Sailor Moon: Destiny of the Stars
Chapter 8:
Tanya's eyes widened in surprise and fear at the two enormous aliens towering over them. Behind her, she can feel Tilly trembling, and she quickly pulled the little girl closer and wrapped her arms around her in protection. Oh God, not now, PLEASE! Tanya thought desperately.
"What the hell do you want here?" yelled out Yaten, narrowing his green eyes in anger as he stood before the girls protectively. One of the lizard-like figures touched a device to his almost non-existent ears, as if to adjust it so he could understand what was being said. After a moment, the older looking soldier stepped forward, hissing very dangerously.
"We will not repeat ourselves!" he said, his voice rough and deep in his throat. "Stand aside, or you will be destroyed." His eyes glowed an evil red, anger raging behind it. If it was one thing he hated about these humans, it was their stubbornness, and he was tired of it.
"No! You won't have her!" shouted out Tanya, glaring the aliens with defiance in her eyes. She looked down at Tilly, then back at the figures before them. "I don't know what the deal is here, but if you want to her, you're going to have to get through US first!" Tanya's small hands balled into fists and shook with anger.
"As you wish," replied the larger alien as he casually shrugged. O'mashki reached into his red uniform jacket and produced a small, black crystalline figure. He tossed it into the air, and just before it crashed to the ground, he pressed a button on the large watch-like device on his green wrist. The small figurine flashed brilliantly once, getting bigger, then flashed a few more times, growing larger and larger with each flash. When it finally landed on the hard ground, it was an intimidating 8 feet tall. It stood still for a second as Tanya and the others looked at it in wonder. A second later, fissures and cracks began running along the sides and through out the entire length of its body. Another bright flash occurred, followed by a deafening roar and the sound of glass breaking. When Tanya, Tilly and Yaten finally looked back up, they were face to face with a gigantic, ugly sea-monster.
It had dark seaweed green skin, large, black bulbous eyes, fins coming out of its head, back, chest, legs and shoulders, and claws coming out of its webbed hands and feet. It roared its large mouth again, baring its large razor-sharp teeth, and fixed the group with a deadly stare. Its eyes were full of madness, and the monster was oh so ready to rip apart its prey.
"Fitting, isn't it?" smirked O'mashki, stepping back slightly to stand with the other alien. "A full day of wasting your time at the place where you humans originate from...the ocean, and now you're going to be destroyed by one of its very creatures!" He chuckled deep in his throat for a moment, then his green face turned serious as he turned to the monster. "Destroy those two, but leave the brat to us!" The creature roared again and advanced forward. The two aliens touched the button on their devices at the same them, then disappeared out of sight.
"Tanya, get Tilly out of here, NOW!" Yaten shouted, going into a fighting stance. Tanya nodded, then reached down and picked Tilly up in her arms. Tilly, unable to say anything because of fright, wrapped her small arms around older girl's neck and buried her face in her chest.
"But what will happen to you?" Tanya asked desperately, looking into Yaten's eyes. The silvery-haired young man looked back at her in determination, yet with a softness and caring that she had never seen in anyone else before.
"Go on, it'll be alright!" He reached out and gently touched Tilly's black hair. "I WON'T let them get her!" He reached over and touched Tanya's cheek tenderly, letting that one touch tell Tanya all he wanted to say that was in his eyes.
At that, Tanya nodded, kissed him quickly on his soft lips, then rushed off down the street, desperate to get away from the hideous monster. When the creature saw them running, it turned as if to go after them, but was stopped when Yaten suddenly jumped high into the air, flipped over its head, and dropped kicked it in the back. The sea-monster roared in pain as it fell down in the ground with a large thud.
"Why don't you be smart and pick on someone who can fight back!" yelled out the young man in challenge. He smirked, taunting the creature, then ran off down the block the other way. His long legs pumping on the pavement, Yaten looked behind him to see if the creature was following him, and sure enough, it was, screaming in rage all the way as the few people that were still outside shrieked and ran away. Finally he came to an empty alley way, and rushed inside. When he was sure that no one was around, he lifted his head and yelled,
"HEALER STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!"
Soon, nearly the whole alley was a washed in bright white light as Yaten transformed into Sailor Star Healer, bright tiny stars swirling all around him and forming his uniform. When it was done, the Starlight Warrior ran out, and stopped right in front of the creature as it finally reached where he was at.
The monster roared loudly, and a sickly green aura surrounded its body as its eyes closed. It snapped opened its eyes and shot both arms forward, shooting an intense beam of green energy to destroy the intruder that dared interrupted its mission.
Star Healer jumped high into the air and flipped over the monster's head just as the deadly beam was about to hit him. While still in the air, Star Healer kicked out a leg, and spin-kicked the monster in the back of its head. Behind him, a huge chunk of a building wall collapsed as a huge hole was blasted into it, leaving only charred remains and smoke and people screaming inside. Star Healer landed behind the sea-creature, then ran out into the street as the creature chased him. When he felt he was a safe distance away, he stopped, turned back to the monster standing before him as it rushed forward, and took a deep breath, closing his eyes in concentration. The Starlight warrior's eyes snapped back open, and he fixed his opponent a look of pure distaste.
"I never liked sea food that much anyway! STAR SENSITIVE, INFERNO!" Star Healer yelled, shooting forth his power that was fueled with an intensity from somewhere deep inside him. It struck the monster full force right in its chest. With a shocked look on his face, Star Healer saw that he only stunned it for a moment. It staggered back slightly on webbed, clawed feet, then looked up and roared horribly, not liking the feeling at all.
It placed its webbed hands in front of its chest, and a bright flashed occurred. A ball of energy began to take shape, and with horror, Star Healer realized that it was his own power. Somehow the creature absorbed it, and now was about to throw it right back at the Star Light. Kuso! This is going to be much harder than I thought! Star Healer thought as he took a fighting stance.
Meanwhile, up above and invisible, Va'trini and O'mashki were watching the fight below, liking the outcome. Just then,, Va'trini's large bulging eyes narrowed as he got a closer looked at the Starlight Warrior's eyes. "It..it can't be!" the Vishtri whispered to himself, hardly believing it. "Those..those eyes, they're so...much like..his! The king of..." He paused and shook his head. "It can't be him, not this weak pathetic fool!"
Hearing his words, O'mashki also narrowed his eyes, also looking closer. He hissed loudly and shook his head. "Don't be a fool! It can't be him. As soon as our warrior disposes of him, the child will be ours!" Both aliens laughed and continued to watch.
The monster raised its hands over its head, and with a grunt, shot forward both arms and let loose the massive power. Sailor Star Healer barely had time to jump out of the way on top of a car. But just as he landed and tried to catch a breath, another shot fired out, this time slamming right into his chest. With a scream, Star Healer was blasted off the car roof and flung about 6 feet away. He crashed heavily into a phone booth, smashing all the windows and the door as he crashed down inside of it. Blood raced down the side of the Star warrior's face and out his mouth as he desperately tried to stand, but found it was nearly impossible. The last thought that entered Star Healer's mind before he passed out, was how he wished he could have protected Tanya and Tilly. Sailor Star Healer gave one final, painful grunt as his body fell in a crumpled heap, and then laid still, his chest barely moving.
The sea-monster moved forward, and when it saw that the intruder was no longer moving, it roared in triumph. Then it turned on its heel at the aliens' instruction, and headed off in the direction where its target ran off to.
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Tanya ran fast, faster than she had ever run in her life. In her arms, Tilly held on for dear life, her little arms wrapped around Tanya's neck and her legs around her waist. When she finally reached deep into the wooded area of Ichinohashi park, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, a cold chill running up her spine."Yaten-chan!" she whispered, feeling dread enter her heart. Something had happened to the young man she loved, and it wasn't good...she could feel it. She shook her head to clear it and ran to a nearby tree. Breathing hard with sweat running down her face, she set Tilly down next to the tree then fell to her knees, trying to catch a few breaths as her heart beat rapidly.
She heard sobbing a moment later, and she looked up to see Tilly sitting on her knees and holding her head in her small hands, crying softly. "Oh Tilly!" The older girl gathered the child into her arms. For a few moments, Tilly just sobbed in Tanya's strong arms as she tried to soothe her. Then, the girl looked up into Tanya's eyes.
"S..Something happened to Yaten-san because of me, didn't it"? Tilly asked, sniffing sadly. Tanya's eyes widened in surprise. How did she know what she was feeling, and what happened to Yaten? Tanya shook her head, and tried to give the little girl a reasurring smile.
"I...I don't know Tilly, but I do know it's NOT your fault! Everything will be alright." Tanya said, wiping away the little girl's tears. But before the child could even answer, a roar filled the early evening air, and barely a second later, the large sea-creature they tried to run from jumped in front of them, landing in a squat.
Tanya quickly stood up, pulling Tilly close to her as she screamed. A bright flash of light appeared, and the figures of the two gigantic aliens floated above them. "There's nowhere for you to run now. Give the child to us, and you might not have to share her fate." said O'mashki as he looked at the two girls below him in contempt.
"Never," whispered Tanya dangerously. "I'll die before I let you have her!" She narrowed her eyes and stood before Tilly protectively. The two aliens looked at each other, then chuckled deep in their throats.
"Is that so? Well, be careful what you wish for, human; you just never know if it'll come true." Va'trini said, his red eyes flashing. He cocked his head to the side. "Isn't that how the saying of your..."species"...goes? Those that have a death wish?" He chuckled once more before turning to look down at the creature. "Kill her." he said, folding his arms over his chest.
"Stop!" shouted out Tanya. She looked at Tilly, her eyes filling with tears as she realized she had no other choice. "Forgive me Tilly, I'm sorry," she said softly. Tanya stepped back slightly, and passed a dark hand over her chest, where her necklace was hidden under her shirt. With a loud voice, she shouted the phrase that became so familiar and welcoming to her;
"SIRIUS EMERALD STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!"
White and violet light flooded the surrounding area, and when the light faded somewhat, Tilly watched in stunned amazement, her eyes as wide as possible, as Tanya's sailor fuku surround the outline of her slender and graceful small body, followed by another burst of light, then finally ending with her posing, her hands balled into a fist.
"T..Tanya-chan?" the little girl whispered, staring in complete awe as the girl she had come to trust and look up to turned into the super heroine, Super Sailor Sirius.
"Well, isn't this an interesting development!" said O'mashki, raising his rigid eyebrow. "But it will do you no good now." He pointed a green finger at the Star senshi. "Get her!"
The sea-monster roared and shot forth a blast of deadly green energy at the two girls before it. Quick as lightning, Super Sailor Sirius grabbed Tilly in her arms and jumped out of the way as the blast hit the spot they were just in.
Sirius stopped in front of another tree, put Tilly down, and turned to the gigantic creature. She stepped forward, and thrusting her hand in the air, she yelled,
SIRIUS KISS OF DEATH, CAPTIVATION!"
The monster, expecting this, jumped high into the air as the power rushed at it. Sailor Sirius gasped in horror as she watched the power go under it harmlessly and smash into a tree, blasting it apart and sending pieces of it everywhere. Right after it landed, it gathered energy into its hands and got ready to fire again. Desperately, Sirius gathered Tilly into her arms again and ran off to try and find safety. She tried to run fast, but it wasn't fast enough. The creature blasted out its power and struck Sirius right in the center of her back as she carried Tilly. Screaming in pain, Sailor Sirius was slammed into another tree with the force of the blast. The impact was so hard, the dark-skinned senshi's body nearly snapped the thick tree into two, and she fell to the ground in a broken heap as Tilly was flung from her arms
"SAILOR SIRIUS!" screamed out Tilly as she stood up and rushed over to the downed senshi. She fell to her knees and desperately shook Sirius's body with both hands, but it was no use...Sailor Sirius lay still. Tilly watched with horrified eyes as blood ran down from a gash to the side of Sirius's head. "Sailor Sirius, please, wake up! Please don't leave me now, PLEASE! Don't let those bad people take me away! I need you! SAILOR SIRIUUUUUUUSSSS" cried the little girl, tears running down her face, her heart beating fast. When she saw that Sirius's eyes remained closed, she hung her head in despair and sobbed heavily.
The creature hissed loudly and advanced towards the small child. Tilly screamed and closed her eyes, awaiting her imminent death. But suddenly, a red flash raced through the air, and a red rose pierced the creature's hand. The sea-monster screamed, then looked up in surprise and watched as a tall, well-built man flipped through the air out of the trees, and landed in front Tilly and Sirius. The young man was dressed in a black tuxedo and white shirt, with a top hat on his head and a white eye-mask over his eyes. In his hand, he carried a large black cane with a silver top. A large black cape with red underlining flapped in the wind.
As soon as the man landed, he looked at the little girl, then turned to the creature and two aliens. "All children are the key to our future here on Earth. I will not allow one to suffer in the hands of the likes of you!" With that said, he twirled his cane around, and stood in a fighting stance. Tilly opened her eyes and watched the man who came to her rescue in fascination. So this was the man that Usagi-chan always talked about? He seemed so cool! And yet...so familiar.
The monster, not liking the attitude of this new intruder, or the pain in its hands, lunged forward when the aliens pointed out the man to it. It swiped its clawed hand over at the man, nearly slashing through his chest. The tall man jumped back out of the way just in time, and lashed out with his cane, knocking it back as he hit it hard in the chest.
At that moment, Tilly realized that everyone was fighting and getting hurt because of her. Sailor Sirius was hurt bad, and she knew in her heart that Yaten was too. It WAS her fault, all her fault. In her heart and soul, she wished she could fight too, and protect those she loved, especially Tanya. Her eyes misted with tears and she sobbed once more. Unknown to her, a lone tear suddenly fell from her eye and mysteriously crystallized on her dark cheek. It fell on the black oval brooch fastened to the bow on Sailor Sirius's chest. As soon as it hit the brooch, a bright violet light suddenly burst from it, surrounding Sailor Sirius and Tilly and blinding everyone around them, causing the fight to stop for the moment.
The white aura dimmed just a few moments later, and a small crystal, shaped like a rose, suddenly appeared and glowed over Tilly's small chest as she watched in surprise. She held out her hands to it, and just as quickly, her body was risen into the air, and her clothes disappeared from her body. In its place, a small senshi uniform began to appear; small sized boots adorned her feet, and gloves over her hands and arms, followed by a skirt. The object stopped glowing just then, and with a flash, absorbed back into Tilly's chest. Her body levitated back down to the ground, and when the light stopped altogether, Tilly opened her eyes, and looked down on herself in amazement.
Tilly was now a senshi, complete with tiara and a feeling of power surging through her young veins.
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To Be Continued.
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