A few days later, Usagi, Ami, and Kino Makoto were sitting under a tree,
eating lunch, at Ju-ban Junior High when all conversation stopped. The
three girls looked up in time to see Celeste, the new girl, walk past.
“I don’t know what everyone is talking about,” Usagi whispered. “I don’t
think that she looks at all like me.”
The other two ignored her. “Maybe we should ask her to sit with us,” Makoto
suggested. “Since she’s new and all.”
“Good idea, Mako-chan,” Ami replied approvingly. “If your food can’t break
the ice, nothing can.”
Makoto grinned and stood up. “Hey, Celeste! You want
to sit with us? We’ll share our food.” Celeste regarded them coldly.
“I’m sorry. I have other plans.” Crossing the lawn, she sat under a tree
by herself.
“Ouch,” Makoto muttered, sitting down again. “Someone mention ice?”
“What a creep,” Usagi fumed. “She’s nothing like me, especially if she
refuses Mako-chan’s tempura shrimp!”
“Indeed, she was very rude,” Ami agreed. “I can’t imagine why she would
be so hostile. Oh well. Let’s not let it spoil our lunch, shall we?” The
others nodded, and were soon eating with all of their customary enthusiasm.
After school, everyone, including Usagi, headed over to the shrine to
see if Rei could turn anything up by reading the sacred fire. Aino Minako,
the fifth member of their team, was supposed to meet them there. As they
were leaving, Usagi, miraculously not in detention, noticed a tall, dark-haired
man leaning against a nearby tree, waiting for someone. She would have
thought that he was her boyfriend, Mamoru, except for the chilling expression
in his eyes. At the shrine, Rei sat everyone down and gave them stern instructions
not to disturb her during the fire reading. She looked especially hard
at Usagi at this point, and Usagi retaliated with a marvelous example of
the Bronx Cheer. The whole thing might have degenerated into a tongue war
if Minako hadn’t hauled them all back on track. After spending a long time
gazing into the fire, Rei sat back with a sigh. “I can feel a new evil
presence in Tokyo, but it’s so unfocused, I can’t pin it down. It could
be anything from a low-grade youma to Queen Beryl herself, although I doubt
that’s the case.”
“The odds are pretty good that it’s another Dark Moon person, aren’t they?”
Usagi asked, unusually serious. Rei nodded.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know who or what they are, so we all have to be
on our toes. Think you can handle that, Usagi?” Usagi’s response was nothing
short of eloquent- not to mention moist.
Not too long after the Senshi had departed, Celeste exited the school.
Waiting for her, leaning against a tree, was Ilmenite. He was wearing black
jeans, a black button-down shirt, and a black leather jacket. “You look
good,” Celestite greeted him, kissing him on the cheek. “What’s up?”
“Amosite
is here. Sailor Dark Mercury, the first of the Dark Senshi, has arrived.” Amosite, who looked a great deal like Ami, walked up to Celestite and the
two embraced.
“Amo-chan, good to see you again. I suppose Ilmenite has filled you in
on the problem?”
“Yes, your Highness. I am ready to help you destroy Sailor Moon.”
“Good. Then I suggest we transform and head downtown. If we cause enough
trouble, Sailor Moon is sure to come looking for us.” Amosite nodded.
“Dark Mercury Star Power- Make-up!” Ribbons of a strange black ice spun
out of her star wand, wrapping around Amosite’s body and forming a fuku.
The fuku resembled Sailor Mercury’s, except that the bodysuit was black,
not white, and the blues were darker and far more ominous. While Sailor
Dark Mercury had been transforming, Celestite had been changing into Sailor
Dark Moon. Together, they headed off into Tokyo to do some damage.
The sun was setting by the time Ami’s classes at cram school had finished.
Walking home, she clutched her transformation pen tightly, just in case.
Suddenly the screaming and noisy crashes of a riot in progress reached
her ears. Turning a corner, she saw the cause of all the panic. Sailor
Dark Moon was ripping up pavement, crunching up cars, and just generally
making a mess. With her was a girl who looked a great deal like Sailor
Mercury, except that she wore a fuku of dark blue and black. “That must
be my Dark Moon counterpart,” Ami told herself. “Well, they aren’t going
to get away with this.” Quickly, she opened her communicator and tapped
a few buttons. “Luna, this is Ami, do you read me?"
“Luna here, Ami,” came the reply. “What’s the problem?”
“Sailor Dark Moon has a friend, one who looks like me! They’re tearing
up the shopping district! Tell the others to get here right away!”
“Understood, Ami. Transform and try to keep them from doing any damage.”
“Right,” Ami sighed, putting away her communicator. “Well, here goes nothing.
Mercury Star Power- Make-up!” Ami was suddenly encased in ribbons of ice
and became Sailor Mercury. “Shame on you, picking on poor defenseless people!”
Sailor Mercury called, vaulting out into the open. “I am Sailor Mercury,
defender of the downtrodden, and in the name of Mercury, I will punish
you!”
Sailor Dark Mercury turned to face this new threat. “I am Sailor Dark Mercury,
of the Dark Moon. If you stand in my way, you’re not very smart. In the
name of the Dark Moon, I will destroy you!” Sailors Mercury and Dark Mercury
sized each other up for a long moment, much as cats will before they fight.
“You don’t look like much,” Sailor Dark Mercury commented.
“You yourself should know that appearances can be deceiving,” returned
Sailor Mercury sharply.
“Little Mercury,” Sailor Dark Moon interrupted,
“our quarrel is not with you. Go home now and we’ll let you live.”
“Never!” cried Sailor Mercury defiantly. “I’ll never desert my friends.”
“Then you’ll die with them,” Sailor Dark Mercury responded. “Dark Aqua
Illusion!” A stream of freezing water hurled itself at Sailor Mercury’s
head. Just then, a lightning bolt intercepted it.
“Pick on my friends, and you won’t live to regret it! I am Sailor Jupiter,
champion of justice!” “People who go looking for trouble usually find it!
I am Sailor Mars, and trouble’s exactly what you’ve got!”
“Shame on you for wrecking this beautiful area! I am Sailor Venus, the
Senshi of love and beauty! For what you have done, I’ll punish you!”
“First you mimic me, now Mercury! We’ll show you that there’s nothing like
the originals! I am Sailor Moon, and in the name of the Moon, I’ll punish
you!”
“Well, well, the gang’s all here,” a voice broke in from above. Suddenly,
Tuxedo Dark Kamen leaped down from a nearby roof to stand by Sailor Dark
Moon. “You Senshi are about to get trashed! Dark Moon, attack!”
With those
words, the battle began. As before, Sailor Jupiter squared off against
Tuxedo Dark Kamen and began to use him as a punching bag. That wasn’t to
say that he didn’t get in a few good licks of his own, though. Sailors
Mars and Mercury found themselves facing off against Sailor Dark Mercury.
Between the combination ice and fire attacks, Sailor Dark Mercury was getting
the worst of the battle. Singed on one side, icy on the other, she was
nonetheless fighting gamely, inflicting some nasty little injuries on her
two opponents.
That left Sailors Venus and Moon to deal with Sailor Dark
Moon. Unfortunately, Sailor Dark Moon was more than a match for Sailor
Moon, who was knocked half-witless fairly early on in the fight. However,
Sailor Venus had much more experience with this sort of fight, due to her
time as Sailor V. She was more than capable of matching Sailor Dark Moon’s
attacks. Finally, the three Dark Moon people realized that they would be
unable to win, and retreated, melting into the shadows of the recently
fallen night. Sailor Venus helped a still-punchy Sailor Moon to her feet.
“Sailor Moon, are you all right?” she asked, concerned.
“Just fine. My head feels like it’s going to explode. I just want to go
home and sleep.”
“Take her home, Minako,” Sailor Mars ordered. “We’ll see you both in the
morning.” Tired and sore, the Sailor Senshi went their separate ways.
In another part of the city, a very deserted part, Celestite, Ilmenite, and Amosite were racking their brains, trying to come up with ways to defeat the Senshi so that they could kill Sailor Moon. Unfortunately, they weren’t making any progress. Suddenly, a low humming drew their attention. A light flashed, and out of nowhere, a figure appeared. Celestite smiled. “Wonderful, another Dark Senshi. Maybe now we can defeat those Sailor Brats once and for all!”
On to Chapter Three: Dark Senshi Strengthened
Back to Chapter One: Dark Tidings
Back to Sailor Moon
Back to the Castle
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