Tears of Light - part 7 - War of the Shadows

Disclaimer: The Fionavar Tapestry is property of its author:
Guy Gavriel Kay.

AN:  Serious action for the next few chapters.  =)  With
some plot development too of course!

IMPORTANT!: I messed up Chikyuno Kiji's name, it's supposed 
to be Chikyuno Niji. 
*slaps forehead* anyway that's the change!

Disclaimer2:  *checks birth certificate* Nope doesn't say
Naoko Takeuchi or Akira Toriyama, guess I don't own Sailor
Moon or Dragon Ball Z then.

************************
Date: March 14, 2000
Location: Tokyo, Japan
************************

	It was one week after the last battle and the senshi
were so on edge that they were jumping at shadows.  And
seeing as their enemies were shadows it wasn't that bad of
an idea really.
	Currently all of the senshi were at home, all but Ami
that was.  Luna, who now lived with her, had dragged her out
to tail Niji, but Ami couldn't see why.  They were at the
moment sitting behind a bush not far away from the girl.
	"Why are we trailing Chikyuno-sama again Luna?" asked
Ami, "I mean she looks nothing like Mamono, and not even Rei
is getting ANY vibes from her, good or bad.  She's just an
ordinary girl."
	Luna narrowed her eyes, "I just have a strange feeling
about the girl is all.  I need to calm my suspicions."
	Ami shook her head and gazed at the girl, taking in
every detail.  She was different, that much was clear.  She
was sitting in a tree on school property reading a novel of
some sort, and it was the weekend when most girls her age
were out mall trolling or hanging with friends.
	Her hair dangled down her back in her characteristic
pony tail and was blowing gently in the air.  She lent back
in her perch and sighed sadly.  Ami felt sorry for her, the
girl was all alone, and she wouldn't even accept friendship
from others.  She held a deep secret of betrayal that she
would only mention lightly before leaving.
	Ami shook her head, "Luna she's just a sad girl with a
hard past.  Let's leave her be."
	Luna sighed, "Maybe you're right Ami, I just needed to
assure myself."
	Ami smiled and turned away from Niji, "I understand
Luna, hey the girls and Goku are supposed to be training at
Shimpachi Gym.  Why don't we join them?"
	Luna nodded, "Hai Ami-chan, Artemis is there anyway
and I need to talk to him."
	Ami nodded and the two started walking away when Ami
suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.  She whipped around in
surprise to see Niji standing there.
	"Chikyuno-sama!" She exclaimed in surprise and slight
fear that Niji had noticed her earlier.
	"What are you doing on school grounds?" asked Niji
simply.
	Luna jumped into Ami's arms and she smiled with an
idea, "My kitty ran away.  I found her here, that's right
Luna.  You shouldn't run away on me like that."  Ami
explained as Luna meowed apologetically.
	Niji let a slight grin tug at her cheeks, "She's
beautiful." She praised wistfully.
	Ami smiled softly, "would you like to pet her?"
	Niji nodded slightly and Luna immediately jumped into
her arms and started purring madly.  Niji's eyes widened and
a small smile crept onto her lips as she pet the tiny kitty.
"She's so friendly, is this a scar?" she asked, pointing to
the crescent moon on Luna's forehead.
	Ami made a little shrugging motion, "She was born like
that, I think it's cute personally."
	Niji nodded and handed Luna back to Ami who happily
jumped onto Ami's shoulder.  Niji pulled her book close to
her chest, "arigato for letting my pet your kitty Ami-sama.
I must be going now."
	Ami went to say something but Niji waved her off and
disappeared into the distance.
	"You still think she's from the Negaverse Luna?"
	"Not really, but I needed to check."
	Ami laughed merrily and turned back to where she had
originally been heading.  "Oh course Luna, it's only
natural."
	Luna sighed and jumped back down onto the pavement.
With that the two started on their trip towards the gym.

**********

	Silia ran down the streets of Tokyo as fast as her
legs could take her.  She had promised the senshi she would
come to today's training session but she had ended up late
somehow.
	She was nearing the school so the way she figured it
she had about five to ten minutes more of steady running
before she reached the gym.  She sprinted heavily around the
corner and collided with someone else.  She went flying
backwards and landed hard on the concrete sidewalk.
	The person she had run into groaned in pain and walked
over to Silia, standing just inside her line of sight.  "Are
you alright?" she asked in a mostly monotone voice.
	Silia smiled, "Niji-sama!" she pulled herself up, "I'm
fine, arigato, but it was all my fault I wasn't watching
where I was going."
	Niji nodded, "True." She replied simply and started
walking in the direction she had been heading.
	Silia jumped in front of her.  "Matte!  Where are you
headed?" she asked.  'The senshi won't mind if I'm late.'
She thought to herself, 'besides Luna wanted to check her
out anyway, it's all for the greater good if I talk to her
for a while.'  With the rationalization to give her an
excuse she stared at Niji expectantly.  The girl seemed torn
between something and was taking her time in answer.  Her
eyes flickered from Silia to the pavement to the book
cradled in her arms.
	Silia jumped in, "What are you reading?"
	Niji's cheeks flushed a little, "It's in English, you
wouldn't be interested anyway.  I've got strange tastes.
Just ask anyone who's ever known me."
	Silia put her hands on her hips.  "Come off it, I'm
not going to bite.  I'm just curious."
	Niji bit her lip.  "Well ok."  Instead of merely
telling Silia the title she handed her the book.  Silia took
it gently.
	It was a rather large book that looked as if it had
seen a lot of reading, titled, "The Fionavar Tapestry".  It
had a beautiful drawing of a pink semi-transparent dragon on
the cover along with a woman with pure white hair.  Silia
scanned the summary quickly she only had a rudimentary
knowledge of English but she got some of the gist.  "It's
gorgeous Niji-sama! Is it good?"
	Niji nodded and took her book back.  "Hai.  Is there
anything else you want Ameno-sama?"
	Silia was slightly taken aback and yet pleased with
the remembrance of her name but kept her composure with the
girl.  "I don't *want* anything Niji-sa.  I just... well I
just wanted to be friendly.  I'm relatively new hear as
well, I know how hard it can be."
	Niji's eye gazed straight into Silia's, "I appreciate
the comment.  But while you think you understand you really
don't.  I've seen it all before.  People who try to be nice
but succumb to peer pressure.  People who pretend just to
try and get help for their next exam.  Don't worry, I'll be
gone by July.  That's just the way things work.  I'll never
stay here long enough to start a friendship even if you do
mean well." She brushed past Silia who just stood there in
shock.  "You don't know me.  I don't know you.  Let's just
leave it at that ne?"
	With that the mysterious brunette continued on her
way.  Leaving Silia to stand in the now chilly breeze,
wondering what she could possibly do.

****

	Minako screamed in terror as Rei chased her around the
gymnasium.  "Rei-chan don't hurt me!!!!!!!!  I won't do it
again I swear!"
	"It's all part of the training Minako-chan." she
responded stressing the 'chan'.
	Makoto laughed and turned away from Goku to watch the
two bickering girls.  Minako had clutzed out again and had
splashed her bottle of water all over Rei.  The priestess
wasn't really all that upset but she needed someone to fight
with and Minako was the perfect target.  It was also an
excuse to relieve some stress.  Mamoru who was currently
taking a break shook his head in the corner.  His mind had
been mostly preoccupied in the last hour or two, the girls
figured Usagi was emoting some strong emotions and he was
trying to deal with them.  Fortunately it seemed they were
mostly good since he didn't have much concern on his face.
	Goku coughed and Makoto snapped back to attention.
"heh... Gomen ne Goku-san.  So back to sparring?"
	Goku nodded, "but not for much longer cause I'm
getting hungry."
	Makoto laughed, she was used to his gargantuan Saiya-
jin appetite but it still made her laugh.  "Ok, but during
lunch you tell me about Vegeta ok?"
	"Vegeta?  Why?"
	Makoto smiled, "he sounds like an interesting guy."
	Goku shrugged, "whatever.  Ok so you try to hit me ok?
I won't go at full speed."
	Makoto nodded, she had seen the guy at full speed
earlier and knew she would stand no chance against that
speed.
	Goku nodded and chose his fastest speed that wouldn't
arouse suspicion with any others around.  The girls might
not be as powerful as he was but they had a great power in
them, and he didn't doubt that she would get a shot at him.
Makoto especially packed quite a punch, but he had heard
from the others that she spent a lot of time fighting before
she even knew she was a senshi.
	Goku started darting around the gym and even Rei and
Minako stopped bickering to watch.  Makoto held her ground
for a moment watching Goku intensely as he darted back and
forth furiously. Her eyes trailed the Saiya-jin for such a
long time that the others started jumping every time it
looked like she might make a move.
	Goku smiled, he knew exactly what she was doing.
Trying to determine if there was a pattern to his movements,
and up till that point there had been, and when she seemed
just on the verge of figuring it out he started moving
totally randomly.
	"It's not that easy Makoto-sama."
	Makoto smirked, "Off course you've got to offer me a
true challenge.  But I almost had you."
	Minako laughed her tension away at the sidelines, "You
know Usagi probably wouldn't have a clue as to what was
going on right now."
	Rei rolled her eyes.  "And you do?"
	Minako nodded, "I wasn't the leader of the senshi, and
the CURRENT leader mind you, for nothing."
	Rei smirked, "oh cause we all thought you had lost it
a long time ago."
	Minako glared but held her temper, this was just Rei's
payback for the water; she then turned back to Makoto and
Goku with renewed interest.
	Makoto was on the tips of her toes and ready to spring
when Goku made a swing around towards the entrance.  He
paused if only for a fraction of a second, and that's when
Makoto struck.  She jumped off her position and threw a
punch and Goku dodged to the left, she brought her fist
around to follow him and he leapt over her with incredible
speed.  Expecting her to whirl around and try and hit him
again he started to move to the side but instead she dropped
to the ground and whirled her feat around, knocking him off
balance.
	Goku sprung off his hands and back onto his feat but
Makoto was in control and he wasn't, she flew back onto her
feet and swung a viscous punch at his face.  The Saiya-jin's
hand flew out and caught Mako's smaller one.
	He smiled, "I'm impressed I didn't have time to dodge
that one."
	Makoto grinned, "Catch this one." And before Goku's
mind dawned on what was going on she used his surprise to
twist her hand out of his grip and grabbed his wrist.  In
the fraction of the second that Goku finally realized what
she was doing she kneed him swiftly in the groin.
	The Saiya-jin doubled over in pain and Makoto strutted
happily away.  The girls were stunned.

	Just then Silia, Ami and Luna walked in, having run
into each other on the way over.  The two stopped in the
doorway, surveying the scene with wide eyes.
	"What happened?" demanded Silia, her eyes falling to
Goku who was just recovering from the shock.
	Minako grinned, "Mako-chan just kneed him where the
sun don't shine."
	Ami shook her head and walked towards Goku who stood
and assured her that he was alright.  "Why did you do that?"
	Makoto crossed her arms and lent against a wall, "He
was taunting me!"
	The girls shrugged, they all knew that no one messed
with Makoto, strangely though Goku burst into laughter.
	Artemis, who had been lying in the corner napping
shook his head, "I wouldn't be laughing if I was him."
	Makoto's expression faltered, "What are you laughing
for?"
	Goku grinned, "You looked just like a female Vegeta!"
His grin increased and he continued to laugh.  The girls, Mamoru and the two
cats just stood, (well Artemis lay), there not
knowing quite what to say.

*************

	Kuroi Mamono floated in a seated position in the pitch
darkness that was her lair.  But this time tiny multicolored
lights shaped like the eyes of her shadow creatures were
behind her.
	"Your men are ready?" she asked with a touch of
annoyance.  As if she had asked this question before.
	A voice penetrated the darkness.   "We are ready, the
touch down points are set and the decoys are placed.  It
will not be long now."
	Kuroi nodded, "This had better work.  If this plan
fails we will be loosing to many of our forces."
	The shadow voice seemed to smile in its tone, "We
cannot fail this time.  The light that drove us back before
the revelation is gone."
	Kuroi nodded and dismissed her minions, an evil smile
spreading across her face, "And if the 5th tries anything
I'll be there."

*************

	Mamoru stood out on his balcony looking out across the
city, it hadn't taken him long to return home.  His mind
wandered over all the times he had stood in the exact same
spot with Usagi.  Usually staring at the moon, but sometimes
the couple would just stand there embracing each other.
	Mamoru sighed, "Oh Usako I miss you so much."

*************

	Osaka Naru sat in Tokyo park, a sad expression etched
on her tiny face.  Unlike the senshi she had no idea that
Usagi was safe and sound.  All that she knew was that her
best friend had disappeared from the hospital and was most
likely dead.  A tear rolled down her cheek.  The two had
become more and more distant over the last few years but she
still missed her smile ever so much.
	A figure sat down beside her.  She knew who he was,
the man she had once thought of only as an annoyance and now
her boyfriend.  Umino was never very good with girls but he
could tell that Naru was not recovering from the shock very
well.
	"Naru-chan...  How are you today?" he asked with
genuine concern.
	Naru shrugged and pulled her knees up to her chest.
Umino quirked a smile, "hey want some ice cream?" he asked.
	Naru just shook her head.
	Umino sighed, "I miss her too Naru-chan but there's
nothing we can do." he adjusted his glasses, "You know there
have been many cases where people who have disappeared
returned safely!  I'm sure Usagi will be back."
	A small smile tugged at Naru's lips but her heart was
too filled with grief to let it take her over.  She was,
however, in a slightly better mood.  And as she wiped the
tears from her eyes she stood, "Arigato Umino...  I'll take
you up on that ice cream if you want."
	Umino nodded vigorously, "after you."

************

	The group of senshi who had been training at the gym
finally spilt up about half an hour after Makoto and Goku's
little incident.  And currently Makoto was heading over to
the Arcade with Minako for a little racing fun.
	The sun was shining brilliantly but both girls were
having strange premonitions of danger.  Neither mentioned it
though.  When the enemy attacked, they attacked, there was
nothing they could do to stop it.

************

	Ami walked down the street towards her house typing
away at her mini computer, and not really looking where she
was going.  She was running a scan on the latest data she
had picked up while fighting Mamono's shadow creatures and
there wasn't much.  Still she was determined.

************

	Rei had just left Goku who had gone to search for some
food.  She walked up the steps to the shrine with a
disturbed look on her face.  Evil was stirring.
	She went from a walk to a run and dashed into the room
that contained the sacred fire.  She knelt before it in
worry and started performing her vision rituals.  The fire
blazed and a hazy image appeared before her eyes.  Just
flashes, Shadow demons, the senshi, danger, Goku, and Usagi?
Beads of sweat ran down her forehead in fear and
anticipation.
	She stood and hit the general call on her
communicator.  "This is a senshi alert.  The enemy is about
to attack, this is going to be a big one.  Everyone stay on
your guard and meet me in the park, they'll be attacking
somewhere near there!"
	She got several affirmatives and added only one more
thing, "And if you see Goku-san or Mamoru-san bring him with
you!"
	She closed her communicator and grimaced, it was time
to fight again.
	She took off from the temple at her fastest speed
without becoming Sailor Mars.

******

	The girls all met in the park within 10 minutes, and
the target area seemed fairly obvious, there was a
performance being put on by some amateur dancers and
singers, and there was a quite large crowd gathered.  Only
Goku was missing, he had gone off by himself, but the girls
knew that if trouble was to arise he'd be there.  He had,
after all, told them he could sense their power.
	Mamoru was currently perched high up in a tree looking
out over the crowd for any signs of the enemy.
	Ami was scanning the area with her computer, she
wasn't certain that she would be able to find anything but
she had to give it a try.  The others were all on their
guard tension was high but the girls were ready.
	"Keep your eyes on the darker areas." Commanded Ami,
"we already know that they like to hide there before they
attack!"
	"I'm surprised they haven't attacked at night really
yet." Said Makoto, her eyes scanning the crowd intensely.
	Silia nodded and pursed her lips worriedly, "If
there's a battle we'll have to find a place to henshin
really quickly."
	"There's a grove not far from here that is mostly
hidden from the rest of the world," came Mamoru's voice from
up in the tree.  "The entrance is right between those two
slightly dying trees.  You can't miss it.  I'll henshin up
here while you girls go for the bushes!"
	"Sounds good!" exclaimed Minako.
	Ami gazed at where Mamoru had indicated, "but we might
get cut off... Sil-chan, Mako-chan, why don't you two go
ahead and henshin?  It'll get Goku-san here faster and we'll
be much better prepared."
	The two girls nodded and were just climbing into the
bushes when the screaming started, they turned around in
shock to see 5 shadow demons blocking the path between
themselves and the others.  Makoto grabbed Silia's arm.
	"Hurry up Sil-chan!" she whispered hurriedly, "we have
to henshin now!"
	The two barreled through the bushes and into the
glade, it was a quite spot, completely obscuring all outside
life.  The two nodded quickly to each other.
	"Jupiter Crystal Power, MAKE-UP!"
	"Mother Earth lend me your power.  Rain, MAKE-UP!"
	In a flash of green and blue the two senshi took off.

*********

	Ami, Minako and Rei stood back to back as the Shadow
Demons appeared out of thin air.  Just in plain sight there
seemed to be about a hundred of them!  They hadn't actually
hurt anyone yet but people were running a screaming for
their lives.  The Demons were waiting for something, the
senshi guessed it was them by the way they were demanding
that innocent people scream and run for their lives.
	"Good thing Makoto and Silia got out of here."
Whispered Rei, her voice quavering.
	"There are so many of them..." breathed Minako with
fear.  "How will we ever defeat them all?!"
	"I don't know." Whispered Ami, her fingers flying away
at the computer.  The Shadow Demons weren't paying that much
attention to the trio, and since they actually were quite
worried it wasn't hard to pretend they were scared out of
their wits.  Ami looked up to see Tuxedo Mask motioning to
her that he was going to draw them away.
	The petite girl relayed the message to the others and
Tuxedo leapt from the tree he was in to one nearby.  The
Demons went on alert as he jumped to the next tree and
abruptly a barrage of Roses flew and hit three Demons
knocking them over.  The three girls started to make a break
for it when a Demon blocked their path.  "Where do you think
you're going?" it demanded evilly.

	"Jupiter Oak EVOLUTION!!!!!!' the attack slammed into
the Shadow sending it flying and the three girls smiled
happily and took off.
	"Today was a beautiful day for singing and dancing but
you have come to ruin it!"
	"You seek only evil and destruction!"
	"In the name of Jupiter-"
	"And the waters of the Earth-"
	"We will punish you!"
	"Sailor Jupiter!"
	"And Sailor Rain Drop!"
	The Shadows grinned, "ATTACK!"
	"Gentle, RAIN!"  Rain's attack slammed into five of
the Shadows knocking them backwards, and drenching them in
water.
	Jupiter grinned, "Never play with electricity when
wet! Sparkling Wide PRESSURE!!!!!"
	The lightning crashed into two of the Shadows, frying
them easily and crumbling them to dust.
	"Two down!" exclaimed Rain Drop, but her smile faded
as more and more Shadows started to appear.  It was time to
fight for their lives.

*********

	Goku was walking happily down Tokyo's main shopping
district lane, eating several ice creams at once when his
senses went on full alert.
	"The girls!" he exclaimed suddenly, causing several
people to look at him strangely.  He started running as fast
as he could without drawing attention to himself, discarding
his treats without a second thought.  He ran into the least
populated area he could find, and ducked into an ally.
Without bothering to check to see if anyone was watching he
took off into the sky at a height that no normal person
could see him at and soared towards the source of power.
	He was nearly there when the arrival of another being
sent his senses reeling.  He stopped mid-flight, his eyes
darting back and forth.
	"Looking for someone?" an evil female voice asked.
	He whirled around. Mamono floated not far away from
him and he put up his guard.
	"What do you want?"
	She laughed happily, it was an evil laugh but not
altogether and unpleasant one.  "I can't have you saving
your senshi friends now can I?" she said simply, "Besides
I'm looking for a good challenge and you're the only one who
can provide one for me."
	"Leave now." Warned Goku, "leave this planet alone and
be one your way."
	"Or what?" she taunted, "You'll kill me?"  Her
laughter rang through the air, "I'm not what you're used to
fighting Kakarot."
	Goku startled, "I don't know what you're talking
about." Bluffed Goku, "whose this Kakarot?"
	"Don't play the fool with me Kakarot!" she snapped
angrily, "I know all about you and your race of Saiya-jin!"
	Goku remained silent.
	Mamono smiled, "You have grasped so little of what is
going on here Kakarot.  This is much bigger then the Sailor
Senshi can fathom.  You too I suppose.  But you've seen both
dimensions, you must have noticed what's going on by now."
	Goku remained silent and Mamono snarled, "Fine then
you piece of trash!  I'm going to put an end to you right
now!"  And with that the battle began.

****************

	Mamoru batted another Shadow away with his cane and
speared a few more with his roses. Sailors Mercury, Mars and
Venus had finally shown up but the battle was looking grim.
	"Venus Love-Me CHAIN!!!!" Venus's chain of hearts tied
two of the Shadows together as Mars and Mercury attacked.
	"Mars Flame SNIPER!"
	"Mercury Aqua RHAPSODY!"
	The two attacks slammed into the Shadows who screamed
in pain but refused to die.  They escaped Venus's chain and
one attacked Mercury, it's mighty arm slammed into the
petite senshi sending her flying into a tree.  She screamed
in pain and Rain ran to her as the others continued their
desperate fight.
	Jupiter whipped another Shadow over her head and into
a tree, the trunk splintering, the tree just barely managing
to stay standing.
	"Venus Love and Beauty SHOCK!"
	"Jupiter Oak EVOLUTION!"
	"Mars Flame SNIPTER!"
	The three attacks rammed into the dazed Shadow,
turning it to dust.  A small victory but a victory none the
less.
	Tuxedo Mask took over Mercury's care and Rain ran over
to the others, the 4 standing back to back.  "This does not
look good.  Mercury will be ok but she won't be able to do
much more fighting!" explained Rain.
	Jupiter and Mars toasted another Shadow and Mars
swore, "Where's Goku?  We could REALLY use his help!"
	Venus shrugged and looked up to the sky her eyes
widened, "Scatter!"
	The senshi all threw themselves out of the way as
something came crashing down near to where they had all been
standing.
	Suddenly all the shadows stopped attacking and time
seemed to slow down, a figure picked herself out of her
ground a look of hate etched on her face.  She looked as if
she were about to take off into the air again when she
noticed she was where the senshi were and that only one was
seriously injured.  The golden clad, silver haired, red eyed
evil woman swore and stared at the senshi with the most
hateful glare they had ever seen.
	Mars shot her head into the air as she felt another
person approach, a familiar man shot down and landed beside
the senshi.  Goku.
	"Sorry I'm late girls, I ran into her on my way over."
He said apologetically, not taking his eyes off Mamono.
	Mamono spit on the ground. and started glowing a
sickly red.  "It was fun Kakarot, but you're no match for
me.  I'm not even injured!"
	The senshi tensed and Tuxedo Mask stood protectively
in front of Mercury who was slowly regaining consciousness.
	Mamono grinned, "I think I'll let my Shadows take care
of you now.  But first a little gift from me," the glow
concentrated to her hand, "to the brains of your group!!!"
she whirled around and shot a powerful red beam straight at
Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Mercury.  It was travelling to fast
to dodge and they were powerless to stop it!

**********

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Is this the end?  Are Mercury and Tux doomed?

Well you'll find out it chapter 9!  Yep! That's right cause
I have to write the DBZ universe for the next chapter!
*dodges Stef-chan's attack* Hey I can write Cliffhangers if
you can!

Umm.. next chapter runs parallel to this one.  Just so you
know.  It ends at the exact same time this one ends k?

e-mail: tiana@nrtco.net
site: www.geocities.com/rachael_7_/

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