Standar disclaimer: Sailor moon: Not mine...
Dragonball Z: Not mine...
Ranma 1/2: Not mine...
Slayers: Not mine...
The dragons and knights in the story: MINE! MINE! MINE!
"You know, Coldfire, I like the way you handled Gold. It was...
magnificent."
"Yes, I..."
"I heard how you *handled* Gold, Coldfire. I must say, it was rather...
imaginative, I guess." Said a soft voice coming from one of the
corridors. "But, it was also vile. Dishonorable. Hardly the kind of
maneuver one of your... illustrious clan would approve."
"Oh, Yeah?! And how would you know that?!" she challenged, as her
eyes glowed a soft red.
"Because, I knew your father," Said the voice, as the sound of
footsteps approached. "And I, knew his father, and his father's
father."
Winter did a small reverence as an old man in worn red clothes walked
towards them. Coldfire glared at him, but didn't speak. She nodded
curtly. The old man, -with his few white hair, toothy grin, and
strange yellow and red eyes- smiled at her as he walked past.
When he was gone she turned towards Winter. "I thought he was in
Avalon..." she whispered.
"I know, I wonder what news he brings?" he whispered back.
---------------------Sailor Moon; Masks & Dragons---------------------
Chapter 8; The Old Man
By Wanderer D
Usagi, Hakura, Michiru, Mamoru, Rae, Minako, Setsuna and Rae's
Grandfather stood outside one of the temple's rooms.
After a few moments the door slid open, and Hotaru walked out helped
by Ami and her mother, who slid the door shut after them.
They were met by expectant stares.
"Your friend Makoto is okay, she seems to have been drained of her
energy, but with a little rest she'll be fine."
The others nodded relieved.
"What about Nathan?" Minako asked.
"Hotaru was able to save him, however, I don't know how but Mask's
attack was not normal. Nathan's wound is healed, yes, but he grows
weaker by the moment. At this rate, and with constant help," Dr.
Mizuno looked at the group steadily. "He won't live more than another
week."
Haruka let herself fall in the sofa. Michiru took a seat next to her,
as did Hotaru and Setsuna. The rest of the Senshi divided themselves
(except for Mamoru and Usagi) among the other sofa and chairs.
After a few seconds Michiru stood up and offered the other drinks,
since they were in their house.
They all sat there in silence, those who had accepted drinks holding
them in their hands.
Finally Haruka sighed. "I didn't think that Mask guy to be so tough."
She stated. Minako looked at her.
"We told you, that guy has gone toe to toe with the dragons and has
been very close to winning."
"It's... just not so easy anymore." Usagi said.
"It never was easy, Usagi." Rae scolded softly. She knew what Usagi
was talking about.
"I know. But, at least we had a fighting chance." Ami added. "This
time... we haven't been much help, have we?"
"You can't blame all on the senshi, Ami." Michiru murmured. "This
whole situation was out of hand from the beginning."
"No," Usagi stated. "It's all our fault. We lost the gold statue, then
we couldn't do anything when Jade destroyed Tokyo Tower. Or stop Gold
from taking those statues. Or stop Mask and Coldfire from destroying
the subway station." Tears were starting to form in her eyes as she
spoke.
"Then, Mask. He isn't as strong as the dragons, yet he managed to beat
the living crap out of us..."
"Hey!" Haruka interrupted, however her comment was held back by
Usagi's pain-filled eyes.
"Without breaking a sweat." Usagi continued. "And we only lived
because Nathan distracted Mask long enough for Makoto to somehow stop
him! And now Nathan is dying, Makoto is in bed as well as Gold, AND
WE CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT!!!" Usagi finally let go, and Mamoru softly
held her, whispering softly in her ear as she cried.
The others said nothing. Even Setsuna was a little subdued.
Dr. Mizuno arrived very early the next morning. She stopped suddenly
when she saw the dragon, but after recognizing Sapphire, she walked
towards her. The elder Mizuno still felt as in a dream, ever since her
daughter and her friend had showed her into the secret life of both.
The next morning after she had been told, she had woken up as if all
had been a dream, but she had found out the contrary, when she was
summoned to help the senshi's friends.
Sapphire greeted her with a toothy smile, and Dr. Mizuno couldn't help
but smile back. She was still getting used to the dragon, and she had
found herself a little worried about Sapphire, since the blue dragon
had, up until now played both sides against the middle, in an attempt
to avenge her friends.
"Good morning, Sapphire!"
"Good morning, Dr. Mizuno." The blue dragon answered, as she extended
her wings completely.
Dr. Mizuno stared at the leathery wings until Sapphire gathered them
back.
"It must be great to fly..." she sighed.
Sapphire smiled. "It's the best. Maybe I'll take you for a ride
someday."
Together they went into the temple, and into the room where the hurt
were.
They found Makoto seated on Nathan's bed, looking at him through hazy
eyes.
She didn't look up as they entered. "I shouldn't have told him the
truth... Makoto said mournfully. He wouldn't be here if I hadn't."
"Mako-chan..." Makoto, the blue dragon and Dr. Mizuno turned to Nathan.
"Don... don't... blame..." He managed to wheeze through broken lips
before dozing off again.
Makoto looked at him for a moment, then bit her lip as she closed her
eyes and stood up. She stood by him for a moment, then left the room,
walking stiffly.
Later:
Coldfire stood before Black, as the later paced about the room in
human form.
She still marveled at the black dragon's ability to shapeshift, for
she knew that he could adopt many others. Finally Black turned towards
her.
"It's time." he said, and Coldfire nodded. "I will take you there
myself, tonight. Be ready." Coldfire nodded nervously, and left the
room. Leaving the black dragon to himself.
She met Sapphire on the way out.
"Any news?" Sapphire asked. "I'm getting tired of being in this
plane."
"Yeah, sure. I guess keeping you out of action is taking a toll on
you, huh? But I can guess why."
"What are you saying?" The blue dragon retorted. "Speak directly."
"Sapphire. You are too soft. That's why Black chose me to do this job,
you lack the stomach. Just like Gold." As the blue dragon glared at
her, the silver continued. "in any case, Lord Black has told me that
he will take ME to the place where the last statue is. Tonight."
Coldfire walked away. "See you in the loser corner!" She said before
disappearing into one of the many stone passages.
Sapphire hissed, and turned around, heading for her quarters.
Hotaru stepped out of the room again, followed by Dr. Mizuno. Makoto
looked hopefully at the two, but received no response.
Looking depressed she walked out into the temple grounds. Usagi
started to follow her, but Michiru held her back, shaking her head.
Makoto walked away from the temple. She didn't know how, but she
eventually found herself outside her school. She looked longingly at
the top of the building, where she and Nathan always talked. A small
tear went down her face to her chin.
"Are you okay, young lady?" said a kind voice. Turning around she saw
an old man. He was almost bald, except for a few white hairs spread
unevenly.
He was dressed in old red and white robes, he had a gentle face, and
his smile was reflected in his way of speaking and walking. But the
most impressive thing about him were his eyes. The irises were a
strange mixture of fiery red and solid yellow.
'I... I have seen those eyes before...' Makoto thought, she then
snapped back into reality. "N-no, sensei." she stammered 'Sensei?'
"Good. A beautiful young lady like you shouldn't cry bitter tears.
I was wondering if you could tell me how to find the Hikawa Temple?
I've been searching for it, but I'm not accustomed to walking around
cities."
Makoto smiled at the old man. "I'll be glad to take you there, sensei.
I was on my way to the Temple." She grabbed the old man's arm and
guided him towards the temple.
Rae met them at the temple doors. Makoto looked at her, but Rae shook
her head.
Makoto sighed and told Rae that the old man had come to the temple for
meditation. Rae smiled, albeit a little sadly, at the old man and
escorted him in, while Makoto went into the room where Nathan lay
breathing softly.
Outside, Ami's computer started beeping. The others looked at each
other. Usagi finally stood up. "Let's go." She ordered. The other
nodded.
Luna sighed at Usagi from where she was in the tree with Artemis.
"I believe our Usagi is growing up." Artemis nodded. "It's sad it had
to be a result of all of this." he added.
Coldfire stepped out of the large portal Lord Black had created. As
the other stepped out it collapsed upon itself until it disappeared.
The silver dragon looked around the landscape that surrounded her.
The rocky bottom of a large volcano occupied most of the view. Black
flew up, still in human form, and Coldfire followed him. Black and
Coldfire gazed down at Mt. Fuji, Black's eyes shone with a red light
as he muttered a spell, when he finished the ground below started
shaking, the sky became a mixture of red and black as the ancient
volcano erupted.
The Sailor Scouts appeared at the roots of the volcano, they were a
little confused at first from doing the teleport, but they quickly
recovered.
"Amy! What's happening?" Usagi asked, scared at the growing heat, and
the ash falling everywhere.
"Mount Fuji's erupted?!" Ami exclaimed. The others looked at her, a
silent 'what' forming in all their mouths. "But... isn't the area
around Mt. Fuji... inhabited?" Venus asked.
"Yes, we have to find a way to help them!" Ami answered, as she
quickly used her computer. "I think we can stop the lava flow long
enough for the people to escape. But we have to move. Now."
The others nodded somberly.
The old man walked into the room where Nathan and Gold rested. He
walked straight to the gold dragon and looked him over.
"There's nothing left of the wound. Hmm. Ah, I see. There's no will to
live."
The old man took a seat next to Gold. "You have gone to far inside
Gold. I can't know if you are listening to me, but I'll tell you that
I'm disappointed." the old man sighed softly, then looked at Gold's
face. "You had a brilliant future kid, it's a shame that you wasted it
working for the likes of Black. I told you not to make my mistake. Oh,
sure, you got what you wanted, a place in the council, but at what
price, Gold? You had to watch your friends die. Your only friends
besides Sapphire. Was it worth it? I doubt it. My guess is you came
back to fight Black after fulfilling your debt. Honor is a hard thing
to understand, kid. Where was your honor when those two died? Are you
going to let that happen again?"
The old man shifted in his seat, not noticing Gold's tail twitching.
"Maybe this girls are not your friends, but they are fighting your
fight. They can't win. They know it. Just like you did. But, unlike
you, they have chosen to fight, because they have hope. And hope,
Gold, is a precious thing, so precious in fact, that it's why I still
live."
The old man changed his tone slightly, sounding a bit indifferent.
"But I guess that's beyond you, isn't it Gold? You are sick, you are
afraid, and you are not the Gold dragon that came all those years ago
to me in search of answers. You, however are the Gold that didn't
listen. I pity you, Gold."
Grandfather Hino was searching for the old man that had come to the
temple for meditation, when he heard a loud crash. Running to the
origin, he entered the room where Nathan and the golden dragon were.
There he saw the old man seated as Gold glared at him, the gold dragon
then turned around and smashed through the wall.
The elder Hino slid down to his knees as he saw the gap in the wall.
The old man looked at him with a concerned look, then walked towards
Nathan.
Using all their powers combined, the senshi had managed to dig a large
trench that somewhat helped the people nearby get more time. A little
at least.
"That's all we can do, Ami!" Uranus shouted. Ami nodded somberly as
her eyes wandered to the top of the volcano.
Coldfire shifted uncomfortably in the hot air, she could whistand it,
but she didn't have to like it.
"Now what, Lord Black?"
Black had been looking at the flowing magma, finally he looked up at
her.
"Now, I go retrieve the statue. You take care of those little pests."
He replied, as he pointed towards the senshi as they climbed the
mountain.
Coldfire nodded uncertainly. Without further coment Black shifted into
his half-dragon form, and flew directly into the volcano. Coldfire
gasped as the molten lava enveloped him.
Muttering in surprise at such an action, she quickly dove down towards
the senshi.
Sapphire woke up with a start. When she had fallen asleep, she
couldn't tell, but she wouldn't have woke up for another while if she
hadn't heard the knock on her door.
Stretching she opened the heavy wooden door, and looked in surprise at
the old man that stood outside.
"How much did I sleep?" She asked sourly.
"Most of the day, Black cast a sleep spell in your room." the old man
answered.
"That's ridiculous. Why would he do that?"
"He is very well aware of your dealings with the human girls,
Sapphire."
Sapphire's blood grew cold. If Black knew about the statue... The old
man reassured her. "He doesn't know the exact dealings, but he knows
you're on thier side."
Sapphire sighed. "So, he's already gone for the last statue on Earth."
The old man nodded. "The senshi are already there, you'd better hurry,
Sapphire."
"But, if I go now, Black'll..."
"Black already knew you were playing both sides against the middle.
Why else would he cast the spell, this way at least you'll have a
chance to fight instead of being murdered in your own bed."
Sailor Uranus looked up at the ash covered sky. She had thought she'd
seen a glint somewhere near the mouth, but with all the ash she
wasn't sure. Wiping the tears of her eyes, she looked up again.
"Everyone, JUMP!!" she shouted as she followed her own advise. The
senshi scattered as a HUGE fireball exploded where they had been
standing mere seconds ago.
As they landed, they looked at their enemy as she landed too over a
spiky boulder that stood almost 15 feet above them.
"So, we meet again. This time, it's me against you. No knights, no
interruptions." She smiled, and her pointed fangs gleamed red. "Let
us start." she challenged as she jumped into the air, she flew
straight towards the senshi, as they prepared for the fight.
End Chapter 8