Sailor Moon: The Rise of B'aal

Chapter 6

Walking up to the front door to her house, Tanya took out her keys from the pocket of the shirt Yaten had lent her last night and quietly opened it as she walked in, then softly closed it back. At first she didn't hear anything, and she was just about to yell to her dad that she was home as she walked towards the kitchen, when she heard the voices of her father and the older Father O'Brien coming from the dining room. She walked to the entrance and hid herself to the side from their view as she listened in to their serious sounding conversation. For some time now, Tanya had always wondered about the reason why her father's old friend suddenly decided to visit. She knew it wasn't just a friendly social call, judging from the nervous looks Father O'Brien gave her and her father when both men left for their trip around the city yesterday morning. Something was going on, and Tanya was determined to find out what it was. Maybe...maybe it could have something to do with the trouble we're having here. she thought as she heard the pages of a book being turned. Just then, the older Irish man spoke up again, his voice desperate and nervous.

"Peter, the evidence is right here in front of you! You can't ignore the signs and the prophecy it leads to! We've done the research, we've heard the news. We can't ignore what's happening now," Whatever more the older man was going to say was interrupted by the other man's tired voice.

"Yes, Tim, my friend, we've looked at all the manuscripts and scrolls, and we've talked to so many people already, but I still think it's impossible!" The dark-skinned man ran a hand through his greying hair as he sighed. "If it's true, this goes against everything we've believed, everything that the Bible has spoken of and what we ourselves have taught. I mean, who has even heard of this...this...B'aal god? Does he even exist? And what does he have to do with the scriptures?" The former reverend turned doctor looked up into his old friend's blue eyes, his faith put to the test for the first time in years.

"Look here," the older Irish man said as he got up from where he was sitting at the dining room table. He went over to the other side where Peter was sitting and showed him the page he was reading. "It says that B'aal was the only god mentioned in the Holy Scriptures besides Dagon, and there is a reason for that. He's a representation and possibly even the very same gods and demi-gods worshiped in so many different cultures and religions, and they all have to do with either death, evil, or destruction. Here, it says he is a "Prominent god of the sky and storms whose cult spread from Ugarit in Syria into Egypt", and he is equated with the Egyptian god Seth. But the most prevalent and popular version of him is that he is the firstborn son of Satan himself, formerly known as Lucifer before he was defeated and thrown out of Heaven to reign over Sheol, or rather...Hell. It's been said that since Satan was stripped of his power after he made Man fall, his son B'aal has been commissioned to carry on his father's work to take back Earth."

Timothy turned the page of the old book again and pointed to another passage. "And here, one of the first written accounts of B'aal. It mentions here that he's the God of Storms and Thunder in an ancient city near where the Hittites lived and prospered. And here, the only mention of him in the Bible in the Book of First Kings, where the famed prophet Elijah challenged the priests of B'aal to light a fire on an altar...."

"Yes, yes, but we still can't say what happened in Brazil and what's happening all over the world is attributed to...this!" Peter said in exasperation. When he realized his voice was louder than he meant, he sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry Tim, really, but like I said before, this goes against all we've come to believe and hope in. I mean, there's still the prophecy of Daniel, the visions in the Vally of the Bones, and Revelations we have to contend with. Where does this B'aal god come into play in all of this, and why?" Peter looked back into his friend's eyes to see if he had any answers.

"I don't know my friend, I really don't know," the Irish man said as he shook his white-haired head. "Most of the ancient prophecies and old scriptures of the ancient world have been destroyed over time by Greek and Roman invasions. There's no telling how and when this thing will play out fully." He stroked his beard as he sat back down across from where Tanya's father was. "Maybe.. he's trying to stop the Revelations from occurring, or is gathering for something..." Just then, Tim raised his eyes and saw Tanya's figure standing outside. "Ahhh, and what do we have here, an audience?"

Peter looked over and smiled as he watched his daughter nervously walk into the dining room. "Tanya! Sweetheart, I'm so sorry I wasn't home last night," he said as he got up and gave his daughter a loving hug. "Are you okay? You didn't stay by yourself did you?" He looked Tanya over to make sure that she was indeed alright, then frowned. "How long were you standing there? I didn't mean for you to hear..."

"Dad, I'm fine!" Tanya smiled. "I stayed with Yaten, and besides, I'm a big girl, remember?" She winked at her dad as Father O'Brien chuckled softly. Then hoping to change the subject of what she heard from their conversation, she gave a quick hug to O'Brien. "But I can't stay long. I'm meeting my friends at Rei's temple today. We're...ummm...discussing the exam we took in school last week. So I'll talk to you later, alright?" She gave her father one last hug, then waved at Father O'Brien before rushing upstairs.

When Tanya was gone, Peter turned to his friend, "You don't think she heard.. I mean, you know..." Worry suddenly came over the man's brown eyes.

"I don't know my friend, but by the grace of the Saints, let's just hope she hasn't," The Father said softly.

Upstairs, Tanya quickly went to her closet for a change of clothing. Seconds later, Marco walked into the room, his tail wagging behind him. "Tanya, you're home! Thank goodness, because Luna, Artemis and I have some interesting findings on our new enemy. I was hoping we'd head over to Rei's house together and I could tell you first before the meeting..."

"Right! I have a few things to tell you and everyone else too," said Tanya as she took off her shirt. Unknown to her, Marco ducked his head and gave a doggy blush at seeing Tanya clad in only her bra for a moment. Tanya quickly donned a T-shirt and light sweater, and shook out her long, black hair. She then looked over at her dresser and saw a picture of herself and her cousin Anna from America, the one they had taken at Coney Island just before she came back to Japan. She walked over to her dresser, picked up the picture, and held it closely to her heart. "Oh Anna, I miss you so much, " Tanya whispered softly. "I wish you were here to help me," She sighed sadly as she put the picture back, then turned to Marco. "Come on, or we're going to be late! Oh man, why does she have to have the meeting so early! I barely have time to eat breakfast!" With that, the dark-skinned girl dashed downstairs and outside to head for Rei's shrine, Marco following closely behind her.

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Pain racking his body, Bzuzu knelt low before his Lord, his breaths coming out in short rasps due to his broken ribs. Blood caked the side of his face where he received the lashes of the nine tailed whip. His back also bore the marks of the whips, and even though they were already beginning to heal, they still caused him great pain with each short breath he took. Around him, the other demons and lost souls of the Realm looked on and cackled at the punishment Bzuzu got for failing his Master. Some scrapped up the filth from the floor and threw it at him, while others merely laughed and made obscene gestures.

"SILENCE!" screamed out a booming voice. Immediately, the whole area was filled with a deadly silence as the demons all began to back away. Then, a tall shadow came up and loomed over the kneeling figure of Bzuzu. "Rise..." the figure said, his voice low and dangerous. "Rise and tell me why I should spare you after you have failed me so miserably,"

"Your Lordship B'aal, please..." Bzuzu pleaded as he dared to look up into the ancient eyes of his master, "I mistakenly underestimated those Sailor Senshi. It's been so long since we had to deal with them directly, sire! Who knew they would have gotten so much stronger since the Silver Millennium? Give me one more chance, I beg of you! I have watched them, and I know how they fight and how they work with each other. I can defeat them, I know it! If not them, then the ones they love. I have another plan! If we can just somehow break their spirits by killing a person with a pure soul, make them vulnerable..."

"Enough!" shouted out B'aal, his eyes narrowing as the rest of his body was covered in shadows. "These Sailor Senshi; I remember them well from when my father and I helped bring about the destruction of the Silver Millennium by using the hate and jealously of the Dark Kingdom. I laughed in victory when I gutted a few of them myself." He paused for a moment as he remembered that bloody past. Oh what joy it brought him to kill so many! "So weak some of them were. Yes, the Sailor Senshi God himself had created to keep the balance of God and Evil throughout the galaxies," The figure stopped speaking for a moment, glaring at Bzuzu, then spoke again. "But you...you allowed them to defeat you like you were nothing but a Lesser Demon! You are a High Level Demon, one who used to defeat over 100 Angels at a time in a battle! How could you have let this happen?"

"Please, like I told you before...I underestimated them!" Bzuzu said, now laying prostrate on the filthy hard ground. "They've gotten so much stronger with time! But I have a plan, I can defeat them, give me a chance!" His voice squeaked a little as he said that last word.

For long moments, there was silence as B'aal seemed to consider those words. Maybe there was something to consider in Bzuzu's claims. Through him, B'aal could determine the strengths and weakness of the Sailor Senshi of this time, even though Bzuzu might be destroyed in the process. After what seemed like an eternity, the ancient demon prince spoke again. "One more chance, Bzuzu, and no more," he said, his voice booming like a waterfall. "There is no room for failure here. Never forget, you are replaceable, even if you are a High Level Demon..."

"Yes, yes of course your Lordship!" Bzuzu bowed and bowed again as he backed away on his knees, ignoring the pain each movement made. "I won't fail you next time My Lord, I swear it!"

"See to it you don't," B'aal said. Wth a dark flash of black smoke, the Demon Prince of Hell disappeared.

In an almost gleeful cackle, the red colored demon disappeared in a brilliant flash of white light and ripple of air, leaving behind the noise of the other demons to laugh and cackle in the stinking darkness.

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Hikawa Jinga Shrine:

"Hey guys! I'm here!" smiled Tanya as she and Marco walked into the spacious make-shift meeting room of the ancient shrine Rei's family inherited.

"Hi Tanya!" waved Usagi. She quickly popped a small muffin in her mouth. She swallowed, then turned smiling to Rei, "See, I told you she wouldn't be late. We're definitely improving!" She patted the empty space on the floor next to her for Tanya to sit down on. "So where's Yaten?" she asked curiously.

"He got a call this morning. His manager wanted him to come into the office early. Something about him making a new album and a deadline, and some sort of surprise" Tanya said sadly as she sat down.

Sadness also entered Usagi's blue eyes as she nodded in understanding, "I know how you feel. Mamo-chan couldn't come either. His thesis paper is due tomorrow..." Both girls felt like they came in second place to their respective loves, but they also knew what busy and important lives they led. But it was still so....lonely sometimes.

"Well, we can bring them up to date later when we're done," said Ami as she took a seat in front of everyone. "We have a lot to discuss," She took out a couple of the books she got from the bookstore and laid them out. "I have a theory, and to back them up, I've been reading these books. So far I can't ignore the conclusions I've come up with," She looked each girl in the eye, "Everyone, I think we're dealing with something very ancient here, something very ancient and very evil..."

"You mean, like from the Dark Kingdom...or from the time of the Silver Millennium?" asked Haruka, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the wall not too far from the group. Beside her, Michiru and Hotaru looked on, curiosity on their faces.

"No, a lot more ancient and evil than that..." Picking up the first book, Ami started to explain the research she's done on ancient manuscripts and legends about the occult, the Bible, and ancient gods and religions. When she was done, Usagi gave her a concerned look.

"Soooo, you're trying to say that we're fighting the Devil or something?" the Senshi leader asked, already beginning to get scared. "I...don't know if we've ever handled anything like that."

"No, not the Devil himself, at least...I don't think so," Ami said, going into another book. "But something like him, or has as much power as him. But I find it highly scientifically impossible to believe in something as trivial and unproven as "God" and the "Devil"..."

"Well, we don't know that for sure Ami-chan," Minako interrupted, scooting closer to Tanya. From what the blonde had heard and seen throughout her adventures as Sailor V in England and in Japan, Minako was likely to believe in almost anything that had to do with the Divine.

"Ummm, everyone?" Tanya said softly as she looked up. "I think I know what Ami is trying to say..." As everyone listened, Tanya told everyone about what she heard her father and Father O'Brien talked about, leaving nothing out. When she was done, everyone looked on in amazement.

"How uncanny!" breathed out Luna, laying next to Artemis and Marco. "That's practically what we've found out in the archives!"

"And what I've felt since I had my vision," Rei said softly. "Could there be something to all of this? Is this...B'aal god person our new enemy?"

Before anyone could answer, Makoto snarled and turned her back to the others, her hands balled tightly into a fist. "Mako-chan, what's wrong?" asked Minako as she moved closer to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hmph! God...the Devil...what's the difference? What do they have to do with us?" the tall brunette snarled out. "There's no such fairy tale!"

"Mako-chan," Usagi looked over at her in concern.

"Don't you all get it?" Makoto said as she looked back to the others, "There isn't any "God" or "Devil or whatever! If there was, my parents wouldn't be dead! They'd be here with me..." Unable to go on, the girl hung her head and sobbed softly. "I...I was only a little girl when they died in a plane crash. How could a God of love allow that to have happened? Why? Why did my parents have to get on that STUPID plane!" Tears rolled down the girl's face as her body was racked with sobs. For so long she had told herself that there was no God to allow such a thing to happen, and if there wasn't a God, surely they can't be a Devil. And now she had to hear that the new enemy could be the Devil himself? It was almost too much for her to bear. She couldn't fight anyone or anything she didn't believe in. How was she to deal with it? Everyone was silent for a moment as the tall browned hair girl tried to get her emotions together.

"Oh Mako-chan..." Tanya got up and walked over to the taller girl, then knelt down and gathered her in her arms. " Shhhh...I know, I know, it's okay. We're all here for you. I lost my mom when I was little too."

"And me too," said Rei as she joined them. For a few moments, everyone watched the tender scene between the three girls who had lost so much at such a young age.

"I too know the pain of losing a loved one," Hotaru said softly, standing close to Michiru. "But we all must the have the courage to open our minds to any possibility, even this." The young girl nodded her head, and her violet eyes shined with understanding towards Makoto.

"Yes, and our loved ones will always be in our hearts. They are never really gone as long as we remember them," Michiru added, nodding her head and remembering her own parents and how long it had been since she spoke with them.

Suddenly, before anyone could say anything else, Yuuichiro pushed opened the slide doors and rushed into the room, his brown eyes wide. "Did you all hear? There's some sort of riot in the streets downtown! Rei, your grandfather's still hasn't come back from the grocery store. He could be right in the middle of it!"

"Oh no!" The black-haired priestess turned to her friends, "Everyone, we have to go and see what the heck is going on, and find my grandpa!"

"Right!" Haruka nodded to Michiru and Hotaru, then rushed out with them, followed by everyone else

"Hey, where are you going?" Yuuichiro yelled out after Rei, confusion all over his face.

"Don't worry! We'll be back!" Rei yelled back, then turned and rush down the shrine steps with everyone else. Oh please! Please let Grandpa be alright! she thought desperately.

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To Be Continued...

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