Tokyo
Juuban Prefecture
"Hey guys, Naru-chan is on her way… She just told me the most incredible, unbelievable, amazing and totally mind-blowing news," Usagi said, almost breathless as she put the receiver back in its cradle. "Err, you know that mysterious new red-haired Senshi that fights with Phantoma?" Usagi said, pausing for effect.
Luna mewed and explained, "I think you all better sit down…its Naru, she's Sailor Epsilon."
"I always thought there was something special about Naru-chan," Rei snickered.
"I suppose you were right about having non-Senshi confidants, who could operate on our behalf whenever an enemy threatened the world. But for that informant to turn out to be one of us, cool!" Minako added. "Pluto must have known Naru-chan was a Senshi, and that's what she must have explained to you both, Michiru and Haruka." Minako looked at the smiling girls sitting side-by-side upon the sofa.
"You're right, Minako. We had to keep it quiet. Why do you think we did such a back flip on that issue, knowing how stubborn we can be?" Haruka laughed.
"I guess we'll find out more about her protector, too, for he's pretty awesome, and way cool." Makoto exclaimed.
---
"Come in, Naru-chan, or should I say, Sailor Epsilon," Minako said, hugging her friend, almost squeezing the life out of her.
"Hey guys! I'm still getting used to the whole idea of fighting alongside you all. I know that Mamoru experienced memory loss when he first became Tuxedo Kamen, so it's a common symptom of any awakening. I have only just begun to recover my memories. I've been quite busy. It's as if I'm becoming somebody else. But it's okay. Oh, Usagi, you and I were cousins in the Silver Millennium. Isn't that amazing?"
Usagi's eyes doubled in size at this unexpected revelation. "This is going to take a while to process, here, some cake and hot chocolate," Usagi said, sitting beside Naru and holding her hand as the redhead continued her tale.
"Apparently, I was known as Princess Dianara, presumed murdered by Metallia and her minions. But it was an ugly creature calling himself Dr. Zero, who was responsible for my death… I had a beautiful little girl taken from me by that hooded bastard," she hissed as her demeanor changed to one of grief and fury.
"What happened to her, Naru-chan?" Usagi asked her tone gentle. Usagi then put an arm about her friend's shoulder.
"I don't know how to tell you this. You won't like it. But I must. I have no other choice and you deserve the truth," she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
Makoto joined Usagi while Loki hopped onto Naru's lap, "Remember how Nephrite and I had forged a connection... Unbeknownst to us both, he found himself drawn to my Star Seed. And, I had better start at the beginning. I was in love, a fool of a girl. I had slept with a mage by the name of Morok. He rejected me and I wanted a father for my child. But Morok was of the dark and I found this out too late. He had been the one I suspect who had sent Zero to claim my child's life and spirit," she sobbed as her friends encircled her, "There's more…much more, my daughter had been condemned to a life of servitude… A bird Youma had swooped down upon her and attempted to fly off with her. I transform into Epsilon and rescued her, and destroy the Youma."
"What happened next?" Mercury questioned.
"My daughter was marked with the claw of destiny -- my child's name, Princess Beryl. She had grown up to become an evil queen that took your mother's life and all your lives and destroyed the Moon Kingdom. The very same nemesis that returned to kill you guys, and seize control of the Earth," Naru stammered between heart wrenching sobs. Usagi hugged her, "They took my beautiful child and turned her into a monster. I could do nothing to save her."
---
"Hell, I don't know how she managed to get that off her chest. I understand why she might think we'd reject her, because her daughter had been under the control of that Zero guy and his minions," Mercury said, after Umino had taken Naru for a walk in the campus gardens.
"I feel for her so much. I don't know what I would have done if Chibi-Usa had become Black Lady on a permanent basis," Usagi said, "I knew I would have continued to love her, even if she joined Wiseman. You know why, because behind that veil of darkness I knew her heart was pure. If it's at all possible, we'll find Beryl's affinity essence and free her."
"Perhaps the Oberisku no Shoujo could help us," Makoto offered.
Kyoto April 2005
The skies overhead were plunged into darkness as a storm swept through the mountains, not far from Kyoto. Unforgiving icy winds lashed the tranquil Shrine of Amaterasu and its surrounds. Groves of White Cypress bowed their heads before the great power of the elemental Gods, demanding absolute abeyance.
Young priestesses, draped in white with gold sashes about their waists scurried into the Temple seeking refuge from the menacing red lightning.
"What is it?" Kyala soothed the frightened women as best she could, her gentle words soothing. She put her arms about them, stroking the long silken hair of the terrified adolescent girls. She decided to keep their minds off the tempest outside, instructing them to sit upon a series of cushions, arranged before the eight-sided crystal mirror and focus their thoughts only on the talisman. She crossed the marble floor and lit braziers filled with a mixture of incense and other ceremonial substances. These practices, she hoped might propitiate any negative spirits outside. To aid this process, she had them chant an ancient protection mantra to Amaterasu, the Japanese Sun Goddess.
She watched a vermilion sphere implode within the courtyard, releasing an incredible amount of force as the lightning lit up the interior of the shrine. Kyala's eyes adjusted to the light. It was then she noticed the tiny golden bat fluttering overhead, just below the sanctuary's ornate ceiling with its Shinto motifs.
The high priestess's attention had moved to the mysterious hooded figure observing them from beneath the portico. The shadowy silhouette laughed -- the sound setting her teeth on edge as the sound echoed throughout the sanctuary, and off the surrounding peaks.
He turned his back on the frightened women and raised his ebony staff into the night sky. The power rod, with its small crystal skull at its tip, pulsed with soft eerie light.
Phantoma chanted an incantation in a language Kyala couldn't identify. The skies crackled with webs of gold, dancing across phosphorescent thunderheads, the sound reminding her of pounding breakers at San Remo beach, Australia on a warm summer's night during a full moon festival.
She found herself brought back to the present by the sound of malevolent laughter, quite different to the first she'd heard only moments before. The clouds parted to reveal a single thunderhead that took on the shape of a black stallion with reptilian rider possessing fiery-yellow eyes.
"ZERO!" a thunderous cry emanated from the ghost-like image overhead. Then the crystal skull atop Phantoma's power-staff throbbed in response as a luminous blob of plasma hurtled towards its intended target. The rider's mount reared a second before the fiery javelin found its mark. The women covered their eyes as the blinding flash accompanied the explosion, dissolving the shadowy illusion.
Then the skies resounded with a portentous warning, "I shall find you, Phantoma, and finish you. I will see to it personally, my old friend."
Zero's holographic representation projected itself into the sanctuary's garden.
The youngest priestess, Kiribati, was thirteen years of age. She screamed in fright and fainted.
Sitting atop the disk's translucent outer shell, was Dr. Zero, a strange hooded creature with bat-like ears, and large glowing eyes that shone with a coal-bright intensity. Without warning, Zero raised a single metallic claw -- reminiscent of a large sea crab -- then spoke, "your world is doomed! I shall control the galaxy after disposing of the Senshi, Shitennou and their allies…then I shall come for you, Phantoma."
Zero's final statement chilled Kyala to the core. She shrank back as a bright flash, accompanied by a series of ear-splitting thunderclaps, signaled his departure.
"I am Kyala…and you are?" she asked with more confidence than she felt.
Phantoma turned to face her. When he spoke, the tall-cloaked warrior's voice was smooth and surprisingly pleasant, "I am Phantoma, warrior of justice and protector of the children of Sule," he said, bowing before the priestess and her acolytes, the gesture taking her by surprise.
"Why have you come to our sanctuary, oh great warrior?" she questioned, warming to this strange but kind visitor.
"I have come a long way… I had last helped your people forty of your Earth years ago. You are Kyala, daughter to Marie Sukiyaki, formerly Marie Steel … I knew your grandfather, Dr. Steel," he replied as Kyala smiled, remembering something her mother had told her about a mysterious friend with amazing power, who always came to their aid to fight the forces of darkness. Kyala believed these to be stories told to entertain her when she was a child and never considered for a moment that the elaborate accounts of a caped super-hero were so. "I need your help to find the Princess Dianara and Sailor Moon of the Sulean Kingdom. Will you help me?"
"Yes certainly, if I can. Sailor Moon has worked hard to protect this world from the forces of darkness on countless occasions," she said as the tiny golden bat landed upon her shoulder. "She is usually found in Juuban Prefecture and many battles of the past have taken place in Azabu Park and they've appeared not far from the Crown Fruit Parlor. I am sorry; I wish I could tell you more. But I hope this helps you on your quest."
"Thank you child, it does. If you need me, just call my name and my little friend shall appear to herald my arrival. I am gathering a force on Earth to assist the Senshi and Shitennou in their fight against Zero and his alliance. So farewell, Kyala and remember, I am never too far away." so saying, he turned on his heel, cape swirling about him as he stepped into a cartwheel of fiery lemon-green light and disappeared into the darkness.
Tokyo Japan
"Hey meatball head, leave some of those for Naru-chan," Rei chided.
"Hey, let up already, Rei, I've only had three, or was that four?" Usagi giggled.
"I take it as a complement when Usagi eats more than one of anything I make," the tall brunette laughed, "even more-so as she's eating for two now."
"Yeah, but whose getting the bulk of the yummy cookies, Chibi-Usa or mommy…!" Rei cackled, winning a raspberry from Usagi.
"I can understand your affection, is that the right term for this nourishment? I would love another," Jizela mumbled, taking the last cookie off the platter and set about demolishing it.
Usagi growled playfully before turning her attention to some freshly baked banana cake.
Suddenly, Usagi received a call on her communicator from Ami, who looked worried and agitated.
"Guys, we need you at Tokyo University, right away," the blue-haired girl cried.
"Mars Affinity power, make-up!"
"Affinity Moon crisis power-make-up!"
After the Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen assumed their warrior forms, they teleported to the University and couldn't believe their eyes. A collection of odd-looking creatures was digging their way out of the central lawn in front of the arts faculty. They resembled ancient Chinese terracotta warriors with luminous yellow slits for eyes and mouths, their bodies composed of liquid rock. They hissed and roared as they threw off clumps of moist black soil. Terrified students ran off in all directions to escape these Youma. The slow marching ensemble raised their arms as with a single mind, opening their mouths, spewing streams of fire at the waiting Senshi as they formed a protective cordon in front of the administration building, allowing the fleeing students safe passage off campus.
"Mars Celestial Fire cascade!"
The ranks of the front line of creatures dissolved, leaving small puddles of molten lava in their wake.
"Fighting fire with fire is the perfect strategy," Mars declared with a chuckle as Jupiter launched a Thunder Dragon attack in concert with Venus Crescent Beam Smash, followed by Mercury Ice Storm. The lava had solidified and shape-shifted into a herd of black crystalline beasts. Once again, eyes opened en masse, directing a stream of green light at the Senshi, paralyzing them.
"There's nothing I can do, Tuxedo Kamen…can you help?" Sailor Moon cried as the creatures crept ever closer.
The masked warrior, in his customary tuxedo, hat and cape threw dozens of roses and Smoke Bomber attacks, shattering many of these creatures into small shards. No sooner had he done this, the fragments reorganized themselves. This time they had transformed into a legion of three storey high obsidian dinosaurs that continued making their way towards the helpless Senshi.
But as they braced themselves for what they believed to be imminent death, a tiny golden bat fluttered into view.
Sailor Moon lifted her eyes, and could see the two figures standing side-by-side atop the roof of the English faculty's administration block.
"I call upon the magic invested in the elements to grant me their power… I am the mistress of magic!"
Then the tall hooded figure beside her laughed, sending waves of fear over the Senshi. They'd never heard anything quite like it before.
"Hi there, you're a cutie… thank you for helping us," Sailor Moon said to the glittering little bat that looked at her with luminous sapphire-blue eyes. "It's Naru, Sailor Epsilon, but who is her friend?"
The two newcomers leapt with ease to the lawn and stood before them, bowing.
"Hi guys, first time we've actually joined forces, neat eh? I am the mistress of magic and guardian of the princess of Terra…it is an honor to fight by your side at last girls," she smiled.
Sailor Moon took Epsilon's hands in hers and giggled as the little bat fluttered about her plaits. "I don't have to say I'm glad to see you two, your timing is wonderfully impeccable, anyway, thank you and your friend for saving our butts and destroying those Youma. We need all the allies we can get right now."
"Lady Serenity… I am Phantoma of Atlantari. I am here to serve both yourself, Prince Endymion and your Senshi and the Shitennou...call my name whenever you're in need of assistance." so saying, he waved his staff and a pulse of lemon-green light punctuated their departure.
"Wicked cool," cried a stunned Mars. "I guess we'll see Naru later."
"Yes, it will be her first senshi meeting, so let's put on a spread!" Usagi said, grinning as Luna and Artemis looked at the others and everyone burst into laughter, this lightening the moment.
