"Could you tell me what we're looking for again, Ami?" Makoto asked as the two of them walked along a sidewalk.
The blue-haired girl shrugged her shoulders. "Anything out of the ordinary, Mako-chan. I don't know what those two readings my Mercury Computer picked up the last time we were fighting in this area correspond to." She held up her mini-computer to draw attention to it. "I didn't have time to get good readings on them after the fight; we had to leave when the authorities arrived. I do know the readings don't match any of the enemies we've fought."
Makoto frowned. "Well, I'm glad you asked me to come with you while investigating, Ami. Just because they don't match any of the enemies we've fought yet doesn't mean they aren't dangerous."
"Actually, with the power levels I picked up, they are almost certainly dangerous. It's just a question of whether or not they're dangerous to the Sailor Senshi."
Makoto's ponytail bobbed as she nodded her head in agreement. "Have you picked anything up on them yet? Do you think they're still in the area?"
"Not yet," Ami responded. "And whether or not the two power sources are still in the area depends on several factors: 1) Whether or not the power sources are mobile, 2) If they are mobile, is this the area they usually spend their time in, and 3) If they do spend most of their time in this area, are they here now." As she spoke, she ticked the points off on her fingers. "Also, whatever they are might only have power levels that high sporadically. None of the Sailor Senshi show high power readings unless we're in our sailor fuku. If the power levels are too low, we won't be able to find them."
"So, we might not-"
"Matte!" Ami cried. "I'm picking something else up!" Peering at her computer she exclaimed, "A youma! We need to transform!" Looking up, she glanced around quickly for someplace to change, only to be dragged into a convenient alley by Makato.
"JUPITER STAR POWER, MAKE UP!"
"MERCURY STAR POWER, MAKE UP!"
Two transformation sequences and a quick call to the other Senshi later, the two dashed out of the alley towards the school where Mercury's computer showed the youma attacking.
Arriving quickly at Meiou High, the two Sailor Senshi saw the youma attacking students in the courtyard. It looked like cross between a horse and a rhinoceros, with perhaps a dash of someone's perverse idea of a unicorn, and also had two tentacles growing from its back. The pile of unconscious uniformed students showed that, unlike their own school, Meiou High students had already finished summer break and resumed their studies. Even as the two watched, the monstrosity grabbed another student with a tentacle, drained her energy, and casually tossed her, pink skirt fluttering around her legs, into the pile with the others.
Sailor Jupiter charged forward. "School is for students to learn and meet new friends. In the name of Jupiter, I'll make you pay for ruining their day!"
"SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!" she launched her attack at the youma, who staggered slightly but otherwise remained unaffected. It started to turn in their direction, obviously angry at the interruption.
"SHABON SPRAY FREEZING!" Sailor Mercury cried out and a thick cold fog surrounded the monster. "Jupiter, this youma is very tough! We need to distract it until the others get here!"
Jupiter's reply was cut off by a rumbling sound, soon joined by a high-pitched screeching reminiscent of dentist drills and fingernails on chalkboards. With a roar from inside the fog, the ground exploded. The two Sailor Senshi jumped out of the way as debris flew everywhere. Jupiter escaped with only minor cuts and bruises, but a broken piece of cement hit Mercury in the head, knocking her out.
"Mercury!" Sailor Jupiter cried out.
The youma's attack had destroyed a fan shaped area of the school's courtyard, the wall surrounding the school, and a good part of the street beyond. The fog began to dissipate.
A voice called out; "Hurting the pretty sailor-suited defenders of the solar system is unforgivable! I'm Sailor Bio, and in the name of the Earth, I'll punish you!"
Spinning around, Jupiter almost fell over. On top of the remaining wall stood a busty redhead wearing a Sailor outfit, with a very determined expression on her face. She had a white bodysuit, like all the Sailor Senshi, a yellow skirt and collar, and light blue bows. The jewel in her tiara sparkled green, like the heart in the bow on her chest, but when she turned her head slightly the jewel briefly flared yellow. The tiara itself was much lighter colored than the tiaras of the other Sailor Senshi. Her elbow length white gloves ended in yellow piping, and Sailor Jupiter felt a twinge of envy when she saw the nearly heel-less yellow shoes with straps across the top of her feet.
A new Sailor Senshi?! Where had she gotten her henshin stick? Jupiter didn't think enough time had passed for Luna or Artemis to get here from Juuban ward!
Sailor Bio did not know where she was, or how she got here. Finding a monster of some sort - possibly a youkai - attacking two of the planet Senshi actually relieved her, as it gave her a Purpose. She could have a panic attack later, but right now Jupiter and Mercury needed her help!
The rumbling and screeching sounded out again, and the monster lowered its head to the ground until its front horn touched the earth, pointed in her direction.
"Watch out!" Jupiter called out to her.
The monster roared and sent its attack rushing towards Sailor Bio, who jumped out of the way, landing in front of the school. Startled, she almost lost her balance.
<Since when can I jump that far?> she thought. <And where am I? I can tell we're somewhere on Earth, but where? I've never seen buildings so tall and ugly! > "Jupiter! Where are we? Aren't you and Mercury supposed to be training on the moon?"
Now Jupiter looked surprised. Didn't Sailor Bio remember anything since the Silver Millenium? No time to worry about it now!
"Sailor Bio! We need to take this thing down!"
"Right! NIWAURUSHI KIGIRE, RETURN!" The comforting feel of her wooden staff appeared in her hands as she held it diagonally in front of her.
The monster did not seem to be impressed, and Sailor Bio was once again forced to dodge its deadly attack, much to the detriment of the building behind her. <Not,> thought Bio, <that anyone could miss such an unattractive thing. >
"SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!"
The monster grunted in annoyance, but continued to ignore Jupiter.
"Why you…!" Jupiter ran straight for the youma and rapidly punched it multiple times in the side. Quicker then she could react, one of the tentacles wrapped around her, picking her up off the ground, and started to drain her energy while trying to crush her ribs.
"KAJU HIKARI KEN!" Sailor Bio's staff emitted a glowing blade of energy about a foot and a half long from the upper end. Running towards the monster, she sliced the tentacle holding Sailor Jupiter in two, who then hit the ground with an unpleasant sounding thump. Dodging the other tentacle, the redhead darted past the monster, twirled around, and aimed her staff in the general direction of the part of the monster furthest away from Sailor Jupiter.
"BLOSSOM OF CONFIDENCE!" The energy blade flew from Bio's staff and changed shape to resemble a boomerang. It sliced through the youma's tail and cut through one of its hind legs. Bellowing in outrage, it slowly began to aim at Sailor Bio, who was staring in amazement as her attack demolished more of the school. <It's never gone that far before...I've never had so much power! Why...>
Jupiter's movement as she rolled away from the monster caught Bio's attention, and suddenly she realized what the horned monster was doing - and that the unconscious students and Sailor Mercury would be caught in the its attack if she didn't move! She half ran, half jumped towards the school. Her staff always took a while to gather enough energy for the Kaju Hikari Ken after she used her Blossom of Confidence attack - sometimes as long as two days. <Maybe I was a bit hasty in using the Blossom of Confidence,> she thought nervously as the injured monster lowered its horn to the ground and took aim. Getting ready to dodge, her concentration narrowed to encompass only the monster, so she didn't notice when reinforcements arrived. Sailor Venus ran to check on Sailor Mercury as Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars speed towards the monster and Tuxedo Kamen found an out-of-the-way place to wait until he was needed.
"BURNING MANDALA!" Sailor Mars' attack partially merged with the monster's attack, sending fiery destruction towards a previously unscathed part of the school as Sailor Bio again jumped out of the way. Her attack also managed to further injure the monster.
"Sailor Moon!"
"Right!" Sailor Moon readied her moon scepter and shouted out, "MOON PRINCESS HALATION!"
After finishing the monster off, Sailor Moon lowered her scepter and surveyed the wreckage around her like the royalty she was. The courtyard - except for the pile of students who had had their energy drained - had been completely torn up, along with most of the wall surrounding the school. The school itself was so much rubble. Even as she watched, flames began to spread through the remains.
Sailor Bio also found her gaze drawn to the building. She didn't know what it was for, but she felt undeniable satisfaction at its destruction. Somehow, she got the impression this building was a prison of some sort. It wouldn't keep anyone away from the living green of Earth anymore. Having caught her breath, she returned her attention to the strangers.
"Sailor Moon? There isn't a Sailor Moon! There's never been a Sailor Moon. And who are you?" she pointed at Tuxedo Kamen. "Is Mercury OK, Venus? How 'bout you, Jupiter?"
"I think she's beginning to regain consciousness," Sailor Venus remarked.
"WAHHH! You're so mean! Of course there's a Sailor Moon! I'm Sailor Moon! WAHHH!"
"Yah, I'm OK. It takes more than one youma to do me in!"
"YOUMA!" everyone chorused, including Sailor Bio and Sailor Moon who'd stopped crying in surprise.
"That was a youma?" asked Venus.
Jupiter shrugged, awkwardly clambering to her feet. "That's what Mercury said, anyway."
As the others took their attention off of Sailor Bio, Tuxedo Kamen continued to stare at her. <Why is she so familiar? >
"We haven't fought any youma since we killed Kunzite and Queen Beryl," exclaimed Sailor Moon.
Bio froze at the stranger Senshi's comment. They had killed Kunzite?
[Flashback]
Kunzite stood in the middle of a clearing surrounded by tall evergreen trees as the sun beat mercilessly down on them, his pale green hair immaculate as always. He stood still, wearing loose, lightweight tan pants and a darker brown vest that showed his bronzed skin to the best advantage, looking steadily at Sailor Bio. She stood a few feet in front of him, wearing her Sailor fuku and holding her staff at her side. A smear of dirt lay smudged on one of her cheeks, and her bright red hair fell limply behind her. Both of them were covered in a fine sheen of sweat. She did not look at him; instead she gazed at the ground in front of her.
Neither moved. The sound of insects was very loud, as was the occasional sound of her half-brother turning a page in his book.
Finally Bio spoke. "I don't think I can do this."
Kunzite continued to look at her with his intense gray eyes. "Yes you can," he said, "Both Sailor Earth and the head priestess of Bio have traditionally been able to do this attack."
Bio looked up, frustrated. "Then why hasn't my mother taught it to me? She must think I can't. She was the head priestess, she would know better than you if I can learn it. We've been training all day, and I don't have anything to show for it!"
A pause.
"I should not tell you this," Kunzite observed. Bio leaned closer. "Your mother wanted to teach you, but Lord Zikun insisted it was too dangerous." Bio flushed in anger. Lord Zikun, the King's suspicious, overly cautious advisor, despised Sailor Bio's very existence. If he had had his way, there would be no Sailor Bio; she would simply be the future head priestess of Bio, as her mother had been. Prince Endymion insisted Zikun simply wanted things to remain as they were in the past before Sailor Earth had created the position of Sailor Bio and didn't dislike her personally. Bio was highly doubtful of that. Either way, Zikun certainly had the inclination and political clout to keep her from gaining proper control over her powers. He could also get Kunzite in serious trouble.
"Why are you willing to teach me," she asked. One of his rare genuine smiles illuminated his face.
"You are my friend. Besides, I'm not teaching you the exact attack; I hunted done all the references I could find to it and then revised it a little. It is close enough to the original not to give you any problems, and different enough that Lord Zikun cannot do anything about it."
Her half-brother Zoisite spoke up from his seat in the shade. "Bio-chan, if Kunzite says you can do it, you can! You just have to have confidence in yourself, and stop being a wuss."
"A wuss?! I don't see you doing anything strenuous!"
"Biiida!" responded Zoisite, pulling down his lower eyelid.
"Biiida!"
"Biiida!"
"Enough, you two!" Kunzite interrupted. "Ziosite is right about you needing to be confident, Bio-chan. Mental attitudes have a large effect on magic, especially the type of magic you deal with. That's probably why you haven't been able to get this to work. Why don't you try it again?"
Sailor Bio nodded, and settled into a ready stance, bringing her staff in front of her. "KAJU HIKARI KEN!" She easily called her energy blade to life. <Confidence! I can to do this! Zikun is an old fool, and doesn't know anything about what I can do! > She concentrated on achieving the proper mental balance and then turned to face the large rock behind her. Looking at it, she knew what Kunzite had said was true, but something seemed…off…about the attack name. As if it should be something else. Aiming her staff, she let the words come as they wished.
"BLOSSOM OF CONFIDENCE!" Her energy blade flew loose, transforming at the same time, sliced off a small part of the rock, and continued on to nearly reach the trees before fading.
"I knew you could do it, Bio-chan!" Zoisite crowed.
"It looks like we need to work on your aim a bit, Sailor Bio," was all Kunzite said.
[End Flashback]
The stranger Senshi's words echoed in Sailor Bio's mind. <"…we killed Kunzite….we killed Kunzite.."> With a soft, wounded cry she turned and ran, absently noting but not paying attention to her enhanced speed as tears streamed down her face. Her brother and his fellow generals were her only real friends. If these Senshi had killed Kunzite, then Zoisite was dead too; they would have had to go through him to get to Kunzite. Had the other two been killed as well? And what of Endymion?
She ran, trying to get away from these Sailor Senshi she had thought were trustworthy, trying to get away from these awful buildings boxing her in and the unpleasant metallic tasting air. Trying to outdistance her grief.
Later that day, at the Hikawa Shrine:
From her comfortable perch on top of Ami's lap - she wiggled less than Usagi did, and rarely showered her with crumbs or tears, the only downside being Ami's mediocre petting skills - Luna observed the assembled group. Five part-time Sailor Senshi, check. One speech producing, rose throwing future king, check. One lazy white cat, check. Herself, check. No one else around who should not hear about Senshi business, check. Makoto's cuts from the fight earlier had been bandaged; Ami had been looked over and pronounced fine. Everyone was here, and everything was in order; she would finally get to find out what happened earlier! She cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.
"From the hints you've dropped and the way you've been acting, something very important happened during the fight earlier today. Perhaps you would like to tell me what it is now?" she asked.
"If you and Artemis hadn't been off somewhere on a date, you could have come with us," Minako remarked, brushing her long blond hair out of the way.
"We were NOT on a date!" Luna announced stiffly. "We were discussing Sailor business."
"Ri~ight," said Usagi.
Luna changed the subject quickly. "What was it you wanted to wait until everyone was here before discussing?"
Usagi's face lit up. "There's a new Sailor Senshi! She really did a number on that youma, but then she ran away." Her face fell. "She didn't know anything about Sailor Moon, either."
Makoto leaned forward. "She acted like she didn't remember anything since the Silver Millenium. Remember, there wasn't a Sailor Moon until Luna gave Usagi her locket. She also seemed really surprised at the strength of some of her attacks, but not surprised she could do them. Do you think she might have a memory problem like Tuxedo Kamen did?" Everyone looked at Mamoru.
"Rhiannon…" he murmured.
"Huh?" everyone chorused.
"Mamo-chan! You have memories of another girl? WAHHH!" Luna congratulated herself on her seating choice as Usagi's tears waterfalled around her - on the other side of the room.
"Will all of you please calm down!" Luna exclaimed in her best nanny voice. "WHO is this Sailor you saw?"
"Sailor Bio," Mamoru explained, "who was my cousin Rhiannon, one of the four Earth Sailor Senshi. I didn't remember her until she ran away. She was very shy; I'm not surprised none of you recognize her. She might not have met all of you, even." A stunned silence met him as he took a deep breath. "Sailor Bio draws her power from Earth's wildlife, both plants and animals. Rhiannon spent almost all of her time in one forest or another; she had a hard time dealing with even medium size crowds of people. When Sailor Moon - someone she didn't recognize - commented on how we beat Kunzite - a close friend of hers, she looked horrified: that was when she ran away."
"That makes sense," Ami agreed thoughtfully. "But how come we never heard of the Earth Senshi? Why are there four of them? How was she able to transform?"
"Why didn't she ever show up before?" interjected Rei, "Are we sure she hasn't been brainwashed, too?"
Artemis spoke up from his perch on Minako's shoulder. "Luna and I remembered and discussed the Earth Senshi some time ago, but we didn't think they'd been reincarnated with the rest of you and neither of us have any idea how the Earth Senshi activate their powers, so we didn't think to tell you about them."
Luna nodded. "Originally only one Earth Senshi existed, Sailor Earth. When Prince Endymion reached six years of age, the Sailor Earth of the time announced she needed to split her power into five parts. Sailor Bio gained power from the wildlife of Earth, Sailor Aero's power came from the air, Sailor Hydro had control over water, Sailor Geo received the power of land, and Endymion himself was granted the power from the people of Earth. No-one understood why - or how - Sailor Earth did that, and she couldn't be questioned, since she died in the power transfer." She paused to take a breath, and Artemis resumed the story.
"Queen Serenity investigated it, and found that Sailor Earth expected to die. But she never found a reason for the split, especially as the power split resulted in an instability. The power itself stabilized after a few months, but the new Sailor Senshi became somewhat mentally imbalanced."
"They were crazy?" asked Usagi in surprise.
"Not really; they just felt extremely uncomfortable outside their sphere of influence," Artemis explained.
Mamoru nodded. "From what I remember of Rhiannon, it was like any other phobia - claustrophobia, ailurophobia, arachnophobia - except it extended to almost everything that wasn't wildlife. That would explain why she hasn't shown up before - she probably wasn't even in Tokyo. Too uncomfortable for her." Everyone digested the new information in silence.
"We need to make friends with her," Usagi cried out, determined.
"Yes!" Minako agreed, "We can take her shopping!"
"And to the ice-cream shop!"
Rei broke in on Usagi and Minako's excited planning. "First we have to convince her we're the good guys."
"That'll be easy!" Usagi stated confidently. "If I transform to Princess Serenity and Mamoru transforms to Prince Endymion, she'll recognize us and we can explain about Kunzite being brainwashed!" She paused and screwed her face up in thought. "But how are we gonna find her?"
"She might go to the school the youma was attacking," Makoto suggested. "What's it called?"
"Meiou High," Ami spoke up, "One of the most prestigious schools in Japan." Luna reflected that it might be nice to have another intelligent, responsible member of the group.
"Ami, was that really a youma we were fighting? It didn't seem like any youma I've ever seen!" Usagi remarked.
Makoto agreed, "It sure didn't act like any youma I've fought before! I would've been in big trouble if Sailor Bio hadn't showed up!"
"Hai," Ami answered from above Luna. "Youma have very distinct energy patterns. You're right though, it didn't seem like the youma we faced before. I'll analyze the data on my computer and see if I can find out why."
In a park somewhere in Tokyo, a figure sat with a bowed head, desperately trying to remember what had happened earlier today, as he had been doing for the last four hours. He knew he had a hole in his memory; he had been going through his normal daily routine, and then he woke up here an hour later. This was disturbing. This was very disturbing. His life included too many people who wanted to kill or humiliate him in it. If one of his enemies had not had a hand in whatever had led to his memory loss, then they would take advantage of it if they found out about it. Beyond that, if he had been acting in an unrestrained manner he may have seriously hurt someone. Or multiple someones.
Wincing at the thought, he stood up and started walking in the direction of home. With any luck, he'd be able to find someone who could tell him what had happened.
In a dark cavernous room, a shadowy figure lounged on a throne, facing a large blackened screen. The screen that had until recently, been alight with the bright colors of the Ningenkai, showing him the fight between his servant and the Senshi.
"So," he murmured, "Sailor Bio has awakened to her power." His crimson eyes narrowed. "I had not expected that. Oh well; it is of no importance. If she does not accept the aid of the other Sailor Senshi, she will be easy prey for my pet. The time is ripe to reap the benefits from my alliance with Queen Beryl all those many years ago." He smiled in cruel amusement and brought a wineglass filled with a red liquid too opaque to be wine to his lips. "Sailor Bio, my pet may have allowed you to escape to the haven of death before, but this time I will not allow her to disobey me."
End Part 1
Japanese words:
Fuku - outfit/uniform
Matte - wait
Nani - what
Hai - yes
Henshin stick: The transformation rods of the Sailor Senshi
Youma - monsters under Beryl's command, on Sailor Moon's first
season - from the Negaverse
Youkai - the demons in Yuu Yuu Hakusho. From the Makai, or
Demon World
Niwaurushi Kigire, Return - Piece of the Tree of Heaven, Return! (at
least I hope that's what it means)
Kaju Hikari Ken - Flowering Tree Light Sword (again, I *hope*
that's what this means)
Ningenkai - Human World