of energy flew at them, they ducked it.
Both Saturn flew blasts of energy into the darkness hoping to rattle the goddess.
"Missed," Mercury said.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars shined their lights around trying to find her.
"She's moving too fast!" Mercury shouted seconds before being hit by the goddess and flung to the ground. Saturn turned his light sword illuminating the goddess and he swung into her. The goddess distracted by Mercury was hit and let out a scream. The darkness began to disappear. Sailor Saturn caught it with her scythe and knocked the goddess into the center of the roof right into the light of Sailor Moon's tiara. Mars leveled it with a kick and then pinned her down holding down her sword arms.
"You're not going anywhere.." Mars said.
The goddess unleashed an energy blast blasting Mars back.
A blue light sword blast hit the goddess and she screeched even as she tried to stand. Sailor Saturn swung at her with her scythe, the goddess blocked it. Sailor Moon swung her own moon sword. Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn sparred with her. Guardian Saturn came up behind and swung through her. She shrieked, the darkness melted away revealing the rooftop. The goddess staggered back rapidly running out of strength.
"Time to go.." Sailor Moon said.
"No.." the goddess said and unleashed one final energy attack.
"Saturn Mist Wave!" Saturn shouted and blew the attack apart.
Guardian Saturn blasted her with the sword. She sank to one knee.
"Moon Spiral Hearts Attack!" Sailor Moon shouted.
The attack blasted through the goddess and blew her apart.
Two days later.
"You okay Setsuna?" Michiru asked starring at the large bandage on Setsuna's forehead as well as the one on her cheek.
"I'll be fine," Setsuna said sipping some coffee.
"Tough break huh?"
"Michiru..are you enjoying this?" Setsuna asked.
"A little."
"Why?" Setsuna asked.
"Because you're usually not the one who gets beaten up," Michiru said. "It's nice to see that even you take some hits occasionally."
"Is it?"
"Sure.."
"Wouldn't it be better if I didn't take hits, and was as tough as an army?" Setsuna asked. "You know someone who can jump into battle to aid you and it capable of fighting off the toughest of foes."
"No, because you're hardly around," Michiru said smiling.
Setsuna grinned.
"So is Haruka up yet?"
"No..but she sleeps in," Michiru said.
Haruka staggered out of the bedroom.
"What happened to you?" She asked looking at Setsuna. She hadn't actually seen Setsuna since her hospitalization.
"Not as much what happened to you I assure you," Setsuna said.
"Oh...that's fortunate," Haruka said. "But you never get beaten up."
"Obviously that isn't true anymore," Setsuna said. "I don't know why this is such a big deal. Hotaru laughed you know. That's just as rare. I don't see you fawning over her."
"Yeah..well..Hotaru might kill us and not understand why it's murder," Michiru said.
"Exactly," Haruka said.
"I could kill you and then disappear into another time. Have you thought about that?" Setsuna asked. "You should just be as scared of me."
Michiru and Haruka glanced at each other.
"Welcome back Steve," Raye said. "It's good to see you feeling better."
"Yeah..well..guess this means our concert's going to stink huh?" Steve asked.
"It doesn't matter," Rick said. "We're supposed to be having fun. I realized that at about four forty two AM this morning, but that's not important. Let's just try a normal practice. Some of our old songs, a new one or two. What do you say?"
"Sure.." Steve said.
"Rock the cazbah!" Mike said and banged on a drum.
"I think the brain damage has made him worse," Raye said.
"I didn't get brain damage," Mike said.
"Are you sure?" the other three asked.
"No," Mike said and started trying to play a violin concerto on the drums.
"Stop doing that," Raye snapped. "Yesterday it was the opera."
"I'm in a messed up sort of mood," Mike said. "Can't blame me."
"Guess not," Raye said.
"Hi everybody!" came a jovial voice. The group all looked to see Mina standing there.
"What are you doing here?" Raye asked.
"Why so competitive," Mina said. "I just swung by to see how Tokyo's best rock and roll band was doing."
"Yeah.." Mike said and started playing the minute waltz on the symbols.
Raye whirled towards him.
"Uh..figaro.." Mike said.
"Mina..you have an ulterior motive," Raye said. " What is it?"
"I am just curious about how the competition's going to be," Mina said.
"Competition?" The other four asked.
"You're not going to.." Raye trailed off.
"Uh huh..." Mina said. "This weekend at the open mic, will be the first debut of Mina Deveraux!"
"You don't have a band Mina!" Raye snapped back.
"Ah..but I found a group of backup band people who want me just for my body..and I accept that," Mina said. "Now..ta ta!"
She then did a gymnastics tumbling pass out the door.
"I didn't know she still did gymnastics," Steve said.
"Neither did I," Mike said.
"She's going to make such a fool of herself," Raye said.
"What's it really matter Raye?" Rick said.
"She's gotta be kidding Rick. She doesn't even practice."
"Well..actually Raye from time to time she does," Mike said. "She actually
made an effort. Though I think she gave up for a while. I don't really know."
"So even if she did try. Just what does she hope to prove?" Raye asked.
"I guess that she's a good singer," Steve said.
"That'll be the day," Raye said.
"I was thinking Artemas. You know how I've had trouble figuring out how I should be a good leader to the Guardians?" Greg asked.
"Yep, you have an idea?" Artemas asked.
"Yeah, why don't I take on Maverick's personality."
"I don't understand."
"Well..the guys listen to him."
"Because he's capable of beating all three of them up."
"No..no..it's not just that, he gives out this aura of being tough. He seems to know all, see all, and he's a tough fighter. Working to be a tough fighter may take some time, but I'm smart enough to be intimidating."
"Greg..you're unassertive though."
"Doesn't matter," Greg said. "If I'm going to lead I have to be assertive anyway. So I'll do what he does."
"I don't know if that's the right way to handle it," Artemas said. The phone rang. Greg picked it up.
"Hello," he said.
"Greg..I desire your presence," Hotaru said at the other end of the line.
"Oh..Hotaru..sure..uh where?"
"My house."
"Uh..I'll be there in a few minutes all right."
"Acceptable," Hotaru said. "Thank you," She added and hung up.
Greg put down the phone.
"Hotaru wants to see me," he said. "I wonder why. I mean she can go to school. What does she need me for?"
"Good question," Artemas said. "But about your other idea.."
Soon Greg was walking along the street.
"Greg, it's not that I have any problem with you coming up with ideas, is that this one probably won't work," Artemas said.
"I don't know Artemas. I think it has a shot."
"Why?"
"I don't know it's just a hunch."
"I think you're getting delusional."
"We'll see.." Greg said.
"Guess so," Artemas said. "All right..so now that you're committed, what's your plan to accomplish this."
Greg stopped and stared at him.
"What a foolish idea that was," he muttered. "I have no idea what came over me. Any ideas?"
"You been hitting the bottle?" Artemas asked.
"No," Greg said.
"Good, because that would only make this all worse. I have no idea what's wrong with you. It seems a prerequisite of being a scout nowadays is to be have something wrong with your mind somewhere," Artemas said
Greg nodded.
A few minutes later.
"I am glad you have come," Hotaru said staring out her window as Greg entered her room.
"Sure..that's what friends do," Greg said.
"Hmm..true," Hotaru said. "It was my goal to achieve a social level at an accelerated pace so that I might enter school, where I hope to continue growing. However, I was hoping that during this time period you could aid me further."
"Uh..sure..whatever I can do to help," Greg said.
"Good," Hotaru said. "Perhaps you can also help me regain the ability to study. I have done much, but do not have the discipline I believe capable for school yet. However, I hope to change that."
"That's one thing I can help with for sure," Greg said.
Hotaru nodded and turned.
"It is interesting," she said.
"What is?" Greg asked.
"It is interesting how you help you so much, and I have not been able to return any of this to you."
"It's all right."
"Why? Doesn't everyone do something for some sort of reward. If not monetary, then spiritual?"
"Sure..I guess I feel better helping you."
"Still..All I can manage to do is say thank you," Hotaru said. "I can't smile. I can't come up with a way to express my gratitude."
"Gratitude is sometimes hard to show," Greg said. "That's no problem."
"Maybe..however..I hope you will not misunderstand..I don't mean this in the traditional way..but I know that it will at least show my appreciation at a higher level."
She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. Greg blushed.
"You do not misunderstand?" She asked.
"No..no..you got the point across.." Greg said. "Your welcome.." he stammered.
Hotaru nodded.
"Would you like a drink perhaps?" she asked.
"Vodka..ahem..I mean..sure.." Greg said and promptly feinted.
"Strange response," Hotaru said.
And that night was the night of the double date. At a very elegant restaurant Amy, Urawa, Serena, and Darrien sat around a table in their best clothing.
Serena was waving about a champagne glass filled with water.
"So..needless to say, I've always been wary of the creme filled donuts," She said. The other three looked at her.
"You'll understand someday," She added.
"So Urawa..Amy tells me your one of the top students in the country," Darrien said.
"Well on the national scores anyway," Urawa said.
"So what's your goal in life?" Darrien asked.
"Probably to be a doctor," Urawa said. Serena's gazed shifted to Amy. The blue haired girls eyes widened in surprise and then her face seemed to take on a depressed mood. Urawa didn't notice.
"You see..we're not able to influence our destiny very much. It controls us, toys with us, sometimes gives us good things. But being a doctor lets you fight against destiny for others. You can do your part to help people, to curb fate. It's not a god complex, but it is power. Not bad power either, but the power of an angel."
"Urawa.." Amy said silently. "You should research it more," She added. "Serena..why don't you tell us about your goals in life?"
Urawa was a bit surprised at Amy's reaction.
"Me..I just want to marry Darrien, and then we'll see what happens," Serena said.
"Oh come now..there has to be more than that," Urawa said with a grin trying to shake off his girlfriend's activities. "Don't you have a job you would like to do?"
"Work is work.." Serena said. "But..you wouldn't believe this Urawa..but the job I currently do is very stressful and it's soured me to the whole idea of being a productive member of society."
"What do you do now?" Urawa asked.
"Uh..volunteer," Serena quickly replied. "In various places."
Amy and Darrien sighed.
"If you don't like to do it, why do you volunteer?"
"Well..what I do is kinda more like a draft."
"Oh? Sounds interesting," Urawa said.
"It's not.." Serena said. "Darrien..what about your dreams?" She said changing the subject.
"Me? Well I'm sure all my dreams involve you," Darrien said. "But I guess my dream is to be part of our country's first space mission."
"That's a noble goal," Urawa said.
"Good luck," Serena said and started laughing. "Even the Americans can't launch a satellite without having it broken or lose it."
The other three sighed.
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
CHAPTER 226 CHAPTER 227 CHAPTER 228 CHAPTER 229 CHAPTER 230