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At a seething portal a blue coated figure stood silently. A gaunt face was seen above the collar of the long coat. The face was seamed and the eyes set in the face was reptilian. The man has a shock of blond hair, but from the temples to the sideburns, his hair was dark. He was Goenitz, one of the eight servants of Orochi, The Destroyer god. Who would destroy and re-create the world when humanity's sins grew too great.
Goenitz shut his eyes, concentrating and pouring his reserves of energy into the portal. The portal responded, sluggishly at first, then more quickly. The lava in the portal bubbled, glowing incandescently. A hazy outline started to form, and Goenitz knew that he had summoned his lord, Orochi. The mist cleared but instead of Orochi, the figure was that of a beautiful, icy woman, with red-gold hair. Galaxia.
"What?" he hissed, blinking rapidly? He realized that she was powerful, but not of Orochi's power. Another form of destructive power entirely.
Her eyes opened, and she smiled coldly. "You brought me back whoever you are, from death."
"Orochi was meant to return not you." Goenitz replied.
"I do not care, as I have my own agenda." Galaxia said.
"Well you owe it to me that
you are here, considering that it was my power that brought you back.
"What do you want then?"
Galaxia asked.
Goenitz replied softly "To summon Orochi through this portal, but I need a source of power to summon him as much of my energy has been spent on summoning you instead."
"Perhaps we might be able to work together, as I, Galaxia, have a plan. But I need a promise that you will have the heart crystals that came with the sources of power propose you use."
"Very well. What is it?" Goenitz queried.
Galaxia smiled a wintry smile, then said slowly, "The Sailor Senshi."
Tokyo was buzzing with an
even more excitement then usual, now that the first few bouts of the King
of Fighters competition were being held there. Many of the fighters had
arrived and were staying in hotels currently.
Amy, Minako, Makoto and
Usagi decided to go out to the Crown Plaza arcade for a little while, but
Rei declined as she had family visiting. When they reached the arcade,
they were surprised to see all of Ami's high scores on the Virtua Cop machine
replaced by someone else's, someone whose initials were LEO.
"Wow, whoever that person is, he or she is good. "Ami breathed reverently, the set off to work on re-establishing her high scores.
Usagi made her way to the Sailor V machine, when she noticed three people walking in from the nearby café. All of them were dressed casually, and they were not regular customers of the arcade. Two of them were tall, muscular men, one a blond man with sunglasses on, and the other dark-haired, with a bandana tied over his head. A little behind them was a tall, slender girl with her long, bright blue hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her bangs reached her eyebrows, and formed a pair of crystalline blue eyes as pale as ice.
The three watched as Amy beat the first level boss, then the girl placed a coin into the machine, joining in finishing the game. The newcomer had an uncanny accuracy with the light gun, every shot a justice shot, no misses or bullets wasted. The both of them completed the game in record time of hard difficulty, and then Ami turned and stated, "Hey! You're really good at this!"
Her companion returned the compliment saying, "You're not too bad yourself, and by the way how do I address you?"
Minako broke in, shouting, "Aren't you the girl from the King of Fighters competition, Leona-san.
She placed a finger to her lips, "Shh, not so loudly. Yes I'm Leona, and I'm pleased to meet you."
"That explains your accuracy with the game," said Usagi, "I have heard you work with the military."
"Yes I am, a combat specialist, with a specialty in unarmed combat and marksmanship, but let me introduce my friends."
She pointed to the blond man saying, "This is Clark, and the best brawler in the unit." Pointing to the dark-haired man with the bandana, she said, " This is Ralf, one of the best bazooka users in the entire army."
After introductions, Makoto nudged Usagi aside and hissed, "I think there's a youma on the loose in the city, and it's our job."
They made their hurried excuses, then left.
Leona's suspicions were aroused, and she sneaked behind them silently with Ralf and Clark in tow.
Kyo Kusunagi was walking along the streets; the sleeves of his school uniform jacket folded up, his gloved hands in his trouser pockets, his face framed by his long fringe parted at the center, a white headband on his forehead. Kyo wasn't paying much attention to his journey, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He whirled around, looking behind him.
"Wha. Rei?" he asked.
"Hi Cousin Kyo, I didn't know you could find your way around without seeing what was in front of you.
Kyo smiled sheepishly, his face turning red. They were conversing happily when Rei felt a powerful presence. A masculine voice cut off their conversation. "Well Kusunagi, we meet again." The owner of the voice was a handsome man with one blue eye peaking out of a long fringe of red hair. He was wearing a long white shirt, the collar and shirttails undone, under a short jacket with a crescent moon on the back. He wore red jeans, and his legs were tied together with a three-meter long belt. Around his neck was a leather choker, and he was wearing rings on his fingers.
Kyo was incensed, "Iori Yagami,
what are you doing here?"
"You Kusunagi's don't own
this city, so I have the right to be here, but to answer your question,
I am shopping." He replied with mock cordiality.
"You? Shopping? Finally you're changing that pitiful wardrobe of yours, Yagami." Kyo prodded.
"Well, at least I don't insist
on wearing my school uniform all the time. " Iori answered, holding up
a lambent purple flame in the palm of his hand.
Kyo held up his own flames,
brilliant orange, saying, "Enough talk, Yagami brat, let's settle this
like real men!"
At this moment, Rei's communicator beeped, and she took the chance to leave. Makoto's voice came over the communicator, worried" Rei where are you now? A Youma's attacking."
"I'm with my cousin. I'll try to come as soon as I can. Rei summoned her power, shouting, " Mars Crystal Power!" Instantly she became Sailor Mars.
Iori was delivering a flame wreathed uppercut to Kyo when she threw a fireball between them, singing Iori's jacket slightly, shouting "Settle this like civilized adults!" then she turned and left.
"Aww Man this is my new jacket."Said Iori. "Another time another place Kusunagi brat. I'll be back."
"Good riddance to bad rubbish!" Kyo retorted, stalking off to Rei's temple wondering where she had gone.
The five Inner Senshi were facing off with 50 Youma, desperately outnumbered. Unbeknownst to them, they were watched by Leona, Ralf and Clark. Leona grew suspicious, realizing that the Sailor Senshi really looked like the girls she'd met in the arcade.
As the Inner Senshi struggled against Galaxy's Youma, three figures appeared on the rooftop of a building.
"I am the Guardian of the
skies! Sailor Uranus."
"I am the Guardian of the
oceans! Sailor Neptune!"
"I control rebirth and death.
I am Sailor Saturn."
The three outer senshi leapt
from the rooftops, gracefully landing in front of the youma.
"Space Sword Blaster!" cried
Sailor Uranus
"Aqua Mirror Illusion!"
shouted Sailor Neptune.
"Slience Galilee!" called
Sailor Saturn.
The youma were destroyed
in bursts of flames, their remains scattered on the street. Then a voice
said, "A very nice show, but it cannot save you from the might of the winds."
A tall gaunt man, dressed in blue, emerged from thin air. Reptilian eyes
under a shock of blond hair, set in a seamed, gaunt face scanned the area.
"Who are you and how dare you challenge us?" asked Sailor Uranus.
"I am Goenitz, servitor of Orochi , Master of the winds." And with that he swept a tornado of energy at the Sailor Senshi.
Leona, crouched in her hiding place, saw the face, the coat, the snakelike pupils, but remembered him from a child's point of view, eight years ago, when she had become an orphan. This man had been the one who had come when her parents were killed, she realized with horror. Rage boiled within her, and she realized that she was charging her power. The murderer of her parents would pay. Leona leapt out with impossible grace and speed. As she neared the surprised Goenitz, she launched an X-shaped charge of internal energy at him. As he fell, and she landed, she swept her hand forward, a silver arc of energy scything at him.
At the Timegate, Setsuna watched as Leona charged Goenitz. Her expression
grave, she whispered, "My daughter, I cannot help you now," recalling how
she had been forced to leave her mortal life, then turned away from the
image of Leona, her daughter from a mortal existence.
Leona was going to enact a Gravitational Storm, a graceful series of
kicks, starting it off. Goenitz, now recovered from the shock, countered
with a vicious whirlwind sweeping Leona up, then slamming her headfirst
on the ground
Ralf and Clark charged forwards to assist Leona, and Goenitz knew he
was outnumbered. "We will meet again, Sailor Senshi," Goenitz laughed,
then he was gone
Meanwhile, on a posh shopping center in the "EXPENSIVE" section of town, Mature and Vice were heavily laden with large shopping bags from Gaultier, Gucci, Versace and Ferragamo, the fruits of their laborious searching during their shopping expedition. Mature brushed at the fine wool knit of the white suit tossing her blond fringe away from her cool blue eyes, viewing the contents of the boutique with interest. She said to her dark-haired, green-eyed companion, Vice, who was wearing a similar outfit, but in black, "Look at those Manolo Blahniks! I must have them!" Vice simply smiled with anticipation of another purchase, catlike. The both of them entered credit cards still warm.
Iori strode in, watching them purchase shoes that cost about a thousand dollars a pair. Then as they exited, marveled at the amount of purchases they could make in a day. He was greeted by a "Hold this, and this, and that, and well all of these," and a pile 20 shopping bags rudely shoved in his face. He managed to stay standing, muttering about weight training lessons.
As they left to hail a cab he asked, " Are you two planning to buy the whole boutique piecemeal?"
"Nope." Said Vice sweetly. "We just like it all."
Mature, hailing a cab, said," Lets go to the hotel. I can't wait to try it all on."
Iori muttered under the massive weight of the bags, " Another day in paradise...."
When Kyo reached Rei's temple, he had half expected her to be waiting for him there, but after greeting his father, Saisyu and his granduncle, he found she wasn't there.
Saisyu was In traditional dress off a haori and heikamg with the Kusunagi crest of the sun on his back and sleeves . Stroking his beard, he was in deep conversation with Rei's grandfather.
Kyo asked," Where's Rei?"
"What do you mean Kyo?" asked Saisyu.
"I got into a fight with Yagami, and she was around. I thought she
ran away when the fight started and came back to the temple."
"Yagami may have gotten her, just to spite us." Saisyu said.
"Let's go look for her, father," Kyo suggested.
When the taxi reached the hotel, Iori got out and proceeded ti wrestle all the bags up, he turned to see an angry Saisyu.
"Where is Rei, Yagami brat?" Saisyu asked ominously.
"Who is that?" Iori asked bluntly.
"The girl I was with just now, my cousin." Kyo answered.
"I don't know. She took off. Like I had anything to do with it, Kusunagi."
Iori retorted.
"He's telling the truth, Master Kusunagi," said Mature, "He was shopping
with us.
Kyo's handphone rang loudly and shrilly, and he turned away to answer it. After receiving the call he heaved a sigh of relief. "Rei is home, father, she was with friends." He said. Nodding, Saisyu turned and left, leaving Iori staggering like an overloaded pack mule.
Meanwhile, Ralf had notified Heidern, his superior and Leona's adoptive father of what had happened, and he had decided to come over to investigate. As Clarke waited in the lobby of the hotel, a distinguished, tall, gentleman strode into the lobby, holding a suitcase. The only thing that detracted from his chiseled features was the black leather eye patch stretched taut over an empty eye socket. Clarke immediately rose to greet him. "Clark, how'' Leona?""
"Well, Sir she has a really bad headache, but I think she's alright."
'Then why are you so worried?" Heidern asked.
"Well, she says the man who injured her is the man who killed her parents.
She called us to get you in.
"Alright then, I'll check in and investigate." After Heidern checked
in, he went to Leona's room to check on her. He found her with a bandage
on her forehead, with Ralf fussing over her.
"Who was that person?" Heidern asked Leona, brushing her hair away to look at her forehead. "He said he was Goenitz. I... remember seeing him...the day my parents were... killed. I don't know what happened after that."
"Are you sure, child? I don't want you to be hurt again. " He said with something that could be almost gentleness. He adjusted his eye patch, trying to soothe the pain of his lost eye.
"I want to look for him, I want to make him pay for what he did. You
know that was the reason I entered the military. Goenitz must die." Leona
intoned with weary finality.
" Then keep this with you." Heidern whispered to her, passing her a pistol butt-first. "Lets it keep you safe. " Leona ran her hand over the blued steel of her.44 Desert Eagle. "Thank you for bringing me my gun." She whispered to Heidern letting him embrace her.
At Rei's room in the temple, the Sailor Senshi were debating on Galaxia's return and the mysterious Goenitz.
"How can she be back?" Minako asked, "And who is this Goenitz?"
"And why did Leona fight Goenitz?" added Ami.
"This is really mysterious." Said Makoto, " but I think we have to
get to the bottom of this.
In his small but cozy apartment, Mamoru was making himself a hot cup
of coffee after a long day. As he stirred his coffee. A voice called out
his name. "Mamoru..."
He whirled, only to face
nothing, then a pair of brutally strong hands cupped his head, and a voice
said, "Now you are mine, You will serve Orochi for Goenitz will is now
yours
Mamoru felt his mind being invaded by Goenitz's will, but he could not resist Soon the Mamoru that felt, saw and heard was lost in the blank darkness.
Sitting in Rei's room, Usagi felt a sudden cry in the back of her mind. She could hear Mamoru cry out for help, calling loudly, then his voice faded away into nothing. Across the room Rei sat up straight, feeling a feeling of someone being swept away by a tidal wave of darkness. The both of them shouted in unison, " Mamoru's in trouble!"
Heidern sat in Leona's room, pondering over the problem of finding Goenitz. Just then, an idea ran through his mind. He said, "I think I know who to ask for help. My good fiend, Saisyu Kusunagi. I heard that he'll be visiting relatives in Tokyo.
Heidern headed for Hikawa shrine, having heard from Mrs. Kusunagi that that was where Saisyu was visiting. Leona, Ralf and Clark followed, prepared for a flight. It was close to sunset when they reached the shrine where Saisyu was supposed to be, and Leona was now wearing a long coat against the chill air. The coat also conveniently held her Desert Eagle and the two extra clips of ammo she had brought.
Heidern entered quietly, and was approached by an elderly gatekeeper. After a quiet conversation, the gatekeeper nodded and let them in. At the inner courtyard, Heidern was greeted by Saisyu, who invited him in saying, "Come my friend, come. We can talk inside."
Leona saw a group of girls together inside the quarters of the temple warder, and she slipped off to speak to them. "I hope you don't mind if I speak to you," she said, and they turned to see who it was. She was greeted by Usagi , who said, " We are discussing a matter of importance, Leona-san, if..."
"I thing I already know your identities. Usagi, you must be Sailormoon." Leona interrupted.
"But how? Did you see us transform?" Usagi asked.
"No one else in Japan runs around with hair like yours Usagi, so when I saw Sailormoon, I knew you were she."
"Does anyone else know?" asked Minako.
"No. Not even Ralf and Clark." Leona replied. "All of you also know about Goenitz and what he did."
"We are afraid that someone we know is in trouble." Said Rei urgently, "We suspect this Goenitz had something to do with it."
" I want this Goenitz. He was responsible for the death of my real parents. He must die." Leona said icily.
"Then we can work together, but he is also working with a powerful enemy of ours, Galaxia." Said Makoto. "All of us can defeat Galaxia, yes, but not when she is working with Goenitz, and now he has a hostage, Mamoru."
"I think I know someone who can help." Leona answered."It just takes a little doing to get him to help."
Heidern came looking for Leona, and he said to her," Saisyu thinks that Goenitz is a threat, but handling him is nothing compared to finding him first. He volunteers his help and his son's help, but we cannot stop him until we find him."
Leona smiled, a cold distant smile, and said, "I think you can leave that to me, I know just where to get him."
At Orochi's portal, Goenitz was preparing Mamoru as a source of power for Orochi's awakening. Mamoru was capable of so much, his power more than enough to wake Orochi. Galaxia smiled, watching, as one of the thorns in her flesh became a mindless zombie. She now laid plans for getting all of the blasted Sailor Senshi into her trap.
Iori shouted, "Coming! Coming!" not bothering to wear his shirt, muttering. Jiek shou (shit) under his breath. When he opened the door He was surprised to fond Leona standing there. His face turned a distressingly bright shade of red, then he stuttered, "Leona? What ...I mean er... Why are you here?"
"How's about inviting me
in first?" she said.
"You sure? What would your
father say?"
"I don't think he needs
to know." She answered. "It the both of us keep our mouths shut, he won't
know."
After inviting her in ,
he said," Hold on while I get dressed."
"I've been in the army,,
its nothing I haven't seen before."
"What is it then? Is it
so important that you can't tell me about it outside?"
"It's a matter of life and
death..." Leona said seriously.
At the temple, Kyo was arguing with Saisyu, "What makes you think that this Goenitz person is so dangerous, father?"
"When you've been around
as long as I have, you'll know."
"Well, how do I know that
its not just something you made up?"
"Simple. Heidern mentioned
that Goenitz claimed to be a servitor of Orochi, and the Master of Wind.
If he is what he claims to be the Orochi awakening is not far away."
"So? You can handle it,
you don't need me."
"I'm not taking any chances,
Kyo, not with such a threat."
Kyo recognized the note
of finality in Saisyu's voice and knew arguing was futile.
When Leona emerged from the elevator with Iori behind her, a group of schoolgirls ran past him to speak to her, not recognizing him. He smiled inwardly, surprised that they didn't recognize him. After Leona spoke briefly with them, she nodded to him and said, "Let's go."
The girls went outside into an alleyway, knowing from Leona that the man accompanying her was the help She'd promised to bring. Then they transformed into the Sailor Senshi, one y one.
Heidern, Ralf, Clark, Kyo and Saisyu were met by Leona and Iori. Immediately, Kyo dropped into his fighting stance, ready to battle Iori. Leona immediately stood between them, not wanting a fight to start. Saisyu asked, "Why have you brought him here? Do you not know that the Yagamis' and Kusunagis' have been feuding for centuries?"
"I think that the feud has to end now," said Sailor Jupiter. "Both of your families have been fighting too long. If you work together , then you can accomplish much more than if you feud."
"Very well," said Saisyu, "The fight ends for now, Kyo, but afterwards, I cannot guarantee."
"Good enough," said Iori," You have my word I will not do anything to break this truce."
Kyo simply turned away, his anger clearly evident, grumbling.
Sailor Mercury said, "I think I know where Goenitz is."
They made their way to Goenitz's location, an eerie portal.
Sailor moon recognized the figure at the portal, and cried out, "Mamoru!"
Mamoru's face showed no reaction,
and he did not seem to recognize anyone at all. Suddenly, without warning,
a group of youma came to attack the Sailor Senshi under Galaxia's command.
Mamoru also turned to attack the Sailor Senshi, not caring about them.
Goenitz stood calmly, his
arms crossed a smile on his face. "Orochi will awaken soon. What you do
will not stop him," he said. Turning to Leona, he said, "You are the last
of your line, the eight servitor of Orochi. Join us. Join us and the loneliness
you feel will be banished in your purpose."
"Goenitz, I came here to kill you, and I will make sure you die. Nothing you can say will change it." Leona replied staring at him in anger.
"Very well then, since all of you have chosen death I will be glad to deliver it to you." He raised a hand above his head, and a vicious wind blew, tugging the fighters toward the seething portal. Only Leona was spared. Kyo's footing slipped, and he began a spiraling path towards the portal. Iori grabbed at Kyo, managing to hold on to his wrist, but his fingers were slipping. Iori then threw himself to the ground, to minimize his profile. Fingers scrabbling at stone, Iori and Kyo struggled against Goenitz's wind.
Leona tried to attack Goenitz, but the buffeting wind prevented her from getting close. Goenitz said mockingly, "Leona, You seek to slay the killer of your parents. Why do you not slay yourself? You killed them, for when Orochi's power channeled through you, you killed them. Why blame me? Remember those memories, and stop deceiving yourself!"
In the depths of her memory, she realized, there was a small facet she had always tried to ignore. Herself, hands bloody, tearing away at her parents. "No!" she cried, a haze clouding her vision.
Leona roared, reason gone. She was now a beast, a slayer, seeking her quarry. Goenitz. She lunged, beastlike, towards him and clawed at him. Goenitz was taken aback at the Orochi power awakening in her again.
Iori and Kyo, watching horrified, whispered, "The Riot of the Blood!" Heidern, who was bracing himself against a pillar, was shocked by the knowledge of her Orochi taint.
Leona moved, with blinding speed, a green-blue ball of energy tearing into Goenitz. She was too fast for him.
As he tried to recover, Leona began to charge her power up. Heidern and Saisyu could tell that what she was doing was beyond the human maximum. She had lost control.
Meanwhile beyond the portal, the Sailor Senshi were strangely powerless at the portal of Orochi, unable to use their abilities to the maximum.
Mamoru continued advancing controlled by Galaxia. The youma closed in, in ever-tightening circles. Sailor Moon then took out the Star Pendant Mamoru had given her, and said pleadingly, "Mamo-chan you love me, I know this is not you fault, please, fight her, fight Galaxia."
Galaxia laughed coldly, saying, "Admit defeat, Sailor Senshi, the world belongs to me now. Your precious Mamo-chan cannot hear you, after all, he belongs to me now! He is just a toy, which is what I will turn you all into. And when I tire of you, I shall break all of you one by one."
A sudden realization broke into Mamoru's eyes. The mental shackles broke as Galaxia's statement caused him to free of his brainwashing. All of a sudden, the seething, glowing portal grew dark. Its source of power was gone as Mamoru reclaimed the power stolen from him. The youma started to disintegrate as the dark energy sustaining them dissipated, and Galaxia was horrified, staring in shock.
"The tables are turned, Galaxia," Mamoru said. "We outnumber you. You lose."
With horror, the Sailor Senshi watched as Galaxia suddenly started to age beyond reason until all that was left was a pile of dust. The power sustaining her was gone too.
At the portal, Goenitz suddenly lost the control of the winds. He realized that the source of power had been cut off. Iori and Kyo rose to their feet, flames blazing. Iori smirked as he threw a burst of purple flame across the grown at Goenitz saying,, "Eat this Goenitz." As he tried to avoid that strike, Leona attacked the off-guard Goenitz with a Revolver Spark move, her commando knife thrust into him, internal energy pouring into him savaging him internally. As she drew the knife from his body, internal combustion took place, leaving Goenitz dead.
Sailor Moon watched in horror as the out-of-control Leona slew Goenitz. She knew that if Leona could not regain control, then she would kill someone else. "Moon Healing Escalation!" she called ysing the moon wand to still the raging evil within Leona. The knife clattered from her hand, and her normal self surfaced, Leona collapsed.
The Sailor Senshi watched as Sailor Pluto appeared, Time Staff in hand.
"What are you doing here, Pluto?" Sailor Mercury asked.
"They aren't meant to remember what happened," she replied raising her hand. She would make them forget what had happened. They would never remember what had happened at the portal of Orochi.
Pluto then walked over to Leona's unconscious form, looking at her daughter for the last time, something like grief in her face. Leona's eyes opened like a child waking up, but she then lapsed into sleep.
As the Sailor Senshi left, Setsuna took a last wistful look at her daughter, Leona.
When Heidern awoke, he found Ralf and Clark still unconscious, but they were easily woken. Ralf woke complaining, but when he looked around, asked, "Where the hell are we?"
"I don't remember much, only a fight..." Heidern replied, his voice trailing off as he found Leona unconscious near the ruined portal, her knife at the floor beside her.
Scooping her up in his arms, he heard her whisper, "I saw my mother..." then she went back to sleep.
"Come on you two," Heidern said to Ralf and Clark. "We have to find our way back.
Iori awoke next to Kyo, dusting himself off. Half-confused thoughts of a fight were quickly lost. He saw the glint of light on metal, and when he approached the spot where Leona had last lain, he found a single earring, made of silver in the shape of a triangle. Leona, he thought, this earring was hers, then holding it close, he left the portal.
Saisyu was trying to wake
Kyo, and for a moment he worried about his son, but by the loud snores,
he knew Kyo was just hard to wake. Finally, he pinched Kyo hard, and Kyo
awoke shouting,
" Father!" Saisyu was chased back to civilization, Kyo hot on his heels.
EPILOGUE
Setsuna looked through the images, at the Timegate, of Leona being carried away by Heidern. Setsuna knew her daughter was forever lost to her, and that she was in good hands. She had left Leona only one memory of the fight, a dim memory of her looking down at Leona. That was the Legacy she hjad left Leona, she thought, then sighing, she turned away.
THE END
- WHY I MADE SAILOR PLUTO LEONA'S MOTHER: If you read the Hong Kong KOF special of Leona, you will see her mother looks suspiciously like Sailor Pluto.
Any other Questions and Flames, Please email it to chans@singnet.com.sg
