"Sailor Moon:  Quest For Marius" By Daryll Pung

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Sailor Moon: Quest for Marius

By Daryll Pung

Part 4: The March Of The Black Queens

PG13

      The white light faded.  Wind whipped through their hair.  In the distance, trees could be seen, as well as a huge, walled town.  They were standing in the middle of some plains.  Behind them, trees gave away to mountains.  It was thrilling scenery.

      A shadow whooshed overhead, then another.  The two shadows began to circle.  The Scouts looked up and gulped.

      "What are those?" gasped Mars.  The two shapes were deep olive green, with strong limbs, huge wings, long tails, and reptilian heads.  One of them appeared to have a rider.  The two shapes dove, and pulled out to flap their wings before settling on the ground.  A young man who looked very familiar jumped off, and approached.

      He was dressed in green, and carried a large sword at his waist.  The most striking feature was the cocky grin and one raised eyebrow.

      Moon smiled.  "You're from the Order."

      "Correct.  I am a member of the Order, here to get you to the Locust.  I am known here as Fordham, sage and Dragon Master," he smiled.  "These are my friends, a pair of Wyverns known as Sakar and Jervyal.  Welcome to Zenobia.  I'm sure your reinforcement will be most happily received by Destin."

      "Who?" asked Jupiter blankly.

      "Let me explain.  Destin is the rebel leader.  We just linked up with Prince Tristam, here in Milano, and we're fighting to overthrow the evil Zeteginean Empire from the Highlands, led by Empress Endora.  We've recently discovered that Rashidi, an evil sage and powerful mage, is behind all of this evil.  Now, the Locust is here.  So, there are now three parties looking for the Zodiac Stones, prime instruments of power.  We are looking for them to prevent Rashidi and Endora from getting them, and to return them to Heaven.  They want them to reopen the gates to the Underworld, to release Diablo and restart the Ogre Battle.  And apparently your Locust wishes to use their energy for her own nefarious purposes.  The whole situation is rather complicated, and can be discussed later."  He turned.  "For now, we have to destroy Baron Apros and liberate this region."

      "Okay," began Venus.

      "Well, more later.  Right now, you should come with me.  I can keep you safe, and you'll be where we need you should the Locust show up," Fordham said.

      Jupiter gazed steadily at the Wyverns.  "No."

      Fordham blinked, and realized this didn't surprise the Scouts. 

      "I hate riding in airplanes, I loathed all the space travel, and I AM NOT GETTING ON THOSE THINGS!  I AM NOT LEAVING THE GROUND!"

      "Sailor Jupiter," began Moon.  Jupiter glared at her.  Her arms were crossed belligerently.  "We really need to-"

      "I said no."

      Mercury blinked, and gritted her teeth.  "Dammit, you're holding us up!  The more you sit around here, the farther away the bitch gets!  Stop whining and let's go!"  Her uncharacteristic outburst caused the whole team, even Jupiter, to blink in surprise.

      Moon stepped in front of the two.  "Where do we need to go?  We'll walk."

      Fordham nodded in resignation.  He pointed.  "Head past those mountains.  You'll see a walled town.  There will be a collection of tents outside.  Go, introduce yourselves as the Scouts, and mention I sent you.  They'll be expecting you."

      "Good Luck," said Venus.

      "Is that it?" asked Jupiter.

      Mercury frowned.  "It matches Fordham's description.  I'd say we've reached it."

      "I agree," said Luna.

      "Well, let's go," said Mask.  Moon led off, moving towards the camp.  Two women intercepted them, each holding a spear.

      "Who are you?" asked one.

      "State your business," said the other.  Mars stepped forward.

      "Let us in.  We need to see Destin," she said.

      "For what purpose?" asked one of them.

      "What's it to you?" asked Venus.

      "Simple," said the other.  "How do we know you're on our side?"

      Moon held up her hand, forestalling any more comments from the hot, tired Scouts.  "We're not gonna argue, guys.  They have the right.  We're just visitors.  They are at war, and a rebellion means the other side has the advantage."  She turned to the women.  Both wore tunics and gold belts, with a winged crown on their heads.  Their spears had three prongs.  The first had a white tunic, with a blue cape.  The second had a golden tunic.   "We've been sent by Fordham to assist in capturing what he calls a Locust, and what we call our nemesis.  He told us we would be expected."

      "You're the Scouts?" asked the first.

      "Very well," said the second.  "I shall escort you.  This way."  She moved towards the largest tent, while her compatriot remained behind, eyes outward towards the mountain pass the Scouts had emerged from not too long ago.  There was tension evident in both.  Several people were moving around, cleaning, repairing.  All were definitely on edge.  They moved around several large tents, obviously stalls for large, fantastic creatures.  As they passed the last one, Jupiter gasped.

      "What?" asked a startled Mars.  The Scouts spun to see a Red Dragon gazing at them.  Their escort raised an eyebrow.  The Red Dragon gazed with steady disinterest, before returning to its feed box, munching contentedly away.

      "A red dragon?" asked Mask.  He turned to their escort.  "You have domesticated dragons?"

      "Domesticated?" she laughed.  "I wouldn't let Lyon hear you say that about his friends.  Dragons are as smart as anyone else, and these agreed to help.  People like Lyon, Fordham, Gilbert, and Deneb all bring unusual, but welcome, friends to the army.  Come.  We're wasting time."  She resumed walking towards another large tent.  Two Knights in bright, polished armor, holding broad swords, stood on either side of the doorway.

      "I have the Scouts with me, and I'm going in to see Destin," said their escort.  Both Knights nodded, and held the tent flaps open.  She smiled, and motioned for the Scouts to follow.  They entered into a busy scene.  All along three walls of the tent, mirrors hung.  The center was a huge table, covered with maps.  Several more females that resembled the first guard, and one who didn't, stood next to an imposing figure that was bent over the table.  The woman who wasn't like the rest was dressed in a strapless pink dress and purple pointy hat.  She carried a wand at her waist, and was in deep conversation with the large figure.  His hair was long, bound in a thick band.  He was dressed in elaborate armor, and carried a humongous sword in a scabbard on his back.  Their escort moved towards the table.  He noticed her move, and looked up.

      "Rauny, why are you here?  I thought you were going to keep an eye out for enemy movement at the pass?" he asked.

      Rauny smiled.  "I brought the Scouts Fordham mentioned."

      Destin and the other girl looked over the Scouts appraisingly.  The girl snickered, until her gaze rested on Tuxedo Mask.  She practically drooled.

      "Enough, Deneb," said Destin.  He gazed back at the Scouts.  "So, you are the team capable of bringing down what Fordham calls a Locust.  I must say, appearances must be deceiving, as you certainly don't look ready for a fight."

      "Or capable of having any power," added Deneb.  The Scouts bristled.  Moon stepped forward.

      "Very well.  We shall just inform Fordham that we will be going back where we belong, then.  You can deal with Marius on your own, while we train and await her return.  You may find her a bit tough," said Moon icily.

      "Enough!" ordered Destin.  "Rauny, Deneb, prepare your units.  The recon units have already reported back.  And Rauny, I believe there's someone you know in Milano.  I will leave the actual assault on the castle to you."  They both nodded, and departed.  He turned to another aide.  "Inform Tristam, Lans, Warren, Gilbert, and Lyon that their units will be heading out.  Everyone should activate his or her mirrors.  Fordham reports no activity as of yet, but we can expect that to change.  Tell Fordham to sweep the area just outside the outermost walls.  Inform Norn, Slust, Fenril, and Fogel to be ready to depart with me.  Remember, our goal is to initially contain, then close in for the kill.  With a battlefield this large, expect some flying units."  The aide nodded, and walked around, pressing mirrors, activating them with a soft white glow.  She spoke softly into them.  Destin turned to the Scouts.  "I apologize.  Deneb has a slight attitude, and I forgot my manners.  It will not happen again.    I want you to help, and I appreciate your sacrifice to be here.  For this fight, stay here and watch.  Let us know the second the Locust appears..."

      "What are you doing?" asked Mercury, for the moment herself again.  She indicated the mirrors. 

      "In battle, we communicate with those mirrors.  They increase mobility and provide an edge the Empire doesn't utilize.  You will be watching them with my staff.  When this battle is over, and we have every reason to believe it will be a success, we will discuss your Locust.  Until then, we have a bit of work to do.  I'm afraid I must take my leave of you, as the fighting is about to start.  We must begin," Destin said, turning.  "MOVE OUT!"  With that simple command, the Liberation Army began marching on the fortress trade city of Milano.

      "His tactics are excellent," commented Mercury.  For the first time since being assimilated, she was actually calm, composed, and enjoying herself.  "Where are the enemies?  And aren't you worried something will happen to him?"

      The Valkyrie watching the mirrors frowned, relaying images to Destin's unit, which was steadily forging southward.  His unit was slightly behind the rest, but they were assured that he was quite well protected.  "He's with the Princess Norn, and the three Sky Knights of Legend.  Those three were the noble ones that gave up their normal lives to engage and defeat the ogres during the Ogre Battle.  Two were once human, and one is a fallen goddess, seeking reascension by assisting us.  They were corrupted by Rashidi's magic, and Destin was able to release Rashidi's hold on them.  Between them and the fact Destin is quite the swordsman, well, we believe in our Lord," she finished, trailing off.  She gazed at one of the mirrors.  "Destin, Fordham has engaged the enemy.  It is a flying unit."

      Destin's voice issued from his mirror.  "I see it."  Intrigued, the Scouts leaned in to watch.  A Wyrm carrying three Berserkers moved towards the now liberated village six hours north of Milano.  It began to descend with evil intent.  Two Wyverns swooped in.  The first, carrying Fordham, spewed deadly, concentrated flame, blasting the most important looking Berserker; the other smacked the Wyrm upside the head, knocking it and its passengers to the ground.  The first Wyvern landed to engage in melee combat while the second continued making passes with fire.  The whole time, Fordham was throwing orbs of freezing energy at the enemies.  It was not long before the enemy unit was destroyed.

      "Fordham to Destin, enemy unit destroyed," the report came through the mirrors.  This report turned out to be the beginning of a long fight.  The scouts watched, and understood what Valkyries used their spears for.  Jupiter felt kindred with them, as a whole unit of them, commanded by Rauny, rained lightning on any and all they came across.  Gilbert was teamed with a man with wings.  They watched, curious.

      "That's the Eagleman Canopus, also known as the Wind Rider," said the Valkyrie in camp with them.  "Gilbert is a Beast Master, and that is a Cerberus with the Ninja in front of them."  The other units fought on.  Mages dispensed magic, Knights clashed with axe-wielding Black Knights, and Samurai clashed with Ninja.  Dragons and Griffons clashed with Octopus and Cockatrices.  Clerics and Priests healed, and Faeries clashed with Mermaids.  Tristam's unit, wielding holy weapons, destroyed Demons commanding Skeletons and Ghosts repeatedly.  Doll Mages with Golems engaged Vampyres with Giants and Werewolves. 

      Before the second day of fighting was out, the Liberation Army was besieging Milano itself.  The Scouts walked in as a single unit dispatched to the main castle. They had retired eight hours prior, and were just now waking up.

      "Just one?" asked Venus, yawning.

      The Valkyrie grinned.  Over the past 36 hours, she had gotten used to the Scouts and actually liked them.  "All that's needed.  Baron Apros won't be able to stand against Rauny, as she didn't like being forced to him in marriage, against her will.  And some swapping was done.  Tristam, Destin, Norn, and Debonair are all with her.  They'll demolish him easily."

      "Well, Destin certainly plays for keeps," commented Mercury.  "He seems good at physical and psychological warfare."  A short time later, Baron Apros crouched, ozone crackling as an angry and merciless Rauny brought down one last lightning bolt.  The camp broke into cheers as Milano was liberated, and fireworks began going off over the trade city.

      "All that in two days," smiled Mask.

      "Impressive," said Luna and Artemis.

      "Someone else around here should learn to lead like that," smirked Mars.

      Moon glared at Mars.  Perhaps it was a sign of her growing maturity that she did not whine, or stick her tongue out.  Rather, she turned away.  "Well, he does have competent help.  That counts for a lot."

      Mars' jaw dropped.  Her face went beet-red.  "Why, why, you!" she sputtered.  The other Scouts were mildly surprised by Moon's retaliation.

      "Wait a minute," began Venus.  "That hits all of us!"

      “Hmm, does it?" smiled Moon, feigning an innocent look.  "I'm sorry!"

      Artemis couldn't help it.  For all the teasing the Scouts had thrown at Moon over the years, her reply got her even in one fell swoop.  He cracked up, rolling on his side laughing.  Luna buried her face with her paw, struggling not to laugh.  Mask grinned, and there was a devilish twinkle in Moon's eye.  She was struggling to keep a straight face.

      "Well," said Mercury, blinking.  "I do believe we had that coming."

      The congratulations were loud that night, as the victory celebration continued.  The only sour note, for the Scouts at least, was that no one was taking them seriously.

      "It's getting on my nerves," sighed Venus.  "For some reason, our outfits don't inspire these people to think we're capable of anything."

      "And why not?" asked Moon.  "They each have different powers.  We are in a magical world.  We'll have to prove to them that we are dangerous in a fight.  They also would think our outfits make little sense, and provide no protection.  They don't understand that while in Scout form, our strength is enhanced, our speed is increased, our durability and punishment-absorbing potential is through the roof, and we have all kinds of tricks up our sleeves."

      "Well, how do we prove it?" asked Jupiter.

      "Do you really feel you have to prove something to them?" asked Moon.  "Jupe, just how powerful would you rate the lightning they were using?"

      "Easy money, for me," she said.  "I see your point."

      Moon smiled.  "Guys, we know our power.  We are guests here, and until the time comes to use our power, we should just take it easy.  We have nothing to prove."

      "And when that time comes," began Venus.

      "We will get medieval on Marius," smiled Mars. 

      Just then, an inebriated Deneb, who promptly began hitting on Mask, approached them.  Moon frowned.

      Mask brushed Deneb off.

      "But, cutie-pie, I wanna take you somewhere nice and quiet," Deneb giggled.

      "My heart is with Sailor Moon," said Mask calmly.

      "Forget about her," snickered Deneb.  She turned and cast a Stun Cloud on the Scouts.  To her complete surprise, it had no effect.  Actually, it did have one effect.

      It pissed off Sailor Moon.  Without thinking, she whirled and reached up.  By this time everyone in camp was watching.  They knew and tolerated Deneb.  They didn't know what this girl was going to do.  Sailor Moon hesitated, and slowly brought her hand down.

      "You know," began Mercury.  "Despite what Sailor Moon said, we do have something to prove.  Not to us," Jupiter interrupted her.

      "But to them," she said as the rod on her tiara went up.  Storm clouds gathered.  "And she just tried to attack us, but more importantly," and she was interrupted by Mars and Venus.

      "She just disrespected our princess!"

      "Guys!" shouted Moon.  "DON'T!"  But Jupiter was already moving.

      "I'll show you true lightning!  JUPITER THUNDER DRAGON!" her hands dropped and lightning crackled as the thunder dragon blasted Deneb backwards, through a tent and rolling into a storage wagon, which promptly lit up into flames.  Deneb was barely alive.  Metal rang as weapons were drawn and pointed at the Scouts.

      "Oh, please," said Venus.  The Scouts were now in automatic defense mode, and Luna, Artemis, and Mask were just behind them.  Moon was trying to calm down her friends, and not having much success.  Venus continued.  "You really think that's gonna stop us?  We don't tolerate attacks on our leader.  She attacked her and us.  She has been taught a lesson.  If you wanna continue, then let's go!"

      "She may be lewd," snapped the Beast Master Lyon, "but she's one of us!  That was uncalled for!"

      "Was it?" snapped Mars.

      "ENOUGH!" shouted Moon.  Destin and Fordham had just arrived on scene, and were mildly surprised to see a smoking Deneb.  "That is enough!  I could have taught her a lesson if I wanted to!  I didn't!  Tuxedo Mask was handling it, and she went a little overboard.  She did not hurt any of us, so I elected not to hurt her."  Moon was now glaring at her friends.  Her hands were on her hips, and she was white with rage.  "But what really gets me is you guys totally ignoring me!  That's the bigger issue here!  I know how motherly Jupiter gets, so I'm not surprised at her response.  Instead, I'm hurt that you guys didn't trust me to take care of my own business, and decided to totally disregard something I said not five minutes ago!"  The Scouts wilted.  For the first time in their memory, Moon was pissed at them!

      Destin cleared his throat.  "Break it up.  Aisha, heal Deneb.  Everyone, great job this past battle.  Debrief tomorrow noon, main tent.  Be there.  Now, I will leave this in your hands, Miss Moon.  Hopefully, you will resolve this soon.  I apologize for Deneb's actions, and we'll see you tomorrow at noon."

      Moon looked at him.  "I apologize for Jupiter's actions.  She's like a mama bear, protective and vicious when she feels I'm wronged.  I won't hold her responsible, though."

      Destin nodded, and waved his people away.  Only Fordham was in range.  He cleared his throat.

      "Well, Stryfe was right.  You guys do put on a hell of a show.  Relax, everything'll work out.  See you tomorrow," he said cryptically, walking away.  Moon turned back.

      "Look.  I realize there have been plenty of times when I wasn't much of a leader.  I know that I've not wanted any of this since day one.  But lately, I've been thinking.  It's not so horrible, being a Scout.  We have an absolute purpose in life, and while we were drawn by destiny, the future is ours to write.  We have power to make our lives interesting, and plenty of challenges to meet.  My point is I've finally accepted what you guys accepted so long ago.  Now, I'm trying my hardest to be a good leader, and while I can see that it's taking some getting used to, I do not want this to ever happen again.  Okay?" finished Moon, calmer now.  "Or should I go back to being who I used to be?"

      "Don't be silly, Sailor Moon," said Luna with a smile.  "You go, girl!"  The Scouts all nodded.

      "It won't happen that way again," promised Mars, while the other Scouts agreed vehemently.

      "Let's get some rest," suggested Artemis.  Moon was pleasantly surprising them all, and Artemis and Luna couldn't be happier.

      "In short, everyone fought well," Destin trailed off.  All the big names of the rebellion were here.  Norn, Slust, Fenril, Fogel, the Knight Lans, Doll Mage Ashe, Canopus, Gilbert, Lyon, Rauny, Mage Saradin, Mage Warren, Deneb, and the Priest Aisha.  This was Tristam's first debriefing as a member of the Liberation Army.  Fordham smiled, as the Scouts were also present and Deneb was quiet for once, perhaps having learned a lesson yesterday.

      Who am I kidding? he thought.  She'll never learn.  He turned his attention back to the matters at hand. 

      "Now, onward. Our next battle will be in Antalia, against the ex-bishop Omicron.  Omicron was sacked for attempting to study forbidden magics.  Warren?" called Destin.

      Warren stood.  "He is beyond evil.  We will be fighting a lot of undead and creatures of the night.  Best time of attack will be daylight.  Omicron has ties with Rashidi, how strong is unknown.  We will most likely need Brunhild, as a Chaos Gate is supposed to exist there.  Caution is the order of the day, and it shouldn't be too tough, probably just a little easier than the Kastolation Sea was.  We may also find additional help.  There is a little-known Roshian Temple hidden in a vale in the eastern mountains, between the forked rivers.  An angel is rumored trapped there.  If we can make contact, chances are good we can gain an additional ally."

      "An angel, huh?" said Lans.  "That would be helpful against Omicron."

      "Well, then.  When we begin the fight, Fordham will locate this temple and we will see if his rumor holds any truth.  The rest will sweep.  Focus your attention on the mirror," said Destin, turning.  He drew his sword, and pointed as the mirror lit up with a map.  "As you can see, we will have to move around the bay, with the exception of Canopus.  He will cut straight across and intercept any sky units.  The rest will form a line, and advance gradually.  We will surround his castle, and storm it.  Any questions?"  Destin surveyed the tent.  Everyone was quiet.  "Okay.  Now, we haven't seen that Locust of Fordham's in some time.  Last time she engaged us, we barely beat her off.  We need to plan on her appearance.  Fordham, would you care to clarify the situation for us all?"

      Fordham nodded and stood.  "I'm not sure of all of the background..." he trailed off as Mercury raised her hand.  "Yes?"

      "May I?  If I explain what we know about her, it may assist if she shows up again."  Fordham and Destin nodded.  She ignored a few suspicious looks as she continued.  "Marius, the Locust, is the current leader of the Negaverse, a dark place that repeatedly attempts to gain control of our world.  Due to the way the Negaverse works, agents of the Negaverse must gather energy from their intended victims, using it against them.  We Scouts have always prevented this from happening.  Now, she apparently decided that by seeking power from elsewhere, she could overpower us and finally claim what she wants."  Mercury paused as Saradin raised his hand. 

      "You said the Negaverse is a powerful, ancient enemy, right?  What's the guarantee they aren't invading your world as we speak?" he asked.

      Mercury smiled.  "You are seeing only half of our team.  We are the Inner Court, loyal protectors of Sailor Moon, alter ego of Princess Serenity.  Tuxedo Mask will be her husband, and Luna and Artemis are advisors.  We left the Outer Court behind, as well as her daughter and her bodyguards, the other two members of the Inner Court.  The Outer Court is just as loyal, but they specialize in vanquishing foes, not protecting princesses."

      There was a collective gasp as Mercury's words sunk in.  Saradin was the first to recover.  "Did you say princess?"  Glances were exchanged.

      "Yes, but that's not important right now.  Okay.  Marius apparently intends to get her hands on what you call the 'Zodiac Stones'.  I can only guess what type of power they contain."

      "The Zodiac Stones contain the power to open the gates of heaven or hell, whichever the user desires.  But they only work when all twelve are together," said Warren.

      "I understand why she would desire them, then," mused Mercury.  "She could open a direct link to the Negaverse, allowing hordes of creatures to come through.  Well.  We are working on a way to trap her within her own power, utilizing it to send her back where she belongs while draining it from her."

      "You mean you are," smiled Jupiter.  She faced the others.  "She's always been the brains, and doesn't take credit for her own work."

      Mercury blushed a little.  "Whatever.  At any rate, since we're here, if she appears in a fight, we will intercept her and engage her.  Hopefully, she won't show for several more battles, until we are ready to send her back."

      "Okay, thank you," said Destin.  "Everyone, keep your eyes open.  As soon as she is spotted, we deploy the Scouts.  We begin moving out in two days.  Start packing today.  Understood?"  Everyone nodded.  "Then, dismissed!"  As everyone stood to leave, Rauny approached Jupiter.

      "Hey, do you think you could teach me that trick of yours?"

      Mel quietly gazed at the setting sun.  Things had gotten progressively worse.  The police wanted the Scouts, and they were avoiding outside contact.  The temple was fast becoming their home away from home.  General Trouble had been scarce since the incident where Uranus had lost it, and naturally she blamed her temper on GT.  It was quiet, for now. 

      She sighed, and picked herself up, preparing to go back inside and get some rest when the birds around her stopped chirping.  Uh oh, she thought.  Sam, something's not right out here!  Transform and get the others!

      On our way, Sam shot back.  "Trouble!  Mel thinks GT is about to attack!"

      "Let's go!" shouted Amara, raising her hand.

      Outside, Mel did the same.  "EARTH COSMIC POWER!"  Her transformation finished as GT stepped out of the trees, barreling at her.  She dodged, and his momentum carried him to the street.  She followed, to be joined by the other Scouts.  GT turned tail, running downhill towards a busier part of town.

      "Let's get him!" yelled Neptune.  The Scouts tore after him, and he soon stopped to face them.  They were in the middle of a busy intersection.  People were running in all directions.

      Why didn't he turn invisible? wondered Earth-Anger.  She and Earth-Love moved apart from the others as they spread out, staying together while surrounding him.  The attacks started flying.  GT began taking some serious damage.

      "NEPTUNE STUNNING TSUNAMI!"

      Water burst from Neptune's mirror.  Saturn lowered her glaive to attack as Pluto readied hers.  The impact of the water almost leveled him.  Uranus saw her chance.

      "URANUS GALACTIC COLLISION!"

      GT stood up, realizing what was about to happen.  He dodged straight towards the Earth twins.  Uranus' meteor crashed down from above.

      "NO!" screamed Uranus in horror as the meteor struck.  The explosion blinded them, and when the smoke cleared, GT was gone and sirens were wailing, drawing near.  They glanced about, spotting Earth-Love's form in a nearby wall, which was partly collapsed over her.  Earth-Anger wasn't in sight.

      The first police car drew around the corner just them.  Uranus picked up Earth-Love.  "We've got to find Earth-Anger!"  Neptune grabbed her arm as the cars screeched to a stop.

      "There's no time!  We'll find her later with Earth-Love's connection to her!  We've got to get out of here!  We can't do anything if we get arrested, and we can't exactly fight the police, it'll just make things worse!"

      Uranus bowed her head.  She knew Neptune was right, but she didn't like it.  She gritted her teeth.  Now she knew why being the leader was a hard job.  Am I making the right choice?  Let's hope so.  "Scouts, retreat!"

      By the time the police were out of their cars, and before anyone could say, “Freeze!" the Scouts were gone.  Fuji shook his head and ordered the area secured.  Soon, the place was a beehive of activity.

      "Lieutenant! Over here!" called one of the officers.  Fuji moved towards him.  He gasped.  The tree he was near hadn't collapsed from any attack.  It was split in half, covering a collapsed section of wall.  There was a form lying there.  Still breathing, some minor bleeding from cuts, and singe marks evident on her outfit; mostly buried by bricks, but otherwise okay.

      "My God… what could have done this, and how did she survive?" he wondered.

      "What should we do, Lieutenant?" asked the officer.  Fuji sighed, examining the unconscious Sailor Earth-Anger.  He then gave the hardest order he had ever given.

      "Book her."

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Sailor Moon: Quest for Marius

By Daryll Pung

Part 5: The Plot Thickens

PG13

      The light hurt her eyes.  Sailor Earth-Anger blinked and clutched her head. 

      "Ohhh," she groaned.  "Uranus' attack really stings!"

      Someone cleared his or her throat.

      "So, you're infighting now as well?" someone asked.

      Earth-Anger blinked.  She was adapting to the light, and realized several police officers were staring at her.  She realized she was an interrogation room.

      "What is the meaning of this?" she asked.

      "Simple," began the first officer.  "We arrested you on charges of three counts of murder, and several counts of destruction of public and private property.  You Scouts are a threat we need off the streets."

      Earth-Anger blinked.  "Excuse me?!"

      "Why, after all these years, do you Scouts start murdering?  Or have you done it all along?" asked the officer, leaning forward.  Earth-Anger suddenly realized she was cuffed.

      "Hmm.  I see there seems to be a misunderstanding," said Earth-Anger quietly.  "First off, I am uncomfortable."  She called upon her enhanced strength and snapped the cuffs easily, then wrenched the remnants off her wrists and threw them on the table.  She then settled back and got comfortable, slightly amused at the expressions on the cops' faces.  She sought her twin.

      Sam, are you there? she asked silently.

      You're awake!  Where are you? Sam replied.

      I’m in a police interrogation room.  I'm fine, and I'm gonna try and resolve this situation.  Tell Amara not to worry, and track down that bastard GT!  I'll keep in touch, and keep Amara away, okay?  It's a delicate situation and right now she'd only make it worse, said Mel.

      Understood.  Keep me informed.  I'll tell the others, replied Sam before severing the communication.  Earth-Anger looked up.

      "Now, on to your ridiculous charges.  We as of late have been dealing with a real pain in the behind we call GT, for General Trouble.  He is a combination of four enemies we thought we destroyed several years ago.  He has the ability of using brute strength, and then turning invisible and running away.  I assume the three you are charging us with are the one in the park and the two in the cars?" she asked.

      "That is correct," said the only officer who had spoken to this point.  "How do you explain them?"

      Earth-Anger sighed sadly.  "The first one was in that bastard's grip when we got on scene, and he snapped her neck and chucked her at us as Neptune let her attack fly.  Pluto and Uranus hit the bastard, and then he predictably turned invisible and ran, and we were really angry and tried to find him, to no avail."

      "And the two in their cars?" he asked in disbelief.

      "Also dead by the time we got there.  Matter of fact, we didn't even see him that time, just spotted his footprints.  I'm afraid Uranus messed that one up when she lost her temper.  That is truly her fault, but it's been nothing but frustration lately, and we're all getting sick of it," she said in exasperation.

      "And how did you get chucked through a tree and a wall?  You said something about Uranus' attack?" he asked.

      "Through a tree and a wall?" she blinked.  "No wonder I had a headache.  No, we were actually doing well against him, when Uranus called her attack.  He moved towards Earth-Love and I, and we were caught in the area of effect.  I need to speak with her about her timing.  I, for one, don't appreciate being hurled through a tree, and I'm sure my twin feels the same way."

      "You're being awfully co-operative.  How can we be sure you're telling the truth?" the first officer asked.

      "Why would I lie?" she said simply, leaning back, arms crossed, relaxed.  She was trying to be nonthreatening as possible.  "Besides, now that I think about it, if your officers keep their eyes open for strange occurrences, it might help us defeat this enemy."

      "Well, I-" he was interrupted by the other officer, who was just hanging up his cell phone.

      "That's enough," he said.  He turned to Earth-Anger.  "Now, you're the Scout called Sailor Earth-Anger, correct?"  She nodded.  "Well, I am Lieutenant Fuji Togiro.  Now, while I'm inclined to believe you, my superiors say we need to verify your story with the evidence we have.  This might, unfortunately, take a little while, and I must ask your continued co-operation and patience, and we must ask you to stay here.  We will drop the charges pending verification of your story."

      Earth-Anger closed her eyes and nodded. The things I do for us, she thought.  "I will remain," she sighed as she released herself into Melanie.  "As a sign of good faith."

      "Thank you," Fuji said.  He motioned, and two guards stepped forward.  "They will take you to a holding cell.  Thanks again for your co-operation."

      As she was led out, he held his head in his hand.  "Great," he whispered.  His idiot of a captain was going to really mess this up, and he had a bad feeling about this.  I'm glad we got the patient one, he thought.

      "In jail!" raged Amara.  "No way she's staying in jail!  We'll bust her out right now!  How dare they do this to a Sailor Scout!"

      "AMARA!" shouted Sam.  That got her attention.  "Mel knows what she is doing.  She is restoring our good name.  It is, as she says, imperative that we remain patient."

      "Doesn't mean I have to like it," she groused.  Glances were exchanged.

      "In jail?" blinked Serena.  They were relaxing in a tent just prior to the battle.  "And she insists she can fix things?"

      "Yeah," sighed Amara.  "I hate it, but we have little choice.  We are too busy looking into options of tracking down GT.  We don't need the police all over us, and this will get them off our back.  We'll handle it, Moonface.  Just wish there was a better way."

      "So do we," sighed Serena.  "Keep us informed."

      "Will do," smiled Amara.  "Good luck."

      "You too," smiled Serena as the connection was cut.  She glanced around. 

      "Not the best track record," said Raye.  "Sure you still want her in charge?"

      "And just how easy would it be for all of us together to deal with an invisible, rampaging beast who just happens to be composed of four generals we thought we all destroyed?" asked Amy with a raised eyebrow.

      Raye was quiet at that.  Trust Amy to put a factual spin on things.  At least she's being herself more and more, she thought.

      Serena shrugged.  A knock came from the wooden frame, and the canvas was pushed aside to reveal Deneb.  Lita jumped to her feet.

      "Easy," she said placatingly.  She glanced around, at their outfits.  So, this is what they really look like.  Just a bunch of little girls.  Just one was strong enough to kick my butt.  She shook her head.  Deneb was a student of irony, and this ultimate irony was actually quite funny, even if she was the brunt of it.

      "We didn't give you permission to enter," said Lita through gritted teeth, with a balled fist.

      "I just came to tell you that the battle is starting, and..." she trailed off.

      "And what?" asked Mina, slightly less hostile.

      "I... er, that is... well, actually, um..." she trailed off.

      "Apology accepted," smiled Serena.  Deneb blinked in surprise.  Deneb nodded, blushed, and quickly turned and left.  The team glanced at her, amused.

      "It really was quite obvious," grinned Serena. 

      "Yeah, but I wanted to make her say it," smiled Mina.  "Spar for the horse."

      Amy sighed in irritation as the others blinked.  "That's 'Par for the course', Mina.  Remind me to write up a damn encyclopedia with every single quote in the known multiverse so you have a reference to access anytime you decide you wish to mutilate them."

      Mina blinked at the pure sarcasm dripping from Amy's voice.  "Sorry, Ames," she said softly.

      Amy blinked, and shook her head.  She'd let her self-control slip again.  Not that she had much since, since...

      Amy brushed away small tears, aware of the concerned looks of the others.  They're too nice to me.  They're such good friends.  They understand, and want to help.  Get control of yourself, girl; it's over. 

      "Not as much as I am," she apologized.

      "It's okay, Amy," said Serena, crouching near her.  She took Amy's hand, and squeezed gently.  "We are here for you.  We'd rather you vent on us, because we know the reasons and we care about you."

      "I know," Amy whispered.  "But you can't really understand.  I think dying was nicer then being assimilated."

      "Oh, I think I can understand," said Darien.  His expression hardened slightly.  "I imagine it was about as pleasant as being ravaged by the Nega-energy, and turned against the one I love."

      Amy's eyes widened as Darien chuckled at her.  "Thought you'd remember that.  Look at that, folks, she's a real person!  Amy actually forgot something!"

      Their smiles helped her mood lift.  She faced Mina, and glanced at her watch.  "Thanks, guys.  Time.  And, Mina, keep mutilating sayings.  It is part of what makes you, you.  MERCURY COSMIC POWER!"

      The rest of the Scouts followed suit.

      Even though Mercury had said she hoped Marius would wait until her little trap was ready, they all did want her to show this battle, so they could prove themselves to everyone.  It was something on all of their minds as the lead units were deployed in accordance with the battle plan.  The Scouts were in the command tent when Fordham reported in. 

      "Destin, Fordham.  I have liberated the temple, and there is indeed an Angel here, more properly, a Cherubim.  She says we have been fighting angels because her sister, Mizual, signed a contract with Rashidi, and she wishes to sign a contract with us, permitting her angels to assist and counter Mizual's efforts.  Her name is Yushis," he reported.

      Destin only smiled.  "Approved.  Bring her back here, then report to the line to cover in case something slips through."  He turned.  "Have my unit stand ready.  We will deploy to the front line when I assign Yushis' unit to her."

      "Yes, Destin," smiled the Valkyrie.

      It was a very short time indeed before Yushis entered the Liberation Army's camp, and an even shorter time before Yushis was inducted into the Liberation Army and assigned two Muses (stronger versions of Valkyries) and two Paladins (stronger versions of Knights).  Soon, Yushis and Destin both deployed to the front line.

      Things began to get interesting.  The Liberation Army was forced to fight holding actions against the enemy units, the majority of which contained undead.  This made the enemy units extremely resilient.  They weren't really capable of dealing direct damage, but they kept on coming.

      Canopus' advanced position soon proved a necessity.  He quickly located the Chaos Gate, which Destin wasted no time in activating with Brunhild.  After that, he fought off three units consisting of nothing but Mages and Phantoms, which were trying their damndest to get past him.  They ultimately failed, the final Mage killed by Canopus' Thunder Arrow attack.

      The line now extended in an arc, encompassing the marsh and completely blocking off the enemy.  The enemy units, however, were strongest in the marshes, especially a unit consisting of a Witch and a Zombie Dragon.  This unit proved especially troublesome.

      Every time a Liberation Army unit thought they would defeat this particular pair, the Witch would Stun Cloud the attackers and the Zombie dragon's powerful attacks would shred them, causing the unit to beat a hasty retreat and heal up.  Then something occurred to Destin.  He ordered Yushis forward.

      Yushis moved into the fray.  The Witch and Zombie Dragon started their usual, but Yushis moved first.  Both Muses rained down lightning, followed by sword strikes from the Paladins, which took out the Witch, and then Yushis called upon her holy power to Banish the Zombie Dragon, destroying the unit.

      "All right!"  The Scouts cheered. 

      The Liberation Army, free of that snare, proceeded to make their way slowly across the marshes (with the exception of Fordham's and Canopus' units).  The going was rough, slowed by several units of Shamans with Werewolves.  Before too long, however, these units also fell before the determined Liberation Army.  The line was being drawn right at the end of the marsh, and Kander Hall, Omicron's castle, was in view.

      Then another unit emerged from the marsh, and attacked the northwestern-most unit, under the command of Lans.  Lans promptly engaged the unit.  He led his two Mages and two Paladins into combat.

      "Uh, sir," said the Valkyrie at home base.  "Lans just retreated from the latest fight, and requested two Ethereal Flutes for his Paladins!  I just scanned and sent him them, and two Cure Ankhs!  Whatever it was, he got smashed and routed.  He reports two Mages, two Black Knights, and the leader is unknown, but extremely evil!"

      "Fordham!  Close and identify!  But do NOT engage until we know what it is!" ordered Destin.  "How much damage did he inflict?" he asked home base. 

      "None that registered!" replied the Valkyrie.  She highlighted the proper mirror, and caused it to replay.  Mercury wandered over.  She at first just glanced, and then stared.  When the replay was over, she waved to the other scouts.  When they gathered, she glanced at the Valkyrie.

      "Play it again, please," she said.  The Scouts leaned forward to see.

      In the meantime, the mystery unit struck again, routing Deneb's unit.  She retreated, desperately calling for help and healing.  These reports were passed on to Destin, and the necessary items were sent. 

      "It's her," said Moon.  "There is no doubt."

      "And she has apparently corrupted the Mages and Black Knights with her, infusing them with Nega-energy," Mercury mused.

      "You getting this?" the Valkyrie asked Destin.

      "So, it's the Locust?" asked Destin.  "Give them a mirror."

      "Destin, Fordham.  Confirmed.  It is the Locust," said Fordham, orbiting the evil unit, which was heading for Destin's unit.

      "Well, shall we?" asked Moon.  Everyone nodded, and they formed up, Mask and the cats in the middle.  The Valkyrie rushed up and handed them a mirror.  It was already active, allowing the Scouts to take center stage in front of the entire Liberation Army.  Power surged, and an aura surrounded the scouts.

      "SAILOR TELEPORT!"

      The energy bubble expanded, surrounding the Scouts and shooting upwards out of the tent.  Within a second, the bubble landed right near Destin's unit, in a direct intercept path of the marauding unit.  The light faded, and the Scouts readied themselves.  Their surroundings were dank and dreary.  Stagnant water mixed with moist earth, giving off a pungent odor.  They were standing on a small chunk of dry land.  Rotting vegetation was everywhere.  They could clearly see Destin's group on top of a nearby hill.

      Mercury reached up to touch her right earring, activating her visor.  She peered into the trees, waiting.  After a few seconds, a negative energy signature appeared.  "Okay.  I've got them.  They're coming directly towards our position.  I don't think they are expecting us, so I would suggest an ambush."

      Moon nodded.  "Sounds good.  Let's duck behind some trees and let them have it as they pass between us."  She pointed out which ones after a quick glance at their surroundings.  The Scouts hustled to their positions, and lay in wait.

      Slust nodded appraisingly.  "Good plan.  I still think, given another try, we could defeat the so-called Locust."

      Destin glanced at him.  "Possibly.  However, these girls know this enemy, and can handle it themselves.  To make the ambush that much more effective, here's what we'll do.  We will move forward and prepare to engage.  The second they burst out of hiding, we'll withdraw.  This is their fight, but we can make it easier."  He activated his mirror.  "In the meantime… Yushis, Warren.  This is Destin.  Move in on Omicron and kick his butt.  Set up a pincer attack.  Warren, dispatch his guards; and Yushis, take him out."

      "Very well, Destin.  Myself and Saradin are en route," answered Warren.

      "As you wish," came Yushis' otherworldly voice.

      Destin shut down his mirror, and drew Brunhild.

      "Let's go."

      Moon noted the movement of Destin.  She had eavesdropped through the mirror, and relayed the info to the other Scouts.  The three Sky Knights moved in front, Destin and Norn in the rear.  They carefully stepped forward, now at the base of the hill.

      Then, evil burst forth.  Marius suddenly burst out of the trees, laughing maniacally as two Black Knights charged and two Mages prepared their spells.

      Destin called upon his power through Brunhild, and dropped an Ice Cloud in the midst of his enemies.  He motioned for a retreat, and Norn blasted Marius with Starlight to cover their backs.

      Now, it was the Scouts' turn.  As Marius raised her hands to blast the leader of the Liberation Army, a red rose impaled her palm, causing her to stop and gasp in intense pain.

      "Hold it!  Marius, your plans to conquer our home are evil and will not happen!  I am the champion of love and justice, and in the name of the Moon," began Moon, to be joined by all the Scouts, "WE SHALL PUNISH YOU!"

      "MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!"

      Mercury's mist obscured the scene momentarily, allowing the others to build up to their attacks.

      From afar, Warren and Yushis looked on.  The battle for Kander Hall was already concluded.  This battle was won, save for the fight that would determine who won the war.  It was quite obvious that a fight was happening, though in the mirror and in real life, a thick mist obscured it.  By now, everyone in the Liberation Army was watching this.  Would these scantily dressed little girls really be able to defeat that which they could not?  The marsh was off in the distance, but Kander Hall was at elevation, enabling a decent view of the surrounding panorama.

      "Think they can do it?" asked Saradin.  It was a question everyone was asking.

      "Well," began Warren, to trail off as dark clouds gathered over the battlefield, crackling with electricity.  Suddenly, lightning crashed to earth at the same moment a huge ball of flame blasted the mist away.  Warren blinked at the power being unleashed, and looked back down at his mirror.

      "VENUS SHINING LOVE FORCE!"  A golden wall of energy smashed into the two Black Knights, finishing them off, before impacting on Marius, who was suddenly quite alone.  Mars' fire had incinerated the Mages even before Jupiter's lightning had struck, and all attention was now focused on the Nega-queen, who recoiled from the attack. 

      Marius was still focused on trying to get past the Scouts and kill Destin, and right now, Tuxedo Mask was the only thing in her way.  She dodged another salvo of the lethal roses, and tried to engage him in hand-to-hand combat.  Mask's cane telescoped out, and he blocked the first blow as Mercury jumped in.

      "MERCURY FREEZING WAVE SMASH!"  The expanding ice wave enveloped Marius, eating into her and encasing her a thin layer of ice, slowing her considerably.  Mercury glanced at Moon, and nodded.  Moon's tiara was already glowing.  "Fire in the hole!" shouted Mercury as she jumped clear.  Everyone followed her example as the ice effect began to wear off.

      "MOON TIARA DEVASTATION!"  With that, the intense white disc impacted into Marius.  The explosion predictably followed.

      Every mirror was suddenly blinded.  Due to magical protection, everyone watching was saved from the blinding glare that accompanied that particular attack, but it still dazzled the vision.

      Warren glanced up, blinking his eyes.  A pure white dome of energy rose over the area of the fight, covering everything.  A shockwave was already clearly visible, expanding rapidly, passing around them, accompanied a few seconds later by the thwump of the explosion.  The light began to fade.  He glanced back into the mirror.

      Marius was on her knees.  Moon strode towards her to finish the job.  She rose.

      "I think not, Moon wench!" said Marius.  Purple energy surrounded her, and she teleported away. 

      Moon whirled.  "Sailor Mercury!  Track that teleport!"

      Mercury already had her visor active and computer out.  "Working on it!"

      Moon surveyed the area.  "Anyone hurt?" she asked.

      "Just my eyes," said Destin, still blinking, trying to restore his vision.  He had looked away at the second of impact, but without the protection the Scouts had, he was still blinded.  His vision was returning to normal, and he looked up.  Steam still rose from the some of the water in the area, while some was coated with ice.  There was no vegetation left, and scorch marks were everywhere.  The Scouts were standing together, watching Mercury.

      "Got it!" smiled Mercury.  "I know where she went!  We can correlate with their maps to figure out what's going on."

      "Great!" grinned Moon.  "I think we scared her!  Good job, everyone!"  She turned to Destin.  He smiled. 

      "The battle is won.  Destin to all troops, report to base camp!"

      Mercury strode in, followed by Warren.  The debriefing was in session.  Destin was talking, and paused when they entered.

      "So, good job to all.  I know it was a long, hard fight, and I'm glad for our newest ally, Yushis.  She was instrumental in defeating that Zombie Dragon," he finished his current sentence.  He glanced at Warren, who nodded.  "And now, Warren seems to have some new information for us."

      "Yes.  Firstly, the Chaos Gate revealed the location of a new sky island, called Temple Shangri-La.  We must journey there next.  Our enemy seems to be Gares."  Collective murmurs answered that statement, and Aisha's brows contracted into a cold expression that had no right being on any healer's face.  "The procedure is the same as the other sky islands- namely, rapid liberation and surrounding of the enemies.  Now, on to other matters, namely concerning our guests."  He indicated the Scouts, who were basking in the impressed congratulations of the rebels.  "Sailor Mercury here traced the Locust's teleport.  After poring over the maps, the end location of that teleport is Temple Shalina."  The room went silent.  "As we all know, that is Rashidi's home base.  This, combined with the fact the Locust was using corrupted versions of Imperial troops, suggests that they are working together to acquire the Zodiac Stones.  Sailor Mercury," finished Warren.

      Mercury stepped forward.  "We have completed plans for a device to entrap the power Marius uses to transfer.  This device, which I am working on, will restore the power to where it belongs and send her to where she belongs, with a 95.3% chance of success.  But it must be used after she is weakened."

      Warren spoke up again.  "Therefore, I propose a special insertion mission..."

      Melanie paced impatiently.  She had already been here for almost a day and a half.  She was in a holding cell with other undesirables, who were looking at her pacing.  It was obvious that her pacing wasn't the only thing they were looking at, but she was attempting to ignore that.

      With little success.  Every second seemed to drag on, time lasting an eternity.  What the hell is taking so long? she wondered.  She sought her twin.  Sam?

      Mel?  How's it going? Sam answered.  Still being held?

      Yeah.  This is getting old.  I shouldn't be here.  They had to have confirmed it by now, she sighed mentally.  Why am I still here?

      Think they're jerking you around? asked Sam.

      I'm almost positive that someone is.  And this cell I'm in doesn't help, what with the lowlifes staring at me in... in ways that make me feel dirty, Mel thought.  I'm getting tired of this.

      Wow.  Your legendary patience is being exhausted?  Yeah, being as pretty as we Scouts are definitely doesn't help in a place like that.  Hang in there... Or do you want to be busted out? asked Sam.

      Mel stopped abruptly, having made a decision.  Don't bother.  Just meet me when I call you.  I'm gonna do one of two things... get the guard to get someone with authority and get me out, or break myself out.  I've had it.

      Uh, okay, sis.  Just be careful.  We'll be waiting, Sam said.

      Later, Mel thought as she terminated the connection.  She turned to where the guard sat in the booth nearby. 

      "Excuse me," she said.  The guard didn't appear to hear.

      "Excuse me!" she said, clutching the bars, and speaking loudly, more insistently.  The guard looked up.

      "What do you want?" he asked, bored.

      "I want out of here.  Get me Lieutenant Togiro!" demanded Melanie.  "I've been patient enough!"

      "What makes you think the Lieutenant has time for you?" he sneered.  He laughed.  "Who exactly do you think you are?"

      "Yeah, sweet little thing, cool it.  Girls as pretty as you should know their place.  Come here, and let's have some fun," leered a nearby inmate.  He stood and approached her.

      She glared at him in disgust.  "Stay away from me."  She backed away from the bars, noting the guard looking on with interest.

      The inmate laughed, and his hand moved swiftly.  Melanie gasped as his hand roughly grabbed her chest.  She slapped him with all her might.

      The guard was roaring with laughter at this.  The inmate seemed to find it funny.  He came at her again.

      In her time as a Scout, Melanie had prided herself on her sheer endurance and patience.  But, being sleepless for over 24 hours, plus being in a place like this, where she was being wrongly held, plus the guard's attitude, did something no one expected to see. 

      Melanie lost her temper.  She stood erect.  Her hand rose.

      "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!  I am not here for any good reason, and no one has shown me any reason I should stay!  There has been more than enough time to confirm the facts!  This farce is over!  EARTH COSMIC POWER!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.  Spiritual flowers spiraled around her, heralding her change into Sailor Earth-Anger.

      The inmate paused only for a second, then leered at her and reached. 

      There was a good reason the Scouts tried to avoid fighting around innocents.  In Scout form, their speed went through the roof, as did their punishment-absorbing potential, and as did their strength.  Their attacks could very well be lethal, even their weakest ones.

      Earth-Anger cared about none of this.  She balled her fist, reared back, and punched.  There was an audible cracking, accompanied by a whooshing sound, as the inmate's ribs were cracked and the air driven out of him.  The follow-through of the punch landed the inmate into the wall twenty feet behind him.

      Literally.  The impact of the inmate caused more bones to break and put him a full six inches into the reinforced concrete wall, partly collapsing it.  The cell went dead silent, all laughter ceasing.  Her glare swept the cell, causing every inmate in it to cower.  They tried to make themselves as small as possible.  In the silence, his hoarse breathing, a high-pitched wheeze, made it clear he was not dead, but only because she had chosen not to kill.  She turned and faced the cell door.

      The guard was staring, open-mouthed.

      She grasped the door on either side as his fingers slid under the booth counter-top and pressed a button.  She wrenched the door off its hinges effortlessly, and chucked it aside as alarms began sounding.  The sound only infuriated her further.  She stalked towards the door.  The guard stepped out of the booth, leveling a shotgun at her.  Earth-Anger paused.  She wasn't sure if she would be well protected against a firearm at point-blank range.  Then she realized she didn't care.  She raised her hand. 

      "EARTH ANGER GROWTH!"

      Vines burst with astonishing speed from the walls and the floor, cracking the concrete all around.  Within a matter of seconds, the guard was completely entwined, the shotgun now facing at his foot.

      "Go ahead.  Pull the trigger.  It's your foot."

      With that cold phrase, Sailor Earth-Anger moved towards the heavy steel door that separated the cell area from the rest of the police station and raised her fist…

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    Note:  Final Fantasy VII and all related characters are the property of Squaresoft and Sony.

Sailor Moon: Quest for Marius

By Daryll Pung

Part 6: No Rest For The Wicked

PG13

      There was a crowd gathered on the streets outside the police station.  Police cars and ambulances, sirens blaring and lights flashing, skidded to a stop outside, officers piling out with loaded weapons.  An alarm could be clearly heard.  The media was already arriving.  On the inside, officers loaded their firearms and nervously clutched them, wondering just what they could do.

      For Sailor Earth-Anger was pissed.  And there was nothing worse than a pissed-off Sailor Scout.

      Except maybe a group of pissed-off Scouts.

      Sam sighed.  Their brainstorm wasn't going well, and she wondered how her twin was doing.  She established the link.

      And immediately cut it with a loud cry, hands clutching her head.  She fell to her hands and knees in front of the others, gasping.  They were all around her now.

      "What's wrong?  Sam, you ok?" asked Amara.

      "Just... touched… Mel's mind," gasped out Sam.  She shook with effort.  "I've never tried to open a link with her before when she's in a murderous rage."

      Needless to say, that caused the others to blink in surprise.

      "'Murderous Rage'?" asked Michelle.

      The rookie officer stared in disbelief.  He was a big fan of Sci-Fi movies, and this was straight out of one.  The door in front of him and his fellow officers was made of at least an inch of reinforced steel.  Another hollow wham, and another huge dent appeared, added to the hundred already there.  The door suddenly burst apart, and Sailor Earth-Anger stepped through.

      And glared. 

      The officers clutched their weapons and leveled them at her.  The air rang with the sound of safeties being removed and weapons cocking.  "POLICE, FREEZE!"

      Earth-Anger's hand came up, and she said something.  It was not clear, but the effect was as suddenly vines burst from everywhere, wrapping around the firearms and officers, pointing the firearms towards the ground.  She stalked amongst them, her glare wilting all those whose gazes she met.  Soon she approached the other door.

      Shotgun and rifle blasts were heard.  She dodged aside, shrugged, and smashed through the wall.  Bricks and chunks of masonry sailed through the air, and Earth-Anger burst out of the wall immediately behind the wise guys with the boomsticks.  One whirled, eyes wide with surprise. His weapon was yanked out of his hands and he stared in shock as Sailor Earth-Anger wrapped it into a pretty bow, then he ducked as she hurled it.  Earth-Anger jumped forward, and shortly the gunfire was silenced, the officers held to the wall by their very own firearms, warped into shackles from enhanced Scout strength, enhanced even further by bottomless fury.

      She reached out to her twin as she moved on.  She kept it short and to the point, knowing her twin didn't like her normally orderly, quiet mind in its chaotic, angry state.  She also didn't care as she requested the others' presence before closing the link.

      She was now in the office sections of the police station.  Some officers decided to get creative and attack her hand-to-hand.  She casually caught the first one and hurled him through a nearby door.  He crashed into several file cabinets.  Another came at her from the other side.  She grabbed him, arm across the throat.  On their free time, Mel and Sam often enjoyed watching American wrestling on TV.  So she took inspiration from her favorite character and performed a copycat move that would have shamed the original, as she RockBottomed the officer through a desk.

      She met with little further resistance as she burst out of the front door.  The two front doors were made of glass, and were locked.  Earth-Anger merely yanked the doorframe out of the wall, and chucked it behind her, and stormed right out into the brightly lit nighttime skies.  Flashbulbs exploded, spotlights centered on her, and officers pointed loaded weapons at her. 

She was about to go off again when she noticed two officers bickering.  She recognized Lt. Togiro, and what must be his captain, arguing behind a bullhorn.  She jumped and landed lightly behind them, ignoring the weapons.

      "Sir, let me handle this!  I told you we should have let her go a long time ago!  There was not enough evidence to keep her, and I still don't understand why you did it!" Togiro shouted, no respect evident in his tone or demeanor.  He grabbed the bullhorn out of his superior's hands and turned to face the entrance.

      "Lieutenant, you still don't get it.  Those girls need to learn respect!"

      "From the likes of you?" Togiro snorted.  "Please.  Those girls are practically angels.  They've saved this planet, this city so much; it's like second nature to them.  She volunteered to remain behind, so they could clear their name.  You would go and fumble this!"  Togiro was livid.  He had never been this angry.  "Now we have hurt officers, God knows what amount of property damage, and one rampaging Sailor Scout!  This is on your head!"  With that, he ignored his captain and concentrated on the task at hand.  Then, both officers blinked.  There was no Scout at the entrance, and a lot of guns pointed in their general direction.

      Then they were both tapped on the shoulder.  They turned to face a livid Sailor Earth-Anger.  Togiro blinked.  "I'm extremely sorry, Sailor Earth-Anger.  There was a mix-up.  We should have released you a long time ago, as the evidence quite clearly supports your story-"

      His captain cut him off.  "I determined that you should be held until we can actually prove your innocence," said the cocky captain.  He suddenly found himself grabbed by his uniform front and yanked to within a millimeter of Earth-Anger's face.  Her angry green eyes glared into his.

      "You getting' all this?" asked a reporter scant feet away.  Her cameraman nodded. 

      "Every word.  So, the Scouts are innocent, she nobly elected to be held and processed like a normal person, and that smart-assed captain is pissing her off.  This can't get much better, we've been trying to nail that captain with corruption charges for almost six months!"

      "It just got better," said the reporter with a gasp.  Blurred shapes descended rapidly from the sky, landing all around Togiro and his captain.  The remainder of the Scouts had just arrived. 

      At least, the only Scouts to be seen lately, as some appeared to be missing.

      Earth-Anger barely noted the others, Togiro and this lowlife of a captain didn't.  Earth-Anger glared at him and spoke in a cold voice.  "Is that normal procedure?"

      "Well, no," the idiot blundered.  He was scared now, scared by the rage in those beautiful eyes.

      "Then WHY?" roared Earth-Anger.  "I oughta blast you!"  Her hand reared back, and stopped.  Another gloved hand held hers.  And only another Sailor Scout could restrain her.  Earth-Love gazed quietly at her as Uranus stepped up. 

      "I can't believe I'm saying this, but chill out, Sailor Earth-Anger!" said the temporary leader of the team.  "I felt we should resolve the issue the way we normally do, but you wanted to try reason.  As you can see, us reasoning with the public is problematic at best."  Uranus spoke in a calm, reasonable tone.  Earth-Anger blinked, and lowered her hand.

      Uranus continued, as much for the cameras as for calming the enraged Scout.  "They just don't understand where we're coming from, even though we've tried to explain it.  They don't understand we wouldn't intentionally hurt a fly.  And to be sure, you've done your part."

      "Unless, of course, the fly was about eight feet tall and trying to rob people's energy," smiled Earth-Love as her twin absorbed Uranus' words.  Her joke broke the tension, and Earth-Anger released the captain, who began to dust himself off.  Earth-Anger and Earth-Love embraced.

      "Touching," murmured the captain.  "And convenient.  As long as you're all here, you're all under arrest."

      "WHAT!?" exclaimed the team.  Then an officer screamed.  Everybody whirled.  GT phased into view.  He held an officer in his oversized hand, and he broke the officer's neck, then dropped the body and punched the car, which promptly exploded.  Time stopped for a second, as the cameras recorded the beast for all posterity.  Then the Scouts reacted.

      "Get him!  Sailor Pluto, Sailor Saturn, block off his back!  Sailor Earths, front and center!  Sailor Mini-Moon, with the Sailor Earths, Sailor Neptune cover left!  Go!"  The Scouts leapt into action.

      Mini-Moon landed right behind the twins, and started the attack. 

      "PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!" called the petite Scout.  The exploding hearts caused GT to backpedal a few steps.

      "SATURN SILENCE RUSH!"  The glaive-shaped energy blasts smashed into GT with astonishing speed and force.  GT was staggered.  He chose that moment to make an escape, and charged at the twins.  Earth-Anger snatched Mini-Moon and jumped clear, while GT's swipe caught Earth-Love and dumped her into a police car, smashing in the roof.  Earth-Anger dropped Mini-Moon.

      "NO!  You son of a BITCH!  EARTH ANGER SWARM!"  The energy blasts obscured things temporarily, and when the nimbus faded, he was gone again.  The crowd gasped, and then focused their attention on the Scouts.  Earth-Anger opened the connection as she jumped up on the car, and pulled her twin up.

      "DAMNIT!" raged Uranus.  "We have got to kill him, if only because I hate how he goes invisible!  Saturn, anything you can do for that officer?"

      Saturn sadly shook her head as she examined his body.  "No, he's dead."  She looked up to see Earth-Love shaking her head groggily.  Then her twin grasped her hand and pulled her upright, on her feet.

      "Earth-Love, you okay?" asked Uranus.  Neither Earth Scout answered, staring at each other in astonishment.  "Hey!  You guys okay?"

      Earth-Anger held up her hand.

      "He's about two blocks away.  Now, he just stopped.  He probably just crawled back under whatever rock he came from," whispered Earth-Anger.  Both twins had a look of intense concentration.

      "What!?" exclaimed Neptune.  The Scouts grouped near the twins, as did the cops and media.  The twins broke the link with a smile.

      "Makes sense, sis," smiled Earth-Love.  "It stands to reason our new powers would require us to combine our strength!"

      Earth-Anger faced Uranus.  "We felt his movement seismically when we were linked.  When he runs next time, we can track him down and finish him!"

      "All right!" shouted Uranus.  "He's moondust next time we find him!"

      "Way to go!" smiled Neptune.  The Scouts shared a high-five.  Then they focused their attention on the flustered captain.  The watching crowd fell silent.

      "Well, you just saw the proof with your own eyes," said Pluto quietly.

      "Well, um, er... yes," the captain stuttered.  Togiro glared at him.  He nodded at Togiro.  "It's your case, Lieutenant."

      Togiro smiled.  "In that case, all charges against the Sailor Scouts are dropped!"

      The crowd cheered as the sirens from the ambulances and fire trucks drew closer.  The Scouts exchanged grins.  Finally, the public's fear of them would be ended.  Then Earth-Anger whispered in Uranus' ear. 

      She nodded, and overrode the noise by shouting, "Lieutenant!"

      He looked back at them, away from the reporter; as the crowd quieted down to hear what was next.

      "We wish to establish a liaison with your department," began Uranus.  "If we cooperate, any strange happenings can be reported to us quicker so we can deal with them faster.  So, we will give you a special radio frequency to call us.  In return, if you are short of manpower for some reason and school's out, you may call on us for assistance."

      Togiro blinked, and his captain nodded before departing.  "Well, I guess I'm it," he said.  "Shall we go and work out the details somewhere quiet?"

      And the crowd went wild...

      Jupiter clenched her nails tightly.  Her eyes were closed, and she was clinging for dear life as the wind rushed by.

      She hated every second of it.

      Be brave, girlfriend, she told herself.  There's no other way.  The distance is too great to walk, and Warren and Fordham both need to be present.

      That didn't mean she had to like it, although everyone else did.

      They were having the time of their lives, flying on the backs of Fordham's two wyverns, evenly split.  The team was with Fordham and Warren, heading towards Temple Shalina to confront Marius.  Even though Mercury's trap wasn't ready, it had been decided to keep the pressure on until they could properly deal with her.

      Fordham was astride Sakar, with Moon, Mask, Mercury, and Luna behind him.  Warren rode Jervyal with Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Artemis.  The two wyverns flapped their immense wings tirelessly as they flew close to the treetops.  Nap of the earth, Mercury called it.  Jupiter swore she would hate the term forever as the terrain swept by below.  Not that she was aware of the terrain, just the turns, dives, climbs, and steady flapping.

      Nor did they expect this to be easy.  Jupiter found it made it a little easier to deal with the flying when she concentrated on the coming battle.  She knew that Marius was caught surprised by the ambush, and would be much harder to deal with when she was ready for them.  Moon didn't care, though.  Mercury either.  After all, Marius was responsible for Mercury's pain.  Her thoughts turned toward Mercury.  She opened her eyes just long enough to glance at her on the other Wyvern.

      Mercury was wedged between Moon and Fordham.  Moon supported her as she scanned with her visor and typed on her computer, relaying instructions to Fordham.  Jupiter closed her eyes again as she felt another turn coming on.  Her stomach dropped as the Wyvern banked and dove.  When the flying settled down, she once again glanced about.

      They were now flying over Neptune's element.  The waves of the sea went by beneath at astonishing speed.  Her eyes closed again as she gathered her thoughts.

      Mercury was trying.  She was a little more open than her usual self, but that's because she knew intellectually she would find it easier to recover by sharing her feelings with her friends.  She was still prone to bouts of irrational anger and sadness.  As a Scout, however, she was recovering nicely.  The whole team knew that there would be some permanent aftereffects, and one seemed to be a more humorous Mercury (although some of her humor was above their heads), as well as one more prone to getting physical.  Her humor seemed a direct result of her forced cheerfulness that was no longer so forced.  They had isolated themselves with her as much as possible to help speed her recovery.  And every member of their team wanted a piece of Marius.  Jupiter wanted nothing more than to punch that witch's face in.

      Jupiter kept herself busy with images of Marius getting pummeled as the flight flapped on.

      It was an exhausted group indeed that sat around the campfire.  The area had seen rain lately, and the damp chill was getting to everyone.  The fire was drying them out, lit as it was by Sailor Mars.  They were quietly reviewing things when their Sailor communicators beeped.

      "Sailor Moon here," said a tired Moon.  Amara's face filled the little screen.

      "Hey, Moonface, how's it going?" asked Amara.

      "Tiring.  We're headed to confront Marius and hopefully scare her away from the other bad guys here, so we don't have to worry about their combined powers," yawned Moon.

      "Don't do that!" said Mars again as she followed it up with her yawn.  Chuckles and yawns went around the entire little camp.

      Amara chuckled.  "Got some good news for a change.  Firstly, all charges have been dropped, the public loves us, and we've got GT-creep on the run.  The Earth twins have discovered they also have higher powers; they just have to combine their strength to use them.  They can track GT-creep seismically, and we should be able to finish him off next time we face him.  Also, we are setting up a link with the police so we can cooperate with them."  Amara explained the agreed-upon terms.  "I hope that's okay?"

      Moon nodded with a smile.  "That's great!  I'm glad everyone's okay and things are turning out right.  Keep me informed!"

      Amara smiled.  "We will.  Good Luck to you guys!"

      "Luck to you too!" smiled Moon as the connection ended.  She looked up to the sky above, and shivered.  It was a dark and scary night...

      Which turned into a beautiful dawn that broke over the sky in shades of vibrant red and orange.  They were already up and about, preparing for the end of their journey.  They each thought about just one thing.

      Revenge against Marius. 

The team was slightly preoccupied with these thoughts as the wyverns flapped their immense wings and prepared for the remaining flight.

      "You know, flying these things isn't so bad," commented Jupiter.  The entire group blinked, and Mercury walked over and placed her hand on Jupiter's forehead, then moved it to her cheek, then the top of her head, ending up with a tug on her ponytail.

      Moon stifled a grin as she realized what Mercury was doing.  She blinked.  "Well, Sailor Mercury?  Is she okay?"

      Mercury pulled out her computer, and began pointing it at Jupiter.  Finally, Jupiter could bear it no longer.  "Well?"

      "Hmm.  Temperature's normal.  No adverse signs, so I can think of two reasons she just said that.  She may be attempting to maintain a show of strength to us so we don't lose respect for her, or..." began Mercury.

      "Or what?" asked Mars, concerned.  It seemed only Moon and Mercury knew where this was going.

      Mercury shrugged as she put her computer away.  "...Not quite ripe yet.  Probably because her ponytail's too tight."  She turned away and grinned as she walked towards the wyvern she was supposed to ride.

      Moon covered her mouth.  Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mask, Luna, and Artemis just stared at one another.  Finally, Moon could stand it no longer, and collapsed into laughter, clutching her stomach and rolling on the ground.  The others soon joined her as they got the joke, and Mercury leaned against the warm hide of the wyvern, with a smile on her face. 

      "Oh, that was a good one," smiled Fordham.  Warren sported a grin as well.  "I had no idea reserved Sailor Mercury was such a prankster.  What a pleasant surprise."

      "For us too," sighed Venus, wiping the tears out of her eyes.   "I can see we'll have to watch out for Mercury's jokes now."

      Moon smiled.  "I'm just glad she's almost recovered.  I think it'll be fun to help her explore her new traits."

      Mercury grinned.  "We really should be going.  Jupiter, after you."

      Jupiter rolled her eyes.  "Don't take offense to this, girlfriend, but..." and Jupiter brought her hand up in a rude, offensive gesture, although her lips were curved into a smile.  Mercury pretended to be shocked, and more chuckles followed, as they got airborne.  Once they were flying, however, total seriousness took over.  Each Scout prepared themselves for the upcoming fight.  Each vowed to personally separate Marius' head from her spine.  In a nice way, of course...

      They broke into a clearing far from civilization later that day.  The sun was nearing the horizon, and a soft mist was prevalent.  There was little to no wind, and the surrounding air was cold.  Pine trees surrounded them.

      "We have a slight walk ahead of us," said Warren.  "We'll likely get there just after sunset."

      "Then, let's not waste any time," said Mars.  She cracked her knuckles in anticipation.  Nods marked agreement, and they set out.  It was a long, spooky, quiet walk, every step filled with anticipation.

      They were not disappointed.  As they broke from the tree line, their gazes rested on Temple Shalina.  The once noble temple, carved from white marble, was now coated with growths of dead vegetation, and evil hung malevolently in the air.  The surrounding temperature seemed to drop a few degrees as they moved closer.  A dread filled them.  This once holy ground, perverted to evil, seemed to ooze vileness. 

      Suddenly, a shape cloaked in crackling black energy emerged from the vegetation.  Marius swooped towards them.  She had an angry expression on her face.  Then she noticed them, and rolled her eyes before landing in front of them. 

      "Well, well.  Come to destroy little old me?" she crooned.

      "You betcha," snapped Jupiter, standing ready.  "Ready to taste some pain, bitch?"

      Marius frowned.  "How brave," she sneered.  "As it is, you little sluts have nothing to worry about."

      "What is that supposed to mean?" growled Mars.

      Marius glared at her with disdain.  "Hush, little firebug.  All I meant is that idiot Rashidi is stupid and greedy, and it's simply no longer sensible for me to try and collect the Zodiac Stones, especially since the Liberation Army has a huge head start."

      They shared a collective blink.  "Well, that's all good," began Venus, before Marius cut her off.

      "I suppose it's comforting to know that you rebels will eventually succeed," smirked Marius.  "Rashidi's too dumb, for all his purported intelligence.  Still, he does have some neat minions, and connections to the underworld here, which supplies me with a little distraction for you.  Good riddance, Sailor Scouts."  Marius waved her hands, and a huge scaly gray beast approached, charged with negative energy.  Warren gasped, his eyes wide.

      "What is it?" asked Moon.  She noticed Mercury's computer out, scanning both Marius and the incoming creature.

      "It's an Ogre," he said softly.  "The ancient menace from the underworld.  And she's changed it somehow.  This isn't good!"

      Marius cackled as a white glow encompassed her, and she vanished.

      "She's shifted!" called Mercury.  "And it's attacking!"

      The Scouts dodged as a huge fist slammed into the ground in their midst, releasing a blast of purple energy.

      Fordham drew his sword, and mentally commanded an orb of ice to surround it.  He released it at the beast.

      It had no effect.

      "MARS SEARING INFERNO!" The immense column of fire poured from Mars' outstretched hands, enveloping the beast in raging flame.  As the flames died out, Mars blinked in astonishment.

      The Ogre charged her, uninjured.  She dodged aside, barely avoiding the lightning-quick, massive fists.  Then a blast of flame raged from above, and a huge green tail slammed into the Ogre, knocking it off its feet.  The two wyverns circled overhead, then scattered as the Ogre released a blast of negative energy towards them.  It shifted its attention back to the fight at hand.

      It was promptly swarmed by hundreds of spirits, which attempted to devour its energy.  The Ogre shrugged off Warren's Phantom attack, and reeled as Mask smashed it upside its huge head with a cane before leaping back and releasing a salvo of roses.

      "Okay, that didn't work," frowned Warren.  "Back to the drawing board."

      Mercury followed that up by using her powers to create an ice slick beneath its feet.  Jupiter concentrated.  Lightning crackled around her as she summoned. 

"JUPITER CHAIN LIGHTNING BURST!" The blast had a minimal effect on the Ogre, but it did knock it off its feet again, causing a painful fall, and it began attempting to climb to its feet.  Mercury's ice slick made it hard for the Ogre to get up.

      "VENUS SHINING LOVE FORCE!"  The wall of love energy slammed into it, again dropping it to its knees.  This attack actually registered.

      Either it's vulnerable to love power or we're wearing it down, mused Mercury as Warren prepared to cast again.  Bursts of acid vapors blasted the Ogre, ripping into it quite painfully.  The only bad side effect of Warren's Acid Cloud was that Mercury's ice slick was demolished.

      That and the Ogre roared, releasing an expanding sphere of negative energy that began to envelop them.  They all collapsed.  The sphere drained their energy, replenishing the Ogre's, and they each began to feel extreme pain as their bodies began to be ripped apart.

      "NO!" screamed Moon.  She staggered to her feet.  "I don't think so!  MOON TIARA DEVASTATION!"

      The white disc slammed into the Ogre, knocking it back as the explosion followed.  The sphere was destroyed, and as the shockwave passed over them, the Negaforce was banished from the Ogre.  Badly wounded, it staggered back to its feet.

      The Scouts dazedly regained theirs.  Warren shook his head to clear it, then glanced up and surveyed the situation.  The Ogre moved towards the dazed Scouts.  Just as the Ogre was about to pummel the Scouts, two shapes slammed in from above, tearing viciously into the Ogre with claws, teeth, and tails.  Small bursts of flame from the wyverns occasionally illuminated the mauling.

      "Now!" shouted Warren.  At his shout, Fordham commanded the wyverns clear of the Ogre.

      "MERCURY FREEZING WAVE SMASH!" The expanding wave of ice energy slowed and froze the Ogre's flesh.

      "JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!" The kinetic blasts of her attack smashed into the Ogre, staggering him.  The wyverns circled overhead like vultures.

      "VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"

      "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"

      The twin attacks of love energy and flames blasted the Ogre senseless, and Moon decided to go retro.  She pulled the Imperium Moon Staff out of her pocketspace and charged it up.  She twirled her staff and pointed it at the Ogre.

      "MOON EVIL ELIMINATION!"

      The attack was recognizable as her old Moon Scepter Elimination, but was more powerful and impacted into the Ogre with enough force to knock it with a crack against the walls of the desecrated temple, where it roared one final time before disintegrating.

      "Nice," said Fordham as the wyverns landed.  "Let's get the hell out of here!"

      The Scouts agreed wholeheartedly.

      "So, we tracked her transfer to Prime D-53," said Fordham.  Destin and Saradin had joined them after their return, and were listening on the debrief.

      "I still find it hard to believe," murmured Saradin.  "An Ogre?"

      Warren nodded solemnly.  "There is no doubt.  Somehow, though, I don't think Rashidi has enough power to summon a whole bunch of them, or we would have been defeated by now.  I think that was the only one he had."

      "If word of this gets out," began Destin softly.

      "It won't," said Warren.  "The specifics of this mission were secret anyway, and all that anyone has to know is the Locust is gone.  Soon the Scouts will follow, and all will be forgotten.  We don't have to mention it at all.  It bothers me hiding such a thing, but we do not need a loss of morale."

      "Agreed," sighed Destin.  "I don't like it, but agreed.  Something like this would definitely create a problem with the troops."

      "Why?" asked Artemis.

      "Because Ogres are the one thing every good person fears.  Ogres are the stuff of nightmares, the essence of evil.  It would certainly give everyone pause.  So, we will simply not tell anyone what was actually fought," said Saradin.  "Besides, we have more important considerations, such as the upcoming fight against Gares that everyone is gearing up for."

      "Anyway," said Fordham.  "I'm preparing a node for your jump as we speak."

      "Let's do it, then," said Luna.

      "Well, I guess this is goodbye," smiled Saradin.  Destin stood as they did.

      "Thank you once again, Sailor Scouts.  I and my companions greatly appreciate your coming, and we wish you the best in your future journeys."

      Moon smiled.  "Thank you, Destin.  Please pass on our thanks and well-wishes to everyone."

      "Even Deneb," grinned Venus.  With that, they followed Fordham to the Node.

      "Wait a minute..." began Moon.  "D-53?"

      "Oh no," groaned Jupiter.  "The Highwind."

      Laughter accompanied them as they jumped into the node.

      Vincent and Red XIII rounded the corner, deep in conversation.  A white flash suddenly filled their vision, and suddenly they found themselves entangled in a mess of Sailor Scouts.  As Vincent shook his head from the fall, he heard laughter.  He glanced over to where the sound came from, to see Dev clutching his side.

      Red XIII and Vincent were not amused...

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