Ok, this story is almost done! Just this chapter and an epilogue to do!
Usual disclaimers apply!
Sailor Scouts R - Chapter 13a: Treed
Even from where he was standing, Trunks could see the tree on top of an
apartment complex, and he was many blocks away. Trunks continued to stare at the
monstrous plant and said, "So, it has begun." With that said, Trunks levitated off the top
of the building he was on and took off toward the tree, remembering Sailor Pluto's words
not to enter the battle until he was needed.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the apartment complex, the Sailor Scouts were still
trying to think of a way in as Luna said, "We've got to get in there some how. Mina and
Darien are counting on us."
Sailor Mars walked up to a tree root and placed her hand on it, "I know a way.
The tree is an intelligent being." After attempting to probe into the tree's thoughts, Sailor
Mars said, "It wants us to save it."
The others were skeptical of this, "Say WHAT?" Just as they said this, some of
the roots moved, allowing them entrance inside.
The others gathered around Mars as she said, "Got to warn you guys, I don't
know what we're up against."
"We know," was Jupiter's reply as everyone ran inside, jumping over roots and
broken chunks of the apartment. All of a sudden, Sailor Mars got a bad vibe just as
Jupiter shouted, "Mars, look out!"
Sailor Mars jumped just in time to avoid getting hit by what looked like acid
being shot out of a pod of the tree. Soon more tree roots moved around, trapping
everyone inside.
"So that's why it led us in here. It's a trap," Sailor Jupiter said.
"Still I know my vision was right," Sailor Mars said just as the tree started
shooting more acid.
The scouts began jumping and ducking blasts coming from all directions until
finally one shot got Luna, "YYYAAAOOOOWWWW!!!!"
"Luna," Artemis cried out. Buy this point Sailor Mercury had had enough.
"MERCURY ICE BUBBLES FREEZE"
Sailor Mercury's bubbles spread out and froze the acid and the pods they shot out
of as Sailor Jupiter announced, "You stopped it!"
Sailor Jupiter went over to Luna and picked her up, "Luna, can you here me?"
Mercury got to Jupiter as Luna recovered, "It got you bad, didn't it?"
Luna said, "Stuff is fast. Faster then me."
"Poor girl," Artemis said.
"Don't worry. I'll be alright once I catch my breath," Luna said.
"Good," said Artemis, just as more roots began to charge at them.
Mercury saw them first, "Guys, look out!" By this point, it was Mars who got
sick of being attacked.
"MARS FIRE IGNITE"
The attack slammed into a wall, creating a whole to escape from. The Scouts ran
for it and spotted an elevator. They ran into it as Sailor Mercury tried closing the doors,
"The doors are stuck, they wont close.
Luna looked up, "The trap door!"
Sailor Jupiter, being the tallest, did a karate kick and banged the roof door open.
She then jumped up and extended her hand, "Give me your hand guys." Everyone got
out just as the roots slammed into the elevator car, unable to follow the scouts up the
shaft, "This is going to be a long climb." The others agreed and started climbing the
elevator cables.
Back at the top, Mina and Darien were in the grasp of the tree, being drained of
their energy. Darien tried reaching out to Mina, "Mina, give me your hand. Maybe I can
pull you free."
Mina began stretching her hand out to meet Darien's, "I'm trying. Don't think I
can reach it."
Darien tried stretching further, "Come on, Mina."
Their hands were just about to touch when Allen materialized, with his disguise
off, between them and kicked their hands apart, "Keep your crummy hands off of her."
"Allen, you've got no right to talk to Darien that way," Ann said from
below them, also out of her disguise.
"So, you finally admit you like the guy," Allen stated.
Ann blushed for a brief instant before returning to anger mode, "Well what did
you expect, when you're drooling all over 'her'. All that talk about my being your one
and only? All lies. GRRRR!" Ann was so angry by this point by this point her aura
glowed for a brief instant all around her.
Allen just shrugged it off, "Don't be such a drama queen."
"I'm not being a drama queen," Ann said as she turned to face the tree, "Doom
tree I command you. Zap blonde over there."
Allen teleported beside Ann and said to the tree, "No wait, her boy toy will give
you more energy."
"But she doesn't even appreciate her energy."
"The sooner you zap him, the sooner Ann will come back to her senses."
The tree buy this point seemed to have gotten tired of their arguing so it drained
both of Mina and Darien. The alien went to them and tried to free them from the tree as
Ann said, while trying to free Darien, "Doom Tree, let him go."
"Don't worry Mina, I'll save you," Allen said as he tried freeing Mina.
"Doom Tree, let him go. I'm ordering you. Why aren't you listening to me,"
Ann asked.
"Why this girl? She's never done anything to us."
By this point the tree seemed fed up with their bickering. It unleashed some sort
of shock wave and knocked the aliens away from Mina and Darien as it let both of them
go, allowing them to fall to the floor below.
Allen and Ann recovered and noticed Darien and Mina's problem, "They're
falling."
Ann must not have heard Allen clearly as she said, "Got to save them." The two
teleported to the calling duo and caught them just as they were about to hit the ground.
"Mina, are you alright."
"Talk to me Darien. Darien?"
The 2 aliens got a different reply though as Luna and the others arrived, "LET
THEM GO 'NOW' NEGA-TRASH!"
Allen and Ann turned to see the scout as they continued, starting with Mars, "Ya,
you"
"We want our friends back," Jupiter said.
"And that means 'now' hairball," Mercury finished.
"Sailor Scouts," Mina managed to say, weakly.
Allen and Ann stood up to greet their guests, "Well look who dropped in."
"Sailor Saps," Ann said as they leaped into the air and shot a blast of power at the
scouts. All 3 Scouts and the cats scattered just before it hit the doorway. Sailor Mars
was the first back on her feet.
"MARS FIREBIRD STRIKE"
Sailor Mars's attacked formed a living firebird and charged at Allen and Ann.
Unfortunately, Allen and Ann's eyes glowed and the bird bet an invisible force field,
slamming into it and becoming nothing. Mars was shocked, "No!" Sailor Jupiter and
Mercury went to work
"MERCURY ICE BUBBLES…."
"JUPITER THUNDER…."
Allen and Ann got to work before they could finish their attack, "Your on our turf
now Sailor Failers!" They sent another attack, knocking all 3 Scouts, and the cats, to the
ground.
Ann was laughing with excitement, "Lets do that again! FEEL THE BURN!"
They sent another series of blasts hitting each of the scouts. Allen and Ann didn't even
spare the cats as they shot a few blasts at them as well.
By this point, Mina managed to regain her strength and stood up, "THAT'S IT!
I'm steamed. VENUS POWER!"
Allen and Ann got distracted from pounding the scouts by the light show behind
them. When they turned around, the light show ended and in Mina's place was Sailor
Venus. To say Allen was shocked was an understatement, "No way! Mina can't be
Sailor Venus."
Ann said, "That little blond air head, no wonder she's such a klutz."
Sailor Venus got mad at being called a klutz. Because, quite frankly, she wasn't
one, that was Serena's department, "Alright, that's it. I'm sick and tired of being called a
klutz. Well, this klutz, as you call me, is about to teach you a lesson. I stand by my
friends, and fur balls." Luna and Artemis, who were pretty banged up, managed to sweat
drop at this comment as she continued, "In the name of Venus, I'll punish you. Surrender
you slimy viruses, or your dusted."
"Can it," Ann said, as she was about to attack her when Allen stopped her.
Ann looked up at Allen in anger as he said, "Hold on Ann!"
"What are you going all soft on my, Allen, just because you have a crush on her?
That bimbo is the leader of the Sailor brats, and the best way to get rid of them is to get
rid of her," Ann said as Allen went into shock, "Hay, if you don't like it, then you can
just book it and I'll find someone else to feed the doom tree."
"You can't do that," Allen said.
Venus decided to let them argue for a while and turned her attention back to
Darien, "Darien can you hear me?" Darien was very weak at that point, but he appeared
to me conscious cause he lifted his hand for Venus to take, which she did, "I'm sorry.
For a lot of things."
Ann, thinking they were a couple, growled in anger as Allen said, "Doesn't look
like your boy toy will be interested in hanging around you."
"That bimbo it's all her fault. She's poisoned his mind against me."
Allen seemed to have lost all interest in Venus as he said, "Forget him, Ann. The
guy is only a human, and they are only good for one thing, doom tree fertilizer," Ann
gasped in horror at such a thought as Allen continued, "You know I'm right."
Ann seemed to have agreed as she declared, "If I can't have Darien, nobody will."
Ann shot a blast at Sailor Venus and Darien. The duo was blasted a few feet from where
they were lying.
"Sailor Venus," Artemis cried.
Venus managed to hang on to Darien during the blast and said to him, "Hang on,
Darien."
"Look at that clinging brat, "Ann said, "Now let go of him."
Allen said, "She wont. If there is one thing I've learned it's that she won't desert
her friends. She's loyal to all, even if it means her own downfall. Doom tree since they
refuse to separate, go ahead and drain all their energy. Do it now. They're no use to
either of us."
"No way," screamed shouts from behind Ann and Allen. They turned to see the 3
gathered scouts charge at them, but a quick blast from Ann sent them flying back to
where they were lying down. Venus chose that moment to try to catch them off guard.
"VENUS CRESENT BEAM…."
Ann turned and gave Venus a blast that sent Venus flying back to Darien, "Nice
try brat."
Darien began to groan in an effort to open his eyes, and Venus turned to him,
"Darien can you here me?"
Darien opened his eyes and looked at Venus, "Mina? What in the name of the
Moon is going on?"
Sailor Venus was shocked, "You remember?"
Darien only had time to nod his head yes as Ann, once again sprang into action,
"Knock it off." Another blast was sent at them.
"Sailor Venus," Artemis cried as he and Luna got back to their feet.
Ann delivered several more blasts, knocking Sailor Venus and Darien back until
they slammed into a root of the tree.
"They're helpless," Jupiter said, too weak to summon another attack because of
her injuries. Mercury and Mars were pretty much in the same state.
Ann decided to direct a blast at Darien, too blinded with rage to care anymore
about him at the moment. Sailor Venus saw it coming and quickly got up to block the
blast with her body.
"She's brave," Allen said, surprised that Sailor Venus would do such a fate,
"Even braver then I thought.
Darien didn't have much strength to protest much. He had other things running
through his head. He had been looking around the room and saw all 4 Scouts and the
cats, but didn't see Sailor Moon anywhere. 'Come to think of it,' Darien thought, 'I
haven't seen Serena since the North Pole. Where is she?'
Darien train of though was cut off by Sailor Venus said, "You don't know what
bravery is, or friendship. All you know is evil.
Allen was shocked at this, 'Is that true? Is evil all we truly ever had?'
Ann interrupted his thoughts, "That's right so glad you finally noticed." Ann
gave Venus another, but light, blast, "Renounce your love for Darien and I might spare
your life."
"What are you talking about," Sailor Venus said, "Darien's love belongs to
someone else. I've told you that many times Ann. I'm only protecting that love the best
way I can."
"I've had enough out of you," Ann said, and fired another blast. The blast
knocked Mina and Darien into the root again, and Darien lost consciousness. Ann raised
her hands, and was about to deal the final blow. However, Ann's attempt was interrupted
by a blast of energy, knocking Ann to the ground. Ann got up, and teleported back to
Allen, "Why did you blast me?"
Allen said, "It wasn't me."
Both aliens looked all around them, trying to find the source of the blast when
someone shouted, "Looking for me?" Allen, Ann, Darien, the scouts, and the cats looked
up to see a lavender haired man floating in the air between the aliens and the tree.
Ann recognized him, "You? You're the one who killed Insectia. You know that
was one of our best cardiens pall." Allen and Ann fired a blast at Trunks. He managed
to catch to catch the blast but was difficult to hold it. Finally, Trunks went super Saiyan
and redirected the blast high into the air.
Allen and Ann were shocked at this, "WHAT? Why you…" Ann left the
sentence unfinished and fired another blast. Instead of deflecting the blast this time,
Trunks used super speed to dodge it, appearing to all as if he disappeared. With Trunks
moved to who knows where, the blast hit the tree instead.
"He just disappeared," Sailor Mercury said.
The tree reacted, by lifting some of its roots and attacked Allen and Ann. They
managed to dodge some of the roots, but one hit Allen in the back.
"Allen," Ann screamed as she saw another root speeding toward him, intent on
killing Allen. Ann teleported herself between Allen and the approaching root, "You can't
have him."
Allen got up and turned just in time to see the root strike Ann in the chest, "Ann,
no!!!" Allen ran to Ann and caught her as she fell.
"Allen," Ann asked weakly.
"I'm right here," Allen said, holding Ann in his arms.
"Please tell me it wasn't like they said it was," Ann pleaded.
"Like what," Allen asked.
"You're my friend. The one true friend I've ever had," Ann said. Allen agreed as
she continued, "Please… just promise. You wont forget."
"Ann don't talk like that," Allen begged.
"This life is over for me. I never understood what love was. But… now I know,
Allen. You're the only one I ever truly loved," Ann said as her eyes closed.
"ANN, DON'T LEAVE ME," Allen screamed just as the tree decided to resume
its attack. Allen turned and saw the root speeding toward him, and he turned back to
Ann's body, "I'll be with you soon, Ann."
Sailor Venus couldn't stand and watch, "SOMEONE SAVE THEM!"
The Root stopped mere inches from Allen when a voice that clearly came from
the tree said, "You really think they are worth saving, Sailor Venus?"
"Huh? You can talk too," Venus asked as light poured from the tree, surrounding
everyone, "Huh? Where are we?"
"I think we're in the mind of the tree," Allen's voice came from somewhere.
"That's correct," the tree said, "I brought you here to tell you my story. Long
ago, on a distant planet, there was only myself, and the ocean. I leaved for eons without a
soul to talk to. Buy soon I decided to change all that."
Allen spoke up, "I remember. We were born from the Doom Tree."
"Back then I wasn't called the Doom Tree," The tree continued, "I was called the
Tree of life. It was a time of piece and happiness for everyone. But then, dark forces
came and turned a number of my children to the dark side, saying that power was the
most important thing. I tried to be patient and wait till they left. But it was not to be.
The evil became so great that it destroyed my planet. Fortunately, I was strong enough to
escape, and took my few remaining followers with me. We searched for a new place but
none had what we needed to sustain us. Soon only Allen and Ann were left with me."
"And they steal energy to try to save you all this time," Venus asked.
"Yes, and they kept me alive. But to grow I need love, positive energy," the tree
said.
"We failed," Allen said as he held Ann body.
"No Allen, you were failed. Nobody should have to go through the hardships you
went through. You behaved as anybody would, given those circumstances. But luckily,
people learn, and you learned what's most important, love," The Tree concluded as Allen
hold Ann closer to him, grieving for his loss. Then the Tree asked, "Sailor Venus, A
favor?"
"Yes," she asked.
"Please rid me of all the negative energy I've been poisoned with all these years!"
"But I don't have that ability," Venus declared.
"You do not, but I do," said a voice behind them. The Scouts, Darien, the cats,
and Allen turned, but only saw the silhouette of a grown women as light poured out of a
wand in her hands. Nothing could clearly be seen of this women and she was gone as
quickly as she came. Everyone turned back to the tree to see it gone.
"Oh no, the tree is dead," Venus declared.
"No, Sailor Venus. It has been healed," Another voice said.
Venus turned to see the Moonlight Knight, "Moonlight Knight?"
"Yes, Mina."
"You know who I am?"
"Yes," the Knight said, "Now it's time you know who I am." He removed the
face cover, and Sailor Venus looked right into Darien's face.
She looked from the unconscious Darien to the Darien in white ropes, "What?"
"I'm not Darien, but the courageous soul of Darien that fights the Negaverse," the
Knight explained.
"What do you mean," asked Venus.
"In the battle against Queen Beryl, Darien lost all his memories of the Moon
kingdom, but some part of him knew he had to continue to protect Princess Serenity, his
true love. So, I was created to fulfill that purpose. I exist only to protect her, and help
the Sailor Scouts. But there is no longer any need for me, now that Darien has his
memories back."
"You're leaving," Venus asked.
"It's Darien who needs me now, Sailor Venus. He is too weak to sustain me
much longer."
"Where will you go," Venus asked.
"Where I belong," The Moonlight Knight said. Then the Moonlight Knight
became transparent for a lack of better word, and floated into Darien's body.
As soon as the Moonlight Knight finished disappearing into Darien's body,
Darien groaned and started sitting up, "Oh, boy, do I have a headache." The Scouts and
cats laughed at this, and welcomed him back to the land of the living.
Suddenly Allen's voice rang through the talks, "Ann? Your ok!"
"Of course silly, I wouldn't leave you," Ann smiled.
Mina then noticed something glowing between the aliens and the Scouts, "Look,
the tree! It's come back to life!"
Allen and Ann picked up the now seedling tree, smiled at each other and said to
the Scouts, "Thank you for your help in us seeing the light, but now we need to leave,
and start living on our own." The scouts waved good-bye as a bubble surrounded Allen
and Ann as they flew into the sky, and back into space.
Venus then looked at everyone, "Ok, now I have 2 questions. One, Where did
that trunks guy disappear to, and two, how with the landlord be able to fix his apartment
building considering that it is trashed now?"
Darien looked at the scouts and said, "Well I only have one question. Where is
Serena?"
The scouts looked down in sadness, and Sailor Venus spoke up, "Darien, I think
we better explain that back at your apartment." Darien didn't like to tone of that reply
but started walking with the scouts, in an effort to leave the building.
From a rooftop across the street, Trunks powered down from Super Saiyan and
watched the Scouts leave the roof, "Well, now that that is done, I should get going. Goku
is due to land in 4 hours and it is a long way to Freeza's landing site." Trunks then
levitated off the rooftop and sped out of town, shooting like a high-speed rocket to his
destination.
In the time stream, Sailor Pluto was looking sternly at Neo Queen Serenity, "You
took a pig risk by going back there, Serenity. I could have just sent your mother to heal
the tree instead and there would not have been any danger to the time line. Just be glad
the scouts didn't get a clear look at you."
Serenity just looked at Pluto, "For your information, Setsuna, My mother was a
bit… uh… distracted, to put it mildly. I don't think she would have been happy with
your visit."
At first Pluto didn't know what the Neo Queen meant, but when it dawned on her,
all Sailor Pluto could do was blush bright red, "Oh, I see what you mean. Now get your
royal behind back to Crystal Tokyo before I knocked you out and deliver you there my
self."
Serenity knew Pluto was teasing and so replied, sarcastically, "Yes, mother."
Pluto opened the time gate and allowed Serenity through, before closing it and
turning back toward the present, seeing Darien with the Scouts, "I hope you make the
right decision for yourself, Darien."
Ok, the Epilogue will be coming soon, keep tuned. Sent comments to
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