Chapter 242
"I'm afraid you won't be able to beat me this time Venus!" Neptune said dodging another crescent beam.
"That's what you think!" Venus shouted back and charged at him.
"Oh..you wanna do a little hand to hand, well let's go!" Neptune said and swung his sword. Venus slid under it and punched him in the gut, Neptune staggered back. Venus pulled back for a punch and swung it at him. Neptune ducked it and stabbed his sword out. Venus let out a shriek and dived out of the way.
"Venus look out!" Mars shouted as a cone of flame shot out through the air. Venus shrieked again and scurried out of the way. The flame missed her and Guardian Pluto and set another tree on fire.
"Mars! You're going to burn down the forest at this rate!" Pluto shouted back.
"Well then stop avoiding my attacks! We'll have no problems!" Mars shouted.
A burning branch fell to the ground, the group dodged it.
"Just what have you done?" The amazon group leader shouted.
"Uh..nothing.."
"Neptune Deep Submerge!"
The wave of energy flew through the forest and doused the flames, while knocking down several trees in the process.
"Unfortunately that was necessary," Sailor Neptune muttered. "You're taking this quite seriously."
"You bet!" Guardian Neptune said swinging his sword at Venus. Venus avoided it and kicked Neptune in the groin. He sank to the ground.
"No..fair.." he said.
"Venus crescent beam smash!"
Neptune hobbled out of the way.
"You're beginning to annoy me!" Venus shouted and charged forward again. Neptune swung his sword out, it swung right into her. Venus let out a shout. Time seemed to freeze. The two stared at it. Venus let out a shout and collapsed to the ground.
"Uh oh.." Neptune said.
"Now look what you guys have done!" Mars said and spun kicked a stunned Pluto.
The group looked around. The two groups of amazons and troops had fought themselves to a complete standstill. There were only a few left on each side.
Sailor Neptune leapt between them.
"I suggest we stop fighting each other for the moment.." she said. "I mean..this isn't getting us anywhere.."
Azura glanced at the soldier who sighed.
"Venus you all right?" Mars asked.
"It hurts.." Venus said.
"It should," Mars said. "But it'll pass."
"I hope so," Venus said. "I'm gonna get you for this Neptune."
"It's your own fault," Guardian Neptune said.
"So why exactly are you here?" One of the soldiers asked.
"We're here to stop the resitance, which could prove to be much harder with most of our group beaten," Azura said.
"As if you didn't have reinforcements farther up the road," the soldier said.
"Uh..well..I don't know what you mean," Azura said.
The soldier grinned slightly. "Yes..well..you needn't worry about them. We'll take care of them as soon as we get the chance."
"I doubt it, we've always been better then you," Azura said.
"Not this time."
"We'll see."
"My suggestion is that both of us turn and go our seperate directions. We've pretty much reached a stalemate," Sailor Neptune said. "In fact it's more than one since we could take care of you two in no time. So you jsut run along and.."
"We can't let them go Neptune, they know we're here," Azura said standing.
"Hmm..tactically you're correct," Sailor Neptune said. "But just blasting them doesn't seem too civilized, and besides, we'd still have these two to deal with."
Guardian Neptune and Guardian Pluto stepped forward.
"Fraid so," Guardian Neptune said.
"Then how about a new operation. You come along with us while we take care of the resistance," Azura said.
"We can't trust you," the soldier said.
"Then again..we wouldn't get away," the other guy said. "It beats sleeping for months."
"True, and if we did it in the cause of the country, it wouldn't necessarily be treason. Fine we agree."
"This should be fun," Guardian Neptune muttered.
"You're just afraid of Venus," Guardian Pluto said.
"And rightly so," Neptune said. " She wants to kill me."
Guardian Pluto just smiled.
"Ehh..let's go then," he said.
"Ah.Prince Uranus, Princess Saturn," King East said as the two scouts stood in front of him. "How are both of you?"
"Tired," Uranus said.
"I never know," Saturn said.
"Ah..yes..well..major things are afoot, great battles are being fought in the zone," King East said. "Any sign of a winner Ariton?"
"Not yet your majesty, though they have been stalemated for decades," Ariton said.
"Uh..Uranus...about you and my daughter," East said.
"Your highness..I'm sure she's a nice girl, but I've got someone very special to me already," Uranus said.
"I challenge you!" came a shout. Princess Sakuro was standing in the doorway wearing armor.
"This doesn't look good," Tijiro said.
"You..Sailor Saturn, and whatever else you're called, I challenge you," Sakuro said drawing an energy sword.
"Why?" Saturn asked.
"Sakuro, you're overeacting," Tijrio said.
"I quite agree," King East said.
"No..she is his mate, I am sure of it, I have the right to defeat her in combat and take her place," Sakuro said.
"No you don't," East, Tijrio, and Ariton said.
"I demand this!" Sakuro shouted.
"But Sakuro, Saturn isn't his," Tijiro said.
"She isn't?" Sakuro asked. "I don't care! She is in my way."
"I am not," Saturn said.
"Look at you, so casually dismissing me. No longer!" Sakuro said.
"Princess..please..calm down," Ariton said.
"No..I will not. I will be married to him!" Sakuro shouted and lunged at Saturn.
"Unwise," Saturn said and swung her scyhte, she caught Sakuro's sword and flipped it away. Her scythe came to rest on Sakuro's neck. The room tensed.
"You will cease your pursuits of him and regain your senses, is that understood?" Saturn said.
"No...you will have to kill me..." Sakuro said.
"And why would I want to do that?"
"I didn't say you wanted to fool. I said you would have to!"
Saturn's eyes narrowed.
"Uh..Saturn.." Uranus said.
"Hmm..I wonder why I'm so eager to end your life right now."
"You can't be serious."
"I am."Saturn said holding the scythe tightly. "You told me that I would have to kill you to get you to stop being such an immature idiot. Yet your death would not be justified."
"You're right it wouldn't," Sakuro said. "So you're not going to kill me. I can do whatever I want."
"Hmm..but if I was to injure you," Saturn said. "Maybe cut your arm, or leave a gash on your leg. Or maybe something simpler, just a large scar across your face. One that would never heal."
Sakuro began to sweat.
"Maybe I'd do that just because I felt like it. I have been known to be prone to emotional swings," Saturn said. The room still was very tense.
Sakuro began to whimper.
Saturn smiled.
"That is what I was looking for," Saturn said and withdrew her scythe.
"Remember," Saturn said and walked out.
Sakuro sank to the ground.
"Are you all right Princess," Tijiro said rushing to her.
"Go away Tijiro.." Sakuro said.
"Uh..I don't know what to say," Uranus said.
"Neither do I," King East said.
"Maybe we should talk Uranus," Ariton said. "Please come with me."
Uranus nodded.
"Can I get you anything?" Tijrio asked.
"You can get out of my face!" Sakuro said and punched him.
"Message recieved," Tijiro said.
"I am worried about her," Ariton said.
"Who Sakuro or Saturn?" Uranus asked.
"Hmm..both..but Saturn. What exactly is her problem?"
"She's had a hard life. Evil consumed her for a while, she's had trouble recovering, understanding her emotions and such," Uranus said.
"Oh.poor girl. Do you think she would actually have done anything to Sakuro?"
"Nothing physical. She didn't need too did she?"
"No..I see that," Ariton said. "She is very intimidating."
"That she is," Uranus said. "But I have to ask you, just why is Sakuro so insane."
"There are reasons," Ariton said. "She has been deprived of a man to love. She's desperate."
"But aside from her emotions she seems desirable enough."
"Her emotions are the problem. She's too picky. She always finds something wrong with her suitors, and then regrets it once it's too late."
"How many suitors has she had?"
"Seventy one."
"And now she's got a problem with Tijiro."
"She doesn't even know what she found wrong with Tijiro, but he's not giving up, that's the thing."
"Yes..I noticed, he isn't making much progress."
"No he's not, because she's in love with you."
"She's got a crush, it's not love."
"Maybe..but you could try to talk to her."
"I have, she'll have no part of it. But I had another plan."
"Really?"
"Yes..well..maybe you should be in on it?"
"Maybe I should..what is it?"
Later.
"Rick, we must speak," Tijiro said.
"Yes?"
"That idea you had..you know.."
"To kidnap Sakuro?"
"Yes, what's the plan?"
"You want to go ahead with it?"
"Yes..it's my last hope."
"Oh..okay...well that's good. I've already got Ariton in on it," Rick said.
"I see..excellent. But don't tell the king, even he's not that desperate," Tijiro said. "Besides, if has to look real."
"I'm planning on it," Rick said. "What I need is for you to find out where the heck we can take her and how."
"Hmm..good question," Tijiro said. "But how will you get away with it?"
"I figured I wouldn't be around..Saturn could do the stuff, I would be hidden or something," Rick said.
"I see.." Tijiro said. "And then I jump in and save her life."
"Exactly," Rick said.
"Sounds good, where does Ariton come in?"
"He's going to make sure we've got a way out of the castle," Rick siad.
"Excellent," Tijiro said. "This could just work."
Rick nodded.
Many miles away.
"Uh listen..Mina..I.." Mike was saying.
"I don't want to talk to you," Mina said holding her stomach. "You shouldn't have hit me so hard."
"And if you had hit me with a few more crescent beams?"
"That's different."
"It is not," Mike said.
"I don't want to talk to you!" Mina said.
"Mike..please..leave her alone," Raye said.
"Fine..fine.." Mike said and moved ahead. "I try to apologize...why do I even bother?" he snapped.
"I won't forgive him for this," Mina said.
"I think you're..." Raye began.
"I didn't ask you," Mina said.
"So Azura, we're looking to join up with the other members of your advance group, then what?" Sailor Neptune asked.
"We will surprise the resistance," Azura said.
"I see..and just how many people are we going to have with us?"
"I don't know. But I would think having five scouts with us would make us quite formidable."
"True, but I'm wondering, given all the strength we have, and Zaiesk is certainly powerful, just why bother with some little resistance?"
"They have found ways to interfere with us before."
"While interfering with the other three countries too."
"Yes. They are persistant."
"Oh..if you say so. But...I'd think they'd be spread quite thin."
"That's exactly why we attack. Hopefully we will catch them off guard."
"You won't," Neptune said.
"You don't know them."
"I know they didn't get to be so formidable by being caught off guard. And here we are galloping through their forest, and fighting a battle, I'm sure they haven't noticed," Neptune said.
"It's not my decision, I just follow orders," Azura said.
"Sure you do," Neptune said. "But if those enemy soldiers know about your operatives you can bet the resistance does, and so much for sneak attacks."
"We still have you five."
"Yes you do," Neptune said with a grin.
"Why the grin?"
"I sometimes grin when I'm amused. Don't you?" Neptune asked.
"Serena? You seem to be spending a lot of time out here?" Haruka asked. Serena was standing on the large ledge outside the cave.
"The cave is dark, I like it out here. It's quite a view," Serena said.
Haruka nodded.
"So how are you doing?" she asked.
"I miss Darrien," Serena said. "I miss him a lot. I miss the others too. My friends, my parents. Luna, Artemas..everyone."
"It must be hard for you," Haruka said.
"It is, but isn't it hard for you too?" Serena asked.
"I've learned to adapt to my situation," Haruka said.
"Oh..." Serena said. "I guess that's a good thing to be able to do."
"In theory yes, but there is always a cost," Haruka said.
"Oh..."
The eagle landed and Sy hopped off.
"How'd it go Sy?" Serena asked.
"Visara's going to want to hear this, big things are happening," Sy said.
"Like what?" Haruka asked.
"We've found some of your friends?" he said.
"How close are they?" Serena asked.
"Close.." Sy said. "Though I don't think they know that," he added with a grin.
"They're together?" Haruka asked.
"Five of them," Sy said.
"Who?" Serena asked.
"How would he know Serena?" Haruka asked.
"I should tell Visara, it's important," Sy said quickening his pace. They
hurried in.
"So...this area's a swamp here?" Amy asked.
"Yes," General Tresia said. "A deep one. There's no way we could get troops through there."
"Not true," Amy said. "If the swamp were frozen."
Tresia grinned.
"And they'd never see it coming," he said.
"I'd hope so," Amy said.
"And it's a weak point in their line. We could cut them off and sweep em," Tresia said.
"Exactly," Amy said.
"This is swamp?" Greg asked.
"Yes," Tarsuk said. "No point in guarding that, they can't send troops through there, they haven't got any on that side either."
"Because you can't get through it."
"It wouldn't be pretty."
"If the swamp was frozen?"
Tarsuk grinned.
"I get what you're saying," he said. "You can do that?"
"I can," Saturn said.
"Excellent, but we've still got the rest of the line to deal with."
"Well..let me have a look," Saturn said.
"I was thinking," Hotaru said leaning against Rick's windowsill.
"Yeah?" Rick asked.
"The kidnapping would make more sense if there were two victims."
"Why?"
"If Sakuro were snatched out of the palace, with no apparent resistance, she might suspect something," Hotaru said.
"But not if you were doing it," Rick said.
"She'd still be suspicious besides, if I did it it would look bad."
"They couldn't hurt you. Besides this is our escape attempt remember."
"That's right and the others will be suspicious too, unless we convince them we are truly in this only for ourselves."
"So what do you propose."
"You kidnap me as well."
"But Hotaru?"
"It will be convincing. Sakuro won't suspect anyone from the inside if I'm there."
"Hmm..." Rick said.
"Then you and Tijiro go to save us. Only Tijiro is the one who pulls it off. You hide, then when you get the chance, you and I head off."
"That would surprise them, you're right," Rick said. "I don't know if it's necessary."
"It would be more convenient, and it would be a better sign of goodwill if I were involved."
"I guess," Rick said. "All right we'll go with it."
"Zaiesk huh?" Visara said.
"Right here," Sy said pointing at a map. "They've got some men with them, maybe prisioners. Then there's five scouts."
"Five?" Visara asked.
"Yes."
"That could be trouble. If the Zaiesk use them like we thought."
Sy nodded.
"Serena this is risky, but I want to send you out to meet them," Visara said.
"Me alone?" Serena asked.
"Sy will be with you," Visara said.
"That's dangerous, let me go instead, or both of us," Haruka said.
"I can't risk both of you," Visara said.
"She's more powerful," Haruka said. "It's more of a risk."
"Yes, but you're a better fighter, I need to keep you in reserve."
"I can't let her go alone," Haruka said.
Visara stared at her.
"Very well," Visara said. "I'll risk it, but you two better come back."
"There's a better chance of that happening now," Haruka said.
"And when do we meet them, what do we do?" Serena asked.
"Get them to stop doing whatever they're doing," Visara said.
"Have you got the smoke ready?" Vitar asked as a division the army slowly moved.
"Yes Vitar, we will be able to send it right across the swamp," a soldier said.
"Now what we're going to do Saturn is blanket the area with smoke. Now..they have means to blast it away, but by the time they do, we'll have frozen the swamp and sent our men across,"
"Got it," Saturn said.
The group hurried towards the swamp. The smoke began to fill the area.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!" Saturn shouted. The water froze. The troops started across slowly.
And meanwhile on the other side a mile away.
"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!" Mercury shouted. The water froze and the other
troops started across slowly as the mist fell.
CHAPTER 231 CHAPTER 232 CHAPTER 233 CHAPTER 234 CHAPTER 235
CHAPTER 236 CHAPTER 237 CHAPTER 238 CHAPTER 239 CHAPTER 240
CHAPTER 241 CHAPTER 242 CHAPTER 243 CHAPTER 244 CHAPTER 245
CHAPTER 246 CHAPTER 247 CHAPTER 248 CHAPTER 249 CHAPTER 250
CHAPTER 251 CHAPTER 252 CHAPTER 253 CHAPTER 254 CHAPTER 255