Title: Sailor Minerva: Protector of Light Overall rating: PG-13 Part: Chapter 4 Author: Aimee*Dee*Dee E-mail: sailorminerva@yahoo.com Recap of Chapter 2, Chouko: "Ayumi Attacked! The Senshi Nowhere to be Found!" *** "So, we've finally found you," a tall man said calmly, stepping out of the shadows. She was suddenly awash with fear. This man was evil, pure evil itself, and he would stop at nothing... *I'm going to die. No one can be afraid like this and not die or go crazy...* *** "The time has come...all the practice games are over. Evil cannot win this battle without using its full potential. I _will_ match them, and win. If we don't win this one, it's all over for us. But, then again, if they don't win, it's all over for them. [Chuckle] At least we could rebuild in the next million years....The Aurora will be overcome in a very short time!" *** When Chouko reached to catch the ball from Ayumi, she felt herself gasping for air. The dull beige ball glinted slightly, as if spun of threads of light. *** "Come on, Ayumi-chan. Let's go play alone with a ball that doesn't glow and leave Rudolph to play with her new glow-toy." Emi laughed. *** A sympathetic man walked by. Chouko thought she had seen him before, but where? *** Then demons began to appear all around her in the destroyed park. "You think you can stop me. Well, think again! No one kills the followers of Erebus!" *** Ayumi stirred, and she said sleepily, as if in a dream, "Chibi-Chou-chan, I'm sorry about the ball...it wasn't your fault." *** Chouko grasped it and spun the rays of light together into a single strand. The thread of light twisted into the demon's body at her command. The demons burst with a flash of light, and were no longer there. *I--I did that?* *** His mask slipped off, and Chouko gasped with disbelief, aghast. *That's the man I saw in the park!* The last thing Mamoru saw before drifting off into a coma was the girl's stunned face. *** :::PG-13>>>I'm going to go with PG-13 just to be on the safe side, as usual. Just keep in mind that I always overrate things. I think this one could even be G-rated, except for Ima Villain's..erm...^_^;;...commercial...::: Note: You may want to read Special 1 before reading this. >>>>>>Chapter 4<<<<<< )))Chouko((( "Evil United! Loving Mothers Abducted!" Chouko skipped down the street, bearing a gift-wrapped box for Chiba Mamoru (Darien Shields), also known as Tuxedo Kamen (Mask). She hummed happily as she remembered yesterday's events. The driver's license in his wallet said his name was Chiba Mamoru and he was born August 3, 1974. ===Erm, I think I got the date right. Someone tell me if I didn't!=== Chouko had proudly done the math to discover his age, twenty-eight. *Wow,* she thought. *That's old. I thought Tuxedo Kamen was young.* Clasping a hand over her mouth, she realized she had said that out loud and people on the bustling sidewalk were staring at her and moving away. Blushing, she ran down the street, making a bigger spectacle of herself. ===You better not let Tux hear you say that about his age, Chibi- Chou! ^_^=== The hospital building loomed ahead. ===Notice: It appears to be the same hospital Cynthia was in.=== Chouko entered the monstrous building and a kind receptionist told her where to find a nurse to assist her. Following the directions carefully, she wandered through the dreary halls, clutching her box. If she dropped it, she would hurt her teddy bear. She hoped that Tuxedo Kamen would like the cute stuffed animal. When she entered the nurse's office, the nurse was facing the window filing something. She announced shyly, "I'm Nijino Chouko. I'm here to visit Chiba Mamoru." The nurse spun around and said in a comforting tone of voice, "Gomen. (Sorry.) I don't know where Chiba-san is. He escaped last night. I'd like to help you, but that stubborn man already left." "Escaped?" Chouko responded. "Was he doing all right?" "After gaining consciousness, he insisted on leaving the hospital. Obviously, we wouldn't let him, but he climbed out the window at night. He would have been fine, but we like to insure the health of all our patients. He wasn't entirely healed, and hospitalization should have lasted a few more days. As long as he doesn't exhaust himself, he should completely heal." "Good," Chouko said simply. "Arigato (Thanks) for helping me..." ++The dark room with the round table++ The demonlords and the red thing sat impatiently at the round table, grumbling among themselves about unpunctual demonlords who wasted their time. The red-clad creature lost control and summoned the missing demonlord with its immense will. A lady demonlord materialized in the empty chair beside the red thing. She started sputtering, "I was in the MIDDLE of...I was FIGHTING...YOU had the NERVE to take me AWAY from my...when I'm BUSY, I don't LIKE to be INTERRUPTED..." The leader's eyes flamed crimson, and it slapped her. Stunned, she stopped babbling instantaneously. Her eyes grew wider and wider as its bloody eyes drilled into hers. Cringing involuntarily, she screamed in agony and squawked, "STOP! PLEASE STOP!" "Next time, obey my orders," it boomed, looking away in disgust. "Bellona, do not disappoint me again. Evil is taking a break. We're now having a conference and it would please me if you would attend." "Ha-hai," Bellona wavered. "But, I am trying to fight a battle..." "You haven't had enough?" it cackled. Wincing, she backed away as its crimson eyes sought hers once again. This time Bellona didn't scream but she lost any nice sentiments that could be lurking within her. The evil thing's eyes had the power to trap her in the cage of evil and forced her to do desperate things. She would do anything to appease it, because those eyes haunted her with the possibility of eternal torment. That's what her sister, Eris, was enduring every minute, trapped in the ceaseless bounds of Hell. She knew Eris had made the mistake that one day by objecting to the red thing. Eris's reward had been that infinite misery of the evil boring into her body ceaselessly. The red thing was evil, pure evil itself, and it would stop at nothing... Bellona suddenly found herself back at the battlefield, the place between Hell and Earth. The evil being had allowed her to return to her battle, but she had been warned by those eyes. Failing would bring her the same fate as her sister's. With a chuckle, she remembered the meaning of the name she had been given, Bellona: terror, trembling, and panic. She was supposed to create these feelings, not experience them. Looking around for her demonic follower, she readied herself for a fight to the death. She would have to destroy Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Minerva and the others if she wanted to redeem herself with Cecrops, her master. She _had_ to. ++A large, spacious room with a view of a beautiful ocean.++ "Michiru-mama!" a merry voice chirped as the doorbell rang. "Haruka-papa! Setsuna-mama! I'm home!" A woman with wavy teal hair dashed for the front door. "Hime-chan!" ("Princess!") she exclaimed while pushing open the elaborately paneled door. "You're back!" Hotaru clasped the woman in a fond embrace. "Michiru-mama, I can spend the night, too. I don't have any classes until tomorrow afternoon." "That's wonderful. None of us have any commitments tonight either, so we're all yours. Setsuna and Haruka aren't home yet, but they should be soon. Now, tell me, are the classes terribly hard?" Michiru asked while they walked into the living room overlooking the turbulent ocean. It was a beautifully furnished room decorated in pastels with white woodwork. "No, it's easier than I thought. I was afraid that going to Harvard for medical school would be too difficult, but I was wrong. If I study hard enough, I can reach my ultimate goal." Michiru smiled affectionately at her daughter. "You'll be an excellent doctor." Just then, a familiar shape walked in through the door. "Haruka-papa!" Hotaru squealed. The tall woman dressed in a a boyish suit caught Hotaru in a bear hug. "Hime-chan, when did you get back?" she wondered as she let go of Hotaru to look towards Michiru. "Just a minute ago," Hotaru responded while she watched Haruka give Michiru a brief but loving kiss on the lips. "Konnichiwa, Haruka. Hotaru is going to spend the night, so I'd better go get a room ready." Michiru turned to walk out the door. Although the cottage by the ocean was rather large, they had no servants. They could easily afford servants, but Michiru enjoyed doing the cleaning. Michiru also did most of the cooking and had become proficient in preparing European specialties. Every evening, Haruka and Setsuna savored a delicious gourmet meal. "So, how have you been?" Haruka glanced out the window at the ocean to admire its beauty. The rippling waves surged onto the rocky beach, swelling before breaking on the shore. "I've been doing fine. I miss you, though. I haven't seen you since your last race two weeks ago." Hotaru also gazed at the extensive Atlantic Ocean. "I've missed you too, my chibi Hime-chan," Hotaru replied in a teasing tone. ===Note: I wasn't sure how I should write 'chibi Hime-chan,' not being an expert on Japanese. Since her nickname is Hime-chan, I decided to just put 'chibi' in front of it, even though it's probably wrong.=== Hotaru pretended to pout. "I'm not so little anymore," she grumbled, acting resentful, but then she started to giggle. Haruka also started chuckling as a slender woman with long dark green hair entered the room. "Hime-chan, it's you!" she said gladly. "Welcome home!" Hotaru ran over to the green-haired woman and hugged her. "Setsuna-mama! It's so good to see you!" Setsuna smiled. "I have a surprise for you," she teased. "Nani?" ("What?") Hotaru said excitedly. "I can't tell. That's why it's called a surprise. You'll have to wait and see until after dinner." The girl's face became vulnerable and childlike as she looked up at Setsuna with pleading puppy-dog ===or chibichibi/quatre=== eyes. Haruka, watching the exchange, stifled a laugh by changing it into a cough. Setsuna's surrender was inevitable when she was confronted with those enlarged violet eyes. "Fine," the stylishly dressed woman sighed. "I'll go get it." She went upstairs. Hotaru, cheering, bounced up and down as she waited for Setsuna to return. "You sure look like a chibi hime," Haruka commented, receiving a glare from the anxious young woman. "Uh, maybe not," the blonde added, Hotaru beaming at Haruka until she finished with a smirk, "_chibi_ Hime-chan." Setsuna returned along with Michiru. "Close your eyes," Setsuna ordered. Hotaru was quick to obey. "Now open." As Hotaru's lids fluttered open, she gasped at the sight before her. Setsuna was holding an old-fashioned ball gown. "For me? It's beautiful! Did you make it, Setsuna-mama?" Michiru laughed cheerfully as Setsuna nodded. "She certainly did. It was designed just for you. But a dress without an occasion for it to be worn at is useless, ne?" "What exactly are you getting at?" Hotaru asked, her eyes still feasting on the gorgeous dress. "There's an historical New England ball in Boston this Friday. Would you like to come?" Michiru invited. "Really? Ara, I'd love to!" Hotaru knew that this was a lucky day, a very lucky day indeed. ++The round table conference room++ "Now that we've gotten that little problem cleared up, we can continue on with the meeting," the red thing stated. Standing up, it turned around and created a portal. "You're leaving?" one demonlord asked, shocked. It turned around slowly. "Of course. You demonlords need to work things out among yourselves. I am not needed, as my presence would only hinder your discussions with unnecessary formality." The demonlords stood up and bowed simultaneously. The red- clad thing entered the portal and left the demonlords on their own. Upon closer inspection, their chairs bore brass nameplates. Each one had a name inscribed on it and, counterclockwise, they read: Cecrops, Charon, Echidna, Cerberus, Larva, Battus, Erysichthon, Anteros, Erebus, Tartarus, Bellona, and Eris. Three seats out of the dozen were empty, Cecrops's, Bellona's, and Eris's. Eris's chair was draped with a black cloth. The demons, seated again, glared at each other and began their discussions. "Ssince Cecropss, our leader, called thiss meeting, we might asss well make usse of it," hissed a woman demonlord sitting at the chair labeled "Echidna." Snakes slithered all over her reptilian pale green dress. "I think I thould lead thith meeting, ath I am the motht powerful," boasted the muscular demonlord whose chair said "Anteros." A bow and quiver of arrows were strapped to his back, and he was ridiculously covered in makeup. Apparently, his conceit and vanity made him overconfident. "No, Anteros, you--" one black-cloaked man named Tartarus started. "--are not the most competent," another identical black- clothed man called Erebus continued for his twin. "You silly children," a lady demonlord admonished, standing up to announce it from her chair labeled "Larva." "You're all trying to get in the position of leadership, ne? Well, it's not going to work. We all know that Charon, the demonlord of the black river, manipulates time. Who is mightier than that?" Charon nodded reluctantly. Battus, a demonlord made of stone, objected, "However, Charon is unable to speak. How could he head this meeting without ever speaking?" "He couldn't have precedence over us without talking," a demonlord who looked like a nightmarish beast, Cerberus replied. "I am the master of monsters, who are more rebellious than demons, and that makes me stronger than any of you." "I...know...who...is...best..." Erysichthon uttered his first words that day. "I...may...be...eternally...hungry... but...I...speak...the...truth..." The demonlords turned towards him expectantly. "I...have...noticed...second-in-command...is...Echidna..." Echidna frowned. "There musst be ssome misstake." Perhaps she was acting, but the snake woman didn't seem to be vying for leadership. The arrogant demonlords, Cerberus, Battus, and Anteros, wanted to object, but they knew Erysichthon was unable to lie. They all bowed, though not very deeply, to Echidna, and the business they were all there for began. ++A spacious kitchen in an average house.++ "Chibi-Chou, it's time for dinner," a brunette, middle-aged woman yelled. "Coming!" Chouko shouted and pranced down the stairs. Chouko and her mother sat down together at the table, saying a quick prayer before filling their plates. They ate in silence for a while, but finally Chouko asked what she constantly wondered. Whenever she mentioned it, her mother always evaded skillfully. "Mama, answer me correctly this time," Chouko began. *She'd better tell me _now_.* "Why are you and Papa divorced?" "Chibi-Chou, we just aren't right together. We don't love each other." "Then why do you always seem so nice to each other, like best friends?" "Your father and I _never_ should have gotten married. The feelings we had towards each other were mistaken for love. Just because we weren't a couple didn't mean we weren't friends. Friendship is a wonderful thing, and our divorce wasn't going to ruin that friendship." "Mama, you finally explained it to me," Chouko said. "Domo arigato." Her mother hugged her. "No problem. I love you, Chibi--" "MAMA! Where are you?" Chouko screamed. Chouko's mother had just disappeared from her arms into thin air. "NO!" ++The room with the round table++ "Sso, I think we can avoid ussing our own energy by pulling victimss into our world insstead of attacking them in theirss," Echidna concluded. "It's ingenious! Echidna, you are a wonderful leader. Your idea is superb!" Larva gushed. "Let's start right away." Tartarus nodded at Echidna. "Ara, I see. You are--" "--suggesting we destroy one of our own dimensions, our homes--" Erebus interrupted. "--so that we can take over the bodies of these women and use their energy," Tartarus finished. The twins were partners of the realm of death and thought precisely the same way. This was demonstrated by the way they finished each other's sentences. "We need a place for this kind of destruction to occur," Anteros pointed out. "My area is a large and effective destroying place, so I will sacrifice it for evil's sake." Anteros was obviously trying to get the favor of Cecrops. Noticing this, Cerberus spoke up, "MY vicious monsters would make up for my small area, would they not? Let's go to my quarters pronto." Battus smirked. "You're all forgetting one thing. My realm is larger than any other. All its gray stone is important to the setting of the destroying place." No one could argue against Battus, much as they disliked the increasingly arrogant demonlord. "I guess it's indisputable, then," Larva sighed as the demonlords all teleported to Battus's home ground. ++The ordinary kitchen++ "I must find Mama!" Chouko was frantic with worry. Pausing to think for a moment, she remembered the light trick she had just learned fighting yesterday. *I hope this will work. Come on, think clearly.* Concentrating, she tried to figure out how to apply her trick on this situation, but she couldn't. Starting to cry childishly, she wallowed in self-pity. "I'll never find my mother!" "Child, calm down." A melodious voice came out of nowhere. "Who--who was that?" Chouko quivered. A golden presence shimmered and floated towards Chouko. Its gentle beams of light soothed Chouko as soon as they reached her. The soft woman's voice seemed to infiltrate her soul. "Chouko, thy concern for thy mother doth surpass the typical caring between mother and daughter. For this, thou shalt be rewarded. Come with me if thou hast the desire to rescue thy mother. I vow to aid thee in any way I am able, and thou shalt gain victory over thine enemies." Chouko had long ago ceased her weeping. The lovely spirit had given her the strength to accompany her resolution. Nodding, she allowed her body to be pulled along with the gracious angel to another world. She was suddenly standing amidst a sea of rock. Ancient cracked stone surrounded her. The cool, damp atmosphere contributed to the clamminess of the rocks. Shivering at the indifferent vibrations the stones gave off, Chouko didn't dare to venture further into this world without help. "Are you still here?" The yellow light wrapped itself around her as if it were embracing her. "Of course. Please follow me." Chouko saw the spirit drifting to her left. Shrugging, she followed it, carefully watching her step on the jagged broken rock that littered the floor. After walking a bit, she felt strange vibrations in the air. Her mother's voice resounded in her head, "Chibi-Chou? You must come here. These evil beings are trying to kill many mothers just like me. Please hurry." "Nani? Mama!" Chouko was surprised by the strange voice inside her head. "It's me, Chibi-Chou. I'm talking to you telepathically. You're headed in the right direction. Hurry!" her mother urged psychically. Chouko forgot about the angel who had been assisting her when she concentrated on her mother. No longer needed, the yellow light slipped away to its own world without Chouko even noticing. The spirit's task had been fulfilled. WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: ===This is hilarious if you are a reader from the United States (or just one familiar with the United States Constitution). Remember the "Clutsstop" commercial in the first chapter? The original Clutsstop commercial was this: "I feel-- as graceful as a ballerina, as agile as a gymnast, as coordinated as an athlete-- I don't fall down anymore. It's all because of this new medication, Clutsstop. It's changed my life. [Sniffle] And it could change yours." [The actress trips and falls. Hear in the background, "Don't you remember where the stop button is?" ; "I thought this actress was _coordinated_!" ; "I forget how to edit tapes!"] [Spoken quickly] "Side effects include short attention span, poor study habits, and overly emotional behavior. Please see your doctor before taking any medication." [Note in tiny print at the bottom of the screen: Yes, this is all an evil scheme to make money for pharmacists and doctors. Clutsstop has been proven to make people lose control of certain important voluntary muscles. If you are ditzy and gullible you will believe this advertisement.] The following is the abridged version of Ima's commercial, with just the "Preramble" and Article VII, because I couldn't put something the length of the Constitution into this story. Thanks to Ima Villain ( imavillain@yahoo.com ) for this! Girl, you've got waaaaay too much time on your hands! I never could have thought of something so creative, and I'm still ROFLOL! It's highly recommended that you compare a copy of the real Constitution with this for maximum humor. Um...the names at the end are kind of...strange, but that is just the way Ima writes, I guess. I didn't exactly get all of them. Just e-mail her if you don't get them, I think. I don't know anything so don't e-mail me. Any compliments/flames should be sent to Ima, not me. I am not responsible for any of the following material. Here's Ima's commercial! (See, Ima? I told you I'd do some ASCII art for you!)=== ----------------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________________________________ / / \ / / \ \ \ | \_______________________________________________________\ | | __ ___ __ ___ ____ | | /__\ /___\ /__\ /___\ |_ _| | | ||__|| || ||__|| || || | | | __ | - || - | __ | - || - || | | || || ||___ || || ||___ || | | || || \___/ || || \___/ || (Average | | Citizens | | Against | | Clutsstop's | | Tyranny) | | | | | | "Preramble" | | | | We the people of the Average Citizens Against | | Clutsstop's Tyranny (A-C-A-C-T), in order to | | form a more coordinated world, establish good | | study habits, insure emotional tranquility, | | provide for the common dance agencies, promote | | the general gracefulness, and secure the | | blessings of intelligence to ourselves and our | | fellow characters, do ordain and establish | | this Rant against the Save Our Clutsstop | | Supporters (S.O.C.S.). | | | | | | Article VII | | | | Joining the A-C-A-C-T | | | | The approval of the members of nine | | committees, shall be sufficient for the | | establishment of your membership according to | | rules that express your rights. | | | | Done in convention by the unanimous consent of | | the committees present the seventeeth day of | | September in the year of our Lady one million | | seven thousand and eighty-ten and of the | | independence of the Average Citizens Against | | Clutsstop's Tyranny the zw? In witness | | thereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, | | | | Gorge Washintown--Sheriff and deputy | | from Virginland | | | | Della wears... | | Gorges Red. | | Guns Inbed, Jovially. | | John's Dick. | | Rich Asses. | | Jacob's Broom. | | | | Merry lands [can]... | | Make MenHorny. | | Tan on Stately Tom'sass Genially. | | Tannall Crazyhorses. | | | | Virgins... | | Dun [have] Hair. | | Blame Madson's Juveniledeliquency. | | | | Nothin'in Carolina ['cept]... | | Willing Mounts. | | Rich Boobs Straight. | | Huge WillfulSOBs. | | | | Sumpin'in Carolina [lak]... | | Fun Rutsnroads. | | Harley's Notworth[a] Bigsneeze. | | Knarly Pigsknees. | | Piercings[on] Butt. | | | | Forgean'ya [wonda]... | | Willsam Sue? | | Abebea Baldingman? | | | | New Humpingshere... | | On Longdrives. | | Nightlyless Gimmemoney. | | | | Massyachooses... | | Notinhell Goingam. | | Dufus Thing. | | | | C'monnextI['ll]cut... | | William[, who] Suckedon Clinton, | | Robbing Herman? | | | | Now Youare... | | Sexandher Having[it]intown. | | | | Now Hesay... | | William Livesintown. | | Deguyhid Early. | | Willsand Patitsson. | | Marathon Daytime | | | | Pencilvaingal... | | Ben'sjammin' Crankilyan' | | Thom's Mufflein. | | Robher Moresis! | | Gorge Climbher | | Thoughmass Fitshimon. | | Yeahred Ingreensouls. | | Thames Willsunk. | | Governor "Moreis[less]" | | |___ | |_/ \ | | \ \ \ / \_________________________________________________________\_/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for staying tuned. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Chouko stealthily approached the site of destruction. The golden spirit had granted her some new knowledge of the demons just by gracing her with its presence. They would destroy this other dimension to enslave people they had dragged into it, including her mother. The enslaved people would give up their energy slowly so that the demonlords could enter the dimension that Earth was in. They would be the ones supporting the demonlords' next mission. Chouko set her chin forward stubbornly, and looked ahead. If the path of a warrior were her destiny right now, she would follow it and succeed. She carefully recalled the memories the angel had infused into Chouko's mind before she had left. The spirit had traveled this path before and had given Chouko a kind of mental map to follow. Marveling at the way the angelic ghost had transferred this information to her, she picked her way across the rugged terrain. Finally, she reached the place where the portal between this dimension and Earth had been created. Her mother and some other women were strewn on the ground in front of it. Strangely, there were no demons nearby. Shrugging, Chouko boldly stepped out in the open--albeit she tiptoed quietly, just in case. Spinning her head around, she made sure no evil beings were nearby. All was silent, absolutely silent. When she reached the pile of women, she heard them breathing. At least they were still alive. Now, how to get them out of here... Chouko snapped her fingers and created a long strand of thin golden thread. *That should do the trick...* She tossed it into the air and encircled the women in the weak- looking string. It wrapped around them loosely twice and created a barrier that surrounded them in a ball. The bright, sun-like ball floated towards the portal back to Earth. Leaping through the black window, Chouko followed in pursuit. ++In another section of the stone ruins.++ Battus was seething as he gritted his teeth to control himself from doing something reckless to the powerful snake woman. "ECHIDNA, HOW COULD YOU LET THEM GET AWAY!?" Larva, the easygoing demon, materialized beside him. "Why, Battus, you silly little ducky, we didn't really want those women's energy. We wanted to lure that weird little girl here so we could analyze her powers. One of our supervision cameras took a photo of her destroying one of Erebus's demons. We needed her to come here so we could observe her further. We've received very important information from her. Very, very important info." [Battus's face looks like he's been stung by a hornet] "Battusss, did you call?" Echidna appeared as well. [Sweatdrop on Echidna] "I'm busssy entering all the new info into a computer. I need to get that done ASAP becausse Ccecropss wantsss to know about that girl." Battus was totally stunned by the real plan behind all this. He slowly shook his head and gestured for Echidna to leave, not wanting to upset Cecrops. How could they do this to him? Mortify him like this? "It was so kind of you to lend us your dimension, Battus. It was nice that you acted all noble like you were going to sacrifice it. I'm sure the Graiae and the Gorgons will be unsuspecting of that girl and of us. Collect energy from mothers who love their children? Ha. It would take us more energy pulling them here than what we could squeeze out of them. The Gorgons will accept it without any doubt, being as stupid as they are, and the Graiae won't dare to question it. They may be evil, but our rivals are so stupid. It was perfect of Echidna to cleverly plan such a thing, but I have to thank you for once, Battus." [Battus's mouth hanging open] He thought he was sacrificing his dimension; he didn't know it had been a trick plan. Smoothly he forced a smile on his face. "You're welcome. It was nothing, really. I always am the creator of such devious plans, but I greatly embellished Echidna's otherwise simple strategy this time..." Larva listened to Battus talk to himself arrogantly for a minute. [Sweatdrop] He would continue like this for hours. She pulled out a good book and sat comfortably midair instead of on the rugged stone ground. These human romance novels were much more entertaining than a demonlord stuck on himself. ++The grassy park where Chouko played ball with Ayumi and Emi (in Chapter 2)++ "Mama! Mama!" Chouko exclaimed. "You're awake!" "Chibi-Chou..." Her mother smiled weakly. "What happened?" "Sh, Mama, don't try to talk. The paramedics will be here soon." Chouko hugged her mother and laid her gently on the soft ground. Meanwhile, she was wondering why Tuxedo Kamen had not assisted her in helping the women. She had not needed it, because no evil things had been there, but she still wondered. Turning towards the crimson sky and the setting sun, she determined to locate Tuxedo Kamen. *Chiba Mamoru, I'll find you. You're the only person who knows a lot about my powers.* But she was wrong. Someone else knew a great deal about her powers, a woman with snakes crawling across her bodice. She laughed as she discovered some extremely fascinating observations the computer had made. "Could that girl be the one we've been looking for? Hahahaha..." ...Previews for the next chapter... >Chapter 5< )Cynthia( It's the exciting continuation of "Watch Out, Naru-chan! Return of Nephrite!" Naru and the senshi are trapped in the alternate plane of space until they can destroy the fake Nephrite. Naru's disappearance unites Sailor Minerva and the Inner Senshi. They vow to destroy the evil at any cost. "Naru Dead? The Senshi Swear Vengeance on Evil." _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_) Please send all comments to sailorminerva@yahoo.com Your e-mails are always appreciated. I've had two commercials submitted so far, but that's the only comical relief in my story, so please send more! If not, you'll be stuck with my incredibly corny commercials! [Evil laugh] And I haven't even unleashed my entire terrible sense of humor...What is with all the groaning I'm hearing right now?...Oh, well... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)