Fatal Fury Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Rifts ❯ Chapter 37: Hellborne Furies ( Chapter 37 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sailor Moon/Rifts Crossover (Revised Edition) By Simon Woodington

Chapter 37: Hellborne Furies

The sun nearly did not rise the following morning. Who could blame it?
The idea of being conquered by a demonic race was not an entirely
pleasant one. To be rid of the humans, perhaps. Nay, not to have them
replaced by a more brutal kind.

Iesha had attained no end of misery the previous night, and determined
that while she was awake, the distraction of preparing breakfast might
succeed her worries. It, however, several burnt pieces of toast later,
failed. Finally, she - thanking mass production - retrieved some
frozen waffles, and managed not to singe them in their preparation
after the third cup of sleep dulling coffee. Alongside that was a fair
amount of bacon, which disappeared quickly when early - and oppositely
so - risers, came to greet breakfast.

'Thanks Mama,' Masurani called from the small living room.

'Hey, yeah,' Goku agreed between food-shoveling bites. 'This is pretty
good! There's not much though. Can I have more?'

'Not as long as you mind doing it yourself,' Iesha replied flatly as
she paced morosely into the livingroom.

:Iesha, I know your worry for Sanja has kept you late. Fear not. He is
safe now:

Iesha gave with a gasp and dropped her steaming coffee on the floor,
yelping as she jumped back from the scathing liquid.

'Mother of mercy,' she whispered, watching her with teary eyes, her
voice rich with anxiety and heartfelt thankfulness. 'Um, maybe you
guys should go spar.'

'Hai,' Masurani sighed, setting her drink down.

Goku looked around.

'Hai Ma'am. But is there...'

'I've got some food downstairs, Goku-san. You know that,' she reminded
him faintly.

'If you don't mind, Iesha-san, Naritha and I will have a few more
rounds of Chinese checkers.'

Iesha nodded distractedly as the remaining two young women traversed
the fair distance to the kitchen-locked patio, well out of earshot.
She faced the vastly altered young woman she had formerly known, the
well of concern that was the core of her being driving her onward.

'What happened?'

Makoto's hesitation and bowed head made her heart leap, thumping in
her ears as against the tight cage of ribs.

'He's well, now. The attempt on your life was no solitary event. You
were right. When I found him, he was in an ER, critical condition. If
I hadn't intervened, he would be dead.'

Iesha's shoulders shook in silent wracking sobs, face in open palms.
Makoto felt a sharp mix of emotions; gratitude to Phate, for being
able to save his life; sorrow, at her inability to prevent what had
happened, and finally, anger. When Iesha spoke, minutes later, her
voice was soft and distant, a flute against the thundering roar of a
sapphire white waterfall.

'Thank you. Praise God for you, Makoto. I owe you more than... than I
can say.'

Dread silence.

'Please, if you will...'

'Of course.'

Feeling herself alone, Iesha let forth the passion only her husband
had ever seen, and would ever see, while Makoto mourned in the
tranquility of her mind. She proceeded downstairs with the air of pain
and concern. Hanlan felt the ache within his soulmate, immediately as
one feels a warming bonfire. He accepted her to his arms, saying
nothing, but kissing her forehead gently.

'I love you Makoto Kino Ireson.'

'I love you too Hanlan.'

Most of the basement had been cleared for Masurani's vigilant training
routines, which included her Mudoukai techniques, for which Goku was
plainly responsible. For any audience, the only point of interest was
found when one realized that the blur flying about the basement was a
pair of fighters, rather than a stray tornado. Masurani was faring
considerably well, when one realized how seriously she was outmatched.
The fight was limited to hand to hand combat, for the moment. For the
duration of the fight, once every odd instant for so, they would pause
while Masurani caught her breath, or got back on her feet. Each time,
she would return to the fight. So far, twenty mind numbing minutes of
violence had expired.

It was to their vague interest that the sparring pair armed
themselves. Masurani chose an unencumbered Bo staff, while Goku
matched the selection, his motions of warm up easily ten times the
speed of his student. Nonetheless, each weapon began to glow as if
charged. Then, with a bow, sparring resumed.

The result, however, did not alter.

Hanlan felt much of the tension in Makoto's close-pressed, sleek and
generously proportioned body dissipated.

"She's really getting whomped, love, isn't she?" Makoto observed in
English. Hanlan nodded at her glib comment.

"Yeah. But the only way I can tell that is 'cause every time they
stop, she's on her butt. I tell ya, I wouldn't want to fight her.
She'd tromp me!"

Makoto seemed genuinely impressed. Hanlan conceded rarely to anyone
even when outmatched in battle. It was an even greater rarity to hear
him concede from a mere demonstration of their ability.

"And there's no tellin' how tough this guy Goku is... Man, he took out
over a hundred of those demons... and didn't even work up a sweat!
Kinda makes me wonder why we don't just let him win this war for us."

Makoto blinked before conceiving the answer.

"Because brute strength won't defeat Uraki-Ayo, especially if he teams
up with Galaxia, as Beryl did. It will be up to Usagi again."

Hanlan shrugged nonchalantly. He understood little about the
NegaForce, but knew that it seemed to be an insurmountable opponent.
After an additional minute or so, Masurani plodded over to Makoto and
Han, and plunked herself heavily on the bench. Goku strode up, looking
no worse for wear aside from a collection of small sweat beads on his
forehead.

'You've improved!' he smiled.

'Th-thanks,' she panted wearily. 'Thank you kindly, sensei.'

'You're welcome,' he bowed with that selfsame smile, honestly
impressed. 'You've been training very well alone. I guess those
techniques I taught paid off, hai Masu-chan?'

'Hai,' she nodded, taking a pull at a bottle of filtered water. 'I've
also had some help. Nakio-san taught me a few things.'

'I've tried to help,' Makoto noted. Masurani all at once looked
stunned, as if it just came to her that Makoto had been one of her
long term sensei, and friends.

'Oh yeah!' she smiled. 'You did. Taught me that power isn't the most
important thing.'

'Especially when you're outmatched,' Makoto stated caustically.

'I would have to agree there,' Goku smiled.

Then, Makoto regarded Goku for a moment, gauging his strength. She
blinked, turning her eyes away as his aura seemed to blind her.

:Holy...; she gasped. :How can he be so powerful?:

:Even Usagi has that kind of power; Ellison observed. :Goku is a very
unique fighter. It is, in my estimation, very fortunate that he is on
our side:

'Goku-san, would you like to spar with me?' Makoto said, stepping out
of Hanlan's arms as she tied her hair up at the back of her head.

:Looking to get trounced? Be my guest, Makoto, but don't look for any
help from me; Ellison stated firmly.

:I didn't expect you to offer any; she replied glibly, removing her
scabbard and leaning the rune blade upon the bench.

'Would I ever!' he replied enthusiastically, before doubt furrowed his
brow. 'You don't use advanced chi techniques, do you?'

'Well, not since the transformation, no. I haven't needed to,' she
replied firmly. 'I just want to see how well I'd do.'

'Okay!' Goku replied as he assumed an automatic defensive posture.

She offered a curt shrug before falling into her offensive stance.
There was a bow, where Goku scrutinized her before striking. Makoto
was knocked back by Goku's inhumanly fast reflexes for the next
several minutes. Masurani was the only one clearly aware of each
action made. She noted that Makoto lacked only a single third of her
sensei's superhuman speed, and began to wonder why she had been at
such a disadvantage in the earlier battle. As the tai-fun sparring
match continued, Masurani watched in interest as the look of
concentration on Goku's face intensified into one of near feral
regard.

Abruptly, only five minutes after initiating the match, Goku called a
halt.

The remarkable warrior sported a fair amount of sweat.

'Wow! You're as fast as I am,' Goku noted in an unusually serious
tone. 'You're nearly as strong, too! That's amazing! How?'

'I'm an Angel of War, Goku,' Makoto replied calmly, taking deep, even
breaths. 'I adapt.'

'Wow. Very, very cool,' Masurani breathed in awe.

'Well I guess I'm just glad we're fighting on the same side then!'
Goku grinned, bowing deeply towards Makoto, who replied respect in
kind. 'Masurani couldn't have had a better pair of sensei!'

'Hai,' Makoto nodded gravely. 'Maybe we could teach each other someth
-'

'Nasura's here!' Iesha called, but in an unexpectedly sharp tone.
Masurani dropped her towel and headed up the stairs.

'Sounds bad.'

Makoto noted to Hanlan and Goku as they followed her; 'It probably
is.'

Hanlan grabbed Makoto's arm gently, indicating he wanted to talk to
her before they joined the group.

:Love; Makoto started. :It's probably important!:

:Yeah, but this'll just take a second...; at which point he leaned
over and kissed her upon the lips gently. Moments flew before they
parted.

'Mm,' Makoto murmured faintly, and huskily. :What is it?:

:What'd you talk about with Iesha?:

She gripped at him, holding tightly.

:It was about her husband. He'd been attacked:

:Oh; he replied, sounding slightly disappointed.

:What? Is that it? You coerce me with a kiss to get that and you're
not happy with it?: The faint lust in her mind-voice dropped
completely.

:Uh, well, sorta. I thought it was about you:

She sighed faintly.

:Well, it kind of was. Mostly it was about them, though:

:Here; he offered, pulling her tightly to him. :I'll make it up to
you:

She smiled.

:Better believe you will. A kiss now, the rest later:

Han's face fell.

:Can't they wait?:

She shook her head.

:No. Now hurry up:

Tired of words, he pressed his lips to hers passionately. A brief,
startling eternity passed between them before, like the stubborn hold
of glue, they pulled apart.

Makoto took a deep, sharp breath.

:Sorry, love...:

:Why? I'm not; he grinned as he led her up the narrow staircase.

---

:I wish now I hadn't come alone; Ayla admitted, attempting not to
trace every shadow within her midst with her widening eyes. :Oh
Mama... you were right. I really haven't thought this through:

Even flying above the black Lego brick grid of buildings failed to
ease the unsettling sense of being followed.

:Oh heavens; she sighed internally, realizing a very basic calming
action. She cupped her hands and whispered:

"Blinding Surge."

A small ball of light attacked the midnight calm with the force of a
four hundred watt light bulb, which Ayla could not look directly into,
so that she willed it to echo her flight pattern in a two second
delay. Ayla, even for the avid reader and stern intellectual she was,
did not enjoy the self-indulgent conversation some pursued with
themselves. Even in the worst bouts of nervousness, she could not
bring herself to such ends. Repeating and recognizing regrets perhaps,
but she had a more unique method of facing fear.

She sang.

The tune that came to mind then was a not-so-recent chart-topper by a
popular band by the name of "Pocket Biscuits", or "Poke'Bi". Ignoring
the heavy drum section, and favoring the more easing vocals, her
humming became hushed words, some of which were marred by blurred
memory, the remainder, strengthening as her anxiety increased.

'Bitch.'

Ayla's voice dropped into silence like a spearheaded weight as she
whirled effortlessly to face her verbal opponent.

'Shao-Enya!' she squeaked.

'You little crimson haired slut! I fought you before, and you hid
behind your tawdry Chinese psyche-child,' the fiercely snarling
brunette hissed. 'Do you want to try again?!'

:I'm outclassed big time!; she thought bleatingly, narrowly able to
summon her light blades in time to parry the nearly imperceptible
strike at her breast-plated torso. She raised her knees, catching the
woman at the hips with her blurred booted feet and shoving her
backwards to put some space between them.

'Sailor Sol Armor Henshin!'

As the vicious opponent regained her wits, Ayla's uniform hardened,
forming a shining metallic layer over the mystic silk, matching each
colour unerringly. Ayla fell into the path of a hundred motions,
replying each in kind until her defenses were shattered by Shao-Enya's
greater strength. Her head flew back as a fist sent her reeling, and
then forward as a knee met her back. Nimbly landing on a roof, and
wiping the lips through which a sliver of blood fled, she flared her
aura and rapidly approached Shao-Enya again.

'Soul FLARE!' the replicant of Makoto declared with intense hatred. A
burst of scarlet light fell upon Ayla, throwing her two-dozen feet to
a stone rooftop, which she tore through like so much recycled paper.
In a foreign room with a pair of screaming teenagers, she lay stunned
for a time, her shattered the armor shimmering and fading away,
leaving her scathed and bloodied body clothed in the former silk of
the first stage uniform.

'Now it ends!' Shao-Enya cried, aiming to impale Ayla upon her sword.
As she descended, Ayla's eyes snapped open, a harsh fire burning
within.

'Sailor Sol Light Henshin!'

The second young woman fell over herself glancing back at Ayla's
transformation into living light while she fled the invaded apartment.
Such was Shao-Enya's fury that she ripped through the floor, inducing
further screams of terror. The feminine silhouette of light lurched
sporadically to the middle of the room and hovered there, pulsing
irregularly as a waning flame.

'Nice...' Shao-Enya snarled appreciatively, returning swiftly through
the massive hole she had created. 'You're half dead though cutie. I
can tell.'

Ayla's voice came as a force of energies that superimposed the concept
of her will upon the genetically altered duplicate.

<I am a KnightsMage! You will not defeat me! By the will of the
Princess, we will destroy every effort of the NegaForce to enslave our
world!>

'I suppose you're oath bound to fight us to the end?' she feigned
curiosity.

<Just as you are determined to take our world. Good will prevail!>

She raised her blade, leveling it at Ayla's near blinding body.

'What tells you that we are so evil?' she prodded experimentally.

<Every action you have taken.>

'You mean self defense is criminal?'

<"Self defense" doesn't count rebuking the warriors defending a realm
you are trying to conquer!>

:Ayla! Don't trust her, she's up to something!; a childishly feminine
voice warned abruptly. :I don't know what, but keep her talking! I
need a... oh hell, I'm on my way!:

:Who are you?:

'What do you know about my world? We could be fleeing a dying planet.'

<You know as well as I that's a lie! I've been following the Bishojo
Senshi since the advent of Sailor V!>

'She means nothing. What is a loser rag-tag group like the Inner
Senshi going to help now? They failed miserably. Your world, girl, is
ours for the taking!'

:Oh... um, I work for Nasura. I'll explain later, okay?:

<What?! Don't even... If she were here now...>

The viscious brunette said nothing while a hateful snarl set into her
attractive features. A violent crimson light flared about Shao-Enya's
dramatic figure, and peaked at the tip of her broadsword. Another
remarkably shorter and markedly more child-like woman appeared behind
the first. In that same instant, she spun on one foot, her arm
outstretched gracefully. Shao-Enya gasped, and Ayla winced at the wet
thunk of her head meeting the oak floor, accompanied by the heavy
thunk of her lifeless body meeting the compromised floor.

"Block that you stupid bitch," the woman proclaimed with a flip of
hair and jutting of hip.

Ayla's altered structure reluctantly returned to its original state,
before she collapsed to the ground with an anguished moan.

'My legs!' she cried, struggling to push herself into a sitting
position with the control she retained in her upper body, and failing
horribly. 'I can't feel my legs!'

'Sailor Sol!' the woman lifted her into her lap. 'What happened?'

'I'm numb from the waist down,' she stated, a stern calm settling her
frantic passion. 'Shao-Enya was sent to kill me, obviously... I was
returning from visiting my mama, and she attacked! I wasn't ready for
her... not by a long shot!'

'Uraki was hoping they'd be strong enough. I guess he underestimated
you.'

'No he didn't. This guy's proving he knows his stuff. I owe you my
life,' Ayla admonished. 'Thank you. What's your name?'

'Yanei,' she replied, frowning as she brushed a stray collection of
bangs from her eyes. 'Don't thank me... it's my fault.'

Ayla was silent for a moment, considering the fact that the Neo
Senshi's greatest recent enemy had just saved her life. She glanced
about, at her legs, at the monstrous hole in the roof, then back at
her legs.

:Things could be worse; she decided. :I could be dead:

The panic at the loss of control swelled, and she shoved it back into
the pit by concentrating on the task at hand. Without a word, she
shifted back into light.

<How did you get here, Yanei?>

Yanei brushed her leggings off as she found her feet.

'Magic. How else?'

<How did you know?>

'What?' she blinked. 'Oh. Same thing. It's what I do. I owe the Sailor
Senshi alot.'

Yanei felt a sense of understanding from the nearly blinding figure of
light before her. An internal flicker set off a learned reflex that
told her there was more trouble.

'Sailor Sol!'

<Go to Nasura. I'm going back,> she commanded, not hearing her.

'The other Neo Senshi are in danger!'

<I'm dying, Yanei! I can't help them!> Ayla replied weakly. <Why don't
you just go and do... whatever, okay?!>

Yanei bowed very deeply, and followed the vague orders with such acute
force that Ayla could sense the guilt behind them.

---

'I fail to see why I tolerate such fallacies!'

Uraki-Ayo, in the light of dawning retreat and failure in combat, was
far from impressed, and was vaguely infuriated.

Only vaguely?

'Crippling Sailor Sol is worth little more than clipped tail feathers!
Even less, as she will heal before we can muster the energy required
to stage another strike!' his stormy pace caused the women to flinch,
expecting fully to receive abusive violence. Only Tenki and Panji
remained of the original five clones.

'They must die! It matters not how - just destroy them! Do not return
unless you succeed, for if you do, you will wish to be in Xalia's
place!'

The clones reacted sharply to the reference of the traitor who had
recently suffered vigorous torture at their hands, and his. They
winked out of reality so rapidly that they punctuated his furious
ravings. He brought his staff before him, clenched it in both hands,
and began praying swiftly.

'I could not have prepared for this! With what force am I to defeat
them?!'

A vaguely familiar voice agreed in sundry wafts of tone, her silk
dress adorned figure sitting in a dank, quiet recess. She raised her
blue eyes and long, blond haired head as she offered a suggestion.

'Me. Isn't that why I'm here now? To face Usagi?'

'I would not risk you,' he lied. 'She would merely thrust you aside.
Yours is too harsh a life for her to face the possibility of. It is
your choice, my dear girl.'

'I will. That cow doesn't deserve any of it. What has she been
through? He was kind to her. She has everything!'

'Are you certain? There must be no question.'

'I...' she hesitated, bowing her head reluctantly. 'I... hai. Hai. I'm
yours. I just want her to pay!'

'Hai. Then I will summon you shortly. Please, leave me to pray.'

'Of course, my beloved.'

Silence was amongst them again, and though he welcomed it for a time,
his exile of it was to be long lived. With a cruel regard, it
departed, leaving him with his words and lust to conquer.

'Galaxia, I would not be so the fool as Beryl in seeking assistance...
Yet I know I cannot succeed without it. I seek now in the direst of
straits, wisdom.'

:And you shall have it, Uraki-Ayo Ginzui; replied a voice that was to
his ears as fire is to ice.

'I desire to know of the nearest threat to the kingdom. I would be
honoured if you would proclaim the source to me.'

:You honor me no more than you do your food. You have earned my grace
by loyalty. Do not forsake that by simulating that which does not
exist:

'As you wish, my Queen.'

:What you desire to know is this - Nasura has foretold your attempts
to distract them. She knows Xalia will die, and is willing to
sacrifice her. That pawn can no longer serve us. Nasura has also sent
the same senshi you banished not weeks ago, to confront us. You,
alone, will not gain victory over them:

'Surely they cannot be so powerful! I estimated that they would merely
delay us, not...'

:Uraki! We both know Phate blocked your trace of progress of the
Bishojo Sailor Senshi. What little missed has altered the balance of
this war. Arrogance does not become you. Play not the fool! If you
fail to listen I will become you, as the asinine woman I destroyed at
your behest! Harken to this, for the time has come for me to take a
hand in this war:

A dark armored woman of a clearly superfluous, yet slender frame,
proceeded forthwith to stand before Uraki as he gazed upon her in
pride, shock, and unexclaimed horror.

'How -' he nigh stuttered. 'Why? How can this necessity have arrived
so swiftly? What of my final ploy?'

'Use her. She is strong enough. However, Jisuruka has failed you.
Yanei has betrayed you, and your clones will not survive to capture
the slightest redeeming victory. Despite their power, they lack the
spirit their opponents have. Your responsibility in considering that
factor has long passed the point of punishment. However, there is not
time for such pleasure,' she frowned angrily, and even for it's
startling beauty, Uraki-Ayo fought a powerful urge to cringe. Galaxia
continued in a voice that made the sun seem a wristwatch light bulb.
'We are fortunate for Phate's inaction. For the result of her
intervention, the Angel Senshi will be a formidable challenge. That
foreign wench could have us annulled with no more effort than it would
take for me to dispatch you. Fortunately she knows fully well her
place. Foolish man! You will obey my every breath, or we will cease to
exist!'

'Of course Lady Galaxia,' he bowed, as if to snap in two.

'Do not mistake me!' she roared abruptly. 'They can destroy us - our
realm - our world! Survival depends solely upon the outcome of this
confrontation!'

He remained fixed in that position, hoping it would protect him from
her rage and sun shattering fear while he trembled to the very core of
his being.

'We will prepare to unleash a nova upon them if need be!' she decreed,
the mist of innumerable energies converging about them. 'This will
conclude!'

---

'Naritha, did she happen to mention anything about powers? Like what
these crystals were capable of?'

Haisha sat, legs crossed under her, head rested on her palm, the elbow
of which was pressed to the inside of her thigh.

'Hai. She not tell you?' Naritha asked, not quiet certain she believed
her friend's ignorance.

'Sure, the general elemental flame-busting fire-bursting kinetic
projectile stuff.' She lazily swapped a pair of pieces. 'But nothing
specific, like how much chi we need, or use... or heck, even have.
Your move.'

The slim girl shrugged indifferently.

'She not say more than "You will know when time comes",' she replied,
her hand hovering hesitantly over a piece. 'She said crystal taps
imagination... has abilities conform what we know.'

'I guess it pays to be creative,' she paused. 'You know, you really
should pick up some more Japanese while you're here...'

Naritha frowned at that.

'If had time...' she moved, capturing a pair of pieces. Haisha
grunted, unsatisfied.

'I know, the war has kinda gotten in the way. We should all be in
junior high right now.'

She nodded slowly, leaning back and extending her arms above her in a
languishing stretch. As she did, her face scrunched inquisitively as
she studied the board, which seemed to gain an iridescent glow, as if
someone had planted a light bulb inside of it.

'Haisha...'

'Hm?' her eyes fell to the board, and away from the still darkened
mid-morning sky. 'Wow...'

Naritha jumped at Haisha, knocking her from her seat and onto the
floor in one fluid motion as the board splintered and shattered. The
debris clattered loudly as it ripped through the thinner parts of the
wood structured patio, and burst into dust as it hit the stone wall
and thicker lengths of wood.

'Un!' Naritha cried as several stone shards pierced her blue blouse
and sank into her back. She groaned and slumped against Haisha.

'Naritha-chan! Are you...' she exclaimed in concern, before noting the
pair of shadowy figures against the irregular amethyst sky. 'Oh
damn...'

Reality dimmed and washed out into a void of eerie, distantless grey,
as the two neared them.

'Tsunami Blade!'

'Screaming Flares!'

Haisha shoved her listless companion well away from her as she rolled
in the opposite direction. The watery slivers of metal dissipated as
they met the grey surface they had formerly occupied. The second
attack, however, manifested as angry red bursts of flames about them,
singeing and burning clothes and skin.

'Stupid, stupid...' Haisha muttered with a grin, knowing she was
somewhat immune to the fire attacks. She reached into her pocket and
retrieved her purple transformation crystal as she rolled to a halt on
her back, then kicked her legs up in a motion that brought her to her
feet.

'Sailor Phoenix - Armor Henshin!'

A wash of flames traveled over her body, rapidly replacing her damaged
clothes with her Neo Senshi uniform: A thinly armoured purple cat suit
with metallic white shin guards, armlets, belt, breastplate, and
choker. She summoned her katana and wakasashi in a burst of flame that
extended from her clenched hands.

'No, I'm afraid that wasn't very cool,' Panji disagreed, flipping her
short hair back with one hand.

'Stupid for a fire senshi to fight another fire senshi,' Haisha
declared shortly, leaping nigh effortlessly towards the two clones.

'Haaaaaaiiii!' she cried, slashing downwards with both blades,
catching the more sluggish Tenki across the stomach with the shorter
of the blades, and missing Panji with her thousand year old katana.

'Stupid of you to fight alone,' Panji snarled darkly as she slammed
into Haisha from behind. She tasted blood as she clambered against the
strangely tangible surface of the grey void. Her blades tumbled out of
her hands, and she twisted about to perceive the rapid descent of a
turquoise fireball the instant before it smashed her back down,
searing her eyes, breaking several ribs, and bursting a dozen blood
vessels.

She gurgled a cry before staggering to her feet, gasping and choking,
banishing her swords while she concentrated another attack.

'You want more? Tough little chick!?' Panji laughed. 'Such a cute,
sweet girl, too.'

'FireWater - BURST!'

Haisha was thrown back by the elemental combination of fire and water
that nearly manifested inside of her as the clones clasped their hands
together. She heaved and vomited, the sensation of her flesh boiling
sickening her to the soul.

'Flare STORM!' she rasped, struggling to her hands and knees. She
heard the protesting cries of the clones as razor slim shards of lava
like blades surrounded and confined them.

'What good do you think this will do you little girl?' Panji taunted,
trying to unnerve her. 'Enjoy your reprieve, because we're going to
mutilate you once we're free!'

Haisha stumbled on her bearings, and found her way to Naritha, who
groaned faintly in pain. She crouched next to the wounded girl.

'Naritha...' she panted, searching her friend for her crystal. 'I need
you. I'm still too weak to fight.'

'Honto... Matsu... Nan desu... Oyasumi...' she replied in a harsh
whisper, sounding almost delirious.

'Naritha! Come on! You're tougher than this! You just need to
change...!'

'Give crystal... I will...' she sucked in a short gasp of air. 'I will
change.'

She located it, and slipped it into her friend's nigh limp palm.
Without another word, she rose, and faced her waning cage, and the
venomous villains within it. Fire against fire may not have been any
more than an even match, but Haisha had the advantage... of her
youthful imagination.

'Plasma Surge!'

Like a sacrificial flame, the blue surge of flame-like searing energy
began at their feet and rushed up as if they were seasoned firewood.
Their high-pitched wailing brought Haisha no comfort, even as she
watched the last parts of her cage scatter, and her enemies dash apart
from the stationary effect. Only seconds had passed, but what damaged
had ensued, wasn't enough.

They were still alive.

Haisha clutched her agony sparking stomach as the clones glowered at
her with immeasurable hatred.

'So it's torture you want,' Panji hissed seethingly. 'What we did to
Xalia will seem like nothing after we're done with you.'

'Flare sh- aaagh!!' Haisha screamed as she fell forward, landing on
her hands and knees, hot tears streaming.

'Sister?' Panji offered. Tenki nodded, raising her hand to lock with
her sister's.

'FireWater Sla...!'

Rather predictably, Naritha interrupted with a voracious declaration
of life.

'Sailor Seraph - Armour Henshin!'

Naritha's body quickly received the same treatment as her ally, though
the effect manifested by water, rather than fire. Wasting absolutely
no time, she called:

'Ice Spike - Drop!'

The two gazed upwards just soon enough to throw themselves from the
paths of the two-dozen stalactites of plummeting ice. Tenki screamed
shrilly as one of the spires impaled her calf, piledriving through
flesh and bone, and nearly severing her lower leg. She twitched and
tossed in agony, pinned in place until the manifestation died moments
later. Tenki spat blood, her paling face centered on the enemy. She
shuddered in agony, holding her bloodied stomach, but refused to
escape.

:They must die!; she swore. :Either them, or us!:

:What are you talking about Tenki? Look! They're nearly wasted!:

:But so am I. Oyasumi, sister!:

:Nani...?:

Her blue eyes grew wide as she watched her sister's aura gather
angrily about her in scarlet waves. The woman raised her head and
called:

'Luminare!'

The grey void shifted and quaked as a handful of searching blue
tendrils struck out for several moments. They retreated, only to be
replaced by a rising blue half sphere of destructive force. Jarred,
pummeled, and held in place, the three could only scream as the spell
died away, vaporizing Tenki in the process.

'It's not over!' Panji issued at the top of her lungs.
'It's-n-not-OVER!'

She rose shakily, her wingless flight stammering ineffectively, and
barely holding her aloft. Her left arm hung limply at her side,
grossly misshapen, the bones scattered. She clutched at her side with
the other, her hips and legs mangled internally by the brutal force of
her sister's near fatal attack. Haisha could not move to wipe the gout
of blood that had passed her lips, her legs and arms completely
shattered. She gave a desperate, wailing whisper in her weakness.

'Sailor Phoenix - Fire Henshin!'

Her battered and bloodied body seemed to be consumed in a rush of
vigorous flames. After a moment, it became clear that as the
gathering of fire collected itself and rose in a mass, that there was
a driving force behind it.

'No, not let win!' Naritha declared vehemently, lying as Haisha had,
torn asunder internally.

'Sailor Seraph - Ice Henshin!'

The impossible twisting of her hips straightened as her body
crystallized, becoming living ice.

<It is over!> Haisha raged, her body flashing and tossing as wildfire.

<You die now, Panji!> Naritha seethed, stumbling to her feet.

'Th-this can't b-be right!' she stammered, eyes wide and abruptly
fearful. 'W-we-we're supposed to b-be stronger than you! You're s-s-so
young!'

<There will no answers!>

'Burning...' Panji began haltingly.

<WaterFlare...> the two Neo Senshi started in twin.

'...Scream!'

<...LavaBlaze!>

Reality ran white in a radius of one hundred feet, like a lazy
brushstroke upon a beautiful rendition of a silver clouded sky. The
languishing utterances of horror and soul barring agony seemed muted
from outside the singular manifestation of channeled anarchy. There
was a misinterpretation of reality, as it faltered and waned, the
sheer violence of the meeting forces nearly vaporizing the Neo Senshi.
As it was, only moments passed before Panji's pain distorted face and
tensed, mutilated body washed out in a flare of silvery heat.

Then they remembered nothing.