Sailor Moon: Destiny of the Stars
Chapter 6:
The senshi watched in amazement as the golden colored power slammed into the plant-like monster. It screamed horribly, then for a few moments, its body was rocked with powerful and unbearable seizures as it was surrounded by a golden glow. It rose slightly in the air, and was slammed so hard on the ground, it left an enormous dent in the shape of its body. Silence then surrounded the large green-house as three figures walked into the scene from behind the downed creature. One was tall, with short, dark blonde hair, and a dark blue, gold, and white fuku. Mischief twinkled in the blue-grey eyes. Another was graceful with shoulder length, sea-green hair, wearing a blue, turquoise, and white fuku. The last one that step in looked younger, about 16, with short black hair and carrying a long, deadly looking glaive. Rose petals fluttered around them, and they looked at the scene before them with narrowed eyes.
"The planet of Wind is my deity. Invented by a new age, Sailor Uranus, Soldier of the Sky, acting gracefully!" Sailor Uranus said, placing her hands on her hips and smirking. When she saw Sailor Moon's mouth drop open at the sight of her, she winked playfully.
"The planet of the Seas and Embrace is my deity, and I too am here! Soldier of Elegance, Sailor Neptune, acting gracefully!" Neptune placed a thoughtful finger to her chin, but kept a watchful eye on everyone.
"The planet of Silence and Rebirth is my deity. Prepare for retribution. Sailor Saturn, on the scene!" whispered Sailor Saturn thoughtfully. She raised the Silence Glaive above her and twirled it once, then pointed it at the creature, who was now struggling to get up in pain.
"Uranus, Neptune...Saturn!" shouted out Super Sailor Sirius in surprise and gratitude, tears pooling in her eyes. But before she could say any more, the monster let out a frustrated roar and rushed forward to the intruders who dared to interrupt its mission. With lightning quick moves, Uranus leapt and did a double flip in the air. Then on her way down, she expertly thrust out her leg and kicked the monster dead center in its chest, knocking it away several feet. It smashed into a hard glass wall with a sickening thud, and the glass splintered on the impact.
"Is everyone alright?" said Neptune as she rushed over to the fallen senshi. She outstretched her hand to Eternal Sailor Moon to help her stand. The Moon Senshi nodded and gratefully put her hand into Neptune's own as she shakily stood up.
"Yeah, we're just having a little...plant trouble, you can say." said Jupiter breathlessly, brushing off glass pieces from her skirt. Uranus nodded, then turned and noticed the Starlight warrior for the first time as he shook his head to clear it. Her eyes widened at his new form and she furrowed her brow in annoyance.
"What are you doing back here?" the Sky Senshi demanded. Sailor Star Healer looked up at the taller woman in surprise and blushed slightly. He turned to look at Sirius as she came up to stand besides him and opened his mouth to say something..but he never got a chance to say a word as a barrage of large thorns flew towards them. With a yell, the Sailor Senshi Team separated from each other, trying to dodge the deadly attack. Sailor Mars screamed as a thorns grazed her exposed upper arm, leaving a long and nasty gash. The creature suddenly jumped right before them, recovered from the earlier attack and more enraged than ever.
"Never mind! We've got to put this overgrown weed out of commission, FAST!" shouted Sailor Sirius as she went into a fighting stance. Each senshi gave a worried look at Mars. "You going to be alright?" asked Mercury, concern in her voice as she looked over at the wound.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just do this!" said the Senshi of Fire in determination. She narrowed her violet eyes and glared at the creature. Already, the wound was closing up just slightly due to the enhanced healing powers in Senshi form.
The monster roared again, and this time, it stretched out its vine arms. They turned snake-like, growing longer and longer as it tried to entrap the warriors. Each senshi jumped out of the way and dodged the long vine arms as the creature snapped it like a whip, until suddenly, the two arms split, and to their horror, now became four. Then, giant thorns grew out, looking more sharp and deadlier than before.
"No more games! VENUS, LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!" screamed out Sailor Venus, flipping out the way just as an arm nearly grabbed her. The gigantic heart of pure energy shot forth, turned into tiny hearts, then twirled around the creature and slammed into it. The rose-monster stepped back slightly and shook its head. It laughed mockingly and snapped the arm closest to the Senshi of Love and Beauty. In a flash, the vine arms wrapped around Venus. She screamed loudly as she was lifted into the air, then thrown on the ground a few feet away. The senshi all gasped with surprise when they realized it was hardly scratched by Venus's powerful energy.
"Sailor Moon, go for it!" shouted out Sailor Star Healer after he flipped backwards out of the creature's grasp. The senshi leader nodded her head, trembling slightly. She was scared, so scared! How could she beat this monster? It was impossible! She saw Sailor Jupiter try and use her lightening powers, but instead, the taller Inner Senshi was snatched in the creatures grip. She screamed with pain as the thorns dug deep into her arms and legs. Sailor Moon gasped and watched as Sailor Saturn raised her Silence Glaive above her, then slashed down and severed a vine limb that was just about to wrap around her waist. She turned and sliced the vine that was wrapped around Jupiter.
The monster howled loudly in pain as green liquid oozed out of its severed limbs, spraying everything near it green. Saturn looked up and nodded. "Do not be afraid Princess. We will help you!" The Saturn senshi gave her an encouraging smile.
"I'm right besides you Sailor Moon!" said Super Sailor Sirius as she suddenly flipped out of another vine's way and landed right on the side of Sailor Moon. The Eternal Senshi nodded, feeling the strength and determination coming from Sirius, and concentrating, made the Tier appear magically in her hands.
"Your time's up, plant-breath! SILVERMOON, CRYSTAL POWER KISS!
SIRIUS KISS OF DEATH, CAPTIVATION!"
A pale pink and violet glow surrounded the two girls as they shot forth their powers. It headed straight for the monster, intending to destroy it, but before it reached, it suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream, and leapt high into the air. It decided that it didn't want to play with these humans anymore. They were suddenly too many...too powerful, and it was in too much pain. It only now wanted what it came for, and nothing will stand in its way. The combined powers passed by underneath it harmlessly, then dissipated. The rose monster landed all the way at the end of the building, near the entrance. As the senshi watched in horror, it smashed through the glass walls, leaving its outline, and rushed off across the lawn.
"Shimatta, where's it going?" yelled out Sailor Uranus in frustration as she and the group all ran up to the hole. Sirius suddenly gasp as her heart beat loudly against her rib cage, and brought her hands to her cheeks in dismay.
"Oh God, it's going after Tilly!" the Star Senshi said in despair.
Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn looked at her in puzzlement, but before they could ask anything, Sailor Star Healer growled in anger, slamming his left fist in his right hand. "Not if I can help it! Come on!" he said, anger at the thought of losing the kawaii little girl flashing in his eyes. For some reason, he felt he HAD to protect her, and until he finds out why he felt that way, he would, with his very life.
The group rushed out of the building and ran high speed in the direction the monster went. They didn't have to wonder for long how far it got, because suddenly screams filled the late morning air. Panting and out of breath, the Sailor Senshi rushed into a horrific scene: people and little children were just scrambling out of the way as the creature suddenly jumped in front of them, leaving the little dark-skinned child alone and afraid.
Tilly could barely move to get away with the rest of the crowd, so shaken was she. She was afraid, very afraid, and stood rooted on the spot, tears falling and trembling with fear. She couldn't make her legs move and run away, no matter how hard she tried. Mommy, where are you? I need you! cried the little girl in her mind. Please help me, PLEASE! The monster laughed evilly, then moved slowly forward, stretching out its vine arms. Tilly screamed loudly and fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around her body.
"NOOO! Tilly, run, GET AWAY!" screamed out Sirius, bursting forth with renewed energy from deep inside and forgetting that she was not supposed to know the child's name. But it was too late.
The monster roared in triumph as it wrapped its thorned vine arms around the small child and lifted her high into the air, ready to destroy her. "Get hatchling!" it growled in its throat. With a sad sob, Sailor Sirius stopped, fell to her knees, and buried her face in her hands, thinking all is lost. To her, if she lost Tilly and didn't fulfill her promise, then everything she lived for, everything she believed in, was for nothing if she couldn't protect this small child that literally dropped into her life. How would she live with herself?
Tilly screamed long and loudly in pain as the thorns ripped into her skin through her clothes. Blood slowly leaked out from the wounds and stained the green color of the creature's arms red as it laughed in amusement and triumph. Suddenly, a six-pointed white star appeared on Tilly's forehead, and a burst of bright white light flashed and shot forth. It grew brighter and brighter, and surrounded both her and the creature as she continued to scream in unbearable pain. In surprise, the rose monster dropped the child and covered its blinded and pain-filled black eyes. Tilly fell on her hands and knees on the ground, and screamed more as the white aura moved from the creature and surrounded her only.
Every one else turned away and shielded their eyes as the light got so bright, it was painful even through closed eye-lids. Then, after what seemed like eternity, Tilly stopped screaming, and the bright light slowly faded and the star insignia disappeared from her forehead. She fell sprawled in an exhausted heap a moment later, her energy spent.
"What...what in the world was that?" whispered Sailor Sirius to herself, blinking her eyes.
"Sailor Sirius, heads up!" shouted Sailor Star Healer, rushing up towards her. The monster had recovered and was heading straight for the short senshi. He flipped into the air, landed next to Sirius, and yelled, "STAR SENSITIVE, INFERNO!"
Just as the Star Light warrior finished saying those words, Sailor Moon turned to the others. "Just one power can't destroy these things! We have to work together!" she said, her eyes wide with excitement. "SILVERMOON CRYSTAL POWER, KISS!"
"Allow us!" said Sailor Neptune in determination as she stepped before Sirius and Star Healer.
"NEPTUNE, SUBMARINE VIOLIN TIDE!"
URANUS, SPACE SWORD BLASTER!"
In a rush of bright gold and green light, the powers came together and joined Sailor Star Healer's and Sailor Moon's. It slammed into the creature with a loud explosion and knocked him back against a tree, nearly snapping it in two. Sirius fell back on the ground with the force of the explosion with the others. With a loud scream, the monster's body began to splinter and crack. It exploded and disappeared in a bright flash seconds later. When the light from the flash dimmed, nothing was left besides a blackened tree trunk and a large blackened spot where the creature once was.
After a moment, the Sailor Team...followed by a limping and groggy Venus and Jupiter, rushed up to Sailor Sirius as she slowly stood up with the help of Star Healer. "Sirius, are you okay?" panted Sailor Moon as she ran up to the shorter Senshi.
"Tilly!" said Sirius softly as she suddenly turned away and rushed to the small, still form. She knelt down and gently gathered the child in her arms. She winced as the little girl's flowing blood stained her fuku skirt and gloves. A tear slipped out and fell down Sirius's dark cheek. "This is all my fault! I'm so sorry!" the Senshi of the Stars said sadly, holding the unconscious Tilly closer to her heart.
Sailor Star Healer gently laid a hand on her shoulder and knelt down on one knee. "Please don't say that. It's no one's fault." he said softly. He reached over, took Sirius's chin in his hands, and gently turned the crying girl's face up to look at him. Star Healer looked deeply into her eyes. "I promise, I'll protect her, and you, no matter what." At that statement, Sirius smiled gratefully and nodded, tears in her eyes at the look of love and dedication the Starlight warrior gave her.
At that moment, Tilly moaned softly, and her eyes fluttered opened. "M...Mommy?" she whispered softly. Sailor Sirius looked down quickly at the little girl.
"Oh! Til..I mean...Are you alright, little girl?" she said, stroking Tilly's cheeks. "Don't worry, we're going to take care of you, and everything will be fine!" Sirius smiled in reassurance. Tilly smiled back, sighed softly, and closed her eyes once again.
Suddenly, police sirens blasted in the background. "She needs medical attention now, so we'd better go if she's going to get it!" said Sailor Neptune, nodding her head and laying a hand on Sirius's shoulders.
"Right," the Sirius Senshi nodded. She got up slowly with Tilly in her arms and rushed off with the others just as the police came onto the scene, looking around in confusion.
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"Damn those stupid humans! We nearly had her and the Star Stone! I will make them pay for this NOW! " hissed Va'trini. He prepared to rush out from their hiding and fight, but was held in place when O'mashki reached out and grabbed his arm.
"You will do NO such thing!" said the older officer in anger, his eyes and face flushed with rage. "Remember one of our philosophies: "Never fight a battle you know you're not going to win!" There's too many of them for us to fight right now." Va'trini looked back at his superior, saw the look on his green face, then nodded, standing at attention.
"But sir, we lost another of our warriors! The captain is not going to be very happy about this." Va'trini's face fell in disappointment at not getting to crush the arrogant humans.
"Do not worry. We will come up with another strategy soon to exact our revenge, which will make this seems like child's play, as the humans love to say." replied O'mashki. "Let them enjoy their victory now. Soon, it will all be in vain....very soon." The mouth of the alien curved into their version of a sinister smile, and a red tongue flicked out.
"As you command, Sir!" The younger Vishtri nodded again, and saluted. Anticipation and excitement shone in his large and bulging eyes at the thought of seeing the humans in this time and planet conquered and under their control. Soon. Very soon indeed.
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Tokyo Hospital
Tanya stood by nervously as she watched the doctor look over Tilly and apply medication to the cuts she had on her small arms. Hospitals always made the dark-skinned girl nervous, but for right now, she didn't care. She had to think about the little girl, not her fear of hospitals....
Her thoughts were interrupted when the doctor raised his head and began to speak. "She didn't lose too much blood, so she's lucky on that part. It doesn't look like the wounds were that serious either." said the young looking doctor as he wrapped another gauze around a wound on the sleeping Tilly's upper arm. "She should be fine and ready to go home in a day."
"Thank goodness. She's been through so much already." Tanya looked at Tilly laying on the large hospital bed. To her, she didn't look fine; she looked so small and vulnerable, yet had to endure in a few days what most grown-ups never went through their whole lives.
When he finished, the doctor nodded his satisfaction, and with a small smile, left Tanya alone with the child she called her sister. Tanya moved next to the bed and looked down at Tilly for a few moments, a thousand thoughts going through her head. There's so many questions I wish you could answer now. she thought as she sighed. Tanya looked up at the sudden soft knocking at the door, and smiled as Yaten quietly walked in.
"How is she?" he asked as he walked over and watched Tilly.
"She'll be fine. At least, that's what they say." Tanya sighed sadly and brushed back a few strands of black hair behind her ear.
"And what about you?" Unable to fight it, Yaten's eyes misted up, thinking of how all of this was affecting the young woman he now knew he loved more than anything else.
The question caught Tanya off guard for a moment, and her eyes widened slightly in surprise. She looked at Yaten in sadness, then rushed forward into his arms and laid her head on his broad shoulder. Without a word, she let a tear fall down her cheek. Words were not needed as Yaten gently held her for a few moments and stroked her silken black hair.
Unconsciously, Tanya breathed in the strong scent of the young man as he held her close, feeling safe and secure in his arms. Oh, how she wished it would be like this all the time! But she knew that there was danger ahead, and if they didn't protect Tilly, the little girl would never make it out alive. But she didn't want to talk right now...she just wanted to be held and feel protected for as long as she could in Yaten's arms. She wanted to feel like everything would be fine, and that his love will give her strength through the toughest times.
Yaten was only too willing to oblige, and silently just held her in his arms as she sobbed. He also felt the same way she did, and without any words he let her know that he would be there for her for anything. And from now on, he would be there for Tanya AND Tilly, and would be willing to defend them to the death.
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To Be Continued.
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