Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A Knight's Work Is Never Done ❯ Phaeton Arrives ( Chapter 4 )

A Knight's Work Is Never Done

Chapter 4: Phaeton Arrives

 

By: GINSAN

 

 

Jordan looked around groggily, as he slowly woke up. He didn't know where he was at first, but the patterned ceiling gave him a clue. He was in the hospital still. He sighed, as he thought about how much longer he'd be stuck here. With luck, he could just make the doctors release him, and he could finish healing at home. The longer he thought about it, the more he wished he could go home. The meals here weren't exactly gourmet, and he was going stir crazy with nothing to do.

 

After a while, he looked over at the amulet. Last night had been interesting, to say the least. The only good thing was that he now knew that he wasn't going crazy. The dreams had actually had meaning behind them, and wasn't his minds way of telling he was going nuts. Apparently, that had happened back during the time period, the memories were from.

 

He sat up, so that he could grab the amulet. It wasn't until it was actually in his hand, that he realized that his ribs weren't hurting anymore, and that he could also breathe without hurting. He thought about it for a minute, before grinning as he laid back.

 

"So it worked after all. I may not be fully healed yet, but I'm sure I can get out of here now."

 

He lay there, waiting for the Doctor to make his morning rounds. Was that poor guy ever in for a surprise. But what to do after he got out?

 

* * *

 

The afternoon sunlight came down in dappled patterns through the leaves, as dust motes danced in the rays of light. Kinso Park was relatively new, but its serene beauty attracted many people to it. Today though, the park was anything but serene as people ran for their lives. No one had been hurt yet, but it was only a matter of time. Luckily, help was available. There, at the back of the park, trying to have a picnic.

 

 

Ami and her friends had decided that today would make a great day for a picnic. Lita had made the food, with some help from Ami, and Rini. Serena had actually provided the desert, a chocolate cake made by her Mom. Rae had picked the park, and Mina had provided the drinks.

 

Everything was going great. The sandwiches were eaten, and Serena had actually managed to control herself by not eat everything in site. They were all ready for desert, as Serena patiently served a slice to everyone else first, leaving herself with the last piece. She was just about to take the first bite, when the first of the fleeing people ran by.

 

They were confused at first, until the people came close enough for them to hear. As soon as they heard them shouting about a monster, all the girls, but Serena got up. They turned to look back at Serena.

 

She pouted, and looked on the verge of tears, as she put the piece of cake down, and joined the other girls. "I never get to have my desert."

 

The girls went in the direction the fleeing people had come from, stopping behind some bushes when they reached the spot. From there, they looked out on what they were dealing with.

 

Ami gasped, as she saw it. "That's the one that attacked Morgan and Jordan." She looked at the others, as she brought out her transformation pen. "We have to stop it, before it hurts anyone else."

 

Serena and the other girls nodded, as spread out a bit. Serena and Rini brought out their compacts, as Mina, Rae, and Lita brought out their Transformation Pens. All six girls raised them up in the air as they called out their Transformation Phrase.

 

"Moon Cosmic Power!"

 

"Moon Prism Power!"

 

"Mercury Crystal Power!"

 

"Venus Crystal Power!"

 

"Mars Crystal Power!"

 

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

 

Beams of light surrounded the six girls, as they were transformed into their Sailor Scout forms. The six Scouts jumped out of bushes and surrounded the Soul Devourer. It stopped its rampage, to look at the Scouts.

 

Serena, now Sailor Moon, stood directly in front of the Monster.

 

She took up a dramatic pose, as she began to lecture the monster. "We are the Sailor Soldiers of peace and love. We stand for Justice, and punish evil. I am the Sailor guided by the Moon, Sailor Moon!"

 

She ended, with her legs spread apart slightly, and her arms up. The right arm was pointing to the left, and her left arm was pointing straight up.

 

Rini, now Sailor Mini-Moon, stood next to Sailor Moon, her back up against Sailor Moon's.

 

Her stance was almost a mirror image of hers. "I am the Sailor Guardian from the future, Sailor Mini-Moon!"

 

Ami, now Sailor Mercury, stood to the left of Sailor Moon.

 

Her pose was similar to hers, with the exception that the positions of her arms were reversed. "I am the Sailor of Wisdom, guided by the planet Mercury, Sailor Mercury!"

 

Mina, now Sailor Venus, stood to the right of Sailor Mini-Moon.

 

She was standing in a fighting stance, legs spread slightly, and arms in front of her. "I am the Sailor of Love, guided by the planet Venus, Sailor Venus!"

 

Rae, now Sailor Mars, stood to the right of Sailor Venus.

 

Her stance was the same as Sailor Mercury's. "I am the Sailor of War, guided by the planet Mars, Sailor Mars!"

 

Lita, now Sailor Jupiter, stood to the left of Sailor Mercury.

 

She stood in the same fighting stance as Sailor Venus. "I am the Sailor of Nature, guided by the planet Jupiter, Sailor Jupiter!"

 

Together, the six delivered the next line their speech.

 

Each one spoke at exactly the same time. "We are the Sailor Scouts!"

 

After delivering the line, Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter switched stances. Mercury and Mars took up the fighting stance, while Jupiter and Venus took up the crossed arms stance.

 

Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mini-Moon turned to face each other, as they delivered the next line together. "In the name of the Moon, and our guardian planets, we will stop you from hurting any more people.

 

The two altered their arm positions, so that the arms that had been pointing up, now pointed at the monster. "Prepare to be Moon Dusted!"

 

The Monster laughed at them, as it waited for their attacks.

 

Mars was the first to do so, as she stepped forward. "I won't let you harm anyone else. For those you have harmed, I will punish you with my flames!"

 

She brought her arms together in front of herself, as she closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment. She brought her fingertips together, as she opened her eyes again. Suddenly, she spread her arms wide, as she shouted out her attack.

 

"Mars fire Ignite!"

 

A stream of fire launched from in front of her, and headed straight for the Soul Devourer. It flared out a bit, creating a cone of fire.

 

The Monster turned to face her, and smiled as it raised its left hand towards the fire. As soon as the fire touched the hand, it was absorbed. The monster chuckled at the look of surprise on Mars' face. Before she could do anything else though, it charged at her, and swatted her to the ground with the same hand. She managed a small scream of pain, as she hit the ground, and was knocked cold.

 

Outraged at what had just happened to her friend, Sailor Jupiter rushed the monster, hitting, and kicking it in the back.

 

"You'll pay for that one freak!"

 

As she did this, Sailor Mercury was frantically trying to analyze the monster and find a weak spot, with her mini-computer and visor. So far, she was having no luck in doing so.

 

The Monster slowly turned around, as though Jupiter's attacks didn't matter. It quickly grabbed her with its right hand, before she could react. It brought her to its face, and grinned at her. The same foul breath that Jordan had smelled filled her nostrils, as it opened its maw. It suddenly threw her to the ground, and then stopped on her back. She managed to let out a scream of pain, as he lifted its foot, to stomp her again.

 

"Crescent Beam Smash!"

 

Before it could do any more damage though, it was caught in the back by the energy attack, and howled out. The sound was more frustration, than pain, as it quickly wheeled around to face off against Sailor Venus.

 

As it slowly lumbered towards her, she called out frantically to Sailor Mercury. "How do we beat this thing?"

 

The Monster stopped in front of her, and she could smell its foul breath, as he laughed at her frustration.

 

"Crescent Beam Smash!"

 

Venus attacked it again, desperate to get it way from her. Instead of hitting the monster though, it just raised its left hand again, and absorbed the attack.

 

Before she could react, it balled its right hand into a fist, and slammed her in the side, sending her flying. She collided with a tree, before slumping to the ground, unconscious. She hadn't even had time to scream out in pain. Seeing that she wasn't going to be causing any more trouble, the Soul Devourer slowly started turning around, to deal with the next Scout. It didn't turn around fast enough though.

 

"Thunderbolt Crash!"

 

The Devourer screamed out in pain, as a large lightning bolt hit it, as it finished turning around. Looking straight ahead, he spotted the source of this new pain.

 

Sailor Jupiter had managed to recover slightly, and get back to her feet while Sailor Venus had kept the monster occupied.

 

Even though she could barely stand, she glared at the monster, ready with another attack. "I've had just about enough of you."

 

She never got a chance to use her attack.

 

Moving faster than any of them thought possible, it charged at Jupiter. At the last possible second, instead of slamming into her, it backhanded her, sending her flying into another tree, where she too slumped to the ground, unconscious.

 

Seeing that she wouldn't be causing any more pain, the Soul Devourer slowly advanced on Sailor Mercury, who had given up trying to find a weak spot on the thing. It was simply too strong for them.

 

"Just have to wing it then."

 

She started to turn around, preparing to launch her attack at the monster.

 

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

 

The spray of freezing water slammed into the Devourer. It froze solid, almost instantly. Mercury took a deep breath, surprised that she had managed to stop it.

 

"You got it Mercury! Yah!"

 

Sailor Moon was jumping up and down, much to the frustration of Sailor Mini-Moon. Sailor Moon started clapping her hands, as she continued to jump. Her celebration was a bit premature.

 

With a deep roar, the Soul Devourer broke out of the skin of ice, and stood there, completely unhurt.

 

Mercury stood standing at the monster, unable to fathom how it had shrugged off the attack, when it had hurt it in the past.

 

The Soul Devourer raised its left hand once more, pointed towards Mercury. Thinking that it had probably done so, expecting another attack from her, she was completely unprepared for what it did next.

 

The hand glowed slightly, and before Mercury had a chance to dodge it, the Devourer sent the stored energy of both Venus' and Mars' attack at her. A swirling cone of fire, and energy slammed into her, and sent her flying back, to land several feet away. She tried to get up again, but with a soft moan of pain, she collapsed, and remained still.

 

This sent Sailor Moon into shook. She dropped to the ground, and remained there, on her butt, staring at the limp bodies of her friends. Seeing that this was obviously going to fall to her.

 

"Since Sailor Moon is spaced out as usual, I, Sailor Mini Moon will vanquish you!"

 

She held her small scepter up, and pointed it towards the Soul Devourer.

 

"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!"

 

Absolutely nothing happened. Sailor Mini Moon stood there, staring at the scepter, while the Soul Devourer started laughing again.

 

It started moving towards Sailor Moon and Mini Moon, obviously not afraid of them.

 

Sailor Mini Moon smacked the scepter a couple of times, then pointed it at the monster again.

 

"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!"

 

This time, a stream of small, pink colored hearts shot out of the scepter, and started smacking into the Devourer. It stopped in its tracks, and even slid back a little, as the hearts continued to hit it. After a minute though, the hearts stopped, and the now angry monster glared at Mini Moon.

 

"Uh oh..."

 

The Soul Devourer ran up to her, and backhanded her, sending her flying into a tree, stuck up in its branches. She was still conscious, though barely, and could hardly move.

 

The Devourer turned to face Sailor Moon, who had managed to get up, and even back up a little ways from the monster. She looked around quickly, and looked as though she were waiting for something. Or someone.

 

Seeing that help was not coming, she raised her own scepter, and faced off against the Monster.

 

"Um. This is your last chance. Give up? Please?"

 

The Soul Devourer laughed at her, and took a step towards her.

 

"Okay, I warned you. Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"

 

A bunch of flashy images appeared behind her, as she twirled around, and stopped, with her legs tucked under her. From the scepter, a small heart appeared, which quickly grew larger than the monster, before finally slamming into him, and shattering.

 

The monster went flying backwards, before landing on its back. It stayed there, and remained limp.

 

Sailor Moon stayed where she was on the ground for moment, as she caught her breath. Seeing that the Monster was lying unconscious on the ground, she headed over to the tree, to try and get Mini Moon down. Leaving her back facing the monster.

 

"Hang in there Mini Moon! I'll get you down."

 

As she pulled on Mini Moon, trying to pull her out of the branches, Mini Moon started to scream at her to stop. She stopped suddenly though, as she saw something behind Sailor Moon.

 

"Sailor Moon, look out be..."

 

She never got to finish the warning, as a blast of red and black energy slammed into Sailor moon, and sent her flying. She landed several feet away from the tree, and remained on the ground, unable to move. She looked on in horror, as the monster slowly got up from where it was laying. Its left arm was still outstretched, and smoking.

 

It got to its feet, and started moving towards Sailor Moon.

 

"Feast!"

 

The monster started closing in on Sailor Moon. Its hand was stretch out towards her, and was starting to glow slightly. All she could do was look on as it got closer. It started to lick its lips, as its hand flexed in expectation.

 

It was less than two feet away from sailor Moon, when it suddenly roared in pain, and spun around, clutching at its back. As the back came into Sailor Moon's view, she could see little bolts of green energy sticking out of it as they slowly started dissolving.

 

Looking around, Sailor Moon spotted her savior. Though he wasn't her usual rescuer, he did strike a bit of a heroic pose.

 

Standing somewhere a little over six feet, the 'savior' was dressed in a suit of armor. The chest plate was a jade green color, while the highlights and the three-pointed star on it, were silver. Underneath it, was cloth of a black color that very much resembled a body suit. Shin guards of similar coloration covered his lower legs. Up near the knees, though, they pointed up and away, forming a sharp edge. Gauntlets of a similar design as the shin guards, covered his lower arms. There was also a knee length cape, which started from behind his right shoulder and wrapped around his back, to stop in front of his left shoulder. It was colored silver on the underside, and the jade green color on the outside. His facial features were indiscernible, since a large helmet covered his head. It was reminiscent of the Middle Ages. It was cylindrical in shape, with a Y cut in the front, starting from eye level, and going through the bottom. It was silver, with the jade green for the trim.

 

He slowly lowered his outstretched right hand, apparently the one that he had used to attack the Monster. The hand clenched into a fist and a blade of green energy formed just above the hand. It was about three and a half feet in length, and formed much like a katana.

 

His deep voice rumbled out from the helmet, as he spoke. "Soul Devourer, your rampage stops here and now. I will not allow you to steal anymore Soul Gems to feed your corrupted hunger. In the name of the shattered planet Phaeton, I will send you, and all your kind, back to the Void that spawned you. I am Phaeton Knight, Defender of the planet Phaeton. In it's shattered memory, I will claim your Soul Gem."

 

He stood his ground, as he pointed his sword at the Soul Devourer, and took up a defensive stance. With his free hand, he waved at the monster, taunting it to attack.

 

It roared again, and then charged at Phaeton. Its horns began to glow a sickly green color, as it got closer, and it lowered its head. At the last second, Phaeton jumped to the side, and lashed out with the sword, striking the Soul Devourer in the back.

 

It howled in pain again, as it tumbled, and fell to the ground. Phaeton jumped backwards a bit, and faced towards the monster. As the monster started getting up, Phaeton altered his stance a bit.

 

He braced his legs, and dissipated the sword. He pointed his left arm straight up into the air. He brought the hand on his right hand before his face, and looked like he was saying a prayer. Just as the Monster got to its feet, he pointed both arms towards it, palms open and flat.

 

"Cryo Detonation!"

 

Thousands of little shards of ice flew from his palms, and slammed into the monster. Many simply hit the ground around the monster. As soon as the ice shards stopped shooting from his hands, a huge lightning bolt struck down, and hit the Devourer, and became supercharged by the ice shards.

 

After the lightning stopped, the monster slumped to its feet, smoking. Its arms twitched a little, before stopping, and leaving the thing completely still.

 

Phaeton slowly walked towards the fallen Monster, and stopped when he was standing over it. He looked down at it for a moment.

 

During his attack, the Scouts had slowly started to come too, and they managed to focus their vision just in time to watch Phaeton plunge his hand into the Soul Devourer. There was an intense, and ear splitting shriek from the monster as he did so. His arm stayed that way for a moment, before withdrawing, and emerged from the Devourer, with a small, glowing crystal in his hand. A second later, the Soul Devourer dissolved into dust, which was quickly dispersed by the afternoon winds.

 

Phaeton turned to face Sailor Moon, as he raised the crystal up to his chest. Instantly, it disappeared into him, leaving a stunned look on the Scouts. He nodded towards Sailor Moon, as he started to walk off.

 

"Wait!" A groggy Sailor Jupiter called after him, and halted him in his steps. "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

 

He didn't turn around when he answered her. "Phaeton. That's all you need know for now."

 

He continued walking away, and before someone else could ask him a question, his vanished in a shimmer of green, and silver light.

 

The Scouts slowly made there way over to where Sailor Moon was laying on the ground, conscious still, but obviously weak, like the rest of them. At the same time, there was a thump, as Mini Moon finally fell out of the tree. She too made her way over to Sailor Moon, and plopped down on the ground, next to her, as did the others.

 

Mars managed to speak first. "Who was that guy? Do you know him Sailor Moon?"

 

Sailor Moon slowly shook her head, as she regarded her friends. "No, but I'm glad he showed up. I think, that if he hadn't, we'd all be in a lot of trouble right now. Nothing we threw at that thing seemed to hurt it, but he managed to destroy it, with relative ease."

 

She thought a moment, before gazing off in the direction he had vanished in.

 

She turned back to the Scouts after a minute. "I didn't hear him too clearly, when he showed up, but he called himself Phaeton, Knight of the shattered planet. That means anything to you guys?"

 

Everyone shook their heads, as Mini Moon looked around.

 

Finally, she looked at Sailor Moon. "I wonder where Tuxedo Mask is? He should have shown up to help, or at least showed up to see how we are."

 

Sailor Moon thought on that one. "That is strange. But lets worry about that latter. I've got a piece of chocolate cake to get back to!"

 

The others all fell over backwards at her statement, as she got up, and headed back to where they had left their food. The other girls quickly got up, and followed after her.

 

They were almost back to the spot, when they decided it was time to change back. They found a little clump of bushes to hid in, while they changed back. As they did so, Sailor Moon tripped over something. Looking at what it was, she cried out and scooted back to it. Lying on the ground, was a guy dressed up in a black tuxedo, complete with cape, and top hat, though the hat was now on the ground. The missing hat also revealed a rather large bump on the person's head.

 

Sailor Moon cradled his head in her lap, as the others gathered around, wondering what had happened to him.

 

"Tuxedo Mask? Come on, wake up. What happened to you?"

 

With a groan, Tuxedo Mask started coming around.

 

He looked up into the concerned face of Sailor Moon, and seemed confused for a moment, before he remembered what happened. "I. I had a premonition that you were in trouble. I hurried over to help. Before I could, someone hit me over the back of the head and knocked me out. I guess they dragged me in here, to keep me out of the way."

 

The Scouts all looked at each other, the same thought occurring to them. However, they decided to worry about it later, when they got back to the Temple.

 

Mercury stood up, and looked around. "Doesn't look like anyone's around. Lets change back, and get our stuff. I think we should talk about this at the temple."

 

Everybody quickly agreed, and they all changed back to normal, including Tuxedo Mask. The group of seven left the bushes, and headed for the picnic spot.

 

When they got to their picnic spot, everything seemed okay, minus one thing. Serena's plate, with her piece of cake, was missing the piece of cake. In its place, was a note. Whining, Serena grabbed the note, and read it. Afterwards, she pouted a bit, and handed it to everyone to read. Several surprised looks met the note, as they read it.

 

 

'Sorry for taking your cake. Haven't eaten a decent meal in forever, and the cake was too tempting to pass up. Make it up to you later.'

 

 

A disappointed Serena gathered her stuff, and waited quietly for the others to do the same. She had really wanted that piece of cake, and had even gone out of the way, to make sure she deserved it, by letting everyone else have a piece first. It just wasn't fair!

 

The others finally finished cleaning up, and they headed for the temple. Serena walked next to Darien, who was trying to comfort her, over the lost cake. He eventually gave it up, and just let her cling to his arm.

 

They made their weary way to the temple, where they all piled into Rae's room. Everyone, except Darien, collapsed wherever there was room. Darien carefully sat down on the floor, near Serena. Everyone eventually got comfortable. Silence remained in the room however, as they all discovered they were too exhausted to talk.

 

Eventually, Darien found himself as the only person still awake, as various snores started coming from the girls. Sighing, he got up, and headed out into the hall. He picked up the phone, and called Amara. It looked the girls would be out of commission for a while, and someone had to keep patrolling the city.

* * *