Chapter Nine: And So It Begins


The new element in the battle took the Sailor senshi as much by surprise as the Omega Master. The arrival of the Shadow senshi made questions grow in everyone's minds. Of course the Sailor senshi were happy to see them but thoughts of suspicion soon entered the more mature of them and it was obvious by the looks on their faces. The senshi most prone to their feelings, especially towards these other senshi, only cared that they stood before them. The Omega Master just seemed very annoyed as he looked at Dark Shadow Mars coolly.

"How did you four manage to come back from the dead?"

"Does it matter? I see you've taken Tuxedo Kamen like a parasite. That body doesn't belong to you."

The insult made the dark face of Endymion frown a bit and he eyed the leader of the Shadow senshi without mercy. The rivalry had just reached a new level and the look between the two made chills run down Eternal Sailor Moon's back. Her attentions were soon ripped back to the matter at hand as the Omega Master looked over his forces with an angry bark, "Well, what are you waiting for? Kill them all!"

"This is just a delay. Deal with these.....'things' quickly. We need to deal with the Omega Master together or we'll never......."

"Yamito!" Sailor Moon's voice brought Shadow Mars out of his train of thought and he looked to the Sailor senshi as they gathered with them. Although she looked so relieved to see him, a tone of dread hung over her face and she couldn't help but give him a worried look.

That brought a light sigh through his lips, "I know what you're going to say. We will strive to save Mamoru, but I'm warning you right now, Sailor Moon, that we will do what it takes to finish him." The rooted look in his eyes made Sailor Moon look down and realize that he would follow through with that until the end. Even as he saw how that made her feel his face remained stoic and he looked away from her with a slightly annoyed glance.

"You four were killed before. How are you here?"

Super Sailor Mercury looked very confused as she looked over Dark Shadow Mercury carefully. He seemed lightly amused at her attention but the rest of them were also perplexed. Oddly enough it was Dark Shadow Venus who grabbed everybody's attention, "Come on, that can wait! We got a battle to fight, remember? This ain't even close to being over!"

"He is right. We have to deal with this before questioning the Shadow senshi's reappearance." Super Sailor Pluto agreed and gave Shadow Venus a light smile. He possessed a confident smile and winked at her, then looked back to Shadow Mars and waited for the word to go. He idly looked back to Sailor Moon and found her disturbed eyes still hoping for some mercy from him. With the leaders being in conflict, Shadow Mercury and Sailor Mercury were talking quietly as they overlooked the enemy. With a conclusion in hand they faced the others and Shadow Mercury spoke quietly but strongly.

"With so many opponents, we need to spread out to fight. All of us attacking them like this would be a redcoat battlefield tactic. We need to separate them out."

"Very well." Shadow Mars said quietly and turned from Sailor Moon. His eyes went first from the ranks of the enemy to Super Sailor Mars. She had been quietly watching him the entire time and he thought for a moment, then spoke loud enough for them all to hear, "I plan on attacking one group at a time. Sailor Mars, I hope you will fight by my side in this." His invitation made a light smile cross her face and she nodded once to him. Then she looked as confident as he did while he continued, "Pick someone and fight, but remember this is just a stall. We need to get to the Omega Master quickly. I trust you all know what to do."

With that the two senshi from Mars separated out to face off against the opposing forces. Shadow Mars didn't even give Sailor Moon a glance as he walked by her, though she watched his every step with silent protest. The rest of the senshi would also follow his example and form up into to two person groups to fight. Obviously each senshi would pair up with their respective counterpart but Super Sailor Uranus was stopped before separating out by a concerned friend.

"Haruka."

She turned slowly and faced Dark Shadow Jupiter with a bland look on her face. Before going off with Super Sailor Jupiter he had one last thing to do to clear his troubled mind. He couldn't help but smile lightly as he stood before her, "I just wanted to say that.....well, I'm sorry. I just had to know if we're solid." Her face was solemn as she tilted her head a bit but a smile soon graced her features.

"Be careful in this battle. Don't go and die before you can finish, Kage."

Her response was enough to satisfy him and he nodded to her. Before they parted ways they both reached out and hit the backsides of their fists together in a display of affection. Then they were both off to join their partners in the coming battle. Soon all of the pieces came into play under the amused eyes of the Omega Master.


Super Sailor Mercury stepped up next to Dark Shadow Mercury and the two looked out over the opponents they had come to face. The Witches stood before them confidently and enjoyed the three to one odds they had. However Shadow Mercury reflected that same confidence as he spoke to the side. "Ready for a fight, Sailor Mercury?" She nodded her head and stood ready for an attack and he also got himself to ready to fight these six. Suddenly, an argument roared up from the six before them that took both of them by surprise. They both watched with disbelief in their eyes at Eudial turned to the others and shook her gun towards them threateningly.

"You guys are nuts! I will take their crystals and prove I'm the greatest warrior."

Suddenly, Viluy grabbed the barrel of the gun and stepped in front of her with an ambitious laugh in her voice, "No! It will be I...Viluy!"

"You're both wrong. We will do it!" Ptilol and Cyprine said and jumped in front with their staffs ready to do their magic. They all started arguing once again and the two senshi both looked at each other.

"And you say these girls are actually dangerous?" His statement made her laugh a bit and relax a moment from the stress of the battle. Then an annoyed sigh left his mouth and he looked back to them, "I'm afraid we don't have time for this." The three blades of his triad reflected the concerned look on Sailor Mercury's face and she slowly looked up to him from the weapon.

"Please, Kurai. Don't kill them."

Her concern made him eye her for a moment, then he nodded and looked back to the six, "Excuse me, ladies?" All them looked at him and blinked but none of them had time to say anything. With a whip of his wrist the triad zipped through the air towards them. There was sounds of shredding and the triad came back into the hand of the one who had thrown it. All the Witches stared at him a bit, then the top parts of their clothes started to break apart and fall down. It caused them all to shriek and grab the clothing, keeping their bodies covered up. While they were yelling about the maneuver he just lowered his triad back to his side and looked over his doing with pride, "Yes, that will do nicely."

"That was a lot of effort for a peep show."

The bland statement made him blink a few times and then slowly look to Sailor Mercury next to him. She was obviously not amused by his tactic and showed it by looking away with a slightly hurt look on her face. Her mood made him eager to prove his innocence, "I promise that was not my intent! I merely made it more important to stay clothed than battle! You must believe I had no interest in seeing them bare." She obviously wasn't being soothed by his words and she said nothing more to him about it. The entire thing made him sigh heavily and drop his head, "Perhaps it wasn't as intelligent as I predicted."


"You look as if you missed me, Minako." Shadow Venus cooed as he took a moment to address her wavering eyes. The carefree smile he had, even at a time like this, was testament to why she cared so much about him and she couldn't help but sniffle a bit as she reached out to mess with his hair.

"Baka blonde.....well, baka anyway."

"Minako? Aino Minako?"

The different voice caught both of their attentions and the two quickly looked to the side to Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye and Fish Eye. Two of the three seemed a bit intrigued by that information and looked at Super Sailor Venus with wry smiles hiding behind casual glances. Fish Eye, however, had his eye on something else. It was all enough to make Shadow Venus step in front of her and look at them all with a ready grin, "Whoa, bad guys at eleven o'clock."

Surprisingly enough for him she just leaned out from behind him and waved with a sheepish giggle, "Hi guys."

"Eh, you know them?"

"Yeah, I kinda....went out with two of them." She quipped and rubbed the back of her head nervously. This was all more than he was willing to comprehend but then the two in question pushed him out of the way and both tried to fight for her attention.

"Minako, I can't believe it's really you." Tiger's Eye said as he stepped in front of Hawk's Eye. Not to be outdone, Hawk's Eye stepped past him and gingerly took her hand, a fleeting wink creasing one of his eyes.

"I find you being Sailor Venus very....attractive."

Even as Shadow Venus watched she could only giggle girlishly and enjoy the attention being lavished on her, "Oh, you guys stop. Aren't we supposed to be fighting?"

"We don't like that guy very much anyway. We'd rather talk to you."

This was all a bit too much for Shadow Venus and he just began to object when he was pulled away by a determined Fish Eye. Those blue eyes blinked wildly as Fish Eye held onto his arms and looked up at him intently. Then a sly smile spread across his face and he idly traced his finger along the chest of the darkened senshi, "Well, and who are you?"

"Sh....Shadow Venus?"

"Ohhhh, I like you very much. So handsome and powerful." Fish Eye went on and looked him over ever so slowly. Then he let out a happy giggle and wrapped his arms around him, pressing his head into his chest. The whole event made Shadow Venus a bit uneasy. While Sailor Venus was busy tending to the two, Shadow Venus looked around in a panic for some answers to his situation.

"Uhhh, Minako? Yamito? Anybody?"


Before the battle had begun Sailor Jupiter had wanted to take a moment and look over her returned lover. Her motherly nature came over her and she was patting her hands over his body in an attempt to check his condition, "Are you okay? You were pretty banged up when you.....how did you come back, anyway?"

She slowly looked up to a smile on his face and those peat green eyes following her every move. He hadn't moved the entire time she had examined him but found reason to now when he shrugged a bit, "I absorbed those transportation spheres into our bodies. When our energy became low enough to threaten our lives, the energy transported us to predetermined place. Then a....friend helped us from there."

"How did you think up something like that?"

That question caused a guilty look to wash over him and he rubbed his head lightly, "Eh heh, Kurai thought the whole...." He would never finish as a bolt of black lightning suddenly erupted into the ground in front of them. The blast sent a fierce wind through them and they both were surprised by the shock. Then they looked over to a fully powered up Galaxia standing there with her black sword in hand. Her large wings extended a great distance from her body and she narrowed her eyes at them. It did make a wider smile cross his face and he turned to her with an eager look in his eyes, "Gonna have to be later. It seems she wants to play."

"Be careful, Kage. Make sure you don't leave me for good this time."

Her concern made him nod once and promise not to break that promise to her. Both of them stood ready to fight the powerful force before them and a dark smile crossed the face of the Golden senshi, "Fools, do you think you can defeat the strongest Sailor senshi in the universe?"

"We've done it before and we'll do it again." Sailor Jupiter said confidently and stood with no fear before her. Her boast made a feeling of appreciation come over the one who stood next to her and he was reminded of why he would have her by his side in a fight any day. The boasts did little frighten the Golden senshi and she just looked over them with a superior smirk. That just further roused up Shadow Jupiter.

"And this time you're facing off against the best fighter of all the senshi, with advanced powers even. Oh yeah, plus you gotta deal with me."

The statement made Sailor Jupiter look to him in surprise but he held a look on his face that showed the truthfulness of his words. Never had she been more flattered than she did right then and her heart fluttered a bit in her chest while she looked at him. She knew for a fact that he was a better technical fighter than she was, plus the fact he could best Haruka in a one-on-one. However his eyes never showed any trace of false intent to the thing he just said and she was forced to wonder why he would think that.

The patience of Galaxia had just run out, however, "We shall see, weaklings."

In a quick motion Shadow Jupiter ripped his sword from the air and flipped it skillfully into the air, then caught it and held it ready, "She's pretty feisty. No prob, we can take her. I'll attack head on and you flank her from the side, okay?"

"She's really strong. What if you......"

"Hey, you don't have to worry. I can hold my own against her." His quick interruption made her look down a bit and nod. She really did know what he was capable of but her feelings always made her worry about everyone. Before she could move off to do what he asked, she something and looked at his hand on her shoulder. Then she slowly looked at him with questioning eyes and found him smiling, "I did mean it, Mako. I really do think you're the best fighter out of all of us. Me and Haruka may punch and kick better, but you fight with your heart. That's why you'll win when it counts."

His kind words made a smile wash over her and she suddenly felt so much more powerful. She gave him a quick nod and looked at him with endless admiration, "Thank you, Kage."

Suddenly Galaxia lunged at them both and swung the massive sword she held at them. They both jumped to the side quickly to avoid the attack. Then it was Shadow Jupiter who brought his sword back around to connect with hers and pin it to the ground forcefully. The terrible eyes of Sailor Galaxia moved up to the Shadow senshi and eyed him in curiosity. With a quick pull she made him jump back away from her blade and he landed ready for her next attack. However, she just looked him over once and tilted her head.

"And who are you?"

"Nobody important. I will say that you're a lot prettier than our Galaxia. Care to dance?"

"Your Galaxia?" Her questioning glance was answered with silence as he just slid his feet apart and held his sword in a radical fighting stance. His reluctance to speak only made her laugh lightly, "Very well, remain silent. You'll have all the silence you want where I'm going to send you." With that she flew forward at him and swung her massive sword through the air. He blocked her attack easily but she quickly spun around and came back around with her blade. He ducked under it and swung his sword at her but she simply stepped back to avoid it, then in the same motion leapt into the air and came down with the sword. It made him smile a bit and wait until the sword was right on top of him, then he jumped away from her and avoided the blade. The blade tore apart the ground as it missed but she was quick to go after him. They exchanged hits in the air as the floated along quickly above the ground but neither could land a blow. In the flurry of motion she managed to clip his sword away from him and plant her hand into his chest. A burst of black lightning sent him flying to the ground where he landed on one knee and with one hand touching the ground. However he was still smiling at the battle and suddenly darted his free hand out to the side. Without looking his hand grabbed his sword before it could crash into the ground on its side. Then he rose up slowly from his kneeling position and looked up to her speeding down at him. Her sword was raised above her head but before she could attack him again, an energy attack slammed into her from the side. The force threw her to the side but she quickly regained her balance before she hit the ground. Those eyes looked over to Sailor Jupiter standing next to Shadow Jupiter with a protective look in her eyes. The two were once again facing off against her and had shown they wouldn't be pushovers. This all made Galaxia a bit annoyed.

"Enough playing. I'll kill you both where you stand."


The blurry image of a whip sliced through the air towards Shadow Mars and threatened to tear into his body. However the extremely powerful senshi just jumped off to the side and avoided the attack effortlessly. Sailor Lead Crow landed back on the ground near him and faced him with a slightly agitated look in her eyes. His dark eyes just stayed on her while he turned back to her slowly and sent chills down her spine. Behind them Sailor Iron Mouse and Sailor Aluminum Siren stood with reluctance in their eyes. Sailor Aluminum Siren just watched him as well and hugged herself with her arms, "She isn't doing too well against this guy. He's just toying with her." Sailor Iron Mouse nodded lightly and moved her eyes from him slowly. They fell upon the battle where Sailor Tin Nyanko was doing her best to keep up with Sailor Mars and just barely doing that.

"Sailor Mars is doing the same over here."

"I wish we didn't just hafta stand here, I'm getting nervous. I wish I had something to eat." Sailor Aluminum Siren quipped and bit the end of her fingernail in anticipation. Suddenly Sailor Mars sent Sailor Tin Nyanko on top of them with a carefully placed Burning Mandala attack. The three made a nice pile of complaining senshi and they struggled to break free from each other.

"Ow! Get off me!" Sailor Iron Mouse yelled loudly and elbowed the person on top of her.

Sailor Tin Nyanko just rolled off of them and huffed in a very annoyed tone, "Stop your complaining." As she stood up she looked to Shadow Mars, who was watching Sailor Mars send Sailor Lead Crow skidding on the ground towards them. After coming to a stop she cursed and struggled back to her feet, looking at the two that were making such a big problem for them.

Shadow Mars idly smirked as he stood next to his companion and brushed some hair from his face with his thumb, "Come now, ladies, is that all you are capable of?"

"Yeah, weren't you all a lot tougher than this?"

Their biting comments made the four a bit angry towards them and Sailor Iron Mouse got to her feet with a mumble under her breath, "What a couple of self-centered jerks."

"Yeah, but don't they make a cute couple?" Sailor Aluminum Siren quipped and titled her head a bit. It was enough to make Sailor Lead Crow lash out at them as she gripped her whip tightly.

"Oh would you shut up!? Come'on, let's go show them why we are the greatest senshi in the universe." The four decided to face them all together and stood in a line to charge the two senshi from Mars. This seemed to amuse Sailor Mars a little but Shadow Mars just shook his head lightly.

"Ignorant fools."

"Come on, Yamito, lighten up. We can take all four of them on with no problems. After this, we get to face the Omega Master together and end this once and for all."


The last grouping provided a little bit of the past to show through as the generals of the Dark Kingdom stood diligently next to Queen Beryl. Facing this force was Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Pluto. These new senshi brought a curious look on the face of the queen and she held to her staff lightly while she examined them, "I don't think we have been introduced, I am the all powerful Queen Beryl. Who might you be?"

"Acting in the light of elegance, we are the senshi of Uranus and Neptune. She is the senshi of time, Sailor Pluto. And now we are going to stop you." Sailor Uranus explained and looked forward to this battle. Sailor Neptune stood next to her confidently and Sailor Pluto stood a bit behind them silently.

The boast did little to impress the Queen and she smiled a bit to expose those sublime fangs, "Is that so, well then....Jedite...Nephrite, I want you two to destroy these two."

"As you command, my queen."

Nephrite and Jedite stepped forward to do as she asked but Nephrite seemed a little annoyed by being teamed up, "Stand back, Jedite. I'll take care of this."

"Don't be foolish, Nephrite. I will serve my queen by destroying these weak senshi." Jedite replied dryly and never lingered back for a moment. Suddenly an orange energy ball struck the ground in front of them and they both flew back to the ground in front of Queen Beryl. Sailor Uranus smirked heavily as she crossed her arms and waited for them to try again.

Beryl seemed little amused by their bickering and where it led them, "You pathetic warriors. Get up and take care of them!" Jedite and Nephrite slowly got up and looked at her in terror but she quickly lost her patience for them, "Zoicite, Kunzite, assist them!"

"Yes, my queen."

Kunzite bowed deeply to her and started towards the senshi as well, not to be taken so easily as the others. Zoicite followed behind him but did kick a little dirt on Nephrite's leg as he passed, "Looks like you blew it, Nephrite." He glared at him and followed them towards the senshi. The four generals attacked the senshi and it became a fierce battle between them. Queen Beryl smiled and watched the fight with dreams of victory. Suddenly, she heard footsteps to her side and looked to find a woman with magenta eyes and dark, green hair standing next to her holding a staff in her hands.

"I recognize you. If you're eager to die, let me help you along in that wish." The queen turned to her with a devious smile and even darker intent. Sailor Pluto just curled her slender fingers over her staff lightly as she waited for the attack. A deeper sense of restitution shined in her eyes and she looked forward to doing something she wished she could have long ago.


Next Chapter: And So It Ends