Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and Green Lantern are owned by other people, this is not for profit, so don't sue
me.
Sailor Who?
A New Hope
By Epeeblade aka C. Pontoriero
Chapter 1
So I stowed away on the plane, okay not exactly stowed, I'd be lying if I said I did. But, see, Jordan and
George were going to Japan. How could I resist? All sorts of Anime up for grabs...cute Japanese guys. I
salivated at the thought of it. So I surreptitiously got myself a ticket and a seat right next to them.
“What the hell are you doing here?" Jordan exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, hey Cathy, how are you?" George said nonchalantly, flipping through a gaming magazine.
Jordan continued to glare at me, his eyes pierced together behind his glasses. I grinned cheerfully, "Well,
what an amazing coincidence. Who'd have thought we could book the same flight to Japan?"
"And even more amazing how you could be sitting right next to us too," George added, equally cheerfully.
"Oh, and just where are you staying?" Jordan accused with a wide sweeping gesture.
"At the Holiday Inn, isn't everyone?" I continued grinning.
"You know, isn't it weird how there's a Holiday Inn in like every country, no matter where you go. It's like
the same Holiday Inn too. Same green sign, same carpet and interior, And it seems to have all the same
people working there too. Did you ever think that maybe there's probably only one in existence in some
dimensional pocket that are accessible from certain locations in cities..." George looked up as he realized
both Jordan and I were staring at him. "What?"
***
"You're even in the room next to us! What's your problem?" Jordan complained irritably.
"What's your problem," I mimicked, "You don't believe in the power of coincidence?"
"Hey, let's go to the tower!" George ignored our arguments and pointed out the window of Jordan's hotel
room.
"Hey, we said we weren't going to do any of those typical touristy things!" Jordan protested, extending his
hand in another gesture.
I turned to George, ignoring him, "Let's go!"
As we left the hotel room, Jordan sighed, "Oh, why not!" and followed us out of the building.
***
We walked down the streets of Tokyo, probably looking pretty strange and out of some anime somewhere.
George was the tall blond stranger in a long black trench coat. I would be the tiny annoying girl, and
Jordan, well, Jordan was an anime of himself, with his knee length hair and shorts and sandals.
The streets were strangely not crowded, which went completely against everything I had heard about the
place. Street signs mingled Japanese symbols with a strange form of English. I was reminded of that time
I had accidentally driven into "little Vietnam" in Philadelphia with Chris, Craig and Troy. My thoughts
thus occupied, I barely noticed the girl who ran smack into Jordan.
They both fell to the ground, arms, legs and hair entangled. Yes, hair, her two long blonde pigtails had
wrapped around Jordan's locks of doom. "Oomph!" they both cried.
"I'm stuck!" Jordan exclaimed with surprise.
"Hold on," I started combing my fingers through their hair, trying to untangle the knots. George grabbed
Jordan and started to pull backward, as if that would help any.
"Ouch!" the girl screamed and started to wail loudly.
"Ack, that horrible sound!" I mock yelled.
“Hey, leave her alone!" Somebody shouted from down the street. Two girls came running at us. One drop
kicked George, who lost his hold on Jordan and fell backwards. The other grabbed the girl's pigtails and
tugged her to safety, pushing Jordan back on the ground.
"Hey, watch it, your friend's the one who barreled into us!" I cried, pushing back the long-haired girl from
Jordan. I looked down to see if he was okay. He was looking up at the girl with what seemed like hearts in
his eyes, I blinked -- they were gone.
"Easy, guys," a new girl entered the scene, this one was shorter, with short blue hair, "Knowing Usagi, she
probably did just barrel into this poor guy."
I laughed, "Yeah and then their hair got wrapped together!"
The girls giggled in a shrill silly manner, joining in my amusement. I spared a glance for Jordan, was he
blushing?
"Sorry I knocked you down, the girl who had kicked George apologized.
"S'okay," he shrugged his shoulders. "Hi, I'm George." he said as she helped him up.
"Oh, I'm Lita," she answered, "And these are my friend: Usagi, Ami and Rei," she pointed to the pigtailed
girl, the blue haired girl and the girl who had pushed Jordan.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Cathy, and this is Jordan. We're visiting from America."
"Oh migosh!" said the pigtailed girl, er, Usagi, "That is so cool! Have you been to New York City?"
"Actually, I live 15 minutes from New York City..."
"Wow, you have to tell us all about it. Especially the food, and the shopping!" she pulled my arm and
tugged me down the street.
Ami laughed, "There goes Usagi, making another friend."
"You know," Jordan began, running to catch up with Usagi and me, "Why don't you show us around
Tokyo?"
"This from the guy who just wanted to find the anime," I murmured. George and the rest of the girls finally
caught up with us, and I managed to stop myself from being dragged along.
Jordan glared at me as Usagi paused to think. It was a rather long pause.
"Yeah," George seconded, "it would be really cool if you could show us around. So we don't get lost or
anything. Do you guys play video games?"
Lita stepped up to the challenge, "Yeah, we sure do, there's an Arcade we go to after school."
"Oh guys, you spend so much time there when we should be studying," Ami rolled her eyes, "Really, I can't
see the appeal of Virtua On 2...."
I never saw Jordan move so fast.
"Really? That game is out here?" he exclaimed.
"Yes, it's my favorite game, after the Sailor V game of course," Usagi answered.
"Let's check it out," he grabbed her arm and began dragging her down the street.
I rolled my eyes as George and Lita followed them. Ami said something about studying and left. I realized
I would be shortly left alone if I didn't follow. Turning to Rei, I asked "Would we follow?"
She laughed, "Only if you want to watch them playing video games for the next couple of hours."
Not exactly my idea of a good time, unless Chris was playing Riven or something, but I couldn't let Jordan
and George out of my sight. They'd never willingly hang with me unless under some kind of duress. As I
pondered Rei continued speaking, "Sorry I pushed your friend, I just forgot how clutzy Usagi could be,"
she laughed to herself, "Though I don't know how I managed that!"
I smiled, not quite getting the joke, "So, Rei," I began, "What else can you tell me about this 1 horse town?"
Chapter Two
Evil exists not only in the darkest minds and hearts of our civilization, but in the very core of the universe.
Yes Virginia, there is a Satan, and his rotten soul is set upon devouring our world. But our tale is not
exactly about him.
It's about someone whose soul Satan touched, and not in a good way. But you knew that.
He has slept, dormant for hundreds of years, enveloped in the embrace of Helen of Troy.
He has sold his soul, for power immeasurable, forsaken God and goodness for eternity.
What raises him now, from his dark nightmares?
"Power," whispers a figure in black robes, the robes of a monk, if not the garb of faith.
"So you say," our villain intones, in a voice that cracks like shoe leather on a cold day. "But what if you
are wrong? I know you Rasputin, you play power against power, till all crumbles and only you are left
standing."
The mad monk tipped his head slightly, "You are the one obsessed with power, oh salient one. Heed me or
not, as you will. Tis of no consequence to me." he faded away, teleporting back to the darkness.
Our villain turns to large mirror, clamped to the wall of his cavern. Its silver and gilt has long been
tarnished and the glass is black with soot. He waves a hand and an image appears therein -- one of a blond
haired girl, holding a crystal, glimmering in the moonlight.
***
"Wow, I've never seen a girl that good at video games."
"Usagi gets a lot of practice," Rei rolled her eyes. We had finally made it to the Arcade, after Rei had
given me a brief tour of the city. I liked her, she reminded me a bit of my friend Annie, tough, but cool.
Usagi eagerly pushed buttons, as the others cluttered around to watch. Apparently she was doing very well.
If I could only get my hands on a game of Puzzle Fighter, I'd show them! I thought. Then I remembered
that George had actually beaten me in that game, hmm, well maybe not.
"Look out!" Rei cried as she pushed me harshly.
"What the. . . ?" I turned, completely surprised as two guys came crashing through the window. Splintered
glass flew everywhere and I raised my hands to protect my eyes. Consequently, I couldn't exactly see the
two men who entered and attacked Usagi.
"Grab the crystal!" one of them shouted, reaching for her chest where a large pendant was clasped to her
red bow.
"Leave her alone!" Jordan said, pushing the individual away.
I blinked, I must have glass in my eyes. Did Jordan just do that?!
The man turned to him, "Don't f**k with us kid. . ."
". . . or you'll find yourself on the wrong side of the this," The second individual said, extending his hand,
where a sword materialized out of nowhere.
"Now, let's get what we came for," the first one reached for the pendant once again.
Out of nowhere, a rose (a rose!?) flew across the room and nicked the guy's hand. "What the? " he turned
to face a man garbed in a Tuxedo, his face half hidden in a Mask.
"Tuxedo Mask!" Usagi squealed.
My heart thumped loudly.
"I will not let you take what is dear to a young girl's heart. There is but one... Ugh," he had gotten beamed
with a laser blast from the guy's sword in mid sentence.
"Tuxedo Mask!" Usagi exclaimed in horror.
"Tis but a flesh wound. . . " he choked out.
Out of nowhere, I heard someone shout:
"Mercury bubbles BLAST!" The room was filled with a dense fog, so I could barely see my own hand. I
had to trust to my hearing to find out what was going on.
"Venus crescent beam SMASH!" someone else shouted and I heard one of the bad guys cry out in pain.
"We'd best retreat brother. . . "
"Aye, but know this Sailor Scouts. . . "
". . . You'll encounter Rosencratz and Guildenstern again!"
Rosencratz and Guildenstern? I mouthed, aren't they dead? The fog was beginning to clear and I could see
two girls surrounding Tuxedo Mask. They were dressed in short pleated skirts, cool boots/shoes and elbow
length gloves. Did I mention the tiaras?
"Thank you Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury," Tuxedo Mask intoned, "With you help, we have won the day!
My injuries will heal in time."
I stood and walked over to the girls, "Are you some kind of superheroes or something?"
"Something like that," Sailor Mercury, who was dressed in blue, said.
"Hey," I declared, "haven't I seen you somewhere before?"
"Um, no, why do you say that?" she giggled nervously.
"We must be off," Sailor Venus interrupted, "But know that where ever Love and Justice are threatened, the
Sailor Scouts will be there!" With that they took off. Left the place a mess and everything. I turned to
Jordan and George, who were just standing from the cover they had taken during the fight, "Boy, that sure
was weird. Who was that masked man?"
***
It was after that when I learned exactly who Tuxedo Mask and the Sailor Scouts were. Rei invited us all to
her temple for snacks, where she showed me her collection of newspaper clippings about the Sailor Scouts
and strange energy stealing aliens.
"Weird, how come I've never heard of this before?" I mused aloud. I didn't get an answer, since Jordan and
Usagi were matching each other in how many cupcakes they could shove into their mouths. George was
perusing the collection of Japanese swords hung along the wall.
Rei's grandpa had wanted to know if we wanted to join the temple, but we declined, especially since we
would only be there a week. Rei got a strange look on her face and asked him to leave.
The door opened now and Rei was just about the shout when a tall girl with long blond hair walked in.
"Oh, hey Mina," she said instead.
Behind Mina walked in a tall, gorgeous guy with the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. "Hey, I just
came to see how you guys were doing after that attack on the arcade." his voice sounded so familiar.
Where could I have seen such a hunk like that before?
"Muffin!" Usagi declared, passing up a donut to hug the stranger, nearly knocking him down. He gasped
and gripped his side.
Jordan paused in mid bite, frowned, then continued eating.
"Uh, Rei, who're your friends?" I asked, heart thumping wildly in my throat.
"Mina, Darien, you have to meet our new friends!" Usagi jumped up and down enthusiastically. "They're
from America! Isn't that cool?!"
Something had been gnawing at me, yet I couldn't exactly put my finger on it. I turned to Rei, who was
rolling her eyes, I grinned, "I take it she's like that all the time?"
"Uh huh," she smiled faintly.
"We should be getting back," George turned from the swords he had been examining, "I'm feeling a bit of
that jet lag."
"But you just got here," Mina smiled, tossing her long blonde hair.
"Um well."
"Why don't you guys hang out with us after school tomorrow?" Usagi suggested with excitement.
"Yeah, we can play more Virtual On," Jordan and George high fived each other and said, "Awesome!"
We made plans to meet them at the arcade and left the temple.
***
"I suppose you have a reason for your complete incompetence?" our villain asked shrewdly.
Rosencratz coughed nervously as Guildenstern shuffled and fidgeted, "Well, um, we're idiots?"
He rolled his eyes, sighing under his breath. "Why do I bother? You have one last chance to gain the
crystal. Look here," he pointed to his mirror, which showed a house in a sleepy suburb. "you will go there
at around 1 a.m. while everyone is sleeping and take the crystal from her. That way there will be no
interference from the other Sailor Scouts."
"Wow, that's a great idea," a light seemed to go off in the heads of Rosencratz and Guildenstern.
Our villain sighed again, "Now go before I regret it!"
"Aye sir!" They saluted in unison, turned swiftly and nearly tripped over each other before exiting the
chamber.
Chapter 3: Night into Day
I couldn't sleep. It must have been the jet lag, but I was wide awake. I snuck a glance at the clock. 12
a.m.. Well, so much for getting up early and seeing some sights before the boys woke up. I was edgy, a
chill crawled up and down my spine. "I'm never gonna get to sleep," I muttered, getting out of bed. I went
to the window where a bright green light attracted my eye. "A UFO!" I thought.
I don't know what exactly made me leave the hotel, struggling to follow the light. I found myself in the
park, the light bursting from behind some trees. Forward I went, too curious by this point to leave.
In the clearing stood a small blue-skinned man, dressed in red with a strange symbol, almost like the Greek
letter phi across his chest. The green light was emanating from him. "What are you?" I gasped.
"I am a guardian," he said simply. "I see you are the one who has answered my summons. You must be
the one who has been reborn from our past."
"Yo, hold on a sec there, what the heck are you talking about?"
"The Silver Millennium," he replied, "And how the Queen of the Dark Side of the Moon threatened the
planet of the Guardians -- OA."
"Oh, uh, what?" I asked.
"No, OA, the name of our planet. Spelled O - A."
"Then why don't you pronounce it Oh - eh?"
"Because!" he shouted angrily, "You making me lose my concentration."
"Sorry!" I protested.
He cleared his throat, "Now where was I? Oh yes, you had been chosen to represent our planet. Now, the
Galaxy needs you again. Here." he held out his tiny blue hand and a bright green object glittered brightly.
It was a ring, emblazoned with the same symbol that was on his chest.
Somehow, I instinctively knew what to do with it.
"OA Crystal Power, Make Up!" The words came from within me, from my subconscious.
There was a flash of light, I felt vaguely dizzy and as I opened my eyes I was dressed differently. I now
wore a white bodysuit with a green bow, and a short black pleated skirt. I had green knee-high boots and
arm gauntlets. "Cool," I cried, "I'm a super hero!"
"Use your powers wisely. G'gory will guide you."
Who?" I asked, but the blue man was gone.
"Me," a voice answered. I looked down and saw a little black dog with the green phi symbol across her
forehead.
"Sugar?" I cried. She looked just like my dog at home -- except for the green thing on her forehead.
"No, G'gory. Now you must hurry, Sailor Moon is in danger. Follow me!"
We ran across the park, me keeping pace behind the quickly moving dog. As we ran across a street, a car
sped towards us. I leapt in horror and to my amazement, cleared the car and the street. "Wow!"
"No time, hurry!"
I became aware of someone shrieking in terror. "I recognize that wail!" I cried, rushing towards the sound,
which was in somebody's back yard. I found Usagi, in her pajamas, on the ground in tears as the same two
men from the arcade gleefully tore her locket from her uniform shirt, which they held in their hands.
"Stop right there!" I cried, "Leave her alone!"
"Who the heck are you?" One of them cried. Rosencratz or Guildenstern, I couldn't tell.
"I am Sailor OA," I cried, tossing my mask in the air, and posing prettily. "Champion of literary enigmas
everywhere -- and you guys are toast!"
"Get her!" one of them shouted to the other.
"Well, duh!" he cried, leaping towards me, sword extended.
"Sailor OA, get the crystal!" Usagi shouted.
"Just a sec," I grunted dodging Rosencratz's laser power. I leapt forward, knocking him down. With the
split second I had I shouted:
"OA, SHARD BLAST!" Green sparks, similar to shards of glass flew from my hands and hit Rosencratz in
the leg. He crumpled to the ground.
"Ha, take that Rosencratz!" I shouted.
"I'm Guildenstern!" Rosencratz cried, catching me off guard with a laser blast. It hit me square and I was
propelled against the wall.
"Hey ugly, why don't you pick on someone your own size!!" A voice cried out. I peaked open my eyes to
catch two figures in the shadows. Both were dressed in long trench coats, one in black with a fedora pulled
past his nose, the other in tan, like a PI or something.
"Now who are you?" Guildenstern asked. I rolled my eyes; they really should know better.
"I am the Soul Warden," the figure in black intoned, pulling a Katana out from inside his coat.
"And I am er, Soul Whip," the second one cried, pulling an energy charged whip from within his coat.
There was a flash of light and the two posed then attacked.
"Rosencratz, Guildenstern, Double team!" Rosencratz and Guildenstern shouted, blasting twin fireballs at
the two new warriors. The two Soul Brothers dodged gracefully, then turned and attacked shouting words
in Japanese that I did not understand.
I thought it was about time that I got off another attack so I shouted "OA SHARD BLAST," again and hit
them from behind. They both fell down.
"That wasn't very honorable," Warden commented.
"I like it," Whip grinned.
"Too late, Sailor Simps!" A deep voice called.
"Hey," I shouted, "She resembles that remark!" pointing to Usagi.
A new figure appeared on the scene. He floated above the ground, dressed in green and red robes that
culminated in a high-rimmed Dracula-like collar around his neck. In his hands he held Usagi's locket, "I
have the Silver Imperium Crystal, now I have the power!"
"Uh, scuse me," I interrupted again about to make a He-Man crack.
"Hush!" he cried, chucking a glowing ball of blue fire at me like it was a meatball. I dodged it, but barely.
The missile rebounded and struck Rosencratz and Guildenstern. They cried out in pain, but as the smoke
cleared, only one figure was visible -- a giant monstrous combination of the two, with poison spikes, and
blaster cannons on his arms.
"Face my minion and know the power of Faust," the figure cried before fading away.
“Faust!" I gasped, standing from my fall, "Holy $#!t!"
"We've got problems," Warden directed towards the Rosenstern creature.
"I've got it covered," Whip grinned as he raised his hand in the air and shouted, "Mech Armor, To me!"
Suddenly he was covered with way cool Mech-Armor, looking sort of like a mini Optimus Prime. He
began shooting at the creature, which shot back. After this happened a few times, I realized the property
damage was starting to become extensive. Time to put an end to this, I thought.
The monster looked just weak enough for me to try it. "GREEN PLANET POWER ELIMINATION!!!"
Green energy began to rise from the ground, sort of like the Ultima Spell in Final Fantasy III,
encompassing the creature who crumbled to ashes.
"Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead!" I declared as the Soul brothers stared at me blankly.
Usagi began to wail once again, "My crystal!"
***
Jordan carried her back to her bedroom, for that's who Soul Whip really was (Were any of you REALLY
surprised?) George and I followed. "Soul Warden?" I teased, "Are we naming ourselves after Magic cards
now?"
"It's a lot better than Sailor Oh -Uh!"
"It's OA! And that's the planet I'm from!"
"Of course it is."
"Hold on guys," Jordan interrupted, "We gotta figure out what's going on here."
"Suddenly he's acting out of character," I shrugged.
"Must've passed his Will Power roll," George joked.
"Would you guys cut it out!" he shouted.
"Back to normal. So I guess It was a busy night for everyone?" I explained my encounter with the alien.
George and Jordan acknowledge similar accounts, but didn't have time to tell me what.
The remaining glass in the window was broken as a bolt of lightening crashed through nearly hitting
George.
"Leave her alone you creepy Nega-creeps," a voice called from the outside.
I stuck my head out the window. Probably a pretty stupid thing to do, "It's only us!"
"Cathy?" a girl in a red Sailor Scout uniform asked puzzled.
"Rei?" I said, equally puzzled. "Let me guess, you guys are the Sailor Scouts?"
"And why are you dressed like one of us?" Sailor Venus demanded. "We had heard that Sailor Moon was
under attack."
"So did I, from G'gory, my dog. . . G'gory stop that!" I called. My dog was chasing two cats around Usagi's
yard, one white, one black and each with a tiny yellow crescent moon on their forehead.
"Artemis!" Sailor Venus picked her cat up, "Stop playing, we have serious business!"
"Who's playing?" he growled.
I gasped. Why I was surprised at a taking cat I don't know. The talking DOG didn't faze me any.
"Why don't you guys come on in" I pulled myself back into the room. Poor Usagi's bedroom was a bit
crowded with five Sailor Scouts, two Soul Brothers and three talking animals.
"What happened?" Luna cried after re-introductions were made.
"Faust took the crystal," I growled, clenching my fists tightly.
“Who is this Faust guy, you seem to know him," Artemis asked.
"It's an old legend, Marlowe wrote a play about it. Faust was a Medieval Doctor who sold his soul to
Satan. . . "
"Jay?"
"No, the real Satan, for incredible power."
"Oh, I get it," Mina said, "So he must want the Imperium Silver Crystal to add to his power."
"Right on Sailor Venus, that could be the only explanation," Artemis agreed.
"Right now," Ami interrupted, "We have to figure out how to get the crystal back."
"But we don't even know where it is!" Lita protested.
"I can use my Soul powers to find him," George murmured, the first words he had spoken.
"Then we can roast this guy," Lita put in angrily.
"Hold on, we have to be careful, he's got the crystal right? And he's a sorceror," I interjected.
"And we've lost Sailor Moon," Rei put in. Jordan looked at her sharply. "Without the crystal, she can't
transform!" she explained.
At this point Usagi began to wake up, "Oh guys, I had this horrible dream, where someone took the Silver
Imperium Crystal and oh!" she gasped when she saw Jordan sitting at her bedside. "How, wow, Cathy
you're a Sailor Scout too!!"
"Yeah," I smiled, sitting on the other side of the bed.
"But how?" Rei asked, "We know all the Sailor Senshi for the nine planets. . . "
"There are more than nine planets out there," Luna whispered.
"Huh?" everyone turned to look at her.
"It's a great big universe and we're so very puny. Just tiny specs of dust about the size of Micky Rooney." I
intoned seriously.
"Hush, " Luna reprimanded. "I must tell you of the secret of the Silver Millennium, of the Dark Queen."
"Luna, we don't have much time," Sailor Venus protested.
As if her words were prophetic, we heard Usagi's mother call out, "Are you okay honey?"
"Scatter!" I cried, as Jordan, George and the Sailor Senshi dived for different areas of Usagi's room, under
her bed, in her closet, behind the door.
The blue-haired woman walked in, "Goodness, what happened in here?"
"Um, I think someone threw a rock through my window," Usagi cried.
"Oh dear, I'll get your father, he can board up the window for the night. . . " as she left, we left our hiding
places.
"Tomorrow, the Temple," Luna whispered, "All of you be there!"
Chapter Four.
"All I've got to say, is that I had some wacky dreams last night," I exclaimed, as we made our way down
the street towards Rei's Temple.
"Me too," Jordan frowned.
"It's memories from your past," G'gory put in, after checking to make sure no one was about.
"What past? I don't understand!"
"Simple, Sailor OA. Two thousand years ago the Solar System was united by the Silver Millennium, an
empire ruled by Queen Serenity and her daughter Serena. Each planet provided a scout, or Senshi as
tribute to the moon. Each Senshi was a warrior to protect the princess."
"So what about the Soul brothers? And my planet, OA?"
"I was getting to that! The Soul brothers were Mercenaries who were hired by Queen Serenity to find a
galactic criminal, whose existence was a closely guarded secret. Their quest took them to the very limits of
the galaxy, to the planet OA, where the Guardians of the Galaxy appointed their own Senshi to aid the Soul
brothers."
"So why are we here now?" Jordan asked.
"The Silver Imperium Crystal. When the Silver Millennium was destroyed, Queen Serenity sent the souls
of her people to be reborn in the future. You too were caught in the war and it's power. The rest, you'll
have to hear from Luna."
By then, we had reached the Temple, where the Senshi greeted us. Usagi was in tears, I guess at the loss of
her crystal.
"We must retrieve the crystal," Mina declared, "At all costs."
"What does the crystal do exactly?" I asked.
"Anything," Ami said grimly. "George, you said you could track down the crystal with your powers.
Could you somehow pinpoint the location on my computer?"
George thought a moment, "I suppose it's possible, though most of my powers work on instinct."
"Then let's get to work, the sooner we find the crystal, the better," Ami declared. George followed her out
of the room.
There was a brief knock on the door, then Darien stepped in hurriedly. Darien Chiba, also known as
Tuxedo Mask, according to G'gory. "Hi guys, sorry I'm late. . . " he paused at Usagi's glare.
"How dare you? I was attacked last night and you were NOWHERE nearby! Thank goodness JORDAN
was there to save me, or who knows what would have happened!" Usagi declared angrily.
Darien looked completely baffled, "What?! How could you be attacked and I not know of it?"
I cleared my throat, "Should be leave the two of you alone?"
The both looked at me squarely and frowned.
"Maybe," Mina put in, "It's because the Silver Imperium Crystal was taken. That may block your sixth
sense."
"The Silver Imperium Crystal was taken!!" Darien declared, "We have to get it back!"
"Ami and George are working on it as we speak," Luna told him.
"I don't get it," Darien shrugged, "George? Jordan, you?" He gestured in my direction.
"Oh, Jordan's one of the Soul brothers," Usagi stated nonchalantly.
"Soul brothers?!" Darien reacted visibly.
"Yeah, there were warriors for my mother, Queen Serenity." Usagi said like a queen, "And they came to
my rescue when YOU weren't there!"
"Enough!" Luna declared, "We don't have time for this!"
"Guys, we think we've found a way to get the crystal," Ami and George entered, each transformed into their
alter egos.
"Good, now we can stop this useless fighting," Rei rolled her eyes.
George pushed a button on Ami's tiny computer, and a 3D hologram schematic of the city appeared in the
middle of the room. A blue light blinked at the top of the tower. He pointed, "That's the portal to the, well,
we're not quite sure where."
"It will take us to the crystal, at least," Ami agreed.
"So are we ready to do this?" Lita declared, clenching her fists angrily.
"Wouldn't it be good to have a plan first?" Jordan put in. The girls looked at him blankly.
"Yeah, we won't have Sailor Moon and the crystal to depend on," Rei murmured.
"You're going to have to stay behind Usagi," Luna declared.
"But it's MY crystal!" she wailed.
"You can't fight without it, Meatball head!" Rei growled, "You'd only be in danger!"
"I think we should split up," George said quietly. "One team goes in and scouts the place, the second waits
and bails them out if there's trouble."
Good idea," Rei frowned, "How do we divide the teams?"
"I think I know. Mina and Lita stay here to protect Usagi. I should go cause I know Lit. . . " I said.
"I'll go so we have some raw power, if Lita stays behind." Rei stated.
"I'll go to take scans of the place," Ami decided.
"Me too, I want a crack at this guy who attacked Usagi." Darien declared.
"Too little, too late. " Jordan murmured.
Darien swung around, "Don't play with me, Scout boy. . . "
"Seems to me you're not doing your job too well," Jordan frowned.
"Sheesh, it's a good thing we're separating you two. Come on, transform!"
MARS CRYSTAL POWER!!"
"MERCURY CRYSTAL POWER!!"
"OA CRYSTAL POWER!!""
"MAKE UP!!!!"
Darien shook his head, then spun in a circle. Tuxedo Mask took his place.
"Your costume's different," Rei pointed to my gauntlets and the symbol of OA upon my bow and tiara. "It's
cool."
"Thanks, " I smiled, "Aren't those heels a bit impractical?"
She groaned, "Oh, gosh yeah. I've like nearly broken my ankles at least 20 times! But there's nothing I can
do to change them!"
"Maybe if you put different shoes on while you're transformed, they'll become part of your outfit."
"Hmm," she thought a sec, "Before we go this time, I'm switching to a pair of sneakers!"
I looked down to check out my skirt, then realized I was suddenly about a foot taller. "Aw yeah," I was
starting to really like this transformation thing.
Chapter 5
"Ok, so how do we get there?" I asked, staring at Tokyo Tower staring down at us.
"Like this, hold hands," Rei reached out and grabbed my hands and Mercury's. We made a circle of four,
then began to rise in the air. "Cool," I grinned.
The air around the spire of the tower was electrified. Blue light sparkled, forming the portal George and
Ami had found. "Is it just me, or does this look like a trap to you?"
"Well of course it is," Rei smiled, "But that's never stopped us before."
"Let's do it!" We plunged, into electricity.
The lightning crackled around us, burning our extremities. The air became heavy, the pressure intensifying
around us. My ears popped at least once. The darkness gave way to light, too bright light that caused our
eyes to water and caught us off guard as we arrived on the plain.
There were gates, tall tarnished silver constructions, attached to pillars of blackened marble. And only one
thing stood between us and these gates.
A creature, looking like godzilla on a bad day, a huge dinosaur-like thing, covered in seamless greenish
gray scales, snapped at us, guarding the gilded gates.
"Mars, Fire, Ignite!" Rei shouted, more to catch the creature off guard than to cause it any harm.
To her surprise and our shock, the flame engulfed the creature's head. Ashes, in the form of the head, fell
to the floor in a cartoonish caricature. Then, to our amazement, two new heads grew from the single stump.
"Hydra," I whispered.
Tuxedo Mask rose in the air, "That foul creature has survived your attack? No more! I, Tuxedo Mask shall
see to it!"
"Sheesh, shut up already!"
Without sparing a glare for me, he let forth a barrage of roses, each sticking to various parts of the creature,
not doing much harm. "Ami!" I shouted, "Do that fog thing you did at the arcade!"
"Mercury bubbles BLAST!"
In the hazy fog I let forth my own attack, aiming as best as I could for the thing's heart. "OA shard
BLAST!"
There was a shriek and as the fog faded I could see Hydra had griped Rei in it's mouth.
She had no choice, she blasted fire down the thing's mouth, once again it was reduced to ashes and Rei fell
to the ground along with them. Tuxedo Mask caught her before she went SPLAT.
Two more heads grew from the hole.
"How do we kill this thing?" We backed away out of it's reach.
"Well," I thought for a moment, "when Hercules killed the Hydra, he just kept cutting off heads till there
were no more left."
"That doesn't make any sense!" Ami protested, "Why didn't he just go for the heart?"
"Hey, it's Greek Mythology, I didn't make it up," I shrugged.
"And if you noticed," Darien put in, "When OA hit the heart the thing just shrugged it off."
"Then why don't we try the Hercules way," Rei grinned.
"Let's go, pour all your energy at that thing's head er heads!"
"Mars Celestial Fire- SURROUND"
"Shine Aqua ILLUSION!"
OA Shard BLAST!"
"Again!"
We kept hitting that thing, more and more heads popping out.
"Almost there! Keep going!" Tuxedo Mask shouted encouragement.
Finally all that remained was a hunk of burned flash. Ashes, smoke and soggy body parts were strewn
about everywhere.
"Glad that's over, " Tuxedo Mask sighed,
I glared at him, "And that was but the first guardian." We walked up to the gate. "Abandon all hope, ye
who enter here," I whispered.
"Dante, the Inferno," Ami said smugly.
"If he's read that, we're screwed," I answered.
"Darien, open the gates," Rei commanded. He looked at her askance. Then he stepped forward and tapped
the gates with his cane. They creaked open ominously.
Beyond was a maze, a combo of walls, bushes, and statues. We were offered three paths -- one of marble,
one of granite and a third of brick.
"Well? Which on?" Rei mused.
"'I took the path less traveled by, and it has made all the difference,'" I quoted again.
"Robert Frost," Ami echoed after him.
"Shh! I know that!"
"They didn't."
"We have to choose one," Rei said, "Hold on." She held out her prayer beads, facing each of the paths. She
finally sighed, "I sense evil from all three,"
"Well, which is the LEAST evil?" I asked.
"No way to tell," she shrugged.
Ami had her computer out, I assumed she was scanning the area. "Ok," I said, "Eni, Mini, Miny, Moe, --
we'll take that one," I ended up pointing to the brick path.
"Let's go," Rei flexed her gloves then ran forward, the rest of us behind her. We passed icky trees, their
slimy branches reaching for us as we slipped past, they whispered of nightmares. Then, it seemed as if we
were in a desert, sand everywhere, the sun burning our skin, then, just as quickly, a swamp where we nearly
drowned.
"Is this real?" Rei gasped, clutching Darien's hand as he pulled her from the water.
"Look, some relief it seems," I pointed, the swamp ended in a path of bricks.
"I doubt it," Rei snarled.
"Hey, it could be worse," I suggested.
"Don't say that!" Darien cried, "Don't ever say that! Whenever you say that. . . "
We heard rumbles from behind us, a huge lumbering creature appeared in the wood. We ran for the path.
"It always gets worse!" Darien shouted.
We turned a corner running into a large courtyard. It was pretty, decorated with flowers, a fountain, some
statues and benches. But there were no other paths out of the courtyard.
"Oh shit," Rei snapped.
"No, this is good, perfect place to fight that thing. Ami, you stand over there and do your Bubble thing
when it comes through. Rei -- over there, Darien to the left. As soon as the Bubbles are out, we fire at
whatever comes out the entrance."
"Let's do it," Rei bounded to her position, as I prepared to cast my power. I gasped in the split second I saw
the creature before Ami cast her bubbles. It was the Minotaur.
Instinct took over and I shouted, "OA Shard BLAST," as Green bolts of light sprang from my fingertips. I
saw tongues of fire and knew Rei had done her job.
Then we heard Ami scream. The fog faded and I saw the Minotaur holding Ami over his head.
"Ami!!" Rei screamed as he threw her across the courtyard.
"No!!" I shouted, extended my hand out. To my surprise a green forcefield appeared, cushioning Ami's
fall. My distraction cost me. Something struck me hard in the back and I went down. I rolled to my side,
avoiding a second blast of lightning from the creature's horns.
How the heck did Hercules beat the Minotaur? Wait, that was Kevin Sorbo, no Theseus beat the Minotaur,
I think. Damn there goes another blast of lightning. I rolled again. It was quiet, I managed to get to my
feet.
The Minotaur was clutching his eyes, where two red roses were imbedded in his sockets.
"Green Planet Elimination!" I cried out, banishing the creature. Rei ran to Ami's side.
"My arm, I thin it's broken!" Mercury said grimly.
"Hey, pretty cool with the Roses in the eyes thing," I complimented Darien.
"We've got company," he turned.
A man had materialized in the center of the courtyard, wearing long black robes with purple lining, stitched
with menacing silver symbols down the front.
"Faust," I said grimly.
He raised his hands and in a flash of light, Ami, Rei and Darien were gone.
"What have you done with them!" I shouted.
He grinned and that's not good, when evil villains grin. "Don't worry, you'll be joining them shortly."
"They're not dead!" I gasped.
"No, they're trapped in their worst nightmare, care to see?"
"Not really," I tried to say, but couldn't as I was swept away by his power.
Our first visit was Rei's nightmare. As customary fan-fic rules dictate, we were immaterial, unable to act in
the vision. I watched with horror as I saw Rei battling a gigantic creature. She cast fire from her hands,
only to have that fire double back and consume her.
I screamed as the flames licked her fuku, moving almost in slow motion, the scent of burning flesh
overwhelmed me.
"You see," Faust whispered in my ear, "Mars fears her own power, the rage that will consume her. So
different from our Ice Queen over here."
In another heartbeat, we watched Ami, like Rei also in battle. The creature was unfamiliar to me, a tall
auburn haired woman who shouted menacing questions.
"What's the square root of 256?"
"Define Basidiomycota."
"Use the deconstruction approach to criticism and explain Hamlet."
"What's the significance of the African Diaspora?"
"I don't know, I don't know!" Ami gasped, holding the sides of her head.
"If you can't answer your friends will die,"
"No!" she screamed, "I can't, . . ."
Faust's whisper reached my ears, "Watch as her knowledge falls from her mind. See how soon she won't
remember her own name or why she's even fighting. She fears her lack of knowledge will endanger her
friends, who so depend on her brain,"
"Stop this!" I demanded
One more . . .
Tuxedo Mask, poor Darien, at the beck and call of a serpent-like woman, flanked by four men. One with
short blonde hair, the other with long auburn hair both stood to her right. The third kept under the embrace
and cape of the fourth man who had startling silver hair.
Darien sat on his knees, naked, a metal collar around his neck, the woman holding the chain.
"This makes no sense," I declared.
"You do not know Tuxedo Mask's past, nor how he was once enslaved by Queen Beryl, the woman you see
there. See how he fears being controlled again."
With a swift movement we were gone and back into the courtyard.
"Why did you show me that, Faust?" I demanded, my fist clenched at my sides. Anger and hate filled my
being. He was cruel, truly evil.
He grinned wickedly, "To show you my power, for one thing. And that is even without the Ginshou,"
"The what?"
"The Silver Imperium Crystal," he reached deep into his robes and displayed the tiny crystal, "So small,
don't you think? But so full of power. Do you know how it was made?"
I shook my head, curious, but more interested in trying to find any of Faust's weaknesses.
"Please, sit down," he moved his other hand and suddenly a bench swept across the courtyard, sweeping my
feet from under me. I sat down hard.
"The crystal was formed by seven great Lunarian Mages, who gave their lives to its making. It is one of
the most powerful creations in the universe, but it has limits."
"Limits?" like weaknesses, I thought. Perhaps THIS would give me some clue as to how to defeat him.
He grinned, "Don't pretend ignorance. I won't play evil villain and tell you my weaknesses and my plans.
What's important is that YOU possess an artifact I can use with much more equanimity."
"What are you talking about?" I gasped.
"Yes, I really must thank you for saving me the trouble of going to your realm to retrieve it. I truly
appreciate it. To show my thanks, I will make you the offer to join me, in my pursuit of power and
knowledge."
"What?!" I said again.
"I see an scholar in you, and I sense great dark potential. If we pool our power the world will be within our
grasp! Admit it, you find evil strangely seductive, attractive . . ."
"You're crazy to think I'd just pack up and join you! Especially after you just tortured my friends!" I cried,
momentarily forgetting that I had always said that once in such a situation the hero should always pretend
to agree with the villain. Doh, opportunity lost.
But it didn't surprise Faust, "I see it is not yet time for your Dark Awakening. I suppose I will settle for the
ring for now,"
"My transformation ring!" I squealed, "No way!"
"Give it to me!" he grabbed my hand and tried to pull it off of my middle finger. Luckily, it got stuck.
He gasped as I pulled away. "You won't get away with this. OA Shard. . " Before I could finish my attack,
I was frozen, paralyzed by some spell.
"I see the Guardians finally improved on their design. That ring won't leave you hand unless by choice or
death," He grinned yet again, holding out his left hand. A long scepter appeared with a dark crystal globe
at the tip, he pointed the staff at me, dark lightning collected around the sphere.
"Now you shall die," his eyes glittered with dangerous madness.
"NOOOOOO!"
Chapter 6
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
"Soul Whip Ensnare!"
The two bands of power wrapped around Faust, binding his arms to his sides. His scepter dropped to the
floor useless.
Faust growled in anger, snapping the binds with a burst of strength, as he turned to face his new foes: Soul
Whip, Soul Warden, Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter.
"How did you get past my maze?!" Faust growled in anger.
"None of your business, a$$hole," George lifted his sword, which glinted brightly. A charge of power
emerged from the tip, blasting Faust. As he flew backwards, I felt the paralysis spell leave me. I slumped
to the floor as the others continued to attack Faust.
"Jupiter Thunder Clap Zap!"
"Venus Meteor Shower!"
"Soul Whip Ensnare!"
"Soul Ward Sword Explode!"
"Guys!" I cried, "He's got the other's trapped! We have to save them!"
They were busy, as Faust deflected most of their attacks and began shooting Fireballs at them.
"Where are they?" A voice said behind me. I turned to find Usagi staring at me. She was dressed in her
school uniform, arms crossed across her chest.
"How did you get here?!" I asked.
"I came with the others. When my friends are in trouble, I gotta help them! Where's the crystal?"
"He has it in his robes, but I don't think he can use it." I eyes the blasted landscape noting Faust's scepter
still lay on the ground.
"No, but he could use it as a power source," Usagi said grimly, "Which is probably how he is holding off
two of the more powerful Senshi and two of the Soul brothers." Something had overtaken her, I could see it
in her eyes, a dawning intelligence, as if she was older than she appeared.
I heard a scream and saw the four fighters had been flung across the courtyard. My eyes fell upon Faust's
discarded staff. An idea began to form in my mind. "Usagi, get the scepter." I briefly told her my plan,
then set to work.
She held out the dark scepter, white lightning crackling at her fingertips, "Take that, Negatrash!" The dark
energy hit Faust catching him off guard. Here was where I came it. I held out my ring, created a
forcefield, just like the one I created around Ami, only this one was around the crystal. I called with my
mind to bring the crystal to me, and it slowly moved out of Faust's robes, floating towards me.
"Fool," he cried, "Did you think I wouldn't notice?" With a snap he broke the energy beam that held the
crystal, while using his other hand to draw the scepter back to him. Usagi fell back, startled
"Now, 'Sailor Moon'," he mocked her, "you may die!" He held the scepter out, crystal in one hand as he
blasted Usagi, who, while not transformed into her alter ego, could not dodge as quickly.
"No!" Jordan cried.
I reached forward, calling up my forcefield to protect the girl. Surprisingly the lightening fizzled before it
reached her. I turned, Jordan had ensnared the crystal in his Whip, dislodging Faust's power source.
"That's mine!" Faust raised a hand to blast Jordan, a minor fireball, but even a minor fireball could kill him.
"Usagi, catch!" he tossed the crystal to the blond girl.
"Eek. Don't throw so hard!" She barely caught the shiny rock, which transformed into her locket. "Moon
Crystal Power! MAKE UP!"
"No!" Faust whirled, his strength sapped and the tide of battle finally turning against him.
"Now you're moondust!" Usagi whipped out her Elimination Scepter, then fell to her knees in pain, "The
Silver Crystal! It's all used up! I don't have the strength!"
Faust's eyes glittered as he saw his chance, once again he raised his scepter, pointing it at Usagi.
"No, you don't!" I held out my ring, making a forcefield around him, so no attacks could get out. He
merely grinned at me and started chanting. I could feel my energy being drained away. In horror I realized
he was using my power to boost his energy.
"Sailor Moon, you've got to blast this guy," Soul Whip encouraged, "If he wins he'll dominate the earth.”
"We can lend you energy," Soul Warden said briskly. "Everyone, get behind her! Call forth your power on
the scepter!"
"Right!" Jupiter and Venus nodded.
I fell to the ground, all my energy stolen, "It's down!" I managed to shout.
"Now, Sailor Moon!" Jordan whispered.
She pointed the scepter and shouted, "Moon Scepter ELIMINATION!!!"
"Noooo," Faust screeched as the force of Sailor Moon, Jupiter, Venus as well as Warden and Whip crashed
into him. Surrounded by bubbly pink energy, he fell to the ground, his body in the form of ashes, which
scattered on the wind.
There was a sinister laugh, then a deep slithery voice, both coming seemingly out of nowhere, "Thank you
for returning my most valuable servant!" It cackled once more, then was gone.
George and Jordan stared at each other, "That sounded like. . . " They grinned and shook their heads,
"Nah...."
Tiny lights flashed and Rei, Ami and Darien appeared, each laying where they had fallen before. Usagi ran
to Darien, helping him up. I shook my head, still dizzy from Faust's power tap.
"Need a hand?" Jordan grasped my arm and helped me up.
"It's over," I sighed.
"Not quite," George frowned. The ground began to shake, the walls of the courtyard crumbling. "The
realm is started to collapse, now that Faust is gone!"
"We gotta get out of here!" I shouted, turning just in time to see the entrance cave in.
"Sailor Teleport!" Venus cried.
"Everyone join hands, careful, Mercury's arm's busted."
We all joined together, six Senshi, two Soul brothers, and one Tuxedo Mask. We whisked out of there
moments before the ground crumbled away to nothingness.
* * *
CODA
Usagi sobbed pitifully, "I'm gonna miss you guys!"
"Oh stop crying, you baby!" Rei lectured playfully.
The day had come, Jordan, George and I were leaving Japan, after spending an eventful spring break with
our new friends.
"Oh, we'll keep in touch," I grinned, "Got email?"
"But I don't want you to go!" Usagi sobbed, grabbing Jordan around the waist, as if that would make him
stay.
I looked down as a soft furry animal brushed my legs. G'gory. I reached down and picked up my dog.
"Your plane's delayed," she yelped, "So you have a few extra moments to say good bye."
"Good, why don't you go say goodbye to Artemis?" I grinned cheerfully.
Artemis mewed menacingly from Mina's arms.
"Don't worry guys," Ami smiled, cradling the sling that sheltered her broken arm, "It's destiny, we'll all
meet again!"
"I hope under better circumstances though," I grinned, stroking my dog's ears.
I watched as Mina and Lita each presented something to George. "So you'd remember us by!" They
giggled, stepping back.
He smiled shyly, looking at the tiny pictures of themselves they had given him.
"Thank you for helping us," Darien said to my right, presenting me with a soft red rose. "Without your
knowledge of English Literature, who knows what would have happened?"
I took the rose, "Actually, my forcefields deserve the credit," I grinned.
Jordan finally pried Usagi from his waist. I smiled as their hair got entangled again. Jordan sighed and
tried to dislodge her.
I turned to Rei, whose eyes were shadowed. I grasped her hand, "Time, my friend, heals all wounds, trust
me."
She nodded, then forced a smile, "I'm glad to have you as a friend."
"Me too," I smiled, however unable to shake the feeling of darkness. Poor Rei, Ami and Darien will have
to live with the scars of torture. I pulled at the ring on my finger, remembering Faust's words of my "Dark
Awakening." It worried me still.
"Don't worry, Usagi, I'll come back and beat you in Virtua On 2," Jordan smiled. It seemed to stop her
sniffling. The airplane voice came over the intercom, calling us to our gates.
"Time to go,"
We waved goodbye, keeping them in sights as the plane sped down the runway, taking off without a hitch.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"You know," I turned to George and Jordan, who sat with his head in his hands. "I just realized something."
"What?" George asked, pulling out the same gaming magazine he had on the flight over.
"I don't speak a word of Japanese."
End (for now)
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