Tears of Light - Part 12 - The Lady
I AM SOOOO SORRY!!!! *Begs everyone's forgiveness* I'm soooo sorry that I left
you all hanging for... *looks at her calendar* Well at least a month.. erm....
Or two.....
I've been soooo busy, I've had a major English term project to work on (which
will appear as a fanfic soon!) That is in it's last stretch. As soon as next
week rolls around I should be done. So I'll try my best to work on this.
I also had "The Sound of Music" I was on the stage crew and the end result was
that basically I wasn't home for two whole weeks O_o. Of course now that
that's over I'm in "West Side Story." Heh... I just can't keep away from those musicals.
Oh and then there's just Physics in general. After I nearly failed my last test
I've gained the knowledge that my dad's going to be helping me which means less
time to write as well. (! When I originally wrote this I hadn't brought my mark
up yet. MUHAHAHAHAHA!)
Ok, I'm done rambling and explaining now. *Begs forgiveness one last time*
Thank you all for not killing me! Oh and death to the person who changed the
channel before I could record the episode where Helios and Chibi-Usa kiss.
*Glares daggers*. You will DIE!!!!! Gohan went SSJ2! YATTA!
NOTE: I'll be referring to Tuxedo Mask as Tuxedo Kamen from now on. =)
Disclaimer: To copy Stef-baka-chan's method of contradicting herself: I own
NOTHING, but Silia, Kiji, Mamono and the Lady are mine, you here me? MINE!!!!
Sound of Music Quote: "There was a man about to be put to death and right before
the killed him they asked: Do you renounce the devil and all his works? And he
said: at this moment I'd prefer not to make ANY enemies." - Maxamillian
Detviler (Sean was so awesome as Max! I'll miss you Sean!)
"*" symbolizes a major point of view change, not a scene change.
***********
Sailor Venus let loose another crescent beam, leapt overtop of a charging
Shadow and then wrapped her Love-me Chain around it. She let out a whoop of
triumph and was powering up another Crescent Beam with her right hand when a
Shadow she hadn't seen in time ripped through the chain, sending her reeling
backwards and loosing her prey.
She let out a grunt of pain as she slammed into the ground. Her muscles
ached and her energy reserves were zapped. She started to stand back up but she
had remained on the ground for two long and she immediately felt herself being
blasted backwards. She shrieked in pain but managed to roll to her side, barely
missing getting run through. She gulped, lying on her back in pain, a gash in
her shoulder bleeding freely. She couldn't move, she didn't have the strength
left anymore and she was vastly outnumbered.
As the Shadow Creature she had had tied up earlier descended on her, her
thoughts were of regret that she would not be able to protect Usagi from this
threat when she returned.
*
"Dead scream." The purple sphere of energy slammed into the Shadow that
was about to finish of the senshi of love, sending it into oblivion. Venus felt
an unsteady breath leave her body as lean but strong arms scooped her up and
spirited her out of harms way.
"Deep Submerge!" The blue sphere of energy shot out and sent another
Shadow into oblivion, the outers had arrived.
"Venus!" Screamed Jupiter, leapt over one shadow in a mad scramble to get
to her fallen comrade, cradled in Sailor Uranus's arms. Uranus thrust Venus
into Jupiter's arms as if she harbored a deadly disease.
"You take care of Sailor Venus. We'll deal with this." Uranus said
coldly, before attacking the nearest Shadow with her sword.
Jupiter scowled but leapt back to where Mercury was scanning the creatures
with her computer. Sailor Mercury was wincing slightly, tiny trails of blood
trickling down her forehead. Occasionally Mercury would blast the creatures
with her chilling powers but she was mostly trying to find a collective
weakness.
Tuxedo Kamen landed lightly beside Jupiter. "How is she?" He asked
quickly, switching into doctor mode.
"She's still breathing." Croaked out Jupiter with worry. "But she's
completely out and she's loosing a lot of blood!"
Tuxedo took the wounded senshi from Jupiter's arms and laid her carefully
on the ground. He examined her quickly to find that she was covered in small
cuts and bruises but the only major wound she had was the gash in her arm. He
tore off a piece of his cape to wrap Venus's arm, she might need stitches but
she'd be all right for now and the bleeding had slowed thanks to her healing
powers.
"Mercury, any luck?" He asked quickly.
Mercury bit her lip, "I think I might be on to some- Damn! It won't
work!"
Tuxedo Kamen was slightly taken back by Mercury's sudden display of
emotion but he pushed past it and went over to lift up her bangs. There was a
considerable gash hidden on her forehead. She continued to scan their enemies,
Jupiter now back in the fray. Tuxedo took another piece of his cloak and
wrapped it around her head to apply pressure. He then made sure that Venus
would be safe before heading back to the fight.
"Don't kick yourself too much Mercury. At least the outers finally showed
up."
Mercury smiled faintly but both warriors knew it wouldn't make much of a
difference.
*************
Chichi paced back and forth in Bulma's living room, ringing her hands in
worry. Bulma had her arms around Usagi who was curled up on the couch,
trembling with worry. Piccolo and Vegeta were leaning against opposite walls,
staying out of the way but listening with curiosity. Gohan was drifting around,
getting things for people and satisfying his need to pace as well.
Usagi was trying to stay in contact with Mamoru and was informing the
others as to what was going on. She was trying desperately not to pelt Mamoru
with questions, as she didn't want to distract him too much.
"Minako-chan's down." She whispered quietly, "but she should be ok."
"And Goku sa?" Asked Chichi, on the verge of a nervous break down.
Usagi looked down at the ground. "I don't know. But Mamo-chan says he
was fine last time he saw..."
"Usagi?" Came Bulma's tentative voice.
"G- gomen. Goku and the others, they're ok. It's just the sheer numbers.
Dear Kami there are so many." Her eyes were slightly glazed over and brimming
with tears of fear.
"Usagi-chan I know it's hard but maybe we can help somehow." Started
Bulma, ignoring Vegeta's not so quiet scoff off contempt, "You said your friend
Ami is scanning the creatures?"
The blond nodded, extirpating herself from Bulma's arms, now that Minako-
chan was going to be all right. "Yes but I can't talk to her and Mamo-chan's
fighting again."
Bulma nodded, "I understand Usagi-chan. Well can you tell me what you
know about them?"
Usagi bit her lip lightly, in concentration. "Mamo-chan and I didn't talk
about it much. But apparently they're pure darkness and Mamono calls them
Shadows. They're very evil and they intend only to harm and spread evil."
Gohan handed Usagi a small glass of water to calm her nerves. Her hands
were still trembling as she took it but she managed not to spill a drop.
The young Saiya-jin seemed deep in thought. "They just need time to
retreat for now right?" He asked pensively. Bulma nodded her head, as did
Usagi. "And they're made of pure darkness right?"
He received two nods again but this time Bulma nearly jumped out of her
seat. "Light!" She exclaimed abruptly, "Tien taught Goku some light based
attacks didn't he?!"
Gohan grinned. "It won't kill them but it'll cover their retreat! Usagi
tell Mamoru-san to remind Goku of his Solar Flare attack if he can." Usagi
nodded but Vegeta scoffed again.
"Retreat? Pitiful." He announced. "I always knew Kakarotto was a wimp
and this proves it."
Chichi let out a snarl and shot daggers at Vegeta with her eyes. "Even if
Goku could take them all on the girls are there too! Don't you care at all?"
Vegeta didn't answer he didn't feel he needed to.
*********
Sailor Mars fired off another barrage of fire rings before releasing a
bout of scrolls; she had discovered quite quickly how effective they were.
Since the Shadows were pure evil the scrolls stopped them indefinitely and even
killed the previously injured ones.
She felt another Shadow pass dangerously close to her waist and she
started to back out of the fight. Everyone was running low on energy except
Goku. He appeared to be all right, but there were so many attacking. At least
fifty were going after Goku alone.
Goku fired off another Kamehameha, blasting 10 more Shadows to oblivion
without even making a dent in the swarm. He punched, kicked and fired off more
ki blasts, only hoping that they'd get through the hoard soon.
"Goku-san!"
Goku turned his head to see Tuxedo Kamen calling to him. "Nani mo?" He
yelled back, frying a stray sylph, strangely the sylphs, for the most part,
weren't attacking.
"I have a message from Gohan!" Called out Tuxedo.
Goku's eyes widened and he shot over to Mamoru who still marveled at
Goku's ability to fly (without wings of course).
Goku continued to shoot at the Shadows as he nodded to Tuxedo.
Tuxedo launched another barrage of powered roses before speaking. "I've
got a message from Bulma and Gohan, something about a Solar Flare."
Goku broke into a small laugh. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that
before?" He whirled to face Tuxedo Kamen. "Start the others retreating. I'll
give you a signal and you guys cover your eyes. When you hear me yell next,
take off as fast as possible!"
"I'll get Pluto to open a portal!" Tuxedo Kamen answered and then, not
asking any questions, shot off to tell the others.
After what seemed like ages of convincing, Pluto finally got the outers to
back off as the inners had done readily.
"Silent WALL!" Saturn's black shield shot up between the group and the
Shadows. Venus was being cradled in Jupiter's arms and Neptune was nearly
imperceptibly leaning on Uranus for support, having run into a particularly
nasty creature.
Pluto's staff was glowing brightly, ready to give them the exit they need.
In a flash Goku, who was fighting only a little bit away from the group, shot a
sparkling ball of energy into the sky and, under Saturn's protection the Sailor
Senshi immediately shielded their eyes.
Goku let out a burst of energy, throwing back anything around him. He
stared directly into the eyes of the aloof Mamono and placed his hands by his
eyes.
"SOLAR FLARE!" The sun's rays were reflected and amplified through him,
shining out with intense brightness. The attack worked better then Goku had
thought it would have. The creatures were not only blinded but as they shrieked
in pain, some of the vanished in fear of the intense light.
Goku shot over to the group of senshi without a second thought. "Pluto,
now!" The senshi of time opened up a portal to the gate of time, she would
redirect them later, keeping her eyes tightly shut as Goku got the senshi
through. He pulled Pluto through last, just before a Shadow came screeching
toward them.
***
"She should be ok. I've stitched up the wound and as long as she stays in
senshi form for a while she'll heal nicely."
The group and gone from the gate of time directly to Mamoru's apartment.
It was as immaculate as always but with 11 people in it, it felt disparagingly
small.
Ami was going around the room, checking the smaller wounds and was
currently bandaging up Michiru's ankle.
"And the princess?" Demanded Haruka suddenly.
Mamoru smiled, "glad that Minako is ok." He answered simply.
"Well then, it's time we figure out what we do then!" Decided Makoto.
Luna, who had arrived quickly with Artemis, nodded her head in agreement.
"Mamono's obviously got the domination of Earth on her mind. We need to stop
her now."
"It goes beyond that though."
All heads in the room turned towards the young Hotaru who had just spoken;
their faces masks of confusion.
"The reason we haven't been with you all this time is because we've been
trying to discover Mamono's plans." Explained Setsuna for the group, "and we
know mostly what she's up to."
Hotaru's eyes darkened as she started her explanation. "Mamono was
originally the embodiment of all darkness. She's been pulling the strings of
our enemies for ages without us ever knowing. We already knew that Nutagi
played a part in Beryl's reign; well Mamono was holding all of Nutagi's strings.
She corrupted her in the beginning, brought the fall of the Moon Kingdom and the
Silver Millennium. However we've discovered even more.
"Mamono sewed the seeds that brought the Wise Man to Earth. She's got
plans to take over every dimension and she helped chaos overpower Galaxia. As
we all know, Galaxia gave Nehelenia her mirror and corrupted her. We haven't
found proof yet, but we also believe Mamono had some connection to Pharaoh 90 or
Mistress 9."
Rei pounded her fist against Mamoru's wall. "Are you telling us that
she's been behind EVERY battle we've ever fought?! That SHE destroyed the Moon
Kingdom?!"
Hotaru nodded, "essentially, yes."
"WHY?" Asked Mamoru, his hands shaking in anger.
Hotaru's violet eyes bore silently into every one of them. The room was
deathly silent. "For the one purpose of her existence. She is darkness and she
wants to take over every planet, every star, every galaxy, to cover them in her
darkness. She is the embodiment of darkness. She wants to cover everything in
her evil and smother out any and all joy and light that might challenge her."
Silence gripped the room. The grandeur of it all, the danger and the
significance all sinking in.
Silia's sudden sob shattered the silence, her heart crying out in anger
and anguish. "Mamono wants to take over everything like she did at the beach
today! She took Kiji! Kiji did nothing but be in the wrong place at the wrong
time and now she's GONE! I wasn't even fast enough to protect her!" Tears
sparkled and streamed down her cheeks in waves like a waterfall of pain.
Ami knelt down beside the broken warrior. "There was nothing you could
have done. I was right beside her and all I managed to do was have that
creature pass straight through me."
Silia's tear stained face was filled with sadness but she rubbed the tears
off her cheeks. "Do we even have a chance to get her back?"
A voice that hadn't said anything yet drifted in from the corner of the
room. "We will. We'll defeat Mamono and we'll get your friend and all those
innocent people back. I promise you we will." Goku face was a mask of
determination. He'd never fought an enemy like this before but he was
determined to win. "There's no way I'll let a demon like that win, no way at
all!"
"Well we have to do something soon, look at this." Artemis was sitting in
front of Mamoru's TV, the local news station blaring it's report on what had
happened. It was clearly evident, unfortunately, that Mamono was spreading her
power. The few shots of the area the reporters had managed to get showed that
even the sky had darkened to a complete black over the area and that the
darkness was spreading. "Officials don't know what to make of this phenomenon.
However, it was reported that the Sailor Senshi and the unknown man that has
been seen with them recently had been at the site fighting and were forced to
retreat. We urge citizens not to panic as the military will be mobilizing
around the area and will not allow this threat to spread past its current
location. Once again we urge citizens not to-" The TV went blank as Haruka
turned it off.
"They're giving Mamono exactly what she wants. More victims. We have to
find a way to beat her now, before she grows too strong." The sandy haired
woman glanced out of the window to the balcony. "She needs to pay for all she's
done and I'll make sure she does."
**********
Usagi stared out over the horizon from her perch on her balcony. The sun
was rising on the horizon, colouring the sky in brilliant hues of red and pink.
She sighed, thinking about the situation. As much as she hated fighting she
knew that she had to be back home, helping the girls and Mamo-chan fight. She
felt so wrong not being able to help them, even though the mere thought of what
Mamo-chan had told her sent shivers up her spine. Mamono was responsible for so
much and had so much to answer for. Even Usagi, sweet, forgiving Usagi, was
close to hating her, having done so much harm to so many people.
She yawned a little; she hadn't been able to sleep again, images of her
friends and family getting hurt floating through her head all night long. There
were only two days left, two days and she could be back with them, she could only
pray that they would hold out that long.
She was about to go back into her room to get dressed for the day, as she
was still in her pajamas, when she felt the ground tilt. She let out a yelp of
surprise as she was knocked off her feet and landed on the ground with a hard
thud. "Itai!!!" She yelled before grabbing onto the porch railing in case the
quake continued. However the ground ceased to shake and after a few minutes
Usagi let go of the railing and dashed back into her room.
She changed into a pastel blue knee length skirt and matching blouse at a
speed that probably broke all the records and ran to the lab where she guessed
Bulma was. She found Bulma picking up several things that had fallen too the
floor with a nervous, no, angry expression on her face mixed in with a hint of
fear.
"Bulma-chan, what's going on?" Asked Usagi breathlessly, supporting
herself on the door frame.
Bulma seemed torn before smashing something and letting some sadness show
through. "Vegeta, Piccolo and Gohan took off about half an hour before the
ground shook. They said that their new powerful enemy was here and that they
were going to fight it."
Usagi's eyes widened, "oh Kami the enemy's hear." She paused for a moment
and then an angry look crossed across her feature. However since she wasn't
used to being angry it came out with more cuteness then anger. "They left
without me!"
Bulma looked shocked and she dropped the small device she had just picked
up and grabbed Usagi by the shoulders. "They left because they didn't want you
to get hurt! Don't you dare get any stupid ideas."
Usagi's eyes drifted into Bulma's as she removed Bulma's hands from her
shoulders. "I have to fight Bulma, to protect this planet and my friends here."
She smiled, "but I need a lift especially since I have no idea where they are."
Bulma looked hurt for a moment but nodded, "I think I understand Usagi-
chan. I'll take you in the hover car."
******
Bulma dropped Usagi far enough away from the landing site as to not pose a
danger to herself. She had wanted to stay and watch but Usagi told her to go
home and wouldn't take no for an answer. Usually Bulma wouldn't care but Usagi
was very hard to say no to.
Usagi made sure Bulma was far away before she pulled out her locket and
transformed. Feeling energized in her senshi form she shot off toward the large
crater where Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan and their enemy would be.
Usagi, now Sailor Moon snuck up to the battlefield quietly and with
hesitation, not really confident as to what she was doing. Mamoru was sleeping
because her friends back home had decided to get some rest before they started.
However she wasn't sure it was a bad thing that she couldn't talk to him. After
all, she wouldn't want to worry him terribly.
She peaked out of a bush that hadn't been completely obliterated to find
that whoever their new enemy was, was standing on the entrance ramp from HER
ship. The ship was ovoid in shape but the most interesting thing was the way
she looked.
She didn't appear to be wearing any clothes; however, she was fully
covered in what was maybe an organic outer shell of protection that matched the
skin on her face. Her skin was green tinged where it wasn't it was white and
had a glossy look. Her hair, if it could be called hair, was tinged pink and
was like 5 or 6 tubular sections that seemed to be made of the same stuff as her
skin. However it was all bundled together so that it fell down her back. Her
eyes were green but had pink flecks in them and had a sinister look about them.
Several of her fighting men in Saiyan armour were scattered around her and most
were keeping their sights on Vegeta.
Sailor Moon wasn't quite sure what to do next when she suddenly realized
that Gohan kept flickering his eyes in her direction. She gulped a little and
dug further into the bushes. Gohan knew she was there but maybe if she stayed
hidden she could pull a surprise attack. After all, according to Gohan most of
their enemies couldn't sense power like he could.
So she kept herself hidden, waiting for the right moment.
Gohan felt like yelling at Usagi for endangering her life by chasing after
them, but he didn't really expect her to stay out of the fight even though she
said she didn't like to fight. She was a lot like himself in a way. He never
had a true passion for fighting but he couldn't stand to have his friends hurt;
so in a way he could see where Usagi was coming from.
Trying to push Usagi out of his mind Gohan surveyed the area. They were
near a large ravine and there were a few bushes and trees, most of which Usagi
was hiding behind. Vegeta seemed to be concentrating on identifying their new
enemy while Piccolo's face was unreadable. Their enemy was still glancing
around as if she wanted to savor her first moments on Earth. Which was quite a
curiosity to Gohan since she was probably intent on blowing it up.
There was something vaguely familiar about her and her ship. Gohan
couldn't put his finger on it but it was tugging at him urgently, as if he
should know. Her men were definitely familiar; they looked like the general
hired thugs evildoers of the galaxy had. They were an assortment of races and
each sported Saiyan armour, probably stolen, and a blaster attached to their
right hand. Gohan let out a slow breath; there was something he should be
recognizing but he couldn't figure out what.
*
The Lady, now finally at her destination, took in the planet Earth with a
mild interest. While there was nothing special about it she felt she had to
take it all in. She had finally reached her goal and once it was accomplished
she could collect her fee from Mamono and leave. She smiled inwardly as she
noticed that the three standing in front of her were some of her major targets
but frowned slightly as she couldn't spot Sailor Moon.
Her eyes narrowed and she waved her men to go at ease, she didn't want
them fighting, against these three they'd be slaughtered in seconds and she knew
it. "Back inside boys, these three are too strong for you." She said in a
clear, confident voice. Knowing that she was revealing to her foes that she
knew what she was up against.
She placed a hand on her hip and let a devious smile creep onto her lips
as she moved down the ramp, allowing her men to file back into the ship. "So,
Vegeta, Piccolo and Gohan. Well you saved me the trouble of having to go look
for you." The Lady smiled as she noticed each of them let out a sign of their
shock in their own way. She chuckled inwardly; Mamono was good at collecting
information. She probably now knew more about them then they knew about
themselves.
"I must ask though," she continued in a slightly bored voice, concealing
her eagerness to get the fight over with. "Where's Sailor Moon? I assumed
she'd be with you as well but I don't see her hear. I'm told she's not one to
let her friends down. Stupid quality but admirable to some I suppose."
Gohan's fists clenched as he came up with a quick half lie. "There's no
one here named Sailor Moon. I'm afraid you're mistaken."
The Lady raised what would have been an eyebrow but shrugged; "Fine, lie
to me, I'll find her eventually."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed as a small bead of sweat ran down his forehead. "I
know you from somewhere." He bit out, "who are you?" He demanded, racking his
mind for the memory, no matter how distant, of this woman.
The Lady smiled and then laughed lightly with deep sinister undertones.
"You don't have to worry about not remembering me Vegeta; I was only in your
life for the briefest of moments." Her smiled broadened as she raised her hand
in a dancer type fashion, about to make a proclamation. "I am known as Lady
Frost."
************
Ok! There! Done!
Next time: Who is this mysterious woman whose name is Lady Frost? Why is her
ship so familiar and why is Gohan only now realizing some similarities between
himself and Usagi? Will Goku and the Sailor Senshi be able to stop Mamono from
progressing and keep more innocents from getting hurt? Will Minako heal from
her injuries? The answers to some of these questions are in the next chapter!
Not the one about Gohan though. heh... Gomen!
*cough* And of course, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STEF-CHAN!!!!!!! 17! Way to survive
your first year of driving onee-baka!
Ti'ana
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in this Series