Okay, so I'm skipping the other stories on my C&C queue but I really love this story !!
I'm Here to Help
by Mark Doherty(mdoherty@uq.net.au)
[Elsa Bibat]
Yesyesyesyes !!!!! It's finally arrived !
Chapter 6a
Okay, here's my Explanation(tm): I wrote the conclusion to I'm Here to Help
months ago, and I even posted it(there were problems on my end, which is
why it didn't come through). Unfortunately, before I got around to reposting,
I misplaced my copies(yes, copies as in plural. Oh well.) I spent a great
deal of time looking for them, before I gave up and started a rewrite. Now,
150K into an approx 200K rewrite, people are really starting to get antsy
about the length of time it's taking(thinking that I've forgotten the
series, etc), so I felt it best to reassure people by actually releasing
something.
[Elsa Bibat]
Thank you for thinking of sending it out. BTW, when's 6b coming out ?
[Elsa Bibat]
<snip>
+++++++++++++++++
* * *
<snip>
Elsa: One of the best journal entries I've ever seen. Must be because you saved the
best for last, neh ? ^_^
* * *
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
"If there was any danger of him creating time pollution, wouldn't Pluto have
warned us?"
There was a very, very short pause. "I have to speak to Pluto."
"Good idea."
Elsa: The time ripple of Emerald's messing around in the past hasn't reached CT era
yet, it seems or they'd have remembered. About Pluto, I have this sneaking
suspicion that this is another one of her convoluted plans for making a better
future. Considering your vision of CT, it's a possibility that I'm starting to warm
up to. But since you're the author, Mark and considering that you've finished it
already...please tell me if I'm right ? Please ?
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
He paused, halfway through the act of standing, as he searched through his
time-misted mind. How _did_ you get out of this dimension?
"Damnation."
Elsa: Once again a nice scene. The emotions that the scenes evoke are one of the
reasons that I love this fic so much. And the comic relief at the end was a nice
touch.
+++++++++++++++++
<===>
Well, you wanted him Rei, and he's all yours. Although why you'd want that--
Elsa: That little statement, considering one of Emerald's past journal entries is
... quite interesting. I think Rei's immortal obsession is Emerald... Don't look
at me like that. It was just an opinion.
Oh wait, damn... stupid recording. Computer, end diary log.
<===>
+++++++++++++++++
<snip, Snip>
"Those girls had it easy," he muttered as he struggled to pull a boot on.
"A quick twirl of a magic stick, an activation phrase the braindead could
remember, and voila, instant clothing and aura change. What do I have? Too
tight boots, far too grimy pants, and a jacket a dead man was wearing not
that long ago."
Elsa: Another one of the reasons why I like this series. I love the way Emerald
looks at things.
<snip>
+++++++++++++++++
Prince Endymion paced around his spacious room, one arm set on the hilt of
his sword to stop it from swinging. He'd never admit it out loud; not even
to Queen Beryl, and certainly not to that fool, Kunzite, but he felt
disquieted.
He had returned, defeated, from yet another foray to Earth. The only
problem was that no matter how he dressed it up for his queen, it shouldn't
have been a defeat. The ginzuisho could have been his, if he had just let
Kunzite's youma do its job and kill Sailor Moon. He was probably lucky that
Queen Beryl found his honourable streak 'stimulating', he doubted that she
would be so kind to Kunzite if their positions were reversed.
What was it about Sailor Moon? Why did she persist in her fantasies? Could
she really believe that he, a warrior of the Dark Kingdom, would succumb
to _love_!?
And what were those twinges, those uncertain flashes of _something_ he
felt when he was near her? There was something more about her, more than
her being his enemy. If only he could think of what...
Without preamble, or warning, the door swung open. Endymion turned, to see
a young man there, dressed in black trousers and a grimy white shirt -
fairly unusual attire for the Kingdom. The man blinked his multi-hued green
eyes, the only outward sign Endymion could see of a youma heritage, before
he smiled somewhat mirthlessly.
"You're a hard man to find," the badly clad man noted. "Oh, I always did
like that armour. So less pretentious, so much more practical than that
foppish gear you usually prance around in."
Elsa: I think I'm going to love this scene. ^_^
"Who are you? What are you doing here, these are the Queen's personal
quarters!"
"Why Endy-chan, dear brother-in-arms, I thought it obvious. I've come to
rescue you."
"Rescue me?"
Ah. It was going to be one of those ones. Emerald resisted the urge to let
his smile slip into a snarl. There was an energy taint to Endymion's aura
that gave him a sneaking suspicion on what was wrong here.
Brainwashing. Gods, why does everyone have to use brainwashing?
Elsa: It gives Endymion's brain that nice, squeeky clean sound when you rub
it. Besides, it smells better after every washing.
It presented somewhat of a moral dilemma. He hated, he _loathed_ any sort
of mind-control. Once, just once he had even willingly allied with the
Senshi against a conqueror who had enslaved the minds and wills of his
soldiers. The alliance had lasted less than an hour and ended, quite
predictably, in disaster, but still, the thought had been there.
On the other hand, he didn't like Prince Charmless here either. Surely,
just once, the man could have held onto his own will? He was beginning to
wonder if Endymion _wanted_ to be brainwashed by 'dark and evil forces'.
Trying out the other side of the sheets, so to speak, without any of those
niggling moral worries you got with free choice.
Elsa: Now that's an idea... May even become into a fic, if my sick mind
ever gets around into it.
He bit back an almost reflexive insult, and concentrated on a mantra.
Diplomacy. Diplomacy. Diplomacy. "Yes, rescue you. You know, take you back
to the loving embrace of the Senshi?" Gods know they're welcome to you.
Elsa: hehehe
"You're with the Senshi? And you're here, in the heart of our kingdom?"
Endymion's eyes narrowed as he drew his sword. "You were that spy that the
youma have been after!"
"Spy? Well, I suppose it's better than being labelled an assassin," the man
noted, before he muttered, "yet again." He grimaced in an almost-smile. "I
don't know, I think I'd like to be called a saboteur, just once, for
originality's sake. Or perhaps a vandal, I can't remember ever being called
a vandal."
Elsa: Well, a vandal has to paint or deface something, I think. Besides, assasin
and spy has that ring to it.
"You're very flippant, but I'm not finding you all that funny. If you
think you can challenge the Dark Kingdom with impunity, than I will be
very glad to show you how wrong you are."
"Oh, I see, so that's how it is." The man turned slightly to eye the large
bed that dominated the room, before returning his gaze to the prince. The
gaze was starting to lose the thin veneer of friendliness he had maintained
since walking into the room.
"That's a rather large bed for one. Sleeping your way to the top yet again,
hmm? I must say, this is very amusing. I'm trying to help you, and you're
still set against me. You're going to have the cleanest brain in the
universe, Endymion, from all these washings. Now, you _are_ coming back to
Earth. I believe I must insist."
"I'm going nowhere with you, except straight to Queen Beryl. She will
definitely want to speak to you."
"You mean speak _at_ me. Typical ruler, it's all her, her, her."
Endymion felt the slightest cracks in his calm pose. "I have better things
to do than to put up with this in my own room." The sword tip quivered
slightly as Endymion pointed it at the man. "You ARE coming with me, or I
will kill you and spare my Queen the effort."
The man looked down at the sword. "You know, I almost like you this way.
So less... condescendingly righteous. But the thing we should remember here
is that I _don't_ like you. Scum, just like cream, rises to the top. You're
a toadying worm with an inflated sense of your own self-worth, sleeping your
way to power no matter which side you find yourself on. Let's face it, Endy,
the Senshi may deserve a modicum of respect, but you just--"
Elsa: Classic Emerald. Have I told you how much I love this character ?
Yes, I know, hundreds of times. But I just love saying it.
The sword flicked forward in angry response with a light, probing blow.
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
This was no fun. He'd never really liked Endymion. The man had always
seemed like an opportunist to him; clinging to those with more power
like... like... like those things that clung to sharks. Mercury had so
Elsa: Remoras.
much of his respect that it sent chills through him. Mars, Venus, Jupiter,
even _Serenity_, in a way, he could admire. But Endymion...? No, no he
didn't respect Endymion.
Unfortunately, he'd never really had a good shot at him; Mr Swank was
usually hanging off Serenity's arm, and whenever he got _that_ close to
Serenity, he had a far more important target in view than the queen's
consort. Having the chance to pummel Endymion was a rare and pleasant
opportunity indeed. But this was no fun, there was no joy in this;
sword-boy simply didn't have the power to make this fight interesting.
That hurt, in more ways than one. He didn't like getting reminders of
how the Senshi probably viewed him, for starters. And for seconds, he
wanted to enjoy beating Endymion around a little - but truly, what joy
was there in beating a half-wit with a brainwash-clouded mind?
Elsa: A lot depending on the person.
He twisted, catching Endymion's swordarm, before he used his other arm to
drive down on the prince's left shoulder armour, buckling it and sending
the man to his knees. With a small smile, the green-eyed man spun out of
range, ready for the next attack.
Endymion was undeniably skilled with his weapon, true. But against someone
with his fighting experience, the prince would have to do something more
than wave around a fancy kitchen knife to win. Well, that wasn't completely
fair. Endymion had tried some sort of trick with one of his black roses,
something involving charging energy through it. That had been fairly
impressive - and it had drained a disturbing amount from his energy. Still
and all, this fight was definitely his to take.
Yes, he didn't like Endymion. He didn't like his posturing, his annoying
speeches, even his pretentious clothes. He didn't like what he had seen of
the man over the years, didn't like his leeching, and to tell the truth,
he didn't even like the way he had led Mars on, while doing his macho
protector thing with Moon. Even if Moon DID turn out to be Serenity, that
was only one less mark against him; so what if he didn't, in fact, betray
Sailor Moon with Serenity? It wouldn't change the fact that Emerald didn't
at all like him. In fact, he...
The sword slid into him, impaling just below the heart.
Elsa: Ooooohhh. That had to hurt.
After the din of such cramped fighting, the sudden hush that enveloped the
room seemed deafening. For an almost eternal second, the silence stretched.
Both of the fighters looked down at the blade, before they looked up into
each other's eyes.
Endymion let go of the sword, his gaze locking down onto the buried blade.
Emotions warred with Metallia's taint, horror at killing his opponent
warring against the dark pride of victory. A sudden urge to vomit clashed
against a rising tide of sated blood lust. His soul cried out, threatening
to tear apart from the internal war.
+++++++++++++++++
The blonde girl hunkered down, avoiding her teacher's gaze as the sensei
asked another question. Finally, the academic danger past, the girl
returned to her drawing - a man with a top hat, who was staring at a girl
with twin ponytails. She started, realising that the picture had smudged
somehow, leaving the man half-formed and blurry.
The girl blinked, puzzled, and touched her fingertip to her eyes, bringing
it away to stare at the single teardrop that lay there, glistening.
Elsa: Another scene that manages to carry emotion, even if it was so short.
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
The slightest sheen of sweat formed on his brow as he dropped back into a
fighting stance; it was taking a real effort to pretend that his wound was
gone, and he couldn't afford to have the fight drag on again. It was time
to treat Endymion like fighting the future's Mars or Jupiter or Venus. And
if that meant that Serenity got back a corpse for a boyfriend, well, that
would be just _too bad_. "Allow me to show you just _how much_ I appreciate
it..."
Elsa: Endymion's in for DEEP HURTING !!!! ^_^
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
+++++++++++++++++
<===>
CTIS broadcast, 13 January 2409, 18:03.
Reporting for the Crystal Tokyo Information Service, this is Aino Minako.
I'm here at the Crystal Tokyo Auditorium where tonight horror stalked one
of our greatest stars.
- Greatest star? It was someone in a damn rabbit suit!
Elsa: ooohhh. The Mr. Bunny incident if I recall.
-- Shh! Jupiter! We're in the shot, they might hear us!
- Don't worry, Mars, you need those microphones or something to pick
up conversations for the camera. See, Minako's using one.
-- I can't believe we agreed to stand here for her like glorified
cardboard cutouts.
Ah... yes. Yes as most of the good people of our fair city are already
aware, tonight the vile villain most know as the Outsider infiltrated
these fine walls and ripped the hopes and joys out of the hearts of
a million people, forever blackening the name... of Mr Fluffy the
Friendly Bunny.
- She's lost it. Mina-chan's getting more eccentric than Ami.
Elsa: Why do people love characterizing Minako as crazy ? Well, she
is, but rubbing it in is quite ....
-- It's the entertainment industry, I think she's been in it a little
too long. And the rabbit show was her brainchild - you know how she
was about it.
KNOWN as the lovable star of Mr Fluffy's Friendship Frolics, Mr
Fluffy was kidnapped just before he was due to play the special
Thousandth episode of his show. In his place, the dastardly Outsider
pretended to be Mr Fluffy, shocking viewers with his evil vitriol.
-- I think we have to talk to Minako after this. Her word choices are
leaving a little something to be desired.
Elsa: Yeah. Sounds a lot like a propaganda speech.
- Have you figured out why he did it yet?
-- Either to strike a blow against a show he thought was brainwashing
children into conformity, or to annoy us. Probably both.
Luckily, the two... _fine_ Senshi behind me, the Ladys Jupiter and
Mars, along with Lady Venus, capably stopped the man without injury to
the hostage audience, once and for all.
- It's a real pity about those two that were helping him. They were just
kids!
Elsa: What _did_ happen to the kids ? From the following remarks, the Inners
are starting to act like the Outers. There is something really wrong in
CT for them to react like this, I think.
-- So were we, once. They chose their path. Still, I saw his eyes before he
escaped. He won't bring the defenceless to a fight ever again.
- Again? You saw the damage Venus did to him. It's just like half our other
foes. He left to die somewhere, alone.
-- No. I saw his eyes. He won't die. He's different to the rest; his fight
is personal, and he won't fold.
Regretfully, Sailor Venus announced earlier that there were no plans to
continue with the Mr Fluffy series. His name, along with his lovable
companions, has been forever darkened by the evil of one man's selfishness.
Mr Fluffy... is cancelled.
- At least something good has come of this. Oh God, Fluffy's companions.
They were obviously modelled on us.
-- At least you got 'Poko the Protective Palomino'. What did I get?
'Rachel the Rascally Raven'!
Elsa: Hehehehe
- I'm just thankful Saturn isn't still alive to see 'Hako the Health-
Conscious Hamster'.
Elsa: Why does Hotaru have to be dead in almost every future fic
I know ?
-- I would have handed her the glaive myself if she was.
And so, we here at Crystal Tokyo would like to give Mr Fluffy a
heartfelt goodbye, and remember him for what he truly was...
- A man in a bunny suit ?
Elsa: BWAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!
-- Shh! She'll hear us!
_Ahem_. Remember him for what he truly was, and not what one man turned
him into. Mr Fluffy, we salute you, friendly bunny. And so, as the
last of the unfortunate live audience are escorted from the Auditorium,
we only have time for a few more words...
--- Mommy, what does 'eviscerate' mean?
Elsa: (motherly voice) It is when a vis is ... Oh shoot ....
I waited four hundred years for stardom, and this is what I get?
-- ...Okay, Jupiter, I admit it. This time, he won.
- Yeah. But they all get to win one. Most of them don't last long enough
to win two, though. Hey, why is the cameraman looking at us like that?
Join me next time, when I'll give a detailed report on new magic being
used in the holographic recording arena, which allows one to do away
with microphones except as a _prop_.
- Oh.
-- Ah... Don't fret citizens, this was merely a trap laid to snare
the Outsider.
- Even they wouldn't believe th--
This is Aino Minako saying goodnight, and happy dreams.
Elsa: HAHAHAHAHA !!!! I really love the way you ended this scene.
<===>
+++++++++++++++++
In a dark, grimy alley of Tokyo, there was a gentle whuff of air as eleven
creatures materialised. Three of the youma collapsed, and another two
disintegrated, fatally drained from the rash dimensional teleport.
"So this is Earth," one of the still-standing youma noted, trying to forget
the religious experience of being gazed on by its goddess by looking around
at the dirty concrete walls that surrounded them. "This is the 'beautiful'
world spoken of in the legends!?"
"Beautiful?" Emerald queried as he casually dropped his human cargo, before
tearing a strip of cloth from Endymion's cape, using it to staunch the
slowly congealing blood from his reopened wound. "One day, this place will
be beautiful. And on that day, it will never be uglier. To judge a place or
person by 'beauty'... ha! That way lies only delusion of the worst kind."
Elsa: Another damn fine quote.
Another youma nodded. "Beauty is for fools. Strength and energy is all we
need to create a perfect world."
Emerald grimaced. He was in too much pain to listen to youma muscle-flexing.
"A perfect world is a dead world, in one way or another. It's the flaws that
make life worth living." He looked around. "You all have to get out of this
city. There are too many psychics in this part of the world capable of
detecting your kind, you will die if you remain. In fact, if you stick
around I'll kill you myself - you are complications I do not want hanging
over my head."
He grunted as he picked up Endymion. "One last thing. I'm most forgetful,
and to tell the truth, I am not the nicest person to be around. If I meet
you again, and do not remember you, then run, or I will kill you. That's
just how it is. Welcome to Earth. Here's hoping that your stay is not a
short one."
He smiled, shrugged, and disappeared into the shadows.
The youma looked at each other.
"What now?" one asked.
"We grow strong off the humans' energy, of course," another replied,
glancing at the collapsed youma. She paused to think about their saviour's
threat, her eyes shifting to the two dustpiles of her fallen comrades.
"...Somewhere else."
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
+++++++++++++++++
Hino Rei walked into her temple's grounds after another school's day. It
had been a pretty good one; that maths test hadn't been as bad as she'd
feared, and Hinachi-sensei had called in sick, so now that history
assignment wouldn't be due until tomorrow. Spending all your spare time
saving the world from vicious youma was a good thing and all that, but it
didn't work very well as an excuse for not completing your homework.
Elsa: Now that would be a new excuse for not doing your homework.
But, ma'am the youma drained all my energy !!!!
Usagi would laugh herself silly if she found out that she close to flunking
some subjects because of senshi-ing... well, sillier anyway. With a small
snort, Rei ducked into the temple's private quarters, sliding the door
closed behind her. She leant against the door for a few seconds, before she
realised that something was a little out of place.
Emerald looked up from the task of winding a bandage around his chest.
He'd already fixed his hand and his other wounds, and attended to Endymion.
After all, Mars would have been furious if he hadn't at least set the man's
arm. "I hope you don't mind company, Rei. We can come back if you feel like
being alone."
"What in..." Rei shook her head. It was a dream - it had to be a dream. Her
gaze drifted past Emerald to the couch. "Mamoru...?" She rushed over to
her unconscious boyf... former boyfriend, checking his wounds. "How did he
get here? What happened to him!?"
He ducked when he should have weaved. "The Kingdom's ruler did not take
my breaking into her dimension well, and it appears that her wrath can
sometimes be directed towards youma and others under her command. My
impromptu prison break proved to be most damaging to me and my illustrious
comrade over there."
She stared at him. "Are you INSANE!? You went to the Dark Kingdom by
yourself? What, do you think you're immortal? You can't just waltz into
the enemy's stronghold without backup! What were you thinking? WERE you
thinking?"
Elsa: I would almost say that Rei was worried about him. ^_^
<snip>
+++++++++++++++++
He walked outside, reaching the temple steps before life got that little
bit worse.
A portal of dark energy opened five meters away. Two ravens, perched on a
nearby prayer gate, took flight at the sight of the unnatural opening. A
moment later, a man and a woman stepped out of the portal.
Emerald's eyes narrowed. The woman was a typical youma with a typical
human-illusion glamour - typically boring. The man was something far more
interesting. He recognised the aura: the person who spied on his battle with
Endymion, the one who had left without interfering. He tried to remember
what the youma loremaster had told him, and hazarded a guess. "Kunzite, I
presume?"
Kunzite nodded. "And you are the person who has caused my queen a great
deal of vexation. It wasn't very wise, kidnapping one of Queen Metallia's
own, she is not one you should have ever crossed."
"Yes, well, I guess I'm not a very wise man." Avenues of attack and escape
were calculated, as he thought of ways to ensure that he wasn't hit in the
big target that was his bandaged chest. "If it worried you so, why did you
not interfere in my fight?"
Kunzite raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at his silent companion.
Admitting to blackmailable material in front of a youma was a deadman's
path, no matter how much he wanted to congratulate the man on his 'rescue'
of Endymion. It was almost a pity he had to kill him, from the brief
glimpse he'd caught of the prince before Beryl sent him here, the green man
had real Dark Kingdom potential.
To avoid answering, the general looked around. "A temple, isn't it? Why
did you bring him here?"
"The dark energy taint reaches to his very soul. His corporeal wounds were
nothing compared to the horror of mind control. At a temple, the evil within
him could be exorcised." Emerald felt a deep stab of pride at managing to
keep a completely straight face during the decidedly hokey explanation.
Elsa: Wow, really good acting. ^_^
"A pity," Kunzite noted. "For a moment there, after your foray into the
Kingdom, I thought you might be different. But with a speech like that,
I realise that you're just another Senshi toady, like Endymion was."
Emerald couldn't help it. He burst out laughing at the absurdity of the
insult.
+++++++++++++++++
<big long snip>
He looked around. A park. Yes, yes, a park was perfect. Except for the
chairs and lampposts--
He calmly wrenched the nearest lamppost from the ground, heaving it into
the distance. The nearby late night strollers, who had already been looking
at him with suspicion, took this as a cue to scream and run away. Parkgoing
in this area of town was starting to feel like a bit of a deathsport.
Elsa: Yeah. Considering how many times a park is the place where youma
show up, it's a big surprise that the authorities haven't tightened up
security or something.
<snip>
He turned around a few times, getting used to the blindfold, before he
settled into a wide-legged stance. Now then, what was the tradition for a
pretentious 'villain' of these times? Ah yes, a semi-rambling dissertation
on how much energy was being collected for their master, and how the
Senshi would 'never find me here'. Of course, that usually brought them
out of the woodwork.
Elsa: Another one of those biting observations that I like Emerald for.
<snip>
There was just the briefest flush of embarrassment, before the blue-
haired girl pointed to a telephone booth. "I have to tell my mother
that I'll be late for dinner."
Elsa: hehehehehehehehe.
<big long snip>
+++++++++++++++++
The youma turned to face the new arrivals.
As if on cue, Mercury's fog dissipated, allowing a single moonbeam to shine
dramatically on the last three Sailor girls, who stood flanking each other -
Moon in the middle, Mars on her right, and Venus on the left.
"Tying up innocent young girls is plain wrong(not to mention, Kunzite did
it once too, so it's getting a little old!) For the Moon, I--"
"Why?" the youma interrupted, in a hissing, rumbling voice.
Sailor Moon blinked, losing her rhythm. The youma weren't supposed to
interrupt the speeches. "Uh... what do you mean 'why'?"
"Why is it wrong?" The youma folded its left arm across its chest, resting
its right elbow against it, the hand supporting its chin. "Do you claim
that, for example, if a consenting female chose to willingly engage in
bondage, that her partner is not to be forgiven?"
+++++++++++++++++
A millennium and a mile away, a green-haired woman sighed, resisting the
urge to bury her head in her hands. Here we go. He couldn't resist it,
could he? He just couldn't let one speech slip by without a commentary.
Elsa: It's nice to see Pluto knows Emerald's in the present. I still say she sent
Emerald to the past to "fix" Serenity.
+++++++++++++++++
The Senshi collectively blinked, feeling the situation slipping from their
control. Mercury, surprised by the youma's sudden gregariousness, blinked
as the shock diverted her mind from analysing their opponent for a moment,
allowing her to realise something about its costume.
"Er..." Moon began, before she shook her head. "Wait a minute. Sailor
Jupiter isn't going to just go around playing kinky stuff with someone with
your fashion sense. I bet she wasn't consenting at all!"
Elsa: Well, she might. Let's ask her shall we ?
"Granted," the creature agreed, settling its arms by its sides. "Even so, it
seems somewhat cold to me, to kill someone because they broke one of your
petty moral hangups. Do you go breaking the legs of your milkman if he gives
you cream instead of yoghurt? Were you not hugged enough as a child?"
Elsa: Once again, I love this guy.
"I would never break someone's legs," Moon protested, baffled by the youma's
tactics. "Why are you saying these things about me!?" Tears shimmered in her
eyes as she tried to hide the hurt.
"Don't listen to him, Sailor Moon!" Mercury urged. "See there, under those
cloth strips - that's the same uniform that Jadeite and the other leaders
were wearing!"
"He's one of the Dark Kingdom's leaders," Venus realised, looking at the
ribbon-obscured jacket.
"Typical youma," Mars noted, pulling out an ofuda, "when it's outmatched,
it tries to insult its way out of trouble. Well, we're not going to sit
here and let one of our own be treated like this."
"Ah," the youma noted, raising its hand again as it settled into an attack
posture, "time for general unpleasantness."
"Everybody, be careful and keep your distance!" Mercury shouted to her
companions. "It's very dangerous in close quarters, but I don't think it
has any long-range attacks!"
The youma moved its pointing hand slightly to the right, turning the palm
of its tatter-gloved hand forward. A moment later, a sickly dark beam shot
out, exploding through the unfortunate tree that Mercury had previously
eyed for cover.
As bark and tree chips rained down on her, Mercury cleared her throat. "I
guess it might have long-range attacks too," she admitted ruefully.
"Well, so do we," Venus noted. "Crescent Beam!"
The creature flung itself backwards, barely falling its way out of being
hit by the attack. As soon as its shoulders hit the grassed ground, it used
the momentum and its hands to flip itself into the dark cover of the unlit
trees.
"Well handled," its voice whispered out, echoing off the trees so much that
it was hard to pinpoint the creature's position. "No hesitation. Will you
hesitate now, to follow me here?"
"It's a trap. It's got to be." Venus looked to the others. Mercury nodded,
agreeing.
Mars shrugged, trying to squash a tiny, nagging voice in her head. The
way the youma spoke, beneath the harsh tones of its voice was a timbre
that seemed familiar. "What are we supposed to do though? We can't just
leave him in there." She pointed a thumb at the dark copse as she looked
at the others.
Mercury tapped her visor, before she sighed. "I can't get a fix on the
youma."
"I could burn the trees down..."
"No!" Sailor Moon shook her head. "We can't do that, we can't destroy this
beautiful park. We'll just have to go in, and be extra careful."
They looked at her, and nodded, before they turned as one and entered
the grove.
"Can you see him?" Mars asked, her muscles taut as her eyes scanned the
darkness.
Sailor Moon squinted, trying to see in the shadows. Dark hands wrapped around
mouth and arms, inhuman strength immobilising and mutifying. For a second,
nothing, and then the starting of something - a painful buildup of energy.
Before it could be noticed by the others, it was gone. And so was she.
Elsa: Time to RRRUUUMMMBBBLLEEE !!!
+++++++++++++++++
<snip. big long snip>
+++++++++++++++++
It was like ice-hot acid. It burned from her skin inwards, seeping through
her nerves, washing amongst her blood, lancing into her bones, seeping into
her marrow, before it all rushed outwards: bones, blood, nerves, skin,
beyond.
Elsa: Energy incompatibility really hurts. Kinda like plugging 110 in 220.
It hurt. It... it hurt!
She felt the arms and ribbons wrapped around her loosen, and then release,
giving her a moment to see grey skies, before the interaction between their
powers reached critical point, and their energy exploded. Their bodies
catapulted apart, mixed energy streaking from them like blood from the
wounded.
Silence.
Silverish-white and darkish-green energy arced around their fallen bodies,
slowly seeping into the greyish, dead ground.
Silence.
+++++++++++++++++
<snip>
Mars didn't answer for a moment as she looked to the smog-screened sky.
There had been something horribly, horribly familiar about that youma.
The way it spoke, not so much the voice but the way it spoke down without
using contempt... She couldn't get rid of a cold fear in her soul.
Elsa: I think she's finally figured it out, ladies and gentlemen.
+++++++++++++++++
<big snip>
+++++++++++++++++
"...ueen Sere..."
The dark faded, awareness sparking slightly, a dull glow against the black
of unconsciousness.
"Neo-qu........enity..."
Her eyes screwed up slightly, trying to entrap the moment of bliss, free
from the pain and hurt, safe from...
"...please,......queen, you .......awaken."
Her mind rebelled at the constant intrusion, desiring a return to the
wonderful numbness of sleep. Then, she remembered. She remembered the pain.
With a gasp, she opened her eyes, shooting up from her lying position. She
stared down at herself, horror quickly dimming to confusion. Her Senshi suit
was slightly shredded, but besides that... "I don't understand; I... I
felt..."
"Pain." The word was clipped, spoken in a quiet voice.
She whirled to face the speaker, her hand tightening around the handle of her
moon wand, drawing comfort from its weight.
A knight in crystalline armour stood looking at her. The man's armour was
pale lime - almost white, in fact, and Sailor Moon couldn't help shake the
feeling that it would be glinting if only there was enough sunlight for it.
Despite wearing a solid chunk of mineral for protection, the knight still
looked fightworthy. The only thing that wasn't quite storybook about him,
besides the absence of a Great Big Sword was the two-sizes-too-big grey
cloak that hung around his shoulders.
The eyeslits of his full-face helm were too narrow and shadow-filled for
her to see his eyes, but she still picked up a sense of anticipation in
the man's stance. "You felt pain, pain unimagineable," the knight began
again. "And now you wonder why you feel fine."
Elsa: I don't know. Aspirin ?
"Who are you?" She frantically looked around, trying to hang onto the
threads of her composure. "Where are we?" The faintest hint of a whine
tinged her voice as she realised that this probably wasn't Earth. "What
happened to that other guuuuyyyy!?"
The man bowed at the waist, his left arm falling to rest on his back, the
other sweeping forward to rest against his stomach in a classic courtier's
pose. "A good name for me might be..." he cocked his head as he rose from
his bow, as if to think about it, before continuing, "the Green Knight. As
to where we are," he paused, looked around, and then looked straight at her
eyes, "well, I'm afraid that depends on you. I need your aid, Sailor Moon,
in vanquishing an evil being."
Sailor Moon looked around again, to make sure the bandaid guy wasn't around,
before she looked back to the Green Knight. "Vanquish? Ah... who did you
need help 'vanquishing'? Beryl? That bad fashion guy that just attacked me?"
The knight shook his head. "Oh no. And here I thought it would be obvious.
No, if you are who I believe you to be, then I am afraid that the evil I
seek to destroy," a gauntleted hand rose to point at her, "is you."
Elsa: I see you won't be using my suggestion to make it into a John Woo-type
power duel, right ?
<snip>
Ghostly fingers cradled the crystal, as a glowing face stared into its
reflective surface.
"Come," the spirit of Queen Serenity of the Silver Millennium whispered,
"my daughter has need of you. Now more than ever."
Elsa: Well, maybe in the next part. ^_^
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I hope there weren't too many errors in the first half - I couldn't
face intensively error-checking it: too much time already invested in
this story, and all that.
Elsa: Nope not many errors. Anyway, the way things are coming out there are two choices:
a) Emerald kills Serenity resulting in system-wide destruction and probably quite
a few people coming after Mark's head. I wouldn't mind it at all. Hell, I'd cheer Mark on. ^_^
or
b) Serenity blows Emerald to kingdom come. Anyway, considering the nuttines of
timelines, Emerald'll probably end up as Mars' consort in the future ^_^. Also, maybe
that's the way Pluto planned it, considering the little interview session with Emerald
may "fix" the Serenity of the future. Anyway, it's just a pet theory. I don't mind this
ending too.
Anyway, crank 6B out as quickly and perfectly as possible Mark. The excitement's killing me.