Sailormoon Zodiac: #3 - Jishin // Tremor By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] "Mamo-chan, why are you being so cold lately? I don't understand." Usagi said quietly, she kept her eyes on the floor. Mamoru wasn't looking at her, he was busy looking on something on his computer. He refused to let Usagi see what it was. "I'm not being cold, I just think it would be advisable to get help from the Outer Senshi." he replied, he was obviously not paying attention to her. "Why should we? We don't even know where they are. I don't want to ask for help when we can do everything ourselves!" Usagi cried, she felt very angry. It was not common for Usagi to get mad, especially at those who were her friends...but there was something about the way Mamoru had said they needed help that made her feel resentful. "Usako, I'm really busy right now. Can we talk about this later?" Mamoru asked icily, his eyes still fixed on his computer. Wordlessly, Usagi turned around and left his apartment, quietly closing the door behind her. She took four steps outside of her building when she felt her knees go weak. She slid down the wall of the building and cried into her hands, "Excuse me, Miss? Are you alright?" asked a gentle voice, it was a voice that was full of worry. Usagi quickly looked up and saw a handsome man, perhaps a bit younger than Mamoru. He had long whispy blonde hair and bright emerald eyes. The man's eyes widened as he stared at Usagi, this was the girl who was with my Princess at the restaurant last week, he thought. "Do I know you?" Usagi asked, she noted the look on his face, as if he were tryong to recognize her. "My name is Kage Masaya. I've seen you before...You have a beautiful black haired friend, right?" he said, he sounded hopeful. "You mean...Rei-chan?" Usagi asked, Masaya's face fell. He looked as if his entire world had shattered. Needless to say, he was terribly disappointed. "Rei...not, Asako? Oh...well, perhaps I am confused. I am sorry to trouble you, Miss. I hope you feel better." he murmured, he looked dejected. Usagi stood up and wiped away her tears, she curiously watched the man walk down the street, his shoulders slumped. "Hmm, he's cute. I bet Minako would have wished she was here." Usagi said to herself, "Usagi! Stop chasing after boys, you are late for the meeting!" chided a voice below her. Usagi looked down and saw Luna staring up at her, "I'm sorry, but I just had a talk with Mamo-chan. I...I think he hates me, Luna." "You are overreacting. He could be stressed out with college or a thousand other things." "Or maybe he's fallen out of love with me. Maybe he's in love with another girl..." Usagi sighed, "Don't be ridiculous, it is your destiny to be together." Luna replied, "You just don't understand how a young girl's heart is easily broken, Luna." Usagi muttered, not realizing how heartless her comment sounded. Luna stared at Usagi, tears filling her eyes. "I do know what it feels like, Usagi-chan! Just because I'm not human doesn't mean I don't know what it feels like to be in love. You can be so horrible sometimes!" Luna cried and ran away. Usagi's heart was heavy, BAKA! she shouted at herself, you should have known that Luna knows what it feels like to love someone who didn't love you back. Even if it was a year ago, Usagi knew Luna still was hurt over Oozora Kakeru. "Why can't I do anything right?" * * * * "Such a darling child," Princess Lithia cooed into her crystal ball. She and her sister, Sulfiria, were watching everything going on with Tsukino Usagi. They had seen the conversation with Kage Masaya and the argument with Luna, but they weren't on Earth--they were light years away, in the capital of the Black Star Galaxy. "Lithia, it looks like little Princess Serenity of the Silver Millennium." said a woman with long blonde hair and orange eyes, she was Princess Sulfiria, the elder of the two sisters. She and Princess Lithia were acting rulers of the Black Star Galaxy, their power was given to them from their mother, Queen Hydraja. "That is the child who had the heart of Prince Endymion? Surely, he saw how much more beautiful Princess Beryl was." Lithia scoffed, she tossed her blood red hair over her shoulder. "If it truly is the rebirth of Princess Serenity, then she has a piece of the Seven Stars." Sulfiria murmured, Lithia nodded and clapped her hands loudly together, "Cyanida, show yourself!" she shouted. Moments later, a swirl of smoke appeared and a beautifully built woman with a delicate face appeared before them. She was dressed in a grey uniform jacket with épaulettes at the shoulders [Think: Sakura Taisen] and tight black pants. Her long blue hair, usually perfectly placed in a ponytail which started at the nape of her neck was loose. She looked out of breath. "Yes, your majesties?" she asked, her face was flushed. Lithia noted her worn out appearance and her eyes darkened. She knew exactly what Cyanida had been doing. "It is time for you to stop lounging about and do your duties. Your mission is to go to Earth and the Legendary Seven Stars. They say that Sailormoon, the rebirth of Princess Serenity possesses one of the Stars. Her protectors are said to possess a piece of the Sixth Star and the Talismen of the Four Greater Ones create the Fifth Star." Sulfiria explained, not taking note of Cyanida's distractions. "The rest are a mystery, however we except you to obtain the three that we know exist." "You WILL find them, Cyanida. Or else, you're dead." Lithia replied nonchalantly, secretly, she wanted Cyanida to lose. She despised her. Cyanida shivered, "Of course I'll find them, how can you doubt me?" she replied hastily. "Then go." Sulfiria ordered. Cyanida nodded and disappeared in a swirl of blue smoke. Just as she had disappeared, a flame exploded where she had formerly stood. Standing there was a tall, handsome orange-haired man. He had a smirk playing on his lips as he buttoned up one of the golden buttons on his red jacket. His hair was lightly touseled and he too looked a bit worn out. He arrogantly brushed his hair aside. "Arseniru, just the demon I was wishing for." Lithia murmured as she stared at Arseniru. She knew he had been "with" Cyanida only moments before. She also knew his true feelings for Cyanida were--none. "I hope you are not too distraught over not being the one who to retrieve the Seven Stars." Sulfiria said as she leaned back in her throne. "I am not." he said arrogantly, Lithia giggled childishly. "You don't think Cyanida can do it?" she asked, staring into his deep black eyes. Arseniru smiled playfully, "It's not that she CAN'T do it. It's that I won't allow her to do it." * * * * Joanna McMahon glanced at her clock as she ran into her room. It read 4:15. Everyday she left school as soon as possible so she could get a glimpse of the man who walked by her house at 4:15 exactly. Sure enough, seconds later the tall blonde and green-eyed man walked past her house. Today he looked up at her house for some reason. For a millisecond, it seemed he was gazing right at Joanna. She thought she would die. Then, the phone rang. Joanna jumped up, her heart racing wildly. For some idiotic reason, she thought it could be that man who walked by her house every day. "Hello?!" she said into the phone excitedly, she was disappointed when she heard that it was a female. "Tien-Lei-san? From school? Right, hello....Yes, I remembered how you suggested we wander around Tokyo. Today? Well, actually....I...well...okay, if you say so. Alright, I'll see you in a few minutes. Ja!" Joanna hung up the phone and looked in the mirror, she supposed it would be alright if she wore her school uniform out. They didn't do that in London, but she did see girls do it in Japan...besides, she loved the attention she got from people who thought it was so cute a foreigner was dressed in a seeraafuku. *** "Are you Joanna?" asked a blackhaired girl the moment Joanna stepped up to the door. Joanna stared at the girl who spoke perfect English with an American accent, "Yes...who are you?" she asked nervously. She thought this was Tien-Lei's house. Maybe it wasn't? But if it wasn't, then how would this girl know who she was? "We are all upstairs. I thought that I should greet you since I'm the leader." the blackhaired girl said bluntly. Joanna raised her eyebrows, the girl suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. I'm Jessica Taylor. Hi. Let's go." she said hastily and grabbed Joanna's hand and pulled her inside the house. She practically dragged her up the stairs into Tien-Lei's room. Joanna looked around, she saw Tien-Lei and a blonde haired girl whom she didn't know. "Umm....hello, Tien-Lei-san. You didn't mention that your friends were going to come explore Tokyo with us." Joanna said carefully. "Well, truthfully, that's not why I called you to come here." Tien-Lei replied, slightly sheepish. "The truth is, we are here to awaken you." Jessica said. Joanna glanced at her, already she did not like this girl. She was so coarse and abrupt. Just like an American girl, she thought to herself. "Yes. You are Joanna McMahon, the reincarnation of a Senshi which lived thousands of years ago." said another voice. Joanna looked down and saw that it was Estrella who was talking. She screamed, "Oh my god!" "Calm down." Jessica snapped annoyedly. She sat down at Tien-Lei's desk and looked through a fashion magazine which was resting upon it. "Who the hell are you to tell me to calm down? It's not quite normal to have an animal talking to you." Joanna said fiercly. Jessica shot her a dark glare. "I am not a cat. But that is not important. What is important is that you learn about your true identity as one of the Legendary Zodiac Senshi." Estrella replied. She leapt into the air and flipped gracefully, a beautiful wand appeared and fell to the floor. It was dark green with a golden star on the top, carved in it was the sign of Capricorn. "Now, whenever you find yourself in a situation, raise this wand in the air and shout 'Capricorn Cosmic Star Power, Make Up!' You'll know what to do from there." Estrella explained. Joanna bent down and picked up the wand, she examined it closely. It radiated warmth and energy. She could feel it. Suddenly, the girls felt the earth shake violently. Joanna screamed hysterically. "Let's go outside...to the woods behind your house, Tien-Lei. I don't want to be in this house if it collapses." Jessica said calmly. She lead the girls out the back door and towards the bamboo woods. "What's on that hill?" Joanna asked as she looked up the hill which was lined with bamboo trees. She could see a building at the top. "It's a shrine called Hikawa-jinja. I haven't had time to visit yet..." Joanna nodded and tighted her grip on the wand, once again they felt the Earth shake. Then suddenly, from the ground, a beam of green light appeared from the ground and raced to the heavens. Joanna screamed. *** Meanwhile, Rei and Usagi, and the rest of the Inner Senshi had gathered at Hikawa-jinja, they were talking about Usagi's cruelty to Luna and the Mamoru situation. They felt the tremor and thought nothing of it, earthquakes were common in Japan. However, the energy beam was a different story. "Oh, not again!" Usagi groaned, "I really dislike those Zodiac Senshi." "Usagi-chan, we've got to try." Ami said quietly, "I hate being humiliated...and I'm distracted right now. We may get even more hurt than we have been before. I'm just worried for your safety because your leader isn't prepared." Usagi answered. Rei smiled slighty, "We can protect ourselves, Usagi...we must get down to the bottom of this. We don't blame you for not beating them..." Usagi nodded finally and stood up, in unison the five girls henshin'd and ran down the hill towards the source of the light. *** Jessica had a feeling that the Sailor Senshi would arrive, so she and the other two quickly transformed. Joanna dashed behind a clump of trees in fear. Sailormoon and the Inner Senshi appeared suddenly, surrounding the three Zodiac Senshi. "For Love and Justice--" "I know, I know, you are Sailormoon." Sailorleo said coldly, "Why can't you just leave us alone?" "Why can't you just tell us what you are doing in Tokyo and why energy beams always appear when you appear?" Sailormercury asked, "Why should I answer those questions? Since when have we done anything 'wrong?'" Leo demanded, "You attacked us first!" Sailorvenus exclaimed, "No, you attacked...that girl first. Remember? Mars Flame Sniper?" Leo asked, she was careful to keep her true identity a secret. Before another word could be exchanged, a swirl of smoke appeared. A blue haired woman stood floating above them, "Are you little girls having a fight?" she cooed, "And who the hell are you?!" Sailorleo shouted looking upwards. "I am Cyanida, Third Captain of the Black Star Army." she declared, "You children seem to be wasting lots of energy in this battle. Energy that I can use to aid my search for the Seven Stars. Allow me to take it off your hands." Cyanida laughed elegantly and then suddenly the bamboo trees began to bend downwards over the Zodiac & Sailor Senshi towards the ground. The tree tops met to form a dome and turned black as Cyanida watched intently. Hands grew from the bamboo walls and grabbed the Senshi which the dome held captive. Screams filled the air as clouds of energy rose from the center of the dome and headed towards a small vial which Cyanida held between her hands. Cyanida smiled as the screams began to dye down. She placed the stopper upon the vial and took out a fresh vial to contain the remaining energy. Joanna looked on from her hiding place, she was horrified. "What did that cat tell me to say?" she murmured to herself. She raised the wand to the air and mouthed the words that were taught to her. * * * * "Methania, come here." Lithia beckoned. The green haired captain stepped forward, "Yes, Your Majesty?" she asked dully. Lithia sighed and giggled from behind the drapes upon her bed. "You have a mission after Cyanida obtains one of the Seven Stars." she murmured, "What is it, M'Princess?" Methania asked. There was no answer, just more sighs and soft cries. Methania stared beyond the bed, her mind not thinking of anything in particular. Finally, she heard someone getting out of the bed. A hand pushed away the drapes. Arseniru walked forward, his hand steadily buttoning his jacket. He had smirk upon his lips, "Your mission is to kill Cyanida," he said, answering for the now sleeping Princess. "I am to kill the Queen's Third Captain?" Methania repeated, she wasn't shocked--merely clarifying. Arseniru snickered, "I know it's unusual...but let's just say I...convinced Lithia that I should be the one seeking the Seven Stars." * * * * "I will not allow this! I am Sailorcapricorn!" shouted a voice behind Cyanida, "Earth Tremble!" The ground shook violently near the dome of trees. Several of them toppled over. Cyanida was unaffected since she was floating, but she was annoyed. Whirling around she saw a Senshi dressed in a black fuku and a dark green skirt. Her cherry-red hair waved in the wind. "Nice try, child." Cyanida said coldly and shot a stream of smoke at Capricorn. It wrapped around her and a nearby tree. "Now you have the best seat in the house while I kill your little friends." Cyanida smirked. Sailorcapricorn tried to break free, but she was unable to do so. Suddenly, three white stars flew through the air. One flew into Cyanida's hands and knocked the vials to the ground, the next one released Sailorcapricorn from the smoke which had entrapped her. The last one hit Cyanida in the chest, causing her to fall towards the ground. The distraction was enough to release her control of the dome. The clouds of energy rapidly returned to the Sailor Senshi and Zodiac Senshi. Sailormars opened her eyes slowly as her energy rushed back into her body, "Burning...MANDALA!" she shouted, weakly standing up. She was able to raise her concentration high enough for rings of fire to appear around her. The rings set the trees ablaze and freed any Senshi who was still trapped from their grasp. Cyanida looked up frantically, "Who did this?!" she shouted. "It was I." said a male voice, from atop a large boulder was a man dressed in a shinobi-gi [ninja uniform] with his face covered. The only thing showing was a blonde ponytail in the back, "Who are you?" Sailorleo whispered in awe, "Fear not, my Princess. I am the Kageboshi [Shadow Star] Ninja. I am on your side." he said, "If you obtain the Seven Stars, all will be revealed about yourself and myself." Then, he was gone. "Well, I've had enough excitement for a day." Sailorleo muttered, "Sun Rise!" she shouted, an orange bubble rising from the ground and swept the four Zodiac Senshi again. * * * * "The Seven Stars?" Luna repeated, she looked quizzically at Ami. Ami shrugged. Luna suddenly remembered the Legend of the Seven Stars which would form the Golden Key, the magical treasure from a time before the Silver Millennium. It allowed travel through the different galaxies, times, and the power of the Universe. "Senshi, you must get the Seven Stars, before the Zodiac do and before this Cyanida person does." Luna said urgently, "It forms the Golden Key, something which must never fall into the hands of the wrong person." Luna then looked at the girls, who were not paying attention to her at all. They had continued with their recap of the night with mentioning the Kageboshi Ninja, "Ooh, Ami-chan, I think you like him!" Minako grinned, Ami blushed and looked down, "Noo! I don't! I don't have time to think about boys..." "But he was sooo cute!" Minako sighed, "How do you know? His face was covered." Rei pointed out, but she too was grinning. "I don't have to see his face to know!" Minako said knowingly. "His eyes were as bright as the sun.." Ami murmured. "Oh good god.." Luna said exasperated, she hid her face under her paw. * * * * "Cyanida has failed." Sulfiria murmured as she leaned back in her chair, standing before her were the other four captains of the Black Star Army. "As I thought she would." Arseniru snickered, "Perhaps the forces on Earth are stronger than I imagined." Sulfiria declared, "Arseniru, Scorpia, Leadan, and Methania...if Cyanida indeed fails with her mission, then you must take up her slack." "If I may ask, M'Princess, what is the purpose of these Seven Stars that you seek?" Leadan asked, Sulfiria looked longingly at the handsome grey-haired man. He didn't even notice her stares, for his total attention was fixed on another. Sulfiria sighed and looked into her crystal ball, there was an image of the Golden Key being used by a woman in a long white dress. She looked up as she touched the crystal delicately, "Power, Leadan...power is everything in the Universe."