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Dark Side of the Moon - Chapter Six

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Chapter Six: Senshi Showdown


‘This isn't happening.'

'This can't be real.'

'This is all a bad dream and all I have to do is wake up.’

'Make this  nightmare stop.'


The Senshi stared into the familiar faces of the Shishin, finding it yet again hard to swallow the fact that another friend had now become the enemy or that this time this enemy was caused by their Princess and best friend.  Physically these were the same people, but what was inside of them had changed into something completely different. Something cold and malevolent lurked in their eyes that didn't bode well for the continued good health of the Senshi.

There was no need for the feline guardians to order the girls to transform. They had learned their lesson the last time when they had faced off the first time with their brainwashed Princess. If their best friend, someone who they had thought incapable of harming them ever, could attack them with  no hesitation and ill intent, there was no reason why the Shishin would be any different.

Whatever had been done to them, now wasn't the time to quibble the details. The Shishin may have once been friends, but now they were the enemy. An enemy that could not be destroyed, because that would destroy all chances of returning them to who they once were. And that one tiny little detail tied the hands of the Senshi and gave their opponents a great advantage in this war between them and the Black Moon.

“Mercury Star Power!”

“Mars Star Power!”

“Jupiter Star Power!”

“Venus Star Power!”

“Make up!”

In a flash of  lights and the very elements of nature, the four teenagers were replaced by the Sailor Senshi who saved the world on what seemed to be a a bi-annual basis since they had awakened to their power in this life. They stood in a tense show down with their dark counterparts, each side seeming to wait to see who would make the first move.

Chibi-Usa stood nearby, hiding behind a tree with the cats; the young girl’s thoughts went back to another similar battle a few months earlier between the Senshi and Ayakashi Sisters of the Black Moon clan. That fight had been terrifying to a child as young as her, no matter how smart and mature she was¸ but this one was much worse in comparison even though it had yet to start. It wasn't too hard to figure out why. Before Sailor Moon had been here while the others had fought… had protected her Rubeus had attacked them. This time there was no Sailor Moon. No warm embrace of someone who was trusted and made her feel safe as she did when she was with her mother.

The stand off didn’t last long, nor would the Senshi think it surprising later when they thought back upon about which Shishin had started the fight; she had never been the patient type before, after all and it was almost a relief on one hand to know that the Shishin might not be completely altered from their true identities.

“Suzaku,” Suzaku raised her right hand above her head, fire spilling forth from her hand like a cascade of water, except for the fact that it was definitely the wrong element, "Flare,” the fire flowed down and swirled around her so that she was no longer visible through the fire, “Blitz!”

One moment there was a human-shaped column of fire in front of them and the next that fire was smashing into Sailor Mars and sending her flying back. If Jupiter hadn't reacted, Mars would have slammed into a tree; as it was both Senshi were bruised and scratched up from skidding on the ground. What was even more troublesome was the fact that Mars looked a bit singed, which was thought to be nearly impossible since fire was her element of control. Even her battles with Koan hadn’t done that after her power had grown; the two had been evenly matched. Yet in this case, it looked as if that might not be the case.

However there was no time to theorize on the point. The gauntlet had been dropped by that first attack and the battle had begun.

“Genbu Freeze Shock!”

What appeared to be hundreds of thousands shards of ice suddenly formed around Sailor Genbu, hanging in the air for a moment and crackling with  oddly electrical energy before they shot towards Mercury. The Senshi of Ice tried to dodge the attack, but there were so many ice shards that it was impossible to avoid every one. Each time she got hit, she felt a electric charge that sizzled along her skin before leaving her with the feel of being cold to the bone in the spot that was had suffered the direct hit.

“Seriyuu Electroweb!”

Sailor Seriyuu hand moved swiftly in the air, creating a spiderweb that was made up from lighting that was slender as spider silk. Once the web was completed she slammed her palm against the center of it and sent it hurtling towards Jupiter. Like Mercury she was unable to avoid the attack, not because there was too many to avoid but because the electric web grew larger in size before it fell on her, wrapping her in the painful electric threads. She cried out in pain, falling to the ground.

Sailor Venus turned toward her dark counterpart, one hand resting on the chain that hung from her waist. Even having seen it, it was still hard for her to comprehend that more friends had been turned against them. More people she cared about, that she would have to fight. Sailor Byakko was Katarina, someone who was dear to her even though they hadn’t seen each other in quite some time. They had kept in touch with phone calls and e-mails, retaining their close relationship although the frequency of contact had been reduced since the Black Moon had shown up. So it hurt to know she’d have to fight this friend once more. The first time it had been because Kunzite had used her against Venus and now this time it was her best friend, both people who held pieces of her heart.

It hurt more then words could say, but she knew she had to remain strong. She had to be strong, because being weak wouldn’t get Katarina back. Nor would it help her get back Usagi. She had already lost two friends, she refused to lose any more people. She didn’t blame Usagi for Katarina’s second brush with the dark side, nor did she blame Kunzite for the first. Because in both instances, the two people she cared for had been used by others. Queen Beryl had been at fault for Kunzite, Wise Man for Usagi. She would not fail Katarina or Usagi. She would not let down the others. She was the leader of the Senshi and if she was weak, it would weaken the others and they wouldn’t stand a chance at getting back Usagi.

“Katarina, please you don’t have to do this,” she pleaded. “Snap out of it. This isn’t you.”

“Katarina is nothing more then alias,” Byakko retorted. “A mere mask to be worn until my Queen summoned me. The Queen you should have treated better! Now pay for your sins!”

Byakko placed her right hand on her hip and generated a black light that changed into a kusarigama, a traditional Japanese chain weapon that had deadly scythe on one end and a iron ball at the other, making both ends leathal. The Shishin leader held the iron ball in her right hand, while she held the middle of the chain and  started swinging it sending, the rest of the metal chain and scythe spinning in a  deadly spiral above her head.

“Byakko Tiger Claw Slash!”

With a snap of her wrist the Shishin sent the scythe at Venus, who had the good sense to react quickly (as she already noted how fast the other Shishin had attacked her friends) and grab her own Love-Me chain to counterattack.

“Venus Love-Me Chain!”

The two attacks met, the chains vibrating from the force of the collision and the power driving each of them. Yet unlike the other attacks, Venus was able to hold her ground, barely. The two powers pushed at each other and while it moments it seemed like Venus would be overpowered and lose, she was able to hold on.

Was Venus stronger then her companions? Was Byakkko weaker then the other Shishin? Or was it because of Venus’s resolve to get back her friends and kick Wise Man’s ass from one end of the universe and back again for what he had done? No one could know for sure. However, one thing was clear. They had a chance and the stalemate helped the other three Senshi find their strength to hold on.

“Mercuy Shine Aqua Illusion!”

“Genbu Freeze Shock!”

“Mars Burning Mandela!”

“Suzaku Flare Blitz!”

“Jupiter Sparkling Wide Pressure!”

"Seiryuu Electroweb!"

“Venus Love-Me Chain!”

“Byakko Tiger Claw Slash!!”

There was an explosion of energy as the attacks of Senshi and Shishin Senshi crashed against each other, however this time around it seemed that things had evened up a bit. The Senshi weren’t winning exactly, but they weren’t having their asses handed to them anymore either. There was a renewed sense of energy in them that came from Venus’s stalemate and desire to overcome the odds to achieve their main goal. Before it would have Usagi, no Sailor Moon, who would have done this for them, but without their Princess it was Venus who led them and was their pillar of strength. They might not be able to beat the Dark Senshi, yet, but they would hold their own in this battle.

Meanwhile, Chibi-Usa watched the battle, her crimson eyes wide with fear and worry. It had sacred her at first to see how easily Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury had been injured by their dark counterparts. She had bitten her bottom lip so hard when Venus had had her first showdown that it caused her lip to bleed. It was still bleeding as she watched the Senshi battle, the metallic taste of blood in her mouth only adding to heighten her anxiety. The cats tried to reassure of all being well, but even they couldn’t quite hide their worry. Plus she could make out some of there whispered conversation with each other.

“….powers are too strong.”

“….they don’t even possess Sailor Crystals…”

“….how strong is that stupid Black Crystal”

“….not sure…”

“Please,” Chibi-Usa prayed, “please Mama. Help the Senshi win. Help them get their friends back and turn Usagi back to normal. Please.”

“Praying isn’t going to help you little girl,” came a male voice from above her.

She looked up and let out an eep as she saw a man standing on the tree branch above. The man sorta look like Mamoru, except his hair was a a dark blue and he had the Black Moon insignia on his forehead and the earrings too. The man stood there, looking down at her with an evil grin that she had never seen on Mamoru's face before which dismissed any doubts she had that the caped hero was playing a bad joke.

Chibi-Usa grabbed the cats and began backing away. She had a feeling that this baddie wasn’t just standing in that tree for the view. She had been stupid to stay there. Four Shishin, four Senshi and only the cats to protect her; those weren’t very good odds for her and she didn’t doubt for a minute that the Black Moon wasn’t still after her anymore. They seemed like the type to follow thought with the job even if the objectives changed, just because they hated loose ends and she was definitely a loose ends.

“Not so fast,” the Black Moon man said, jumping down and coming towards her. Luna and Artemis wiggled free of her arms and jumped at him, fur puffed up, hissing, and claws extended as cats tended to do when they were attacking and wanted to seem more threatening. It did them little good as he used one arm to catch them in the gut and send them flying back at the ground.

“Luna! Artemis!” Chibi-Usa rushed to their sides, gently picking up the defeated felines. There was no way she could leave them behind, even though they pleaded with her to do so in pained voices. She glanced up as the man approached, knowing there was no way to run even if she did take in her mind to do so.

As he reached for her, a flash of red appeared before them. The man yelped in pain, yanking his hand back as blood welled up from a cut caused by the rose that was now embedded in the ground. Tuxedo Kamen landed between Chibi-Usa and the Black Moon warrior. Tuxedo Kamen’s eyes slid to the battle nearby, making out the forms of the Shishin Senshi and recognizing three of them (since he had never met Katarina, he had no idea who she was), and quickly realizing the situation at hand.

“Back off,” he growled, holding his cane in front of him.

“Get out of my way,” snarled the other man, calling forth a sword and attacking.

The two men fought, cane against sword although one should never estimate a cane; at least never underestimate one that was owned and being used by Tuxedo Kamen. Besides it was clear from the start that Tuxedo Kamen was the better swordsman. It was clear who would win until suddenly a shade of Serenity appeared between the two men; Serenity as she truly was in her princess dress and the golden crescent moon insignia of the Royal Moon family.

"Endymion, don't hurt me," she cried out, tears trailing down her beautiful face.

Tuxedo Kamen hesitated instead of making the final strike that would have allowed him to disarm his opponent. Serenity smiled, but it was not the smile he knew and loved, but the evil one that had replaced it once the Black Moon got their claws in her. The gold crescent moon faded and was replaced by the inverted black crescent moon of the Black Moon.

"Psyche," she said, laughing as her form dissipated as evil Mamoru look alike slashed through her shade and managed to strike a deep cut in Tuxedo Kamen's right side.

“Mamo-chan!” screamed Chibi-Usa, completely and utterly terrified and worried when she saw the blood. Suddenly a bright pink glow surrounded her, the same glow that had appeared before when evil Serenity had first appeared. The glow around her intensified and expanded, filling the area. The Senshi and the Shishin paused in their battle, glancing at the little girl.

“What’s going on,” the Black Moon warrior demanded, trying to swat away at the light with his sword.

Sailor Byakko tilted her head, as if she was hearing someone speak to her before she nodded in the affirmative. “Retreat,” she ordered.

“W-what?” wailed Sailor Suzaku. “Why? No, I don’t want to. I’m winning!”

“Now Suzaku,” Byakko snarled. “Her Majesty’s orders.”

“Fine,” was the surly reply. It was clear that the fiery Shishin Senshi was not happy about the turn of events, although she wouldn’t disobey her Queen. “Until next time Mars.” In a sudden burst of flames, Sailor Suzaku disappeared. The others followed suit, all disappearing in their dramatic fashion while the man's exit was more sedate in comparison in a flash of black light.

The glow around Chibi-Usa faded away when the last of their enemies had vanished; the little girl then collapsed to the ground.




Final Thought Sailor Suzaku:
But I was winning!!!
Broken in heart and spirit, evil takes root.




So who else is spazzing out from the newest episode of SMC? I love, love the fact that they're following the progression of evolution of the tiara like in the manga. I also have a theory that if you followed the reorganization of the acts in the manga, which divided the acts differently, that it quite possible that SMC season one (cause there's no way I believe that they'd stop and not continue on) will be the end of the Black Moon arc. But that's just a theory but we shall see.

In any case, hope you guys are enjoying the evil that is occurring. And if anyone wants to draw stuff from the fanfic, I'd be thrilled to see it.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to review or favorited this story in some way. It is greatly appreciated and brought a smile to my day. =)





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.
© 2014 - 2024 AthenaEvarinya
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soseztheleadr's avatar
The battle between the Shishin Senshi and our heroines had me singing "Ai No Senshi".
As for Chibi-Usa, she seems to have tapped into some amazing innate power, and apparently, she triggers it when her emotions overwhelm her.