Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Ascension Trilogy, Book 2: Judgment Day ❯ Holding On To What Matters ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

JUDGMENT DAY,
Chapter 6: "Holding On to What Matters"

By Bill K.

The huge lumbering monster of ice loomed over them like a
skyscraper, obliterating the sun and casting them into darkness. What
little heat that still could be drawn from the sun in this artificially
induced deep freeze was blocked and the cold winds whipped under their
skirts and blew their hair. Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter stood their
ground on the playground of an elementary school now frozen over and
lifeless. They glanced to each other and nodded, prepared to obliterate
their adversary or go down fighting.

"Exploding Golden Kiss!" bellowed Sailor Venus.

"Supreme Thunder!" roared Sailor Jupiter.

Lightning struck from the cloudy sky, the clouds formed by the
cold conditions. Conducted even more rapidly by the cold, the bolt
struck the rod on Jupiter's tiara and exploded out from her. The energy
was joined to the golden energy burst fired from Venus and shot toward
the Frost Giant with the speed of thought. It barely had time to
register the attack before it was struck chest high. The energy burst
exploded with the force of a bomb while volts of electricity passed
through the great frame of ice, sizzling and spitting as the heat it
generated melted the outer layer of ice and caused the formed water to
pop.

The Frost Giant staggered back several paces, crushing the
school's storage shed underfoot. Finally it righted itself and turned,
wounded, to counterattack. Venus looked to Jupiter.

"Got another one in you?" Venus asked.

"Is there a choice?" Jupiter replied.

Once more the power phrases echoed over the stilled neighborhood
of Tokyo. Once more the electrified energy burst shot up and exploded
into the Frost Giant. This time, though, Venus aimed higher and the
beast took it directly in the face. The Frost Giant's head exploded out
from the burst, chunks of ice scattering in all directions and ice water
coating everything and freezing in seconds. The headless body stood
there for a few moments, seemingly unaware that it was dead. Then the
strong north winds pushed it just enough so that gravity was able to
take over. It teetered, then toppled backwards like a felled tree,
slamming into the barren playground. The ground shook upon impact.

"Man," Jupiter gasped breathlessly. She was bend over, her hands
propped up on her knees as fatigue spread through her. "I hope Usagi
gets better soon! I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!"

When no witty reply came from Venus, Jupiter assumed that she was
just too tired to quip. Then she heard the faint sound of someone
sniffing back tears. Jupiter rose to her full height and looked at her
companion. Venus had her back to her. The woman's arms were folded
across her middle and her head was down.

"Venus?" Jupiter asked. "What is it?" Venus didn't turn to her.
"Hey, don't give in to it, Venus. We'll beat 'em."

"But will we beat them in time?" Venus whispered, her voice thick
with emotion. "Look at this place. Kids used to play here. How many
of them will still be alive when we beat these guys? How many are alive
now?"

"We can only do what we can," Jupiter offered. Her hand folded
onto her friend's shoulder.

"It's just," Venus said, shuddering, "I look at this place," and
Venus turned to Jupiter and Jupiter saw she was crying. Jupiter
couldn't remember the last time she saw Venus cry. "I look at this and
what's been done to it, and I can't help but think of your kids."

The mention of Akiko and Ichiro brought a pang of guilt to
Jupiter.

"Jupe, I love your kids," Venus said. "I've never had that much
use for rugrats, but those two are different. They're special.
Sometimes I find myself wishing they were mine and not yours. I mean,
Ichiro's my guy. He's going to grow up to be some girl's dream guy - -
I can already tell. And Akiko - - well she's my biggest fan! What kind
of idol doesn't worry about her fans?"

"They're all right," Jupiter replied, squeezing the shoulder she
held. "San-San's with them. He'll protect them."

"Who are you trying to convince, me or you?"

"Well me, of course," Jupiter smiled. "Who cares about you?"

"Yeah," Venus said, looking down with a pained smile. "Who cares
about me?"

"Venus," Jupiter tried to begin.

"I'm sure Toshi doesn't - - assuming he's not . . ."

"Stop this!" demanded Jupiter. "I care! And Usagi and Ami and
Rei, they care! And all those teenagers out there who would give
everything they owned just to touch you, they care! Your Dad and, yes,
even your Mom, they care! And what about Artemis?"

"Artemis," Venus said, growing mistier at the mention of his name.
"I hope he's all right."

"Come on, Venus. What's that saying you've always lived by?"

"Chocolate is a girl's best friend?"

"The other saying," smirked Jupiter. If Venus was quipping, she
was coming out of it. "You know, 'tears don't suit Sailor V'."

"Man, I wish Artemis had never come up with that. It's so hard to
live up to sometimes." Venus expelled a big breath of air. "Sorry for
getting all weepy on you. It's just - - you know how hard I've worked
the last twenty years to get where I am. My life's not perfect, but I
was just beginning to enjoy some of the fruit, you know? And now it's
all crashing down around me and I'm afraid that I can't stop it!"

"I know," grimaced Jupiter. "I've worked just as hard and I'm
just as afraid. But all we can do is just keep fighting until Usagi can
save the day. That's why we're here. That's why she's here."

"Somebody seriously needs to rewrite this script!" scowled Venus.
She expelled a tired sigh. "OK. Tear-Fest is over for this year.
Let's go kick some frozen butt."

"Let's," Jupiter smiled. The pair headed down the street,
attracted by the thudding footsteps of a Frost Giant in the distance.

"You know," Venus said as they moved, "I used to love ice cream.
But I don't think I'll be able to look at it for a while now." Jupiter
allowed herself a knowing grin.

The two senshi moved from the business district toward the Ginza.
The neon flash of the Ginza was dimmed, indicating that the electricity
for the area was out. The telltale signs of a Frost Giant were
everywhere.

"Is there any part of Tokyo left unfrozen?" Jupiter mused.

"Maybe the outlying residential districts," Venus replied grimly.
"That's why we have to find these frosty creeps and stop them."

At that moment, Jupiter got a signal on her senshi communicator.

"Jupiter, are you there?" she heard Artemis ask desperately.

"Artemis!" Venus gasped, grabbing Jupiter's wrist and pulling it
to her mouth.

"Venus!" gasped Artemis. Even through the electronic static, they
could tell he was relieved. "When I couldn't raise you, . . ."

"Little Kitty, I've been worried sick about your furry butt!"

"Same here. Luna and I are with Sailor Mercury. We're in the
park trying to figure a way to close this portal."

"I'm betting on Mercury," grinned Jupiter.

"Luna hasn't been able to contact Usagi. It may mean she's still
out of it. We're hoping the Frost Giants haven't gotten the hospital."

"Maybe we should head over there?" suggested Venus. "Keep her
safe?"

"Mamoru's with her. He can handle that. You two need to keep
after the ones that are already here. There's no telling if the outer
senshi are still in the fight and - - and we haven't been able to raise
Rei."

Venus and Jupiter shot worried glances to each other.

"Acknowledge that," Venus said. "Good luck on your end. Watch
your backside, cat."

"Don't get too cocky, Venus. Artemis out."

Venus glanced at Jupiter and grinned. "He's such a worrier."

"I know the feeling," Jupiter admitted with a shy smile.
"San-San's like that with me sometimes. It's really touching that he
cares that much."

The brow on Venus' forehead furrowed. "Using that comparison,
that equation would make Artemis my . . ." She stopped and shook her
head. "Nope. Not going to go there."

"Shh," Jupiter said. "I'm trying to listen for something."

Venus listened. "What?"

Jupiter shot her friend a wicked smile. "I'm trying to hear if
the wind's whistling through your ears."

Venus scowled, then pulled down her eyelid. Jupiter smirked.

The pair walked past a deserted nightclub. The large picture
windows in front were frosted over and opaque.

"I sang there about fifteen years ago," Venus said, pointing to
the shabby dive. "What a dump. It actually looks better with the ice."

"I remember," Jupiter said.

"That place was a hole! When were you ever in there?" Venus
gaped.

"About fifteen years ago." Venus stared in shock. "Usagi rounded
the gang up and we came down to see you. We were all in the audience."

"Why didn't you come back stage after the show?"

"Well, while we were trying to watch the show, several of the
slimy guys that were in that place tried to pick us up. It got to the
point where I had to punch one guy's lights out."

"That was you?" howled Venus. "I thought it was just the usual
drunks! I was so mad for having my set interrupted! Now I'm sorry I
thought all those nasty things. You still should have come backstage,
though."

"Well, when your show ended, Rei kind of insisted we get out of
the place while we still had our clothes."

"Aw, I'm sorry I missed you." Venus walked silently. "Did you
like the show?"

"It was OK."

"Just OK?"

"Venus, remember what time period we're talking about. You were
just starting out. Back then, you were more energetic than good."

"Everybody's a critic," Venus scowled.

"I'll say this for you," Jupiter added, patting her friend on the
back. "You were definitely too classy for the club."

"Big deal," shrugged Venus. "So were the cockroaches."

The pair continued to follow the path of ice and destruction. It
led out of the main part of the Ginza and into another retail district.
They could tell they were getting close because the lumbering footfalls
of a Frost Giant echoed through the cavernous retail district,
disturbing the eerie silence of the now frozen wasteland.

"Kind of reminds me of D-Point," Venus commented out of the blue.
"Hope the result's not exactly the same as that time. I've 'died' way
too many times for my tastes."

Jupiter didn't answer. Venus started to look over to her
companion, but suddenly Jupiter shoved past her and ran across the icy
street to a cluster of figures frozen in front of an electronics shop.

"Jupe?" Venus cried out after her. When it didn't stop Jupiter,
Venus broke into a run after her.

She found Jupiter standing next to the frozen form of a man.
Jupiter was staring at the frozen man as if in shock, tears streaming
down her face. Her gloved hand lightly stroked the ice over the man's
cheek. Venus tried to see through the ice to see who it was. He looked
vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place him.

"Who is he, Jupe?" Venus asked. Jupiter just continued to stare,
stricken to her core. "Do you know him?"

"It's Shinozaki," she whispered.

"The guy you were childhood friends with?"

"I failed him," Jupiter whispered in anguish. "After all the
times he looked out for me, when he needed me I wasn't there!"

"You haven't failed him yet," Venus told her. Jupiter only shook
her head with rage. "What were you just telling me? They haven't won
yet! We find these things, we kick their butts and then Usagi turns
everything back to normal!"

"And what if they've already got her?" Jupiter asked fearfully.
"What if it's too late for poor Shinozaki? What if it's too late for
- - for San-San and the kids? What if it's too late for all of us?"

Venus tried to summon some off-the-cuff quip and failed.

"Then we die fighting," Venus said soberly.

Jupiter stared into her friend's eyes like she was trying to read
her mind. Her mouth hardened. Her tears subsided. Jupiter nodded
resolutely and stormed off. Venus quickly fell in behind her. She knew
Jupiter long enough to know when her anger had gotten the better of her.
Jupiter was ready for a fight and she was enough of a bulldog to not let
go of whatever she latched onto until either her foe was dead or she
was. Venus came with her to try to tip the odds in her favor.

It wasn't difficult to hear the approach of the Frost Giant. It's
lumbering footsteps echoed even louder the closer it got. Jupiter
continued to march resolutely toward the sound. Venus wondered if
they'd just crossed paths from fate or if the giant was actually seeking
them out. If it was the latter, she was ready. Better they take it on
now rather than have to walk further. It still wasn't any easier to
walk on ice in high heels.

And suddenly Jupiter began to speed up, breaking into a run toward
the sound of the giant's footsteps.

"A kamikaze run!" Venus thought. She broke into a run after her
friend, but Jupiter had always been faster and had a head start.

The giant turned the corner and faced them. It took a moment,
towering over them like a skyscraper, to register where they were.
Jupiter kept running toward it, the rod on her tiara crackling with
building electrical energy. The giant raised up its hand to attack
Jupiter with its frost power.

"Exploding Golden Kiss!" yelled Venus, launching a burst of
energy.

It soared up, striking the hand of the Frost Giant. Chunks of ice
burst from the hand and the giant recoiled back. Venus smiled, because
it would give Jupiter enough time now to launch a lightning strike.

Then her mouth dropped and her eyes widened. Stepping from behind
the first Frost Giant was another one. They had been traveling
together, marching in cadence so as not to betray their number. The
second giant raised its hand to strike Jupiter and Venus knew she
couldn't get another shot off in time.

Undaunted, Jupiter continued in, gathering electrical energy into
her until she could hold no more.

"Supreme Thunder!" she roared.

A discharge of electricity so massive that it turned the immediate
area white with light expelled from Jupiter. Venus was forced to turn
her eyes or be blinded. A massive clap of thunder came from the
superheated air molecules around them. It was so loud that every window
in the area shattered. Venus could smell the thick ozone contaminating
the air around them. She wasn't sure, but she thought she heard a
second, smaller pop just after the first. It could have been an echo.
She wasn't sure.

When the light died away, Venus risked a glimpse. The front Frost
Giant's head and upper torso was shorn away, splattered all over the
shops and street behind it. The remains teetered and swayed, waiting
for gravity to take it by the hand and fling it down. The back giant,
scorched by the blast that killed its partner, was in the process of
freezing Sailor Jupiter in place.

"NO!" cried Venus. "Exploding Golden Kiss!"

The burst of energy shot up with the speed of thought and exploded
against the giant's arm and upper body. It rocked back a step, then
resumed freezing Jupiter. Already the senshi's body was rigid and ice
was forming around her.

"Exploding Golden Kiss!" Venus bellowed again.

She ran forward, both to cut the distance between them and
increase the impact of her energy bursts, and to try to somehow protect
Jupiter with her proximity. The burst shot up and rocked the giant
again. However, it kept its feet and resumed freezing Jupiter.

"FALL, DAMN YOU! EXPLODING GOLDEN KISS!"

The third blast took a lot out of her. Venus felt a momentary
blackout. The next thing she knew she was on her hands and knees less
than a meter from Jupiter. She looked up. Jupiter was frozen solid,
her antennae up and her teeth clenched in defiant fury. Venus felt her
chest heaving and her heart hammering in her chest. She didn't know if
she had another energy burst left in her.

Then the freezing waves struck her and she knew she didn't have
any choice. Pushing herself up to where she was just on her knees,
Venus pointed with a shaking arm.

"E-E-Exp-p-plod-d-ding G-g-golden K-k-kissssss!" Venus said,
barely forcing the words out. Her mouth didn't want to work and she was
so cold.

The golden energy burst shot up and struck the giant about
shoulder high. She knew just from the feel of it and from the giant's
reaction that it wasn't a full strength burst. Still it was enough to
rock the beast back and interrupt the waves of bitter cold.

"Come on, girlfriend," shuddered Venus. "This is your chance.
Get cover and kick that monster's butt!"

But the bitter cold seemed to drain the strength from her. She
already had no feeling in her legs and fingers. The cold air was like
breathing in razor blades every time she took a breath. Forcing herself
forward, Venus crawled toward a mound of ice that covered a potted plant
on the street. If only she could get some cover from the freezing
waves . . .

But the cold struck her again. Venus fell onto her face and just
lay there. Her arms flexed to try to push back up, but there was no
strength left to her. She was losing feeling everywhere. Consciousness
was fading.

"Ace," she whispered deliriously, "I love you - - but you're still
a rotten bastard."

And Venus sank into oblivion.

Continued in Chapter 7