Serenity stared at the pathetic five that were bound and gagged before her. They were huddled in a circle, as by being close together with others who were familiar in some way would help make things better, looking at her with utter disbelief and a hint of fear. However, she wasn’t sure if the fear was for her or because Wise Man was lurking behind her like a phantom creeper. Or it could have been for the fact that Saphir, who was the one had taken care of the kidnappings, was standing at her side and staring down at them with a cold expression (one she was realizing on their short acquaintance was rather customary for the man) on his face.
Her own expression was one that could not be easily defined, at least not with any specific emotion. Her lips pulled in a rigid straight line; it was neither a frown nor a smile. If anything, she appeared thoughtful.
“Serenity,” Diamund said, a question in his voice, as he came up behind her and wrapped his muscular arms around her lithe form. He had noticed the look on her face; however much to his annoyance he did not know her well enough to read it and figure out what was going on behind those cerulean blues. Then there was the fact that her eyes seemed just a tad bit off to him; yet whenever he tried to pinpoint the reason why, his mind seemed to shy away from the topic or the reason why his mind did that too.
“It’s not enough,” she answered. “This is a good start, but it’s not enough. They will be hurt by this, yet it will not be enough. Not for what they have done. There must be something more. Something that will hurt them even more.”
Her scepter appeared before her and the dark crystal glowed with power inside its glass prison. A dark ball of light appeared over the scepter and seemed to convey an image that only Serenity could see. Her eyes widened and then her lips curved into a smile.
“Perfect,” she whispered, tapping an index finger against her chin thoughtfully. “Absolutely perfect. This will be the final nail in the coffin for the Senshi and Mamoru.” She waved a hand over the crystal and a roll of paper formed above it. “Saphir. Use this map. It will react to what you need to obtain for me.”
“As you wish, my Queen,” Saphir replied, grabbing the nap and then disappeared as swiftly as he had appeared.
“While we wait for Saphir to complete his task, I think it’s time to begin preparing the first part of our gift to the Senshi,” she said, wrapping long slender fingers around the scepter and pointing them at the hostages.
A dark bubble appeared and closed around the hostages and floated above the dark marble floor. Serenity slipped out of Diamund’s arms and walked out of the throne room, the bubble and Diamund trailing after her as walked down a long flight of stairs that led them deep into the heart of the castle. Finally after following her through a series of long winding corridors they entered a room where the Dark Crystal floated in the air above Emeraude.
“The preparations are ready,” Emeraude said, her tone sulky and a touch defiant. One could hardly blame her considering the fact the man she loved was following the silvery haired bitch like a well-trained poodle. However, despite her jealousy she wasn’t stupid enough to be too defiant and anger her beloved Prince. Not to mention that the Wise Man had made some promises to her… “Achiral and Chiral followed Saphir’s instructions to make sure that everything fit your specifications… Queen Serenity.”
It was clear that the title had been passed through the woman’s lips with great reluctance. Another thing that had not escaped Serenity’s notice was that the lime-haired woman had always made sure to never address her as ‘my Queen’. Clearly she had felt no bond, not that it was expected. As long as Emeraude did as she was told and didn’t challenge Serenity, she would live. However, it was clear that she would soon have to be terminated.
“Excellent,” Serenity purred, as she flicked her wrist at the floating sphere that held the prisoners, causing the sphere and its captives to disappear.
A few seconds later the five appeared again, hanging in the air beneath the Dark Crystal. Serenity pointed her scepter at the crystal, causing a bolt of black lightning to shoot out of the dark Maboroshi no Ginzuishou and hit the larger crystal. The dark crystal glowed and pulsed with power before black tendrils of lightening shot down, swirling around the captives before changing into pulsating mass of flesh; five living cocoons that swallowed them whole.
“Now to add the final ingredients,” she said. She held her staff out to Diamund, who took it without being told to or asking her any foolish questions.
Serenity then pulled out a small silver box from her subspace pocket and opened it. Inside the box, were five unique and very different strands of hair: one the dark blue of the ocean, one black as midnight although in certain lights would have a violet sheen to it, one the rich brown of dark chocolate, one the golden color of the morning sun, and finally a short strand of pure ebony.
She gathered all five strands of hair in her hands and threw them in the air. Time seemed to stop as they began to fall slowly to the ground, glowing like fireflies, before each strand darted into a different cocoon. She pulled out a dagger from her subspace pocket and without hesitation, she sliced the palm of her hand and watched in silent morbid fascination as the blood begin to well up from the cut.
“Blood of my blood,” she whispered, walking to each cocoon and rubbing the blood on them “flesh of my flesh, breath to breath,” she blew on the places that were stained with her blood, “my will is yours until death do us part.”
Stepping back, Serenity allowed Diamund to wrap his arms around her again and press her against his body as they watched the cocoons glow with power and the fleshy masses pulsate.
“Soon,” she whispered. “Soon the Senshi will receive the first of my gifts to them.”
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“That’s the fifth time that this has happened,” cried Minako. “I haven’t even been anywhere near the gym in a month, but Kana keeps insisting that I was there and that this time I deliberately hit her in the stomach with a volleyball.”
“You? Hit someone with volleyball,” Makoto questioned skeptically. “But you’re so nice that it gives people cavities. Heck, the only time I’ve seen you be mean to anyone was when you tried to strangle Artemis that one time.”
“Well he had that coming,” huffed the blonde, as she plopped down next to Ami on Rei’s bed. “Ruining my new baby blue tank top. I got that thing on sale too.”
“You are too young to wearing anything that skimpy,” Artemis retorted, from his spot on the floor.
“I already have one dad, Artemis,” said Minako. “I don’t need another.”
“It is pretty strange about Kana accusing of you of hitting her,” Ami said, steering the conversation into safer waters before Artemis found himself being strangled by his owner once more. The chances were high considering the blonde was currently glaring at him and had a bit of a homicidal glint in her eyes.
“Ami-chan is right,” said Makoto. “Right now we need to figure out a way to get Usagi back.”
“Well it’s not like we can do anything” replied Minako, biting her bottom lip. “It’s been over a month and there hasn’t been any sign of her or the Black Moon. And I don’t know about you guys but this waiting is driving me crazy. I want Usagi-chan back now.”
“You know it is peculiar,” Ami mused. “Even if she has turned evil, she is still Usagi-chan and Usagi-chan has never been one to be patient about doing things. You would think that she would have made a move by now.”
“Not unless the Wise Man changed that about her personality,” Makoto said darkly. “Remember, she mentioned him while telling us that he had been brutally honest with her about our ‘true colors?’ He’s gotta be the one who brainwashed her and when I get my hands on him, I’m going-“
“Hey guys,” said a harassed looking Rei as she rushed into the room. “Sorry I’m late. Grandpa needed me for….”
“Needed you for what, Rei-chan,” asked Ami.
“Who are you,” Rei demanded, glaring at the blue-haired girl as she fell back into a fighting stance.
“What are you talking about, Rei-chan,” Ami asked, appearing perplexed at the miko’s behavior as the other girls and the cats. She exchanged worried glances with the others. Was the stress of Usagi’s disappearance getting to Rei?
“You may look like Ami-chan, but you don’t give up the same psychic waves that she does,” the miko retorted. “Who are you and what have you done with Ami-chan?”
“What are you talking about, Rei-chan? Ami-chan is with me,” said a child’s voice from behind them. They all turned and gasped when they saw Chibi-Usa and Ami who were staring at the Ami in the room with shock. The other Senshi turned to stare at the Ami in the room who Rei had said wasn’t the real girl genius that they knew and loved.
“Damn, I guess the jig’s up,” said the fake Ami, letting out a familiarly laugh that gave no meaning to annoyingly irritating. “It been fun girls, but I’ve got better things to do then hang out with you weaklings.” Saluting them in farewell, she moved with lighting quick speed to get up and jumped through the closed window. The sound of shattering glass filled the air and the others rushed to the window to see the fake Ami land crouched on the ground before she took off running towards the forest that was near the Hikawa Shrine.
“Don’t let her get away girls,” Luna cried as she and Artemis jumped through the window to chase after the fake Senshi of Mercury. The others raced out of Rei’s room and towards the direction that they had seen the felines run towards, only to find them in a clearing, sniffing the air furiously.
“Where did she go,” Makoto demanded, angry that they had lost the other girl.
“Where did who go, Mako-chan?”
They all turned to see Usagi leaning against the tree. She wore a white tube top with a black leather vest over it and a short leather black skirt. Black knee-high boots completed the outfit. And glowing darkly on her forehead, was that cursed Dark Moon insignia that seemed to mock them for their failure in protecting their Princess.
“Usagi,” Rei whispered. “Please remember me.”
“The Wise Man made me face the truth. He didn’t take away my memories. And don’t call me that. You either address me as Lady Nemesis or Queen Serenity of Nemesis,” Serenity replied.
“No, this isn’t you, Usagi-chan,” Makoto cried.
“Silence,” the white-haired woman thundered, her eyes blazing with anger. “Do not make me tell you again. Never address me by that name.” She paused and seemed to relax. “Now I didn’t come here to fight. I wanted to give you guys a present. I’m sure you’ve noticed that you a few people seem to have been sick lately.”
A chill went down their backs. Osaka Naru had been absent for school for a few weeks, although Haruna-sensei had reassured the class that Naru’s mother had called to say that the redhead was out with nothing more then a terrible case of the stomach flu. Then there had been the Furuhata siblings. Neither of them had been seen for a while, although the people who were subbing for them at the Furuhata businesses claimed that the siblings were sick too, with the same stomach flu that Naru had. It hadn’t beeped on their radar that something was wrong.
But Usagi possibly couldn’t have done something to them. They were civilians and incapable of fighting back or defending themselves. Yet this wasn’t the same Usagi they had known. The real Usagi, the one with a pure heart, would have never considered doing anything to harm a civilian. But who knows what the Wise Man had done to her besides brainwashing her.
“Ah,” Serenity said with delight. “I see by your faces that you’re starting to understand. Then let me introduce you to the newest servants of the Nemesis.” She paused a moment for dramatic emphasis. Clearly that part of Usagi’s nature had not been destroyed by the caped creeper.
“Sailor Seshat, Dark Senshi of Ice”
Ice crystals began swirling at a spot next to Serenity, before taking the form of a woman in a sailor fuku that was similar to Sailor Mercury’s except for some subtle differences. Whereas Mercury’s fuku was the same ocean blue of her hair and eyes and the bows were a pale sky blue, this fuku was a dark midnight blue, while her bows were just a few shades lighter. There were other differences as well. The jewel in her tiara matched the blue of her fuku and the earrings she wore were shaped into razor sharp icicles.
But if that wasn’t disturbing enough this Dark Senshi looked eerily familiar somehow. Her eyes were dark brown, yet unlike Serenity there was nothing glassy about their appearance to suggest brainwashing. Her hair was a long and wavy auburn. While it had been a while since any of them had seen her, there was no mistaking her idenity. Sailor Seshat was Nishimura Reika, Motoki’s girlfriend. None of them had even realized that she had been missing!
“Next, Sailor Menheit, Dark Senshi of Fire.”
In a burst of flames the next Dark Senshi appeared and caused seven draws to drop because Sailor Menheit was Furuhata Unazuki! Menheit’s sailor fuku was completely identical to Mars’s except that hers was maroon and the bows on her fuku were black. Her hair was pulled up in its customary ponytail, the ribbon in her hair was black instead of the yellow one that the cheerful young woman preferred.
“Sailor Setekh, Dark Senshi of Thunder, come forth!”
Not to be outdone by her fellow Senshi, Sailor Setekh appeared in a bolt of lightning. After seeing the first two Dark Senshi, the girls and the felines weren’t as startled by the presence of another Dark Senshi, although who it was still upsetting. Sailor Setekh was Osaka Naru. Being Jupiter’s dark counterpart, Setekh’s fuku, of course, looked exactly like the Senshi of Jupiter’s except for some minor differences. Her fuku was a dark forest green and the bows of her fuku silver. Little lighting bolts dangled from her ears.
“And of course, no Sailor Senshi team wouldn’t be complete without a leader,” Serenity said, smiling evilly. “Sailor Isis, Leader of the Dark Senshi and Dark Senshi of Hate.”
Sailor Isis, appeared in a swirl of black flower petals. She wore a bronze colored sailor fuku with a navy blue bows, a gold linked chain looped around her waist. But what made her appearance so startling was that she was someone the Senshi, with the exception of Minako, had met only once. The civilian identity of this particular Senshi was Katarina Williams, the blonde’s English friend!
“Last but not least,” said Serenity. “An antithesis for Tuxedo Kamen.” Out of the shadows a man wearing black armor appeared next to the Dark Senshi, his blonde hair shining in the sunlight. Evil or not, Furuhata Motoki was still gorgeous and just plain sexy in the armor, which was the general thought that occurred in the minds of the females (Artemis would have been aghast at such thoughts if he knew). “Meet Nemesis Knight. Now that I’ve given my gift to you, I’ll be leaving. Isis!”
“Yes my Queen,” Sailor Isis replied, kneeling down before Serenity.
“Do you remember your orders,” inquired Serenity.
“Yes. To engage the Senshi in battle,” Caritas replied. “And then we are to capture Rabbit.”
“Excellent,” Serenity replied. “In that case I’ll be leaving now.”
Serenity turned and held her right hand up, palm up and sent a surge of dark energy, creating a large portal. She then turned and walked into the portal.
“Usagi no,” Rei cried, moving toward her friend to stop her, but was cut off by Sailor Menheit.
“I don’t think so,” Menheit said in a taunting voice. “Your fight is with me.”
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Final Thought Emeraude:
UGH!!!! I HATE HER!!!! Why my Prince? WHY????
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Author’s Note:
You can find images of what the Dark Senshi look like, or at least as close as to what they look, like on my dA page: http://darksongstress.deviantart.com/ =)
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-chan - suffix for a name that means family or close friend. may be offensive if you don't know that person well.
Senshi - soldier, warrior, fighter
-sensei - suffix for a name, usually used when a student addresses a teacher
-san – common honorific used to refer to someone that one respects and looks up to
Maboroshi no Ginzuishou - Illusionary Silver Crystal
baka - stupid, idiot
miko – priestess
Seshat - Egyptian goddess of wisdom, knowledge and writing
Menheit – Egyptian goddess of war, also known as “she who massacres”
Setekh – another spelling for Set, Egyptian god of storms
Isis – Egyptian goddess of fertility
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Disclaimer: I do not claim any rights to Sailor Moon or the characters associated with the anime/manga. Those rights belong to Takeuchi Naoko and anyone else she says has rights to it.
