Chapter 4: Setsuna finds the truth! Fushigi Tsuki, an enemy?
The room was dark as Fushigi Tsuki tended lightly to her wounds, wincing slightly. Her hair was out of its regular high ponytail, silver hair cascading down her bare shoulders and back, slowly turning to a deep brunette. Her blank blue eyes narrowed as she reached for another washcloth, setting the blood-filled one aside. Carefully, tenderly, she nurtured each wound as molten hate rose up inside her.

“Damn them, Angels…” she said aloud to herself, her silver blood being soaked up by the new washcloth. “Damn whoever struck me with that spear, too. Who are those new ones? More Angels?” she set the now blood-filled washcloth down and reached for a needle by her side, sewing up the still blood-strewn wound. She cursed as she went about her work, the thread stinging as it wove through her skin. “Damn that Zeus as well… making me bleed like a mortal! Of all things.”

She reached with one extremely tattooed arm for a roll of gauze but two feet away, wincing and cursing some more. Slowly but surly, she bound her just-sown wounds tightly to help stop the bleeding. Cursing some more yet, she laid down and fell into a disturbed sleep as a sun rose on the pale horizon.

--

Hime Kazeno walked quietly and alone during that quiet November morning, the other three quite a ways behind her but loud enough to be heard. She sighed slightly and closed her now pale green eyes, thinking slowly. Apollo… her thoughts became disturbed and turbulent quickly, causing shivers down her spine.

“Hey Kazeno!”

The sound of Chiba’s too-high voice brought Kazeno abruptly out of her thoughts, and she turned to look down to the much shorter girl. She was nearly a foot taller then Chiba, although they were disputably the same age. Chiba’s wide gold eyes looked up at her innocently as she swept her bronze-tipped light brown hair roughly out of her eyes, blinking slowly.

“What’cha thinking about?”

Kazeno sighed heavily. She never much liked Chiba closely, but she had always felt a sort of bond to her nonetheless. She scolded herself silently, having the overly maternal nature that she had sometimes. It bothered others that she had a sort of conflicting nature but Kazeno had come to live with it. She looked back down to Chiba, her eyes growing dark and her face emotionless.

“The past, Chiba. You know very well what happened there.”

Chiba nodded once then looked away, walking silently next to Kazeno, her golden eyes glazed over in the sea of her deep thoughts. Kazeno knew that she had hit a sort of soft spot in Chiba to have her fall suddenly silent like that. Kazeno sighed heavily again and strode lazily to the school that awaited with it’s bright hallways and up-turned faces.

She sighed slightly again and glanced over her shoulder, looking for her other two companions. Their heads were just bobbing in and out of sight, the efforts of their catching-up failing miserably. They kept running, however, desperate to catch up to the two girls ahead. Panting, they finally came into view and nearly collapsed into Chiba and Kazeno as they slowed to catch their breath.

“H-hey…” Eitai gasped, walking slowly and painfully next to Chiba, towering over her slightly. “Why… didn’t you wait… for us?” she panted some more, clutching a stitch in her side.

Michi nodded slowly on Kazeno’s other side. Kazeno’s face softened lightly, and a shadow of a smile played about her face, much like whenever she got the opportunity to prove herself right in one way or another.

“Simple… you get up at the same time Chiba and I do, yet you do not leave at the proper hour? It is a matter of your own disorderliness, you could say, that you are not ready to go when we have to get to school. I will not be late on your account, Eitai. You very well know that.”

Eitai scolded at her, the school grounds looming ever so close. “Fine, Miss I’m-so-perfect-and-I’m-never-wrong, you can have your little fun for now, but spare me the lecture for once.”

Michi giggled quietly and Kazeno shot her an emotionless glare, a hint of anger about her. The school nurse passed them promptly, her long green hair flowing behind her.

Eitai froze, although the other three did not notice her, and turned slowly to see the nurse looking back at her with red eyes. She was tall, and lightly tanned, and foreign. Eitai’s emerald green eyes narrowed slightly as the tall woman looked back to her nonchalantly. Turning slowly, she started back to her friends as the school bell rang.

--

As she passed the four new students, Setsuna couldn’t help but notice that they were different from most of the girls around there, oh yes. They were foreign, in the way they spoke and held themselves tall. A sort of vibe reverberated through her as she passed the second tallest, a fair-skinned blonde girl, a shiver running down her spine. She felt a strand of hair catch slightly on a button from the girl’s book bag.

The girls continued on, but Setsuna stopped but two steps where the girl was, only to find her looking back. Setsuna’s face softened slightly as she studied this girl, whose skin was smoother and paler then everyone else’s. Setsuna could tell, but she couldn’t remember, couldn’t remember what made this girl and those three others so different. Perhaps time will tell… she thought vaguely. It always does, one way or another. She nodded slightly to the girl, and then continued on her way.

Setsuna continued to her office, up on the higher levels of the school building. She closed the door and drew the blinds, and, once alone, summoned her Garnet Orb and looked into its depths. Images flashed before her eyes until she came to a point in the not-to-far future, watching the four foreign girls.

They seemed to be talking to each other, but Setsuna couldn’t hear what they were saying. The tallest, Hime Kazeno, nodded once and threw a slate blue diamond-shaped broach in frount of her, two little jade wings glimmering on either side. A transformation, then the girl landed wearing a senshi fuku that she had only heard of once before, when Usagi was describing the four new senshi to her. Looking on, the other three transformed, and then all four left a glamorous-looking house that seemed old and rotted-away on the outside. That’s on the outskirts of Tokyo… Setsuna thought. She had seen that house before when she was traveling north to visit Rei when she was out of town.

She continued to watch, the four senshi leaping into the air and searching for someone in the oncoming darkness. The view suddenly changed, shifting into blackness, where a girl with bright red hair stood in an abandoned temple. A flash of darkness over her, and she too was transformed into the evil senshi that Setsuna had seen in a dream the day before the four new senshi appeared. A shining sye glittered dully in her hand, and an image of an old man appeared before her. Setsuna could just make out a smirk and echo of a thought before the girl disappeared into the moonlight. Setsuna’s red eyes widened slightly. I know her! She thought. She’s a student here… the one that always wears those leather gloves. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her hands… no one has. A whisper, and the Garnet Orb was gone, and Setsuna raced to Usagi and Mamoru’s house.

--

Usagi lay, sleeping, on the couch when a frantic knocking came to her door. Startled, she screeched and fell off the couch as Mamoru pounded down the stairs and opened the door. Setsuna stepped inside, panting slightly.

“Usagi-sama, Mamoru-sama, there’s something I have to show you. Here…” she whispered lightly and the Garnet Orb appeared again. After a moment, the images of the four new senshi appeared. Usagi and Mamoru watched them flash this way and that, Luna, Artemis and Diana watching with brows furrowed.

Once the images finally disappeared, Usagi looked up to Setsuna with worried eyes. “What does this mean, exactly? Four new, possibly good, senshi and an evil one? Are these girls those senshi I fought once?”

Setsuna nodded gravely. “Yes, Usagi-sama. I have yet to find out what the evil senshi, whom Chronos called ‘Sailor Hecate’, wants, and what the other four senshi are here for. I will need to consult with him some more, but I suggest you call a senshi meeting immediately. If they can, have Hotaru, Chibi-Usa and the Quartet try to get those four girls, possibly the fifth. I must go immediately.” And with that statement, Setsuna rushed out the door and was gone.

Usagi looked to Mamoru with a deep concern. “Mamo-chan, call the girls. I’ll go get Hotaru and Chibi-Usa from school.”

--

It was sunset when Usagi and Mamoru finally got everyone but Setsuna packed into that little room at Rei’s temple. Each girl had a different expression on her face, although they seemed to center around concern, worry, or even anger. The Quartet kept jabbering loudly until Minako snapped at them to be quiet, much unlike herself. Ami had her chin in her hands, eyes closed thoughtfully. Every once in a while, she would nod, but beside that she was silent.

Makoto finally spoke up after a few moments of awkward silence. “Hotaru, Chibi-Usa, are you sure you couldn’t get those four girls here?”

Hotaru nodded gravely. “They insisted that they couldn’t come, that they would be too busy tonight.”

Haruka scoffed. “No wonder, with that evil senshi running around. You said it yourself, Usagi-chan, that they would transform and go into the city right about now. Maybe we should just go and help them.”

Ami finally opened her eyes and glanced at Haruka, as Usagi looked at her hands. “Maybe, but we don’t know their incentive yet…” she sighed thoughtfully.

Rei stood up. “We might as well. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going.” With that, she transformed and jumped out into the late sunset.

The rest of the girls just looked at each other for a moment. After a moment of indecisive thoughts and chatter, each transformed and jumped after Sailor Star Mars in turn.

--

Sunset had fallen over Tokyo, red and pink and orange, as the Elemental Angels flew high above it, looking for that ever-familiar scream of an innocent victim and the bright red hair of their attacker. The wind whistled in EarthAngel’s ears as she jumped, silently, from building to building. WaterAngel looked back to her. There must be something wrong… she thought, averting her light orange eyes. She’s never that quiet… something must be on her mind tonight. She landed abruptly and a little clumsily, lost in her thoughts, and then jumped back up again. The other Angels followed silently.

Night continued to fall, twilight and darkness settling peacefully upon the ever-moving city. WindAngel looked up to the moon with worry. It’s nearly a new moon… she thought. She will be at her peak in less then a week! She shook her head, landed, and jumped ever higher.

FireAngel, however, had missed the building completely and came to land on the street below. It was a quieter place in town, where shops closed before sunset and opened bright and early. The streets would empty quicker here then just about everywhere else, except for a few that went wandering around looking for food or just out for a walk. Hecate really seemed to like this place, but she had become predictable in such a short time. Somehow, her victims always came here, like some sort of calling. Come to think of it, FireAngel had never seen any of Hecate’s victims in populated areas. They were always alone.

She walked down the barren street, remnants of that year’s sakura blossoms blowing sadly across the asphalt. She conjured her Ares Bow as she went, the adrenaline starting to pump and her senses becoming ever more powerful. Her eyes narrowed, a flash of movement, and she turned in a flash to point a readied arrow at the one who approached.

She didn’t see whom it was for a moment, with the mists of winter starting to roll onto the streets. Her eyes narrowed sharply and she pulled the bowstring back further, ready to yell out those three simple words that would turn this unknown person into ash. A figure in red appeared, and FireAngel nearly let the arrow go until she saw the quite of the bodice, gloves, and boots.

Sailor Vesta stepped out from the darkness, her morning star clutched tightly in her hand. She seemed to relax at the sight of FireAngel, but still had a tensed nature to her. She walked up to FireAngel and pushed the arrow down as FireAngel relaxed the bowstring.

“Who are you?” FireAngel asked, still tense and on the alert.

Vesta smiled lightly, a hint of mockery about it. “Sailor Vesta. Come on, your friends and mine are waiting.”

FireAngel blinked, confused, but followed this girl. Another flash of movement to her left, and she jerked to see what it was. A cat darted out into the street.

“Tense, are you?” Vesta queried. She had her back turned to FireAngel so she couldn’t see her expression. FireAngel glared at the back of the younger senshi’s head.

They walked a little further, coming up to a group of mixed senshi. Girls dressed in the same fukus as Vespa stood on one side, including Eternal Sailor Moon, Sailor Star Saturn and Sailor Pallas. On the other side, her own comrades stood, looking at the Sol senshi curiously and, in WindAngel’s case, suspicion. FireAngel walked up to them silently, and EarthAngel nodded to her. Someone cleared their throat behind her, and Eternal Sailor Moon walked up to them.

“What do you want, Sailor Moon?” WindAngel asked coldly, holding herself more sternly then usual.

Eternal Sailor Moon looked at her indifferently. “I wanted to ask you what you’re doing here in Japan, Hime Kazeno.”

WindAngel staggered back slightly, as though she had been slapped, her eyes wide and questioning. “How did you know who I was?”

Eternal Sailor Moon looked back to the group of her Sol senshi, and Sailor Star Pluto stepped forward with Star Saturn by her side. WaterAngel’s eyes widened at the sight of Star Saturn, suddenly recognizing her. Star Saturn looked at her and smiled lightly. FireAngel suddenly recognized Star Pluto as well.

“You!” she exclaimed, pointing at her. “I remember you! You’re that woman whose hair caught on my book bag… I knew there was someth-”

Eternal Sailor Moon silenced her with a motion of her hand. “Please answer my question.”

WindAngel’s face resumed its normal emotionless state. “We’re here to stop Hecate, and I’m sure you already know who she is as well. You may help us find and weaken her if you please, but we are the only four that can end it. If you choose to go against us or not to help us at all, I personally do not care.”

Eternal Sailor Moon nodded. “We’ll help you, WindAngel. We just have to find out where she is first.”

Like clockwork, a deep scream pierced the night, reverberating long after its creator fell silent. It sent shivers down the senshi’s spines, and the four Angels jumped off into the night, the Sol senshi following.

They found Nyx rather quickly, jumping along, making her way towards the outskirts of Tokyo. The senshi followed her, throwing attacks and shielding the ones Nyx attempted to knock them off-course with. They all kept jumping until they finally reached Tokyo Tower, where Nyx hid amoung the metal.

Pallas was the first to land, her silver spear at the ready in both hands. The Angels and other three Quartet senshi landed soon after, each weapon at the ready. They nodded to each other once, and went their separate ways.

Nyx shifted through the darkness, the Power Scroll for Poseidon’s future avatar clutched in her fist. A wide, fanged grin played about her face. 'If I can manage to kill that WaterAngel, the new avatar will never come to be, and I can never be sealed. The possibilities!' She thought avidly. A flash of blue, and Hecate thrust out of her hiding place and snatched the senshi. Star Mercury screamed as Nyx dragged her back into her hiding place. With a hit on the head with the hilt of her sye, Star Mercury fell silent. 'I like this game…' Nyx thought.

Footsteps pounded on the grid-metal, coming ever closer. A flash of red and silver… Hecate stayed still as FireAngel passed, her bow at the ready. Another set of footsteps, and Sailor Ceres passed, her crossbow set to go off at any moment. A final set of feet, a flash of blue, and Hecate lunged to grab Sailor Pallas. Nyx grabbed the long spear and slammed the end into Pallas’ back, sending her falling by Star Mercury with a whimper. Only one more to go…

Nyx finally left her hiding place, her feet making no sound, searching for WaterAngel. Dodging behind beams and under the pathways, she finally found the young blue-haired girl standing, by herself, at an intersection towards the back of the Tower. Nyx crept up slowly, and grabbed WaterAngel from behind, holding her sye up to the young girl’s neck. WaterAngel screamed and dropped her trident.

Footsteps pounded every which way, heading towards Nyx and WaterAngel. Not yet…Nyx thought. Let them watch her die…

The two groups of senshi appeared, Pallas and Star Mercury being supported by Vesta and Star Jupiter. EarthAngel nudged her way to the frount of the group.

“Nerei!” She yelled, tears coming to her eyes, and she lunged for the taller girl. FireAngel grabbed her wrist just in time and wrenched her back. EarthAngel held on to her, crying.

“So, Angels, what will you do now?” Nyx asked, bittersweet enjoyment dripping in her voice. “Without your friend, you can’t seal me. Without the scroll, there will never be another avatar of Poseidon, and your duties will have been failed. And without her being alive, I can finally leave this place! What are you going to do?”

Tears had started to well up in WaterAngel’s eyes, shining now a dark red-orange. Closing her eyes, chanting silently as Nyx continued to taunt, her trident started to shutter. In a flash, it was in her free hand, and she continued to chant as Nyx continued to taunt the other three Angels.

Nyx barely noticed anything until WaterAngel started to glow, and Nyx was blasted back from her. The sye passed harmlessly through WaterAngel’s throat, and a roar of power started emanate from her.

“Power of Poseidon… Strengthen Me!” she yelled.

A cyclone slammed into her, the shadow of her body showing through lightly. Suddenly, it froze, and tiny blue-lighted cracks appeared in the ice. With a flash, the ice blew apart to reveal a new WaterAngel.

Her hair was down in all it’s glory, blue golden-tipped and shining. Her fuku was white with touches of green and blue. She had no gloves, and her boots were completely white except for a ribbon that was on her old boots. She twirled slowly and landed, her heels silent and trident in hand. Her eyes snapped open and she glared at Nyx, pointing her trident at the evil senshi.

“Poseidon Trident Cyclone!” she yelled.

A cyclone that seemed to be made of teeming blue flames slammed into Nyx, her scream piercing the night. Celestial Sailor WaterAngel’s head jerked towards EarthAngel, who nodded. Running forward, EarthAngel brought her hammer over her head then swung down on Nyx’s as the cyclone dissipated. Hecate crumbled and lay in a crumpled heap at EarthAngel’s feet.

The other three Angels rushed forward and WindAngel snatched the scroll away. Chanting, they each placed a hand on Hecate and she started to glow.

“No! I will not let this happen!” Hecate screamed. Kicking, she managed to hit FireAngel that distracted the Angels long enough for her to disappear, melting into the darkness.

Celestial Sailor WaterAngel dropped back into her normal form, her hair resuming it’s braided loops. She cursed loudly, but was tackled by EarthAngel who cried happily into her shoulder. WaterAngel smiled lightly and patted the shorter girl on the back, her other arm around her shoulders. FireAngel walked up to her and placed a hand on WaterAngel’s shoulder and a shadow of a smile lit WindAngel’s face.

Eternal Sailor Moon walked up to FireAngel. “She got away… what will happen now?”

FireAngel looked to the hills. “I don’t know… but we have to stop her. This was a close call, but next time it won’t be so close. It’ll be closer.”

Eternal Sailor Moon nodded as the sun started to rise, awakening the city and the senshi’s fears.