Title: SX5: Transfiguration
Rating: PG
Sailor X #2 Hellfire
By: John Brengman
Neo-Queen Serenity stood on the balcony overlooking the grand
ballroom in the Crystal Palace. Light from the chandeliers softly
bathed the dancing couples and assorted party-goers and reflected
gently off the silvery-gray marble floor. Soft music wafted into the
air from the orchestra pit at the left end of the room,
while a sitting area dominated the opposite end, providing a polite
alternative to those lacking the energy or courage to brave the dance
floor. Judging from the continuous gentle pulse of activity in the
room, the first formal dance held in the Crystal Palace since the
ballroom was rebuilt was a complete success.
From her vantage point, Serenity sighed and leaned against a
nearby column. Seeing this un-royal-like posture, Luna quietly but
quickly jumped to the banister and somehow managed to appear graceful
as she rushed to her queen�s side. Once she was perched comfortably
upon a shoulder, she purred quietly.
�You are tired?� She asked.
�No,� Serenity replied lazily.
�Ah! You are bored,� Luna stated. �Well, bored or not, your
posture is most appalling.�
�Serenity gazed at Luna with a weary smile and seated herself in a
nearby chair. �You know,� she said. �You are about the only one around
here who can still get away with lecturing me.� Serenity paused
thoughtfully. �Raye can too, I suppose�and Amy sometimes��
�What is the problem?� Luna demanded.
�I�m tired,� Serenity replied. �I am tired of being a queen, of
running a kingdom, of having people on pins and needles around me. I
never do anything for myself, or by myself.
�Yes, my queen,� Luna replied. She received a stern glare from
Serenity.
�And no one ever calls me �Serena� anymore�or even��meatball
head�.� Luna thought she heard a lonely sigh at the mention of her old,
hated nickname.
Luna jumped gracefully to the banister, seated herself and looked
over the crowd that was oblivious to their queen�s inner turmoil.
Turning her head back to Serenity, she said, �You may be lonely and
bored, but the people down there don�t and shouldn�t see it. They see a
young queen that they respect and love�and they need to keep seeing
that.�
�Perhaps,� the queen replied glumly as she arose, �but that
doesn�t make me feel any better.�
Luna watched as Serenity proceeded to the double doors at the back
of the room, nodding politely to the few courtiers she passed along the
way.
�This,� Luna sighed to herself, �is going to be a problem.�
==> * SM * <==
Raye and Cassandra were returning to the Crystal Palace from the
dedication ceremonies of the Prometheus Colony on Titan. Since the
confines of the spaceplane did not lend themselves to conversation,
both women took the opportunity to sleep during the flight between
Saturn and Jupiter.
Their sleep was disturbed when a sensor contact alarm sounded.
Raye quickly tied into the sensors and queried the computer for
information. Cassandra, who was not quite awake yet, grumbled sleepily
at the disturbance and tried in vain to retreat into slumber.
Failing to fall asleep, Cass growled, �Shut that off!�
�Sorry,� came the reply from the pilot�s chair in front of her.
�No can do. You have to tie into the system before that alarm will
stop.�
Cass quickly donned her flight helmet and tied its sensory net
into the plane�s computer. A visor slid down over her eyes and the
ship�s cockpit disappeared as the helmet fed information from the
ship�s sensors directly into her brain.
�Ok,� Cass said. �I�m tied in.� The alarm stopped almost as if on
cue. �What are we picking up?�
�I don�t know yet,� Raye replied. �It�s off somewhere at about
eleven o�clock according to the sensors.�
Cass looked in that direction and noticed a band of debris in the
distance. �We�re getting close to the asteroid belt,� she noted.
�Uhm hmm,� Raye murmured. �Our contact is in there.�
Cass scanned the area. �I don�t see it.�
�I�ll increase the magnification,� Raye replied as she turned a
small knob on a control panel to her left. Cass watched as the asteroid
field that drifted between Sol�s fourth and fifth planets seemed to
jump out at her. A small mote of flame seemed to float amid all of the
asteroids. �Oh no,� Cass muttered as Raye increased the magnification
again, bringing the object into better focus.
The object appeared to be a human-shaped being sheathed entirely
in an orange-red aura of fire. Even from this distance, Cass could see
heavy body armor, bulky gauntlets, and a spiked helmet.
�Not him again,� Cass moaned.
�Fraid so,� Raye replied. �It looks like Hellfire�s back.
==> * SM * <==
Honolulu, HI Two weeks earlier
�This guy is tough,� Sailor Moon muttered as she dodged out of the
way of a fireball thrown by the nine-foot tall villain who was
surrounded by flames. From somewhere nearby, Jupiter stepped up.
�JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!� Lightning bolts spiraled down to Jupiter, who
collected them. Turning, she shot a fierce bolt of electricity at the
villain. The lightning flared around the monster, then faded with no
effect.
�You call that power?� the villain scoffed. �THIS is power!� With
that, he summoned a fireball into the palm of his hand and threw it at
Jupiter, who managed to get out of the way but was blown to the ground
by the force of the blast.
The Sailors had fought a ragged running battle and was now backed
against the premises of a local orphanage. Sailor Moon was determined
that the fight would proceed no further�the villain had to be stopped
here.
Venus launched a Crescent Beam attack, which did little to phase
the monster. �Nothing you wimps have can stop the power of Hellfire!�
The monster shouted as the remnants of Venus� attack faded.
�Group together,� Sailor Moon ordered mentally. �I�ll fire a tiara
shard attack, then we�ll finish him off with a combined attack.�
The Sailors evaded Hellfire�s firebolts long enough to group
together in front of the stone wall bordering the orphanage. Sailor
Moon pulled the tiara from her forehead and shouted, �MOON TIARA SHARD
MAGIC!� The tiara activated with a flash that illuminated Sailor Moon�s
face with a pale light. Sailor Moon threw her tiara toward Hellfire. As
it arced toward the villain, an angry red light pulsed from the tiara
as shuriken-like projectiles appeared on the tiara. The projectiles
then were spun off the tiara and shot toward Hellfire, who raised the
gauntlet on his left hand as a defense.
The projectiles from the tiara impacted upon Hellfire�s gauntlet
but were deflected back at the unsuspecting Sailors, who were now
showered with a rain of razor-sharp blades. Hellfire simply batted the
tiara away with the gauntlet and laughed hysterically at the chaos he
had caused.
�I�ll come back when you�ve grown up!� He shouted. �Perhaps then
you�ll be more of a challenge.� With that, the villain disappeared in a
ball of fire, leaving five severely injured Sailors to wonder what
went wrong.
==> * SM * <==
�Speak to me
Of those days I won�t forget.
Your worst dream
Has now returned to pay you back!
I�m still laughing.
There�s not much else I can do
But one thing�s certain,
I�m coming back for you!�
�Have you got a gun?
Do you remember well?
Who�d ya use it on
You�re going to burn in Hell!�
- Judas Priest, �Burn In Hell� (1997)
Near the asteroid belt� Present day�
�He�s coming at us, Raye,� Cass exclaimed, the concern evident in
her voice. She and Sandra had been the least injured in their last
battle with Hellfire, and were thus the only active members of the new
group of Sailors. Mina, Raye, and Lita had volunteered to return to
active duty until the rest of the group could heal.
�I see him,� Raye murmured as she put the spaceplane into a dive
in an attempt to escape from Hellfire. They were close enough to the
asteroid field that they were encountering solitary rock fragments as
they flew. Raye rolled the plane lazily to avoid one rather large chunk
of rock.
�I think we lost him,� Cass sighed with relief.
�Nope,� Raye replied. �He�s out there waiting for us.� She sighed.
�But we have no choice. We�ve got at try to get past the asteroid belt
and make a run for the palace.�
Raye started the plane into a gradual climb back through the
scattered debris, hoping that it would mask their presence. They got to
the vicinity of the asteroid belt before the ship shook with the impact
of plasma bolts on the neosteel hull.
�He�s got us,� Cass stated. She was nearly panicked.
�I see that,� Raye replied, looking out the cockpit at the
asteroid belt below.
�What do we do now?�
Raye nodded in the direction of the asteroid field. �We go in.�
�You�re not serious,� Cass stated bluntly.
�I am,� Raye said. �I heard a line in a movie once. �They�d be
crazy to follow us.�� *
�Yeah,� Cass answered back. �I�d hate to think what that says
about you.�
Raye said nothing as she banked the plane into the asteroid
field.. Soon Raye was dodging both the asteroids and plasma bolts as
Hellfire barraged the plane as he chased it.
�I just hope I can keep us together until we reach the break-off
point for Mars,� Raye thought, �because if I can�t, we�re going to be
nothing but a cloud of space dust.�
==> * SM * <==
Crystal Palace
�I don�t like this, Luna,� Serenity scolded as she and the cat
walked down the hallway toward the palace�s gymnasium. �Usually I like
surprises, but I�m not in the mood right now.�
�Oh lighten up, Serena,� Luna replied. �I think you�ll find this
surprise quite enjoyable.�
�And you keep calling me Serena!� Serenity exclaimed. �Not that I
mind�too much�but that�s all you�ve called me since the dance.�
�It�s part of the surprise.�
�Oh,� Serenity murmured. The two walked the rest of the way to the
gym in silence.
The doors to the gymnasium opened and Serenity was greeted by the
sight of the brightly-lit room. Various gymnastics equipment stood
silently to one side of the gym floor, which had been cleared and
replaced with a standard gymnast�s dance floor. A control room was
located above the floor, its lit windows looking out on the gym from
the south.
Mina was busy putting the finishing touches on her dress and
straightening the red bow in her hair. Lita could be seen up in the
control room.
�Hey you two,� Mina exclaimed seeing Serenity and Luna approach.
Mina scanned Serenity for a moment. �Oh Serena, that dress is too
formal. Here,� she said as she picked up a bundle of clothes, �put
these on.�
Lita came down the stairs from the control booth just as Serenity
was finished changing. Serenity now wore a reprinted Sailor V cutoff,
denim shorts, and tennis shoes. It had taken her more time to remove
her gown than it had to completely re-dress. Both Lita and Mina nodded
their approval.
�You look good,� Lita stated.
�Yes, doesn�t it feel good to be out of that thing?� Mina nodded
toward the gown hanging by a hook on the wall.
�I guess,� Serenity replied. �I feel a bit naked though.
Mina approached Serenity and gave her a friendly hug. �That�s
because you spend too much time with court duties and other stuff and
you never leave time for yourself.�
Lita added, �this about a girl who nearly failed out of school.�
Serenity blushed. Shaking her head to banish the embarrassment,
she asked, �So, what are we doing here?�
Lita did a twirl that made her dress billow out prettily. �Dancing
lessons!� She exclaimed.
�Aren�t you afraid I�ll be a klutz?� Serenity asked, sounding a
bit concerned.
�Nope,� Mina replied happily. �And if you do klutz out, so what.
You need to let your hair down and forget about being queen for a
while.�
With that, Lita picked up a small remote, pointed it at a wall
sensor and pressed a button. Soft music began to waft from the gym
speakers. �Let the dance lessons begin,� she said happily.
Luna contented herself with simply curling up nearby and watching
the proceedings.
==> * SM * <==
�Say my name.
I can hear you whisper.
Not to blame?
You are going to blister!�
- Judas Priest, �Burn In Hell� (1997)
Mars
Raye would later proclaim the landing of the spaceplane on Mars as
one of her best landings. The plane was neatly tucked just inside the
entrance to a canyon. Cass had objected to landing on Mars, but Raye
had said that once they were outside, Hellfire would have a harder time
outgunning them. After another attempt to call the palace on the
plane�s comm system had failed, Raye had sent Cass off to plant a
marker beacon that would make any search for them easier.
When Cass returned, Raye looked over at her from where she was
inspecting the damage to the plane. She tore off a piece of neosteel
which had curled into more of a cylindrical shape during the flight
through the atmosphere. It had originally been damaged from one of
Hellfire�s attacks.
�The marker is set.� Cass said.
�Good.� Raye replied. �Once they start looking for us, we�ll be
easy to find.�
�Won�t we be leaving before the others get worried enough to
search?�
�I hope so,� Raye said., �but if we go, we have to do so soon.�
She pointed to the plane�s mid-section, where the fuel for the plane�s
engines was stored. �The plasma that feeds the engines is beginning to
go inert. If it goes completely, we won�t be able to re-start the
engines.�
�How long will it take for the fuel to go completely inert?�
�I don�t know exactly,� Raye answered. �Not long, though.� Both
women continued their work on the plane in silence for a while after
that pronouncement of doom.
The women were so focused on the job of repairing the plane that
they were caught off guard when Hellfire landed with a roar.
�I thought I�d find you here,� Hellfire said with a smirk. �Now I
will get a chance to finish what I started the last time!�
Both women jumped down from the plane and approached the villain.
�Not if we have anything to say about it,� Raye replied. Almost in
unison, both women shouted �MARS POWER!� and began their
transformations into Sailor Mars.
�Wonderful,� Hellfire exclaimed upon seeing the two Sailors emerge
from their transformations. �Two fiery Sailors to scrag. Such fun!�
�Wishful thinking, charcoal-brain!� the younger Mars shouted,
�MARS FIREBOLT POWER!� A ball of fire coalesced in her right hand and
she flung it at Hellfire. The blast hit the villain but seemed to have
little effect.
The elder Mars, seeing this, shouted, �MARS STAR POWER!� and
transformed into her more powerful form.
�Oh,� Hellfire commented, �I�m really scared now�.why don�t you
lay some of that fire magic on me��
�If you insist�MARS FIRESTORM FLASH!� An angry stream of fire shot
from the elder Sailor Mars and surrounded Hellfire with a scorching
inferno. Mars continued to pour energy into the fire blast for several
seconds longer, waiting for Hellfire to collapse under the barrage.
Finally, Mars discontinued the blast and Hellfire simply waited for it
to subside.
�And you call yourselves �super� heroes,� Hellfire said dryly. �Is
that the best you can do? Here�try this!� And with that, he blew a gust
of fire that scorched the nearby canyon walls and anything in between.
Rocks were picked up by the strength of the blast and hurled at the two
Sailors who gradually grew weaker under the punishment.
After both women were unconscious, Hellfire ceased his attack.
Standing over the Sailors, he sneered. �Pathetic! I don�t know why I
waste my time.� He then flew off.
==> * SM * <==
Serenity could not remember the last time she had had so much fun.
The worries, cares, and responsibilities of running the Moon Kingdom
had melted away with the joy of having fun with a couple of close
friends. After getting her dance feet going, Serenity glided over the
dance floor like the premier dancer she was during the reign of her
mother.
A pleased Lita and Mina watched as Serenity swooped over the
floor in time to the music and responding to her invisible partner.
�Thank you girls,� Luna said. �The queen definitely needed
something like this.�
�We know,� Mina said. �I noticed it during the dance, but Mina
came up with the idea of �dance lessons.��
As they continued to watch Serenity waltz across the dance floor,
one of her feet caught the other and she tumbled into a heap on the
floor. She flopped over onto her back and shook her head angrily.
�I am such a meatball head!� She screamed. Lita, Mina, and Luna
burst out laughing at this. Seeing this, Serenity began to laugh too as
she arose and went to join them on the bench.
�Thanks, you guys,� Serenity said as she sat down. �This was
great.�
�Even the klutz out?� Lita asked.
Serenity blushed. �Yes,� she replied. �Even the klutz out. I�ve
got to do this more often.�
�Consider it done,� Luna said, �Klutz outs and all.�
Everyone giggled, then got up and went out to the dance floor.
Lita started the music and they began to dance. Not long after that,
Serenity tripped again and all three women fell to the floor, which
sent up another burst of raucous laughter.
==> * SM * <==
�Scream in the night!
I�ve been counting the days.
It�s so amusing
To see you again�
�Have you got a gun?
Do you remember well?
Who�d ya use it on
You�re going to burn in Hell!�
-
Judas Priest, �Burn In Hell� (1997)
Cass awoke to the sight of Raye looking down at her.
�How long?�
�You�ve been out for about two hours,� Raye replied. She had moved
Cass to a spot near the plane once she had regained consciousness.
�Hellfire?�
�He�s probably still around, but he�s not in the area,� Raye said.
�What do we do now?� Cass asked. �We can�t seem to do anything to
the guy. He eats up any energy we throw at him.�
�I know,� Raye said as she gazed at the plane. �I was using some
of my most powerful attacks, and they weren�t phasing him.
�So how do we stop him?� Cass inquired? �None of our attacks
worked. Jupiter�s thunder attack failed. Sailor Moon�s tiara attack
didn�t work��
�Hold it!� Raye exclaimed, her eyes glistening. �I�ve got it!� She
quickly got up and went to the plane to retrieve the tortured strip of
neosteel she had discarded earlier.
�This is going to be a bit dangerous,� Raye said. �Are you
familiar with your Super form?�
�No.�
�I�m not surprised,� Raye nodded. �You are a bit too inexperienced
yet for that level of power. You�ll need help to get to that level, and
it will be painful. Once there, you will have access to all of the
attacks I use in the Super form plus anything you can discipline your
mind to attain.�
�Yes,� Cass said. �You�ve taught me that the powers of Mars are as
much a matter of mental discipline as they are anything else. But, what
are you planning?�
Raye knelt and began to shape the neosteel strip to make it more
aerodynamic. �I need you to provide a distraction, and the only thing I
can think of that will do the trick is the firestorm attack. I need
Hellfire to be completely occupied with your attack.�
�You said the transformation was going to be painful,� Cass
stated. �What do you mean?�
�It�s better that you not know,� Raye replied. �But, I will be
here to help you, and the pain will go away once you transform.
Now�close your eyes�.and imagine the form of a flaming phoenix��
Cass looked up in the Martian sky at the distant sun and slowly
closed her eyes. In her mind�s eye, she still could see the sun, which
slowly warped to form the shape of a fire-sheathed phoenix�
�Ah!� Hellfire said, �I see you�re ready for more punishment. He
then launched a fireball at Cass, who had transformed into Sailor Mars
along with Raye when the villain was first spotted heading their way.
She hit the deck quickly to avoid the blistering attack. Raye glanced
to the ground at her left where she had laid the neosteel shard. She
had sharpened the forward tip and smoothed the sides. Glaring at
Hellfire, she shouted, �MARS FIRE IGNITE!� and blasted Hellfire with a
bolt of flame that was ineffective against the gloating monster.
�You are weak, pathetic fools!� He shouted. �Your powers are
nothing compared to the mighty forces of primal fire I command!� Almost
as an after-thought, he batted away a fire ball generated by the
younger Mars. �Bah! How weak! See how I dispose of your energy! You are
nothing!�
The elder Mars looked toward the younger, who was standing a few
feet away on a small hill. �Now,� she shouted. �Transform!�
Still seeing the flaming phoenix in her mind, the younger Mars
shouted, �MARS STAR POWER!� and was sheathed in an angry field of fire.
She screamed in agony as the fire scorched her skin.
�Focus!� The elder Mars shouted. �Feel the strength of the
phoenix!� She thought. �Let the purity of the phoenix come through!� At
the appropriate time, the elder Mars raised her hands and pointed at
the younger Mars. �MARS FIRE�.IGNITE!� The fireball shot forward and
slammed into the younger Mars, who now seemed to be transfixed by the
pain of the flames. The added fire quickly carbonized the young woman
and she was enclosed in a cocoon of gray charcoal.
�That was certainly interesting,� Hellfire stated as he shot
razor-sharp claws at the elder Mars who back-flipped over the neosteel
shard out of the way.
A brilliant light began to shine through the carbon shroud that
enclosed the younger Mars. The light quickly began to consume the
carbon until the younger Mars stepped away.
�I am Sailor Mars! In the name of the Moon Kingdom, I will fight
evil and defend the innocent! I will vanquish villains, and that means
you!�
�You go girl,� The elder Mars thought.
�MARS FIRESTORM FLASH!� The torrent of fire erupted from the
younger Mars who was surrounded by a brilliant aura. The fire splashed
on Hellfire and seemed to devour him. The young Sailor continued the
attack for several seconds before it became evident that the attack was
going to have no effect on the villain, who started laughing
hysterically.
�All that pain�all those special effects, and all you can do is
THAT?� Hellfire continued to laugh as the young Mars looked over
questioningly.
�Keep going!� The elder Sailor shouted.
�MARS FIRE�IGNITE!� Another fireball welled up from the hands of
the younger Sailor. She held it a bit longer than usual, as if doing so
would increase it�s strength. Finally, she let it loose and it spiraled
to Hellfire, bathing him once again in a bath of primal energy. He
started laughing even before the attack�s effect had died, totally
unaware that the elder Sailor had stooped down to pick up the neosteel
shard.
Hefting the metal shard lightly, the elder Sailor Mars readied
herself, reached back her throwing arm, and shot the crude spear at the
villain. �Laugh at this!� She shouted.
Just in time, Hellfire turned at the sound of the elder Sailor�s
voice. He raised his gauntlet to reflect the incoming missile. The
shard hit the upper portion of the gauntlet heavily and deflected
forward and upward. The villain screamed as he realized his fatal
mistake one second before the neosteel shard slammed into his head,
piercing his eye, driving into his brain and shattering his skull. As
the monster died, the primal energies that had surrounded him faded and
his smoking body toppled backward to the ground.
The younger Sailor bounded down the hill and met her mentor near
the feet of the villain and practically flew into her arms.
�We did it!� Cass shouted happily. �We did it! We did it!� She
looked at the corpse of Hellfire as it to say �HA!�
�How do you feel?� Raye asked.
�Ok,� Cass replied thoughtfully, �although transforming into Super
Mars was painful.�
�It won�t hurt at all once you learn to control the
transformation,� Raye said. She then noticed a streak of light across
the sky. �It looks like someone at the palace noticed our beacon.�
Together, the two women watched the sun set behind the Martian
horizon while they waited for their friends to arrive to take them
home.
FINI
FOOTNOTES AND EXPLANATIONS
* �He�d be crazy to follow us.� Was taken from �The Empire Strikes
Back�, where Han Solo used a
derivative of the same phrase.
Explanation: Raye realized that the shuriken attack used against
Hellfire in the first battle had failed because the shurikens were too
light. Thus, she came up with the idea of the neosteel shard, which was
light enough to throw, yet heavy enough to deflect forward, instead of
backward.
PREVIEW: SX3: DARK SAILOR
Sailor Moon stood upon a steep cliff overlooking portion of the
Negaverse. All she saw below her, in all directions was deserted and
wrecked buildings, punctuated by fires of various sizes. Buildings
which in their heyday had been possibly beautiful were now twisted in
agony. The entire view looked like the worst ideas of a
post-apocalyptic horror. Queen Beryl�s evil seemed to reach across from
the realm of the dead to continue to torment the populace�those which
still survived.
�My god�� Sailor Moon murmured aloud.
�You are standing amidst the ruins,� Scaramanga said, �of a place
that God has forsaken. If He were ever here at all.� The master villain
nodded a silent greeting to the other Sailors, all of whom had turned
at the sound of his voice.
Fanfic c 1999 � John Brengman and Artemis Publishing
Sailor X series inspired by Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, c 1992 by Toei
Animation Co Ltd. and based on Kodansha�s manga production of �Sailor
Moon�, written by Naoko Takeuchi
This fanfic is freely distributed. Release date: August, 1998
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