Part 7: Lost and Found
The
senshi gaped at the jade-haired warrior. Her feral scream had sent
shivers down their spines. Slowly she rose from the ground and
revealed her jade eyes. I know those eyes, Uranus thought.
Those are my eyes in the heat of battle, but hers are worse...so much
worse.
Mars could feel the hatred radiating from the
tall soldier. This was not evil...no Animalia is not evil.
This is something deeper from within her very core. It is
primal. It is worse.
Pluto stepped frowned and held out her hand to
the fearsome woman as the only one who could truly understand.
"Please Animalia, do not do anything. Come with us and tell us
what happened."
Animalia's eyes seemed to soften while she
considered the request. Suddenly she shook her head violently and
her eyes began to glow with a bright jade-colored light.
"NO! This is my fault!" She began to pace,
"I let them...I let her...NO!"
In a blur of motion she disappeared and left the
other warriors standing motionless in shock.
The warriors,
now dressed in normal attire, had once again gathered at the temple Rei
called home. This time they were subdued, almost silent. A
haze seemed to have settled over each face and every eye. "have
any of you seen Kouken?" Makato began.
They all shook their heads. Setsuna spoke,
"No one has seen her for three days." She clasped her
hands behind her back and sighed, " I have known her for
thousands of years, but I have never seen her like that before."
Haruka grunted, "I don't want to see
her...not like that anyway." She was still rattled whenever she
thought of Animalia's eyes that day. This is ridiculous, she
chided herself, nothing ever affects me this way.
"Don't you see Haruka," Usagi pleaded,
"that is exactly why we need to see her. We need to see if she
is okay and find out what happened."
"Um, not to change the subject or
anything," Minako broke in, "but has anyone seen Artemis?"
"Why do you ask?" Michiru replied.
"Oh , I know Artemis occasionally runs off,
but he has been one since we went to the beach."
Rei looked out the window toward a tree.
"You know my friendly crows Phobos and Deimos haven't been hanging
around here for the past few days either."
Come to think of it," Usagi creased her
brow, "Luna hasn't bugged me about homework or eating too much for at
least three days."
Mamoru stood up, "You don't think..."
"Young lady you can't bring that animal in
this temple!"
Kouken broke into the room mounted on a black
mare. She had dark circles under her eyes and her clothes seemed rumpled and
unkempt. Her hair was pulled back into a braid, but stray
hairs had been pulled out in several places. Her usually tan skin
seemed pale. Rei got up from the floor where she had been sitting.
"Uh...It's okay Grandpa, I will take care of her." She
quickly pushed him out the door around Kouken.
Kouken practically growled, "When was the
last time you saw the animal guides?"
Setsuna responded, "We were just discussing
that. We have not seen them since we left for the beach.
Kouken what is going on?"
"I cannot and will not bring any of you into
this."
"Sailor Animalia," Usagi
commanded, "tell me what has happened."
Kouken stared down at her princess. The
right side of her mouth curled up to smile. She is so strong when
she wants to be. The hint of a smile quickly disappeared.
"I believe Arachne abducted the guides while we were at the
beach."
Makato jumped up, "She what?! How is that
possible if she was there fighting us?"
Arachne must have confederates who stole the guides
while I was distracted. I expect her to make some sort of
demand."
Very good Kouken or should I say Animalia."
A red mist floated into the room carrying Arachne's voice.
Animalia's staff appeared in her hand and she jumped
down from her horse. She placed herself between the congealing mist
and the other senshi.
"Now now Ani, I won't hurt
them...much." Her cackling filled the room.
"Anyways, my Queen will consider releasing the animals if each and
every one of you forfeit your starseeds. If you agree meet me in
that quaint little park where we first met in three hours. Ta-ta
for know." The mist quickly dissipated.
"Positively out of the question. We
will do no such thing," Haruka barked.
"We can't just let them die," Usagi
whispered.
Kouken's chilling voice filled the room,
"You will not give up your starseeds and I will not let them
die." She mounted the horse once more. "Transform
and meet me at the entrance to the park in two hours." She
turned the horse around. "Mercury I will pick you up in half an
hour. Sailor Pluto I need you to come with me." Before
anyone could protest, Kouken had pulled Setsuna up onto the horse and the
two dark-skinned women had left.
Arachne stood
beside her Queen, Galaxia, as they monitored the park waiting for the Sol
senshi. "They will come my Queen. That fool Animalia
won't let anything happen to her precious animal guides
friends--especially that owl. I do enjoy watching her squirm."
Galaxia replied only with a "Hmmm..."
under her breath.
Arachne regarded Galaxia uncertainly then turned
back to the screen when she saw the senshi approaching the rendezvous
point. "Ah right on time. I will go collect their
starseeds for you," Arachne said with a bow.
"Never underestimate your enemy,
Arachne," Galaxia intoned as the black clad woman teleported to
the park. Four women emerged from the shadows of Galaxia's throne
room. One dressed as a mouse, another as a cat, a third as a crow,
and the other wore a revealing blue outfit. Galaxia gave her
orders while still gazing at the scene in the park. "Take
the animals as she asks, but make sure you four get out of there if...or
perhaps I should say when she fails."
The figures giggled, "Yes, Queen
Galaxia."
Arachne jumped
down from the tree just as she had when she first met these troublesome
senshi of the Sol system. She held a cage in her hand that
imprisoned Faunus. Her four comrades, now shrouded in cloaks,
appeared behind her. Each held a cage containing one of the other
animal guides. Arachne quickly surveyed the ten senshi standing
before her. Animalia strode forward to meet her. "We have
come for our friends Arachne," she growled.
"No, really? And here I thought we
were going to have a tea party. Arachne Web Entangle!"
She raised her hands and her sticky webs shot out and trapped the
senshi. "Now it's time to take your starseeds." A
horde of scorpions and other arachnids radiated out from the centers of
each of the webs and covered the senshi. "I wouldn't move if I
were you or they might give you a taste of their poison..." she
raised her red-gloved finger to her mouth as if contemplating
something. "Oh that's right you are going to die anyway when I
take your starseeds." Her ugly laughter filled the sky once
more.
"Wait Arachne!"
Arachne paused and turned to Animalia who had
apparently escaped her webs. She sighed, "What do you want now
Animalia?"
"When you release your hordes, you must also
release our animal guides--that was the deal."
Arachne responded with a patronizing (and
annoyed) tone, "I am so tired of your high and mighty have to protect
the animals attitude. So, if it will make you shut up, I suppose I
can oblige."
She turned back to the other entrapped senshi with a
menacing grin. "My comrades and family the arachnids take those
starseeds for our queen!"
The animal guides were released from their cages as the
senshi fell to the ground in lifeless heaps as their starseeds left their
bodies. Only Sailor Animalia--who has no starseed--remained
standing.
Arachne drew closer to the remaining
soldier. She started to circle around the tall warrior.
"Honestly Ani...can I call you Ani? Ani I expected much more of
a fight from you and those pesky brats." She gestured toward
the fallen bodies of the other senshi.
Animalia's previously distraught features lifted
to reveal a mischievous smile. "Oh you'll get a fight
Arachne."