Chapter Eight: The Alter Egos Take Control                         



Over the next two weeks, more and more people were being drained of their energy, but neither the Sailor senshi or the Shadow senshi had gotten there in time to catch the Priests. The city was calling it an epidemic, some weird disease that weakened people but seemed to disappear when the paramedics arrived, so they really weren't concerned with it. On a more personal note, the Shadow senshi and the four inner senshi were getting, well, friendlier. Ami and Kurai quite often would stay after hours at the library. Suteki didn't drag Minako out of her house anymore, but he still got her out of her house in unusual ways. Kage had been meeting Makoto on her balcony and she was getting used to flying with him. Finally, Yamito made sparse visits to the Hikawa Jinja to see Rei, Though when he did come, he managed to get Rei to enjoy every moment. Usagi was overjoyed for her friends and spent a lot of time with Mamoru, sometimes going out with the others even. The Outer senshi were training hard but still managing to lead their normal lives as well. The Shadow senshi had been training with them often, and they made sure the Shadows knew about their feelings towards all the time they were spending away from the matter at hand.


Meanwhile, somewhere in the darkness of a cave in the side of a mountain, the Priests were plotting there final attack on the senshi. The entrance appeared as a face of rock, but actually was a portal to their lair. In the center of their stronghold was a large room with a center alter made of stone and crystal. On that alter, was the Dark Prism, the prison of the Omega master. The Priests were gathered around the Prism and discussing their plans, the final assault on the senshi.

"We have the energy to create an Omega monster and we can now be rid of those Shadow senshi. Then you will be free Master."

Byoki slid his hands into the sleeves of his cloak and watched the Prism reverently as he spoke. Soon after, a very familiar voice came from the Prism, slightly distorted by the confinements of his prison, "Good, I tire of this Prism. When I am freed, this world will feel my vengeance."

Shibo nodded slowly and spoke with a devious tone, his intentions very apparent by the sound of his voice, "All of the Shadow senshi will be destroyed, and then we can turn our attention towards these Sailor senshi."

"The one they call Sailor Moon is very powerful. She has a power greater than I've felt, though it seems to be hidden inside of her." Senso added and looked to Shibo.

"Fear not, once I am released, this Sailor Moon and her friends will be destroyed."

They all looked to the Prism slowly, and Shibo raised a hand reluctantly and spoke with a sheepish tone, "Well, we don't have to destroy all of them, do we? Even Sailor Venus?"

"Yes, this Sailor Mercury is rather interesting also." Byoki agreed and looked at the Prism as well.

Even Kiga had his own words to add and looked to the Prism solemnly, "Sailor Mars is a fierce creature. She would make a great ally."

"I could sense the strength in Sailor Jupiter, she is very unique."

Only after Senso's last words did the Prism express its feeling on the matter. The Prism started to glow fiercely and fired four beams energy at the Priests. They fell to their knees in pain and Prism spoke in a harsh tone, "You four wouldn't be developing feelings for these Sailor senshi, would you?"

"No, of course not, we just thought...." Kiga started to say but the beam intensified, making him yell out in pain.

"You four have more of those foolish Shadow senshi in you than I thought."

"What do you mean?" Shibo asked and struggled to look up at it. The beam stopped slowly and an energy field went up around the Prism. The Priests slowly rose to their feet to find images of Suteki and Minako, having a good time together in a cafe.

"Your doubles have also taken an interest in these Sailor senshi."

"What the heck? Hey!" Shibo yelled towards the image and stared in disbelief. The image soon changed to Kage standing on Makoto's balcony. After a moment, Makoto rushed back out to him and threw her arms around him, smiling widely.

Senso watched it all with anger flushing through him, and clenched his fists at his sides, "That dirty, stupid basta........."

As he mumbled to himself, images of Rei and Yamito walking through the park together appeared, which made Kiga narrow his eyes at the image, but say nothing. Finally, the images changed again to Kurai and Ami reading together, but sitting right next to each other with light smiles. Byoki stared at Kurai coldly and spoke in a quiet voice, "The next thing she will read is your eulogy."

The energy field went blank and the Prism spoke again, "However, we may turn this to our advantage. You say the Sailor senshi have not seen your faces?"

"No, Master."

"Good. Then I have a plan about how to destroy all of the senshi in one great swoop and give you four what you desire." The Prism explained and the energy field shows Ami, Makoto, Minako and Rei together. The Priests smiled wickedly at the image and the Prism started to laugh softly.

"One last thing, Master."

Kiga stepped forward slowly and the Prism glowed in annoyance, "What is it?"

"Its about another one of our enemies. He goes by the name of Tuxedo Kamen."


On top of a mountain, the wildflowers grew in the summer sun, swaying quietly in the wind and basking in the warm day. The trees were sitting in silence, the forest animals were grazing in the meadows and the birds were singing their whimsical tunes. All was calm, until a huge blast ripped through the woods and exploded on the side of a mountain.

"Whoops!" Shadow Venus quipped as he and Super Sailor Pluto looked along the destruction trail. He just grinned sheepishly and looked to her with a slight chuckle, "Think I over did it a bit?"

"Perhaps a little." She quipped and looked over at him. Amazed at how his strength had been growing, she still had one question that had been pulling at her for months, "Why won't you and the others change into your Super form? I know you have one, because Sailor Moon was wondering about it herself. She said when she asked you about it, you almost bit her head off."

Looking at her with a blink, he sighed at her question and started walking over towards the others, "Did she now? Well, we got our reasons."

"Surely it cannot be that bad."

"Yes, it is." He called over his shoulder and she soon followed him as well. As they reached the others, Shadow Mars was watching Shadow Jupiter being helped over by Super Sailor Uranus, a lightly amused look on his face. Shadow Jupiter just scowled and pulled his arm from over her, then stood straight with a groan. Shadow Mercury looked relatively all right, until he pulled his mask down and revealed the deep bruises and a cut on his chin. Shadow Mars just looked between them all, then nodded, trying to hold back a smile.

"Well, did you guys have a good training day?"

"Hah hah, Yamito. I didn't see you out there." Shadow Jupiter snapped back and ran his glove hand along his side.

As they all rested a bit, Super Sailor Neptune looked to Shadow Mercury with a light smile and brushed some dirt from his shoulder, "I hope all of this training helps us against the Priests."

She was answered by a voice behind them, a voice that made them all whip around to the source, "Don't get your hopes up." Senso laughed lightly and stood with the other Priests, and around a few dozen clones that backed them up. All of the senshi scowl at the odds and stand ready to face off against them. Shadow Venus gave Super Sailor Pluto a sideward glance and let out a slow breath.

"Looks like you may see our Super form after all."

"Well, well, looks like you are outnumbered and," Kiga said and started to glow, as did the other Priests along with him. They emitted a bright light that saturated the air, and when the senshi saw them next, their hoods and cloaks dropped onto the ground carelessly. The same faces as the Shadow senshi, only with the sign of Omega on their forehead, looked out at them with wicked intent. Their outfits were different though, with sleeveless vests tied with black belts and baggy pants, much like a martial art gi. A main difference was the color of their hair. The Priests hair was a bit harsher than the others, with a white color tinted just a pinch of their respective senshi colors. The Outer senshi looked their faces and can't believe it, which made Kage's clone, Senso, grin even wider, "Outpowered too."

"They look like just you." Super Sailor Uranus said and looked to Shadow Jupiter with a blink.

"I guess introductions are in order. I'd like you to meet the Priests, our clones." Shadow Mercury said candidly, with utter dread in his eyes. The Outer senshi stared at their faces a bit longer and couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Kurai's clone Byoki laughed softly and looked to them all with a wicked grin, "Well, now that the formal introductions are over, time to die!"


"Yeah.....I know.....we are supposed to go out again tonight.......did he?.....Kage doesn't have much money either......its okay though......okay....all right, Minako-chan.....call you later....bye." Makoto hung up her phone with a click and yawned a bit. She went into her bathroom and started to brush through her hair, when her doorbell interrupted her. Setting her brush down, she sighed and went to answer it. She opened the door and smiled at her company, "Oh, hi Usagi, Ami, Rei. Come on in, everyone."

As they did, Usagi eyed her with a grin and poked her shoulder softly, "What are you getting all decked out for?"

"Me? Nothing. Kage is stopping by tonight after his training with the Outer senshi we're going to go catch a movie." Makoto replied and shut the door behind them, smiling widely at the prospect of her date.

With a glance to her watch, Ami rose back to her feet and smiled also, "Oh, that reminds me, I need to get to the library. Kurai is probably already waiting for me."

"Oh Ami, let him wait! Some guys like it when you are playing hard to get." Usagi cheered and shook a finger at her, which made the others sweatdrop lightly. Ami just shook her head slowly and started towards the door.

"Not Kurai. Sorry, but I have to go. Bye, everyone."

Ami stepped out the door and closed it, leaving Makoto to sit and look at Rei and Usagi with a smile, "What are you two doing tonight?"

Usagi opened her mouth to answer, but Rei spoke first, "I'm not doing anything with this odango atama. I have other plans."

Usagi got steamed and stood up, hollering at Rei in a whiny voice, "You mean I'm alone tonight?"

"You always will be alone, Usagi." Rei said with a smile and sat back in the couch. Makoto giggled a bit, and Usagi got all teary. After a moment, her mood totally changed and jumped up, walking to the door.

"Maybe I'll go see what Mamoru is doing! Your not the only ones with boyfriend around here!"

As Usagi slammed the door behind her, Rei smirked and shook her head, "What a spaz." She rolled her eyes and let out a long breath as she sat back in the couch. Makoto sighed lightly and cast her eyes in the direction of the mountains, an odd feeling of dread coming over her.

"I hope the others are going easy on Kage. I wouldn't want him to be sore when he comes over tonight."


A sudden bright blast sent Shadow Jupiter flying through the air and into a boulder, shattering the rock and sending it collapsing down on him. One of the five clones that were attacking him walked towards the pile of rocks and spoke in an accented voice, "Well, that takes care of the mouthy one."

Shadow Mercury reeled back from a hit from Kiga and breathed heavily, looking around at the other senshi. The three Super Sailor senshi were surrounded by a large group of clones, backed up and defending themselves as best they could. A piece of Shadow Jupiter's cape was sticking out from the rocks with no sign of movement in them. Shadow Venus was being held while Shibo and Senso take turns pounding him and Shadow Mars was getting cornered by Byoki and some other clones. Shadow Mercury started to glow slightly and he growled in a low voice, "No more." A blue aura cast around him and he raised his fist into the air, his henshin ring the source of all the glowing, "Mercury Dark Power Magnify!" The glow became more intense as it surrounded him and a bright light surged from him, making his entire appearance change. His cape, mask and weapon disappear, and his outfit soon shredded away from his body. The blue aura started to form a new outfit around him, and even his hair started to change. His shirt was now sleeveless and open in the front, but tied together with a blue belt. Loose, baggy pants formed around his legs and tucked into his shoes above his ankles. Instead of full gloves and the metal armguards, fingerless gloves appeared over his hands up and traveled up his wrists a bit. A brighter shade of blue saturated his hair and he stood with a renewed sense of energy, staring at Kiga with a terrible glare, "This has gone too far, Priest. Now you have Super Shadow Mercury to contend with." Kiga barely had enough time to blink before a massive surge of energy was sent from Super Shadow Mercury, sending him into the side of a cliff, and vaporizing all of the clones in the area. Super Shadow Mercury smiled darkly and looked around slowly for more clones to play with, "It's been so long since I've been out to play. Let's have some fun".


"Looks like we've already buried this one." A clone said arrogantly and poked the mound of rocks with the tip of his toe. Suddenly, a bright light crept through the spaces between the rocks and made all of the clones step back, "What was...." The clones was cut short as the pile exploded and sent rocks flying everywhere. Some clones where knocked senseless by some of the rocks but most evaded them, only to see a figure walking out of the rest of the pile. Electricity crackled over his body and down along his twitching fingers. Wearing the same outfit as Super Shadow Mercury, only the green colors differed between them. Light green hair stuck straight up into the air and those peat green eyes glared at the clones with a wicked smile.

"In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised, not to plan my funeral before the body dies." The clones stared in disbelief at him, but soon regained their composure. Raising up their hands, they each fired blasts of energy at him. As he walked towards them, his image blurred into different positions as he dodged the blasts, and soon avoided them all and returned to his original place, still walking towards them. The closest clone to him tried to fire another blasts, but soon found himself lifted into the air by his suit and staring into the face of Super Shadow Jupiter. Super Shadow Jupiter just pulled his face a bit closer and spoke in a low voice, "No matter what dimension I'm in, you clones' have terrible breath." His arm suddenly erupted into lightning and the clone screamed out in pain, then turned into a swirl of energy right in his hand. The energy disappears into the air and his peat green eyes fall on the rest of the clones, staring at him in terror. Clenching his fist tightly, he laughed once and let a few bolts of lightning surge from his fist.


"Looks like they've used their power up after all." Senso said nervously as he back up, his eyes on Super Shadow Mercury and Super Shadow Jupiter. Suddenly, a bright light behind Shibo and himself made them both look wide-eyed behind them. They find a grinning Super Shadow Venus being held by the two female clones, his changes as apparent as the others. With a glance through his light orange hair, he lifted the two clones off the ground and laughed as they struggled to get control of him again.

"Hello, boys. Did you miss us?" Suddenly, several blasts of energy pierced through the two clones and made them go limp, then fade away into swirls of energy like the others. Still smiling widely, Super Shadow Venus brushed his hands off and eyed the two Priests, "Too bad, they were kinda cute." As Senso stepped back a bit, Super Shadow Venus suddenly appeared in front of Shibo and sent him sprawling through the air with a solid punch. While Senso tried to ready a punch for him, Super Shadow Venus smiled and jumped into the air, spinning a full circle and connecting his foot to Senso's head. The second Priest also was sent through the air towards the others, and Super Shadow Venus landed lightly with a laugh, "Whoo yeah! I bet that hurt. Jupiter would be proud of me, I think. That was a killer kick!" Taking a moment to admire his work, he soon glanced over to see the group of clones advancing in on the Sailor senshi. The Sailor senshi were almost back to back, when, Super Shadow Venus landed between them and the clones and made the clones jump back a bit. They all look at him in surprise and Super Sailor Uranus looked at him, her eyes wide with his change, "Shadow Venus?"

"You anybody else that looks this good? Stand back and let a pro show you how it's done!" The senshi sweatdropped at him, but he looked at all the clones with a confident grin. Slowly, he raised his hands up to them, and let out a loud yell. To the senshi's surprise, nothing happened. The clones shrunk away at first, then grin and start to advance again. Super Shadow Venus just smiled and tilted his head a bit, "I bet you thought I can't do it, huh? You all are so stupid. Venus Gatling Blast!" Dozens of orange energy blasts formed around his two forearms in a circular pattern and he grinned widely, eager to show off his best attack. At the same time, a single blast on each of his arms fired off into the clones, then was replaced by the next blast and fire also. The machine-gun style attack made quick work of the clones, turning half of them into swirls of energy that faded away. Laughing hysterically, he started to turn as he fired and began catching clones even as they tried to escape. Soon enough, he had turned far enough to start hitting near the Sailor senshi and made them scatter for cover as well.

"Watch what you're doing!" Super Sailor Neptune yelled as she rolled back to her feet behind a tree. Super Shadow Venus soon looked at all of the clones turning into vapor, and stopped firing his blasts. Lowering his hands to his sides, he looked over at her and smirked lightly.

"Stop crying. I didn't hit you."

"You aren't anything like Shadow Venus." Super Sailor Pluto said in shock as she looked at him pulling her Garnet Orb staff from in front of her.

Super Shadow Venus took it as a compliment and brushed some of his light orange hair from his face, "He's a wuss, I know. Anyway, I need to do some more clone beating. Catch ya laterz, cuties."

Super Sailor Uranus didn't take too kindly to his last remark and glared after him, "Now I know why they didn't change."


"Lets take it easy now, Shadow Mars."

Super Shadow Mars walked slowly at Byoki with a dark glare in his eyes, the light breeze moving his light red hair from out of his face. Shaking his head lightly, his voice was foreboding and cruel, "You had it easy before, when you jumped Shadow Moon. Now you get it hard, like this!" He suddenly lunged at Byoki at great speed and landed a powerful punch into his stomach. Byoki's eyes bulged as he leaned forward and held his stomach, not being able to breath for a moment. Super Shadow Mars stood straight and his eyes flashed in anger, "And like this!" With an elbow to the back of his neck, he sent Byoki crashing into the ground hard enough to crack the bedrock. Byoki just stirred a bit on the ground and Super Shadow Mars turned him over with his foot, glaring coldly at him. As Byoki rolled over, his eyes shot open and he threw his hands forward, firing a powerful blast at him. Super Shadow Mars jumped back easily to avoid it and landed, glaring still just as coldly as Byoki rose to his feet slowly. To his annoyance, Byoki smiled widely and laughed a bit, which made him smirk lightly, "Smiling wide for a clone who's about to be vapor."

"That's because I know something you don't."

"And what's that?"

"There are fourteen clones right behind you."

To his terror, Super Shadow Mars smiled lightly and closed his eyes, "I know." As more than dozen clones went to attack him, Super Shadow Mars turned to them and erupted into flames to destroy them all. However, it was enough to let Byoki float into the air, where he was joined by a battered Senso, Shibo and Kiga. Super Shadow Mars lowered his hands slowly as the massive fire in front of him turned all of the clones into vapor, much to his delight. The rest of the clones try to regroup and the other Super Shadows walk up to Super Shadow Mars with arrogant smiles.

"Lookin' good. If we aren't the baddest four around, I'd say you were insane." Super Shadow Jupiter said and stood next to Super Shadow Mars with his arms crossed.

The Sailor senshi walked up to them slowly and Super Sailor Uranus looked to Super Shadow Jupiter with a blink, "Are you guys all right?"

"Us? We aren't the ones limping over here." Super Shadow Venus quipped and looked around at the remaining clones.

"Well, we are off to kidnap your little girlfriends, so we will leave now. But here's a present for you all." Kiga said from above to the Shadow senshi and Sailor senshi. Another dozen clones ran in from the woods and readied to attack the senshi. The four Priests sped towards the city with a laugh and clones gathered in a huge group in front of the senshi.

Super Sailor Pluto eyed the new clones and held her staff out ready, "We need to go warn the others."

"Go? Look at these odds! We're not going anywhere until we wipe those goofy looks of these clones' faces. I want to have some fun." Super Shadow Jupiter said flatly and looked to Super Shadow Mars with a pout.

Super Sailor Neptune looked at him in disbelief, "Fun? You heard what they said, they are going to kidnap the other senshi! We need to stop them!"

Super Shadow Jupiter just laughed and shook his head, amused at the idea. Super Shadow Mars just started walking towards the clones, and spoke quietly as he passed the Sailor senshi, "Then go."

Super Shadow Venus walked to them and starts to push them away with a smile, "Shoo, go away. Go save the girls." Still staring in disbelief, the Sailor senshi turned and head off towards the city to save the others, while the Super Shadow senshi turn their full attention to the clones.

Super Shadow Mars stopped in front of the clones and looked at them all, while the other three grinned from behind him, "First we turn you all into vapor, then we go finish those Priests. These odds are unfair. For you, I mean."

 
              
      Next Chapter: Kidnapped!