Sailor Moon: Destiny of the Stars
Chapter 5:
Sitting in the warm, water-filled tub with Tilly, Tanya smiled softly to herself as she watched and listened to the child hum a little song, then splash water onto herself again, her black hair filled with shampoo lather. After a long day of grocery shopping and buying a few clothes with the little money she had, Tanya was glad to finally be able to relax and let the warmth of the water and the child's innocent laughter help her forget the worries that plagued her mind. Tanya's own hair flowed down her back like a black river, water trailing down from it. She then sighed as she filled the pitcher she held in her hands with water. Well, at least there's been no new attacks for a few days, and Tilly's finally come out of her slump. Tanya thought as she recalled the battle at the elementary school. A large, tiger-headed monster tried to captor and destroy the little girl, and Tanya was baffled as to why a creature like that would be after such a sweet...if not a bit of a handful, little girl as Tilly. I only wish this peace could last. The poor kid's been through so much already... Just then, her reverie was interrupted by a splash of water in her face, followed by another giggle. She blinked her eyes from the water and glared at the child.
"Tilly! Hold still so I can rinse out the suds!" said Tanya, her face scowled in mock anger. But she couldn't hold the serious face much longer as she watched Tilly's large dark green eyes blinked from under the mass of suds that surrounded her face. Tanya smiled again and dumped the water over the little girl's head. Tilly closed her eyes and allowed the water to trail down from her head, to her neck and down over her shoulders and chest, washing away the lather. When it finished, she opened her eyes, smiled, and rubbed her eyes with small, slightly chubby hands.
"Tanya-chan, that was fun! Can we do that again?" asked the smiling child. She reached for the bottle of shampoo at the tub's rim. But before she could get it though, Tanya reached over a dark hand and snatched it up.
"No way! That's the third time we did that! Come on, it's time to finish up." said Tanya as she put the small bottle out of reach.
Tilly pouted, then looked up at the older girl with puppy dog eyes. "Pleeeease?" she asked softly.
"No Tilly! Besides, you don't want to end up like one of those wrinkled-up old prunes, do you? The ones that look like those scary old witches?" To put emphasis on that statement, Tanya made a scary face, wiggling her fingers in the air.
The child thought for a moment, then decided she didn't want to be a scary old lady. She shook her head vigorously. "NO! I don't want to be like that!" Her eyes widened as she envisioned herself with cracked, wrinkled skin and walking with a cane.
"Good, then let's go and get you ready for bed." Tanya smiled a triumphant grin on her dark, fudge brown face. She rose from the warm waters and stood still for a moment to allow the water to trail off from her slender and graceful body.
As she did so, Tilly watched with fascinated eyes as the trails of water gently rolled of Tanya's firm and well-formed breasts, stomach, and thighs. Wow... the child thought dreamily, I hope when I grow up, I can be beautiful like Tanya-chan. She's pretty like my mommy...I think...
Tanya reached behind and took a handful of her thick hair and squeezed water out of it. "We also want to be fresh for when we go to the Juuban Greenhouse Flower Festival tomorrow, right?" She smiled once more and winked at the child. At the mention of that, Tilly cheered excitedly. Tanya chuckled and stepped out of the tub, then picked up a light blue towel off of the towel rack behind the bathroom door. After she wrapped the towel around her curvy body, she took up another one and opened it up in front of her.
"Okay! All aboard for the Sleepy Time Express!" she smiled softly. Tilly let out another cheer as she stood and climbed up to the bathtub's rim. With a yell, she jumped off, and landed right in the arms of the waiting Tanya, giggling as the older girl's strong arms wrapped around her protectively. Tanya settled the girl to the floor and wrapped the towel around her. When all was done, they walked out the bathroom and headed for Tanya's room just down the hall. Tilly ran ahead of her as usual, cheering and flexing her arms in the air in triumph for beating Tanya to her room.
As soon as they walked in, Tilly rushed over to the medium-sized dressing table to the side of the room, and picked up a small framed picture. "Tanya-chan, I've been meaning to ask you...who's this pretty lady, and that little girl?" Tilly asked as Tanya walked in, pointing at the picture in her hand.
Sadness clouded Tanya's dark hazel eyes as she took the picture from the little girl and looked at it for a moment. Memories long thought dead of the day the picture was taken rushed through her mind then, and the old pain of losing her mother filled her heart. "Oh, that's...that's me and my Mama." she said, going over to her bed and sitting down. Tilly walked over and sat down next to her. "She..passed away a long time ago." She was quiet for a minute, trying to push down the pain, then she blinked and chuckled. "I was just a little rascal like you when this was taken." Tanya reached over and ruffled the child's black hair, trying to smile again but failing.
"Oh, I'm sorry." sighed Tilly, her own face sad as she looked over at the picture again. "You must miss your mama a lot...just like I miss mine...even though I don't really remember her that good."
A soft smiled tugged the corner of Tanya's full red lips, she and nodded. "It's okay, I'll always have my memories of her, and one day, you'll find yours." She stood up and walked over to put the picture back on her dresser. She then opened a draw and took out a small nightgown. She went back and dried Tilly's skin and hair, helped her put on her panties, then put on the night-gown over her head.
"I..I wish I could remember my Mama some more, but I can't. I try to, but...it's all fuzzy sometimes," the child whispered in a small voice. She looked up at Tanya, her eyes sad and starting to fill with tears.
"It'll be alright Tilly, you'll see!" Tanya said as she tucked her in. "We'll find your Mama in no time, with everyone's help." She winked and gave a thumbs up sign. Tilly smiled, then closed her eyes, sleep finally settling over her. When her eyes closed, Tanya reached over and kissed the child's dark forehead. With a sigh, she got up and got ready for bed herself.
Hmmm? That smell. She smells so..familiar.. thought the little girl, but before she could think anymore, sleep clouded her mind for the night.
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"Well, is this the place?" asked Va'trini after the two Vishtri soldiers suddenly materialized inside a large glass building. All around, they saw hundreds of displays of flowers and sapling trees. At the sight, the older O'mashiki smiled evilly.
"Yes! I'd definitely say it is!" he hissed, his red tongue flicking out and tasting the air around. His reptilian nose wrinkled up in distaste. "ACK! The air in here is so...clean! It's almost..DEAD!" O'mashki spat out. Va'trini flicked out his own tongue, also tasting nothing. He drew back, disgusted.
"BAA! It's no wonder these humans were so easy to defeat in the future!" said the younger Vishtri, his nose also wrinkling. "All this "clean environment" has made them soft. A harsh environment is what makes a species strong!"
"Never mind that now," O'mashk reached inside his red military jacket. He took out the small black box and opened it. In the light of the half-moon moon shining in from the glass roof, the small black crystal statues shone brightly. Smiling smugly, O'mashki picked up the one that resembled what the humans held so dear. He searched his mind once again to find that word . A rose, that was it. "We have much more important things to worry about, if you haven't forgotten!"
Va'trini nodded, still wrinkling his nose. O'mashki walked over to a section of the display the showed nothing but various colors of roses. Red, blue, pink, yellow, and other colors he couldn't identify appeared, almost glowing on their own. Then, seeing a tiny space, the soldier gently placed the rose crystal inside it, and stepped away. He turned to the younger commander and nodded. "Now, all we have to do is wait. Before we know it, the child WILL be in our hands, and the future will be conquered." The two aliens clicked their boots, then saluted one another, an evil grin on their green and reptile faces. They brought their hands up, pushed a button on the device strapped to their wrist, and with a flash of a bright white light, disappeared.
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"HI GUYS!" shouted Tanya as she and Tilly ran up to Usagi, Makoto, Ami, Minako, Rei, and Yaten. The group was standing near the front of the main doorway to the Juubann Green House, waiting for the doors to open and the festival to begin. A large crowd was also gathered outside with them, and petals of late-blooming cherry blossoms danced in the August wind around them. Children shouted and raced after one another, and grown-ups talked loudly about the latest gossip. Concession and drink stands lined the large front lawn of the glass building, balloons swinging high above them in the air.
As soon as Tanya reached them, she bent slightly, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. She then looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry I'm late! I kind of got a little lost. It's been a while since I was here you know!" The dark-skinned girl blushed and turned to glare at the child, who was now giggling at her behind her hand.
"That's no excuse! Even Usagi-chan made it here on time!" pouted Rei as she crossed her arms over her chest. She would have complained more, but the whole group turned and gave her a warning glance. "Err, never mind!" the black-haired Shinto priestess whispered, a sweatdrop appearing over her head.
"OHH! Tanya-chan, is this your boyfriend you keep dreaming about?" shouted Tilly as she suddenly appeared in front of Yaten, eyeing him curiously.
"TILLY!" yelled out Tanya in embarrassment as she grabbed the little girl in her one arm and clamped her hand over her mouth with the other before she could say more. Tilly struggled to get free as Tanya blushed once more and giggled nervously.
"Straight-forward little kid, isn't she?" said Yaten, giving a lopsided grin. Makoto, Ami and Minako looked at one another and giggled softly, knowing just how strong Tanya's feelings were for the idol singer.
"Oh come on guys!" whined Usagi, pointing ahead to the entrance. "The doors are opening soon, and I want to be the first inside! Let's go further up where the excitement is. Besides, I told Mamo-chan to meet us near the roses."
The friends nodded in agreement, then headed to the entrance past the crowd. Just as they reached, the large Green House doors opened, and a young sandy blonde-haired man stepped out, smiling. He bowed and greeted the crowd warmly. "Good Morning! Thank you all for coming to our annual Juuban Green House Flower Festival! Please come inside, and witness all of our finest flowers on display!" The crowd cheered, then slowly filed in.
Inside, everyone was in awe of the beauty and majesty of the plants and sapling trees displayed throughout the building. People looked and smiled in fascination at the natural arrangements and colors.
"Tilly, don't go too far!" shouted Tanya at the child's retreating figure, running down the pathway towards the display of roses.
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In a small space of shadow near the back, the two aliens suddenly spotted the child running near them, going straight for the roses. "There, just as we predicted!" said Va'trini with glee, his tiny razor sharp teeth flashing white as he pointed. This time, there was no mistaking; it was the very child they were seeking. O'mashki nodded, his own eyes wide with anticipation. Bringing his arm up, he pressed a button, and waited with barely contained anticipation.
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Smiling with delight, the little girl reached the rose display and giggled at the many different colors, never knowing that roses came in so many varieties. "They're so beautiful!" she whispered to herself. A moment later, Tilly's eyes widened as she spotted a peculiar looking rose at the back of the display. It was black..and so shiny. Curious, she reached forward a dark little hand and tried to pick it up. It's so ...pretty, Tilly thought in awe. Suddenly a bright flash blasted forth from the shiny rose, nearly blinding her. The little girl screamed and fell back on the ground hard.
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"What was that?" said Minako, snapping up her head and turning to look around with the others.
At the next scream, Tanya's heart nearly stopped. "It's Tilly! Come on!" she shouted.
They ran full force towards the back of the building, and when they reached, they could hardly believe the horrific sight: A giant plant monster stood over the small child, its vine-like arms waving above its head. It resembled a rose somehow, with a large, ferret-like head with red petals around it, and green plant body with thorns protruding out of its arms and vine legs. Tilly let out another helpless scream, backing up against a glass wall and hugging herself. Tears of despair rolled down her cheeks. The creature threw back its head and roared, nearly bursting the glass windows and doors with the sound it gave off. All around, people everywhere screamed, grabbing their children and running away through the large double doors.
"Minna-san, henshin yo!" commanded Usagi. The group of young people nodded, then ran to the now empty side near the back of the green house, pulling out their henshin items.
"Moon Eternal, Make up!"
"Venus Crystal Power, Make up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make up!"
"Mars Crystal Power, Make up!"
"Mercury Crystal Power, Make up!"
"Sirius Emerald Star Power, Make up!"
"Healer Star Power, Make up!"
In a bright flash, the 7 young adults were transformed into the world-famous Eternal Sailor Senshi and Star Light Warrior, power swirling around their bodies and giving them strength. When it was done, they leapt foreward into action, landing right besides the monster just as it was about to grab the crying child in its thorn-filled arms.
"That'll be enough out of you! How dare you inflict such fear in a child! Agent of love and justice, I am Sailor Moon, and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" challenged Sailor Moon, pointing and stepping forward.
Before the other Sailor Senshi could even introduce themselves, the rose-creature decided it didn't like to be interrupted, and it roared once more. It then thrust out its arms and shot forth hundreds of large, sharp and deadly thorns. In quick movements, the senshi jumped and dodged out of the way, narrowly missing the thorns.
"Let's see if a little cold will slow you down! MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!" yelled out Sailor Mercury. The magical harp appeared, and when she strung it, a powerful blast of icy water and energy shot forth towards the monster. It struck the monster full force in the abdomen, and it froze solid. Sirius rushed forward and took the child in her arms.
"Are you alright? Can you hear me?" ask Sailor Sirius desperately.
Tilly opened her eyes and looked up cautiously. "Sailor...Sirius?" The child blinked her eyes in confusion for a moment.
"Yeah, it's me! You'd better run out of here, okay? We'll take care of this monster!" Sirius smiled as she stood Tilly up. The little girl nodded and quickly ran away out the building. Just as she left, the frozen figure suddenly began to crack.
"Oh no, it's breaking out!" yelled Sailor Jupiter. No sooner than she said that, the ice-casing shattered, sending pieces of ice everywhere.
When the senshi looked back up from shielding themselves, the creature stood taller, angrier and meaner than before. "Get hatchling!" it roared out, baring its razor sharp teeth.
"Get real!" smirked Sirius. She turned and nodded to the other senshi, and got ready to attack. They never got a chance though, as the creature suddenly began to glow a massive dark green aura. It snapped open its blazing green eyes, and without warning, it screamed once more, and stretching forth its vine arms, shot out an enormous beam of destructive laser. It was so powerful it knocked back the screaming senshi several feet as it struck the ground before them, creating a loud explosion and causing many glass windows to shatter and burst. The senshi smashed heavily against the glass walls and flower displays, breaking a few as they fell on them. The sharp glass splinters cut and slashed at them harshly as they fell.
Moaning in pain on the floor and bleeding, the senshi and lone Sailor Starlight could only watch in horror as the monster prepared to attack again. Suddenly, a deep, throaty voice shouted through the air:
"URANUS, WORLD SHAKING!"
A enormous blast of golden power, shaped into a planet, rushed forward unmercifully towards the creature as the group looked on in shock. Could it be? Were they saved? But they had no time to ponder that anymore as the power blasted forward towards the rose creature.
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To Be Continued.
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