dd204@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Andrew J. Currie) Still more... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sailor Moon Chrysalis Part 7 It's another busy day along the so called "merchants strip" in what was once know as the Dark Kingdom. Beryl and Metalia's destruction by Sailor Moon, left the way open for those who survived to try to grab power for themselves or follow those who they thought would lead them to greater things. Maybe, even succeed where Beryl had failed. But mostly they had to deal with the numerous other factions that were trying to do the same thing. And of course they needed equipment and other things that we not available in the Dark Kingdom. So over time the 'merchants strip' had grown into a place where you could by almost anything that was legal or illegal for the right price. At one stall, a young girl with brown hair, about 14 or 15 wearing a green cloak with a light short sword at her side, is looking at a variety of crystals and other items, presumably magical in nature. Next to her is a man in his 20's with black hair, he keeps looking around, almost as if someone or something was going to attack him. The girl points to a wand and a small bluish green opal. "It take these," she says confidently, and hands over a few gold coins. "Did you get what you wanted, Wren?" the black man asks her. "Yes, Mamoru hopefully with these I be able to find a way out of this insane place." They walk away from the stall to where 2 other girls and a cat are waiting for them. "How did the shopping trip go?" Michiru asks. "Well I got a few of the items, hopefully that will be enough to get us out of here." Wren says. Mamoru looks around, "Where's Ami and Setsuna?" he asks. "They there just over there. Ami insisted on looking at the real fancy devices they had in one of the stalls." "Jeez, it like she never saw a particle accelerator before." Wren says, "Not like she could afford one anyways." "We better go and find them. If they get into any trouble here." Haruka says her voice trailing off. "Yes you transforming here would be a deathtrap. We have every creature within a mile hunting us as trophies." Luna says looking slightly worried. "We should be counting our blessings." Wren says, "I got very lucky opening that gate to here. It was either here or buried under a lot of snow." "Out of the frying pan..." Haruka says "Oh come on!" Wren says, "At least your alive! And I'm trying my best to find another way out of here. Getting here by any means is very difficult and getting out is even harder..." "And every day here means our foes might be getting closer to the last two generals 'essences' or whatever their looking for." Luna says. "Ah, here they come..." Michiru says looking though the crowds seeing Setsuna and Ami walking towards them. "See anything interesting?" Michiru asks. "Some of the stuff here... I didn't think was possible." Ami says looking quite excited. "Well your not bringing any back with us." Wren says. "I'll have enough trouble trying to get us out of here." "Why don't we get something to eat?" Setsuna says, "There must be somewhere to eat around here?" "If you call what they eat her edible." Haruka says, Luna nods in agreement. "Well let's take a look." Mamoru says, looking around, and Luna hops onto Ami's shoulder. They start to walk down the strip, making there way though the crowd of human and not so human looking creatures. In the stalls there is a variety of smells and customers making deals of all sorts. Trading weapons, selling exotic clothing, perfumes and creatures some for pleasure, some not. As they are walking they hear the pieces of conversation coming from the stalls "That not really my color." "Mind if I take a bite out of the other one?" "This stuff is really potent!" "So I get 2 energy packs free with the plasma rifle?" "Hey! This one's dead!" "I'll take the one with 3 breasts." "Got FF5 in yet? "What movies do you got in today?" "This place disgust me." Haruka says. "Deal with it." Wren says, "Not much you can do about it. Humans are the minority here." "How about that place?" Ami says point up at a sign. It says in Japanese, 'The Bloody Stump. Stop in for a drink or a meal you won't forget.' Above the writing there is a drawing of a bloody stump. The sign is also written in a few other languages some of them native to earth, others not. "Looks O.K.", Michiru says. "I've seen worse places... " Wren says. "Let's go in then." Mamoru says walking in though the front door, everyone else follows. Inside the bar it quite empty, except for someone a sitting in the corner, wearing a heavy gray cloak, the hood is pulled over the persons head, is drinking what appears to be a mug or beer, there are 2 other empty glasses on the table. There a humanoid creature with is face planted on the table drool coming out of the side of his mouth. There are two other creatures sitting at another table talking on in an unknown language. A jukebox in the corner plays "Kon'ya wa Hurricane" in the background. They take a large table that sits them all near in the center of the room. The barkeep walks over to them, he a very human looking except for the light fur and large incisors coming out of his mouth. "Welcome to my bar." he says not really paying to they. "What will it be?" "3 coffees", Michiru says. "A soda." Ami says. "I just have a water." Mamoru says. The bartender looks at them funny and Wren puts her hand to her face and just shakes her head. "Just makes it 6 mugs of ale" "But I'm under age." Ami says, "and so are you Wren." "I'll make it 4 instead." the bartender says. "Could we get a menu?" Haruka asks. The bartender points to a sign above the bar. "That what we have for food." he says looking a little miffed by them. "Not much of a selection." Michiru says. "What the special?" Haruka asks. "That is the special." "Well have six of those as well." Wren says. "Sure." the bartender says, and begins to pour their ales. Wren looks at them, "I'm surprised he just didn't throw us out." "The decor is not great." Michiru says, "But a good atmosphere." "I'm not very impressed with the service." Setsuna says. "I don't think well see it in any travel guides." Mamoru says. Wren sighs, "Can we get back to the problem at hand?" she says, "I need to do some calculations here, dimensional travel is not as easy at it looks." a pencil and paper appear in her hands. "Now," she says, "Let's see." and begins to draw and write some complicate number and figures onto the paper. Their bartender brings over their ales, and Haruka takes a sip. "That's not bad, pretty strong." Mamoru takes a drink from his mug; his eyes begin to water and coughs a bit. "You could peel paint with that stuff!" he says pushing the mug away from him. Wren takes a sip, "It not bad. I once had some stuff that you could knock a dragon out with." Michiru and Haruka are beginning to drink theirs slowly Setsuna has not touched hers. "Ami," Wren says handing her a piece of paper, "could you double check these figure for me?" "Sure." she says taking out her computer and typing in some figures form the paper. Suddenly, the door opens and a gang of 20 or so wolf-like humanoids walk in, each is wearing a leather jacket Their jackets and fur are quite bloodstained. They're laughing and being pretty rowdy, as they begin to sit down. "Oh great," Wren says very quietly, "Wolfen." Five of the wolfen walk over to where Ami and the other are sitting. The larger one of the group looks at them. "This is our table." He says in a gruff voice. "Well there are lots of tables here," Michiru says pointing at the other tables that are still available. "Well we always sit here", he says, "So move!" he says putting one of his fingers to Michiru's chest. The other 4 of the group starting to surround them the other wolfen are look and pointing and laughing under their breath. "I would let go right now." Michiru says quite calmly, and Haruka starts to get up. One of the other wolfen looks at her, "What are you doing to do little girl?" he says mockingly. "This!" she says punching him in the face knocking him to the ground. The wolfen wipes the blood from his lip, "You little shit!" he says getting up. "That was a big mistake," he says walking right up to her, Wren, Mamoru and Michiru get up. "This is not good." Luna says. The wolfen do not look impressed by their group. "This is it?" he, "Five girls and one guy?" "It help when one of those girls is a mage." Wren says and throws a fireball at him. Mamoru takes out his sword. Their opponents do the same. A few things happen simultaneously. Haruka kicks one of wolfen in the groin, causing him to drop his sword, which she picks up. Wren and Mamoru stand back to back fighting off their opponents. Michiru attacks one hand to hand, with Haruka attacking another by her side. Setsuna get up, avoiding most of the fight, and moves towards the bar. "I would like a re-fill please," she says and hits one of the wolfen (who was fighting Mamoru) with her glass, "and a new mug." "Sure." the bartender says. Ami is just now getting up. A few of the wolfen are one the floor, either moaning in pain on not moving at all. Haruka and Michiru (who now has a sword as well) have about 5 or so of the wolfen dead on the floor. 4 are currently attacking them; Haruka has a few scrapes. "Do you think you can beat all of us?" one of their opponents ask? "Won't know until we try." Then she stabs him in the gut. Ami and Luna, who're on the table, are looking around trying to find a way out of this mess. "Here kitty kitty." a one of the wolfen picks her up. "Luna!" Ami says and grabs a chair and hits him, breaking it. He drops Luna and looks at her. "Now that wasn't very nice." and walks over to her getting ready to punch her, but something stop him. He looks back and sees that a tall person with a gray cloak and hood has grabbed his arm. "You won't touch her." the person, who has a female voice says, and bends him arm back breaking the bones in it. He falls to the ground, screaming in pain. Some of the others notice this. "This isn't your fight!" one of them says walking over to her his sword drawn. "It is now." she says, and 2 black blades rip throughout the left sleeve of the clock. The blades are about 2 feet in length, maybe slightly longer. "Stay behind me Ami." she says. "That voice..." she says. One of the wolfen charges her, swing his sword, but she parries it with her blade and with the other hand throws him into a wall. Two others decide to attack her, but she slices the first one's belly open, his innards spreading across the floor and the other she stabs in the chest. Blood pours out onto the floor and he falls to the ground. She starts to walk towards where Wren and the other are fighting. Some of the wolfen try to stop her but she pushes them away or slices them with her blades. The rest of the wolfen, Wren and the others notice this. The wolfen start to back off. "Whoever she is," Haruka states, "She pretty good." She walks past Haruka and the other "Who are you?" one of the wolfen ask? "I am the one once thought dead, but now have returned to kill those who would harm my friends", and the cloak drops to the floor, "For I am Sailor Jupiter!" "Jupiter?" Ami says. "This is a surprise." Michiru says. Sailor Jupiter stands there, her fuku now black, [Sailor Jupiter in black] the skirt is still green and bows pink. There's a large scar, which can be see just below her neckline. There is this black smooth looking thing covers her left forearm, black veins can see seen traveling up the rest of the length of her arm. The two blades extend off of the thing. Two of the wolfen run out the front door of the bar. The reaming groups start to move back slowly prodding each other. "You attack her!" one says "No way! I don't have a death-wish!" "Cowards!" one says, "She's only one." and charges toward her. Jupiter grabs by his jacket and throws him over her shoulder and over the bar. "Shit!" he says and starts to climb over the bar towards her. "Stay down!" she says. "Sparking Wide Pressure!" a ball of lighting builds up in her hands and she throws it at him, he his knocked back into the wall and falls down unconscious. She turns towards the rest of the wolfen, "Who's next?" she says, cracking her knuckles. They quickly run out of bar. Ami walks over to Jupiter, dumbfounded, "How? Jupiter. Am I dreaming?" "No dream Ami." she says, blades disappearing back into the thing on her arm. "You changed so much... " She says, "I knew they couldn't kill you that easily!" Wren says. "Hello, Wren." Jupiter says. "It's been a while," she says smiling. "Where did that thing on you arm come from?" Ami asks. This?" Jupiter says holding up her arm to show off the black flesh thing on her left arm. "I didn't get it anywhere, it found me." "What?" Ami says looking slightly confused by this statement. "I hate to interrupt this," Luna says. "But shouldn't we be getting out of here? They could be coming back with re-enforcement's." "You're right Luna." Jupiter says putting her cloak back on, "I have a little place near here." She looks at the bartender and tosses a few gems on the counter. "This should cover the bill," she says, "and we taking the back way out." "Sure." he says picking up the gems. "This way!" she says looking around while leads them out of the bar. "There they are!" someone point in there direction, and a variety of creatures start to run in their direction. "Shit! You go on ahead... " She says looking at her friends. "I'll hold these assholes off." "No," Ami says, "I'm not losing you again!" "Ami..." Jupiter say quite surprised by this. "Anyway," Wren says, I never run away from a fight." and she throws a fireball toward the mob of creatures. Suddenly from behind them a ball of energy hit the mob, scattering them. "What the?" Haruka says and they turn around to see this young man in his early 20's, he a long blond hair that reaches down most of his back. He's wearing a simple white shirt and pants. He is carrying a very big gun. He looks at them, "Go on ahead." he says, "I'll hold them off for you." and he fires another shot toward the crowd. "Thanks." Mamoru says. "Let's get going." "But there's so many of them." Wren says, "Don't you want any help." He looks at all of them, "No, you have more important things to do than dealing with petty fights like this. Now get going." "At least tell us you name." Michiru says. "My name is not important," he says, "Just remember my deeds." "Gee, how corny." Wren says. "They start to run away from the man and they crowd They hear a few explosions in the distance. "I have a place near here." Jupiter says, "We'll stay there until things calm down, and you can tell me what has happened over the last little while." "And the same for you." Setsuna says She smiles, "Yes, a lot has changed." she says he voice trailing off. [Eye-catch: Side shot of Sailor Mercury with the Imperial Crystal floating in her cupped hands looks up toward the moon] --------------------------------------------------------- [Eye-catch: Side shot of Sailor Mercury with the Imperial Crystal floating in her cupped hands looks up toward the moon] Elsewhere, in a close by dimension, a large black crystal hovers in the air, and Kingu is waiting for someone. "Where is she?" he says pacing around. "She should have had no trouble getting Zoisite's essence." An image a man appears in front of him. "What is it now?" he says. He bows, "Sorry to disturb you, Kingu." he says nervously, "But we have had reports that the Sailor Senshi are in what's left of the Dark Kingdom." He looks quite concerned, "I do not like this." he says, "Ishtar says she had killed them. Tell her and Nergal to hurry up with the retrieval program and to post a few more guards." Yes sir." he says and the image fades. He looks toward the crystal, which now the crack extends halfway through the crystal. "My lord, " he says getting down on one knee. "I appears the Sailor Senshi are still alive." "Yes, " a booming voice coming from the crystal, "Mummu!" he summons. Mummu appears, his cloak flowing to the ground. "Yes my lord." he says. "Go and help Neural with the retrieval of the item I need." the voice says. "Yes my lord." "How goes the study of our prisoner?" "It goes well, as to be expected..." he says Ishtar appears in front of them holding a ball of energy, half black and half white, the color are mixing together at the edges. "I have returned my lord, with our prize." and she walks toward the large floating crystal and hold up the ball of energy. It floats toward the crystal and seems to merge with it. The crack in the crystal gets lager and it gets less opaque. You can almost see something inside it moving very frantically. "Soon... so soon," the voice says, "I shall be free from the prison Beryl put me in so long ago. Then I will be able to finish what I had started before she had interfered...." Kingu looks at Ishtar. "Well done Ishtar. We won't kill you for screwing up the last mission." "What?" she says and he throws a small black knife towards her, which hits her in the arm. She screams in pain as she falls to the ground. "You failed to kill the Sailor Senshi." Mummu says. "I'm sorry." She says pulling the knife out of the arm. "I won't fail you again!" "You better not." Kingu says looking toward Mummu, "Go with Mummu to where Nergal and Gilgamesh are and deal with any Sailor Senshi that show up." he says. "Yes." she says giving him a long stare, then they both disappear. "The Sailor Senshi better not show up." The voice from the crystal says. "Do not worry my lord, even if they do, our plan shall reach its completion." --------------------------------------------------------- "This way", Makoto says, (who has changed back into her civilian identity), leading them down a small path toward a small stone house, there is a small garden of flowers, off to the side. Michiru walks over to the garden, "I never expected to see flower in a place like this." she says. "I planted them myself." Makoto says, "This place needed a little brightening up. Why don't you come in?" she says walking toward the main door. You all must be very tired, " she says smiling, "and a little hungry. It's been a while since I had to make a meal for such a large group. She leads them through the front door, and takes off her cloak. "Mama!" a young voice says and a small girl, about 5 or 6 with reddish brown hair, Makoto picks her up. "Hello Yasa! How are you?" Makoto says. "How quaint." Michiru says. Ami's, and Wren's eyes nearly pop out their head. Luna looks at Makoto and the kid, "M-M-Makoto aren't you a little young to be having children???" "Luna," she says her face a little flushed. "I just found her all alone in this place. I couldn't just do nothing." She says. Ami, Wren and Luna breathe a sigh of relief. "Let me introduce you all. Everyone this is Yasa. Yasa these are my friends Ami, Wren, Mamoru, Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna." "Hello!" she says and Makoto puts her down. She begins to walk over to Ami, "Hello!" she says. "Why hello there." Ami says. "Mama talks about you a lot!" she says. Makoto looks a little embarrassed. "What's all the commotion in here?" A young man walks into the main room. He's quite handsome with short black hair with a slightly greenish tinge to it. He is quite surprised by the crowd in this room. "Oh," he says and everyone looks at him, "Uhmm," he looks around, "Makoto, who are these people." "Is this you boyfriend Makoto?" Wren says with a smile on her face. "Well umm", the man says. Makoto sighs, "Everyone this is Saffrite. Saffrite my friends." "Hello everyone. Before you all try a blow me away with your attacks and what not. I never agreed with what Beryl wanted and now it's mostly small groups worrying about their own needs." he says, he goes over to Yasa. "Come on Yasa. I'm sure your 'mama' and her friends have a lot to catch up on." "O.K." she says, "Bye everyone." and Yasa waves good-bye and they walk into the back room. "Makoto how long have you been here for?" Ami asks. "About a year." she says, "Why?" "It's been a less than a week since the troubles began back home." Setsuna says. "That just weird." Wren says. "Who knows why that is?" "Enough about me." Makoto says. "I want to know what you're all doing here? You didn't come looking for me did you?" "No," Mamoru says, "We didn't think you were even alive." "Then why are you all here?" Makoto says. "Maybe it's better we start at the beginning of this mess." Setsuna says, "Ami, you tell this one. You've seen this mess from the beginning. "O.K.", she says the words come slowly, "After you took on that youma, or whatever he was alone..." and she begins to tell the rest of the story. After about an hour or so. "I see" Makoto says, "Then they'll all pay for the damage they've done!" "Wait a second. Makoto." Luna says, "We don't even know where Zoisite or Jadeite are, or what they want with them." Saffrite walks back into the room. "I don't know about, Zoisite, but I do know where Jadeite is." "You do?" Mamoru says. "He's I what you could call suspended animation. It's pretty common knowledge what happened to him. He's being stored in a dessert near here, with other people who were considered betrayers. "We'll then we have no time to waste then." Haruka says. "If they get whatever they need from Jadeite then all could be lost." They all nod in agreement, and get ready to go. "Are you going to come with us Makoto?" Ami asks. "Yes." she says, "Just give me a second." She gets down on her knees and look Yasa in the eyes. "Your mama has to care of some business, Yasa." "Don't go mama!" and she starts to cry. "There there," she says, "This is something your mama has to do." she wipes the tears from her eyes. "I'll be back sooner than you know." Saffrite goes over to her and picks her up. "You'll take good care of her won't you Saffrite?" Makoto says. "Of course. You be back soon." he kisses her on the cheek, and she heads out the door, with the others to see what is waiting for them. --------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere, in a large barren desert, many large cylindrical crystals can bee seen in the area; most of them are in an upright position, some half buried in the sand. A man in a cloak is nearby. He is chanting and drawing symbols on it. Other people are seen in the area, some look slightly nervous. A man holding a spear in a loose fitting leather armor walks over to him. "How much longer Mummu?" he says looking around. "This place is creepy." "Not much, Nergal", he says, "I don't want to kill our guest." "Not yet anyway." he says sarcastically. Nergal wipes some of the dirt off the crystal and inside we see Jadeite. --------------------------------------------------------- The Sailor Senshi arrive at the edge of the dessert area. "We've arrived"; Sailor Uranus says "What a barren place." Sailor Neptune says. Wren looks quite slightly jittery. "What wrong Magus?" Mercury asks. "Don't you hear them?" she says, "All those voices." Tuxedo Mask looks slightly concerned. "Will you be all right?" "Ya, just give me a second." She says "Anyways." Sailor Uranus says, "There must be thousands of there crystal in this place. How do we know where Jadeite is?" "I'm doing a scan of the area now." Mercury says, typing on her computer. "There's a large energy surge in that direction", she says. "Then let's go and check it out." Jupiter says running ahead of them. "Wait!" Mercury says. "There goes the element of surprise." Magus says. "I'll go oh ahead." she says, "The rest of you better catch up quickly." and starts to run off in the direction that Jupiter went. --------------------------------------------------------- Nearby, Mummu is still working on breaching the crystal. "Almost there, " he says. "Supreme Thunder!" and lighting hit an invisible shield that surround Mummu. "Who interrupts my work?" he says looking around. "I am Sailor Jupiter and you all pay for killing my friends!" she says, and the two blades extend. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?" he says. "Well I'm back and your all going to pay!" and she charges at him. "Energy Slash!" and the sand parts in front of Jupiter and she get knocked back onto the ground. She gets up, and sees a man taller than her in front of her. "Mummu has to finish his work, and it looks like I have a sparring partner." he says and swings the sword at Jupiter she parries with her on two blades. "Barbarians." Mummu says and goes back to his work, of freeing Jadeite. "World Shaking!" and an orange ball or energy goes toward him, but it dissipates before even getting near him. "What now?" he says looking around. "Wherever there's trouble then so am I, Sailor Uranus!" "More interruptions." He says "Ishtar you want to deal with this one? She appears from behind one of the crystals, "It would be my pleasure." One of the crystals levitates off the ground and goes toward Uranus; she easily dodges out of the way. She runs toward the girl, "Space Sword." she begins to say but she suddenly stops in her tracks. "I can't move." and begins to sink into the ground. Jupiter notices this. "Uranus!" She says parries the sword again. "A little too busy to save your friend. Too bad." and swings his sword at her, slashing at her arm. "Deep Submerge!" and a blue ball of energy hits Ishtar knocking, her away. Sailor Neptune runs over to where Sailor Uranus is. "Are you all right?" she asks beginning to pull him out from the sand. "I am now." She says. The sound of a crystal shattering can be heard and someone screams. Gilgamesh looks around, "We'll settle this another time." and he and Ishtar disappear. Mercury, Magus, Pluto and Tuxedo Mask join the rest of them. "Where did that scream come from?" Pluto asks. "Over there." Neptune says, and they run off in that direction. Nearby, Jadeite is freed from the crystal and looks around. "Mummu?" he says, "But you're supposed to be dead." "Well I'm back now Jadeite, I'll keep this short. Beryl is dead and you're the last of the generals that we need." "The prophecy." he says looking up at him, "Are you insane? You're going to release Aspu? The psychopath that even Beryl did not want to deal with." "Well Beryl isn't not around to stop him." He says. "He will bring a new order to the universe. Now you die." he says "Shine Aqua Illusion!" "Supreme Thunder!" "World Shaking!" "Dead Scream!" "Amateurs!" Mummu says waves his hand and the attack dissipate. "The Sailor Senshi." Jadeite says. "Jadeite." Mercury says. "Well Sailor Mercury I thought I'd ever see you again." he says "I see you got more Sailor Senshi to help out too." Three more figures appear: Nergal, Ishtar and Gilgamesh. "Well well, It's look like we have a Standoff here..." Nergal says. "And the prize is one of you old foes Sailor Senshi." Gilgamesh says. "We'll do whatever necessary to keep him out of your hands!" Uranus says. (To be continued.) Comments/praise go to Andrew J. Currie. --------------273A41AC2C1D-- -- Andrew Currie - A simple Rayearth fan Kasumi rep of RANCO, Eudial rep of OSMC "Don't worry aobut Akane. She just a voilent maniac", Tendo Kasumi on Akane "I'm stupid, but I'm the main character.", Lime, SM Girls Marionette R "We're not hickhiking anymore. We're riding!", Ren Hoek