Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Silver Cosmos Senshi Chronicles ❯ The Trials Begin; Faithful Protector ( Chapter 2 )
CHAPTER TWO: THE TRIALS BEGIN; FAITHFUL PROTECTOR
Deragonu hugged her knees and shivered. She sat in an abiss of light and darkness. It was cold. She shivered again. She had sat there for how long she didn't know; and minute or maybe eternity. She glance at the henshin stick that lay a few feet from her on the ground. Reminising, she closed her eyes.
She had yelled the Henshin Phrase, the stick grew warm and began to shake. Her surroundings changed from the forest she had been to the abiss she was in now. Light and fire fled from the dragon's mouth on the wand... it swirled around her, covering her whole body, engulfing her. The pain was enormous. He could hardly bare to hold on. She could feel all the fire and light begin to pull into on place, between her breasts, and in a flash of light condense into a large black heart locket. The pain inflicted by that action was almost fatal. Deragonu's heart stopped. Flicks of blue fire spread from the locket, forming a silver bow. This fire wasn't hot like the last red fire; more like freezing ice. It spread down her body... onto her shoulders, to her waist, flaring into a skirt. Finally, she could hold on no longer. She let go, and the transformation stopped. The wand fell lifelessly to the ground, Deragonu beside it. She lay there, gasping for breath. She knew she had not finished, but she couldn't stand it any longer. After a few moments (or hours; she couldn't tell), she sat up, and found herself trapped in time. She shivered once more.
Tears now streaker her face. How would she get out? How would she get home? What would happen now? She was lost in thought. Maybe the henshin would help her. But the risk was too great; she never wanted to feel that pain again. She could call out; maybe someone else was trapped her as well. She tried, but no one answered. Fresh tears ran down her salty face. How would she ever get out? She lay her head in her knees and sobbed.
So deep in her tears, Deragonu could not hear it at first. But slowly, it got louder, and it reached her ears. She looked up and listened...someone was calling her. She strained to her better. Someone she knew?
"Wait! I know that voice!", her eyes wide with excitement. "It's ... Cosmos!" True to her form, and image of Cosmos appeared before Deragonu.
"Oh thank the stars! You found me! Take me home!" Deragonu ran for the image, but found it was just a hologram. "What?" The holographic image smiled. "Deragonu, I am here to help, not to save. Why did you stop the transformation?" Deragonu looked at the henshin wand.
"The pain... it was unbearable. I- I couldn't take it any longer." Cosmos sighed.
"Don't you see? The only was out is to finish the transformation! This abiss was created for that very reason! A refuge for all senshi to run to for transformation time. You see, in this place, time is frozen. Once you leave here, you will return to the exact second you left the other world! So you see; your henshin is the only way out." Deragonu still gazed and the wand. After a moment, she sighed.
"Alright. If it's the only way." She walked over to where the stick still lay. She reached down to pick it up.
"Wait!" Deragonu looked up. "There is something else you must know. The pain may be great, my child, but your power is much stronger. You will grow used to it in time, and it will seem less." She stopped to smile here. "And one more thing... I'm afraid this one is bad." Her smile disappered. "Because this is your first transformation, and you stopped, you transformation will be forever altered." Deragonu tensed.
"You mean I have to stop! Everytime?" Cosmos nodded. Deragonu fell to the floor. "No! This can't be happening!" More tears rolled down her cheeks, replacing the know dry ones. Cosmos watched her with a heavy heart. "If only there was something I could do", she thought. She watched Deragonu cry. Then it hit her.
"Fear not my child! I will make it right." Deragonu looked up. "I cannot fully take away the problem you have caused, but I can alter it. Come here." Deragonu stood and walked over to the hologram. "Give me a tear." Deragonu reached to her face and took a fresh tear with her ring finger. She held it foward. Cosmos held out her hand. The tear suddenly elevated, and began to spin and glow. Deragonu gasped and back up a few steps. Cosmos flung out her other hand, and the flying spinning tear flew right into Deragonu's heart. She clutched hre chest and fell to the floor. She lay there for a moment, then sat up, still holding her chest. She gasped out her words.
"What have you done?" Cosmos smiled.
"It is a good thing. I have altered your transformation block. Now, instead of stopping, you will cry every time you transform." Deragonu smiled.
"Really? No stopping at all? That's wonderful!" Cosmos held out her hand. "It's not wonderful; it's abnormal. Crying is not a weakness, but too much can leave you feeling weak and hopeless. But... it will prevent the stopping." Deragonu jumped up.
"Oh thank you! Thank you!" She was all smiles now. Cosmos could not help but to smile too. She held out her hand and pointed.
"Now, my child; your destiny awaits." Deragonu followed her finger to her henshin wand. Slowly, Deragonu walked over to where it lay once more. Holding her breath, she reached down, and picked it up.
Instantly, she was transported into the firey abiss. The icey fire continued down her legs to her toes, out her arms to her fingers, and off her back in ribbons. The pain was still the same, but she; for some unknown reason; could withstand more of it.
"As soon as I finish, I'll be out." she thought. Tears streaked her face. She opened her eyes. She could see all the red and blue fire moving towards her head. Fearing for her eyes burning, she squeezed her shut, more tears flowing. She could feel the fire collected in a concentrated spot on her forehead. Hot and cold mixed together, then suddenly formed into a solid with a flash of light. Lost in the sunshine, Deragonu could feel something creeping across her forehead and into her hair. Suddenly the light cleared. She felt something coming from within; some power she had never known she harbored. It exploded out of her tiara, wrapping her in a gorgeous silver fire; her fire, from within.
Out of nowhere, she found herself standing in the original forest she had started out; the wolf still holding it's cry.
"Wow... the same second I left." She turned to see Cosmos behind her. Cosmos stood, smiling warmly.
"You made it, my child. The first task awaits."
"Task? What task?"
"You must complete five task before you weapon of might can be revived. You must prove yourself worthy of such a power." Deragonu was shocked for a moment. Then, surprising herself, felt angry.
"What do you mean worthy? I survived the fire didn't I? All the pain and tortured? For nothing?!?" Cosmos held out a hand.
"Calm down. Without the transformation, you could not have even been CONSIDERED for the weapon of power. It has benefited you; do not worry." Deragonu closed her mouth. She thought to herself.
"These task... they must be difficult. And painful. For this torture I have gone through seems only to be the beginning." Cosmos continued.
"You must face the Five Elements; Wind, Water, Earth, Fire, and Darkness. They will have their task you complete and conquer. If you fail, you will be transported here, and have no memory of what you have done or seen. But if you complete them all... you will be reward with the Weapon of Power." Deragonu crossed her arms and spoke.
"So, Cosmos, what exactly is this weapon of power?",br> "No one knows really. Only one could possess it's power; The Golden Light. But they only intend to use it for evil, Silver Dragon. That is why you must complete the task before they can reach it."
"What makes you think I'm worthy of such a power?" Cosmos chuckled.
"What? What's so funny?"
"Well, you see, you weren't just picked out of thin air. No; the henshin found you. It searched for the soul it belongs to. Once every Millinium, and new Silver Soul is born, and the dragon awakes again. The dragon awoke sixteen years ago on October 30th." Deragonu gasped.
"That's the day I was born!"
"Exactly. Now," she held out her hand. "Come with me." Deragonu stood still. Cosmos looked expressionless at Deragonu.
"Chose the Silver Dragon. It has already chosen you." Sighing, Deragonu whispered under her breath, "I'm gonna regret this," and took Cosmos' hand.
~~~~~~
Deragonu found herself on a windy prarie sort of place.
"Where are we?" She turned, and Cosmos wasn't there. She heard her voice inside her head.
*You must face these trials alone. But I will be with you... and help as I am allowed.* Deragonu sighed.
"Thanks a lot." She surveyed her surroundings in depth.
The terrain seemed to stretch for miles... endless gold grass swaying in the breeze. The sky was cloudless and a pure blue. It was then that Deragonu noticed that she wasn't Sailor Silver Dragon anymore. But before she could ask, Cosmos answered.
*When you are transported to these different battle fields, you will have to transform over again. Redundent, yes, but a good learning experince." Deragonu smiled. Crossing her arms, she sighed.
"So do I-"
*No, do not speak aloud. Use your mind to talk to me.*
*Okay, like this?*
*Right. Now continue.*
*Fine. So do I sit here and wait? Or go look for whoever or whatever I'm supposed to find?* Deragonu could hear Cosmos' laughter in her ears like the soft tinkling of bells.
*You are impatient. The curse of youth.* Deragonu grinned. *Well, stay here for now. You are on her territory; it will not take her long to find you.*
Deragonu's heart skipped a beat. "Her territory? Will she attack me on sight?*
*No. She knows you are here to fight, but she will not take you by surprise. Not this Warrior anyway. You will be able to sense her long before she comes.*
*Sense her? How?*
*You shall see. Look into the wind, for that is how she will come. Can you feel anything?* Deragonu stared intensly into endless plain.
*No. I can't.*
*Close you eyes. Search for an energy. She is here now, I can feel here.* Deragonu squeezed her eyes shut.
*No, I-* She opened her eyes wide. *I feel her! She's coming! Getting closer... and stronger!* She stared into the wind, but still saw nothing. By now, the wind was getting stronger. Deragonu had to hold her arms in front of her to keep her balance.
*Now would be a good time to transform! You must never let your enemy see anything but your fighting form.*
*Right.* Deragonu's mind raced. *Where is my henshin?*
*You must call it. Hold your hand in the air and call out 'Yobidasu ryuujin henshin!'*
Deragonu pulled one arm out of the now gailing wind and cried "Yobidasu ryuujin henshin!" Out of nowhere, the henshin materialized in her hand. Deragonu gawked at the now glowing stick.
*Deragonu, there's little time! Do it NOW!*
"SILVER SPIRIT SPECTRUM!" Transported into the Void of Space, the transformation began. It was the same as the time before, and even more painful. Deragonu's tears were real. At last the transformation had complete itself. Instantly, she was back on the endless plain, with winds of 50 miles per hour hurling at her.
She expected to just fall over, she felt somewhat stronger as Silver Dragon. The winds pushed her to knees, and the held up her arms as a shield. But the wind grew stronger. It began to slice at her clothes and skin like knives. Blood trickled all over her body, but the wind still grew stronger. Desperate, she cried out to Cosmos, but to no avail.
*So this is how it ends.* She thought. *Beaten to death by a breeze.* Something within her stirred. A feeling surged through her body, into her mind. * No, not like this. I will not be overcome so easily!* She could feel her whole body begin to pulse with energy, and the feeling of anger rose. She could feel herself loosing control. Somthing else was taking over, and she couldn't stop it. *What's happning to me?* She could feel it slipping. She could hold it back no longer. In a huge blast of rage, she flew to her feet. A powerful red aura pulsed strong around her.
"NO! NOT LIKE THIS! I WILL NOT DIE HERE!!!!"
She flung out her arms. Instanly, all the energy that was radiating from her body condensed before her in a red mass. It shone brightly, then hardened into a sheild. The wind alone could not overcome this power. Deragonu clinched her teeth and began pushing back the wind, one step at a time. She had pushed it a full twenty feet, when it suddenly stopped. Relieved, she released the sheild, and the energy seeped back into her body, restoring her strength and her wounds.
*Cosmos?* Still no answer.
Suddenly, she sensed something behind her. She whizzed around and gasped. There stood a lady in pale blue and white clothing; and long silver hair that defied gravity. Her dress was so beautifly made, and all the ribbons on her seem to glow. Her face bore the marks of the Elemental Warriors, but her eyes were blank. She floated about five feet of the ground, twenty yards from Deragonu.
*This will be your first task.*
*Cosmos? Is that you? Where did you go?*
*Saving yourself from the wind was something you had to do on your own. I was not allowed to interfere with what happened.* Deragonu sucked in air. *Cosmos, what DID happen?*
*That is for another time. Right now, your task lay before you.* Deragonu looked at the beautiful woman once more.*
*Her?*
*Yes.*
*But she's so beautiful. How can she be evil?*
*She's not. She's not even real. Her only purpose is to give and challenge to new warriors like yourself. That was why she was created.*
*Is that why her eyes are so... expressionless?*
*Yes.* Deragonu sighed.
*What do I do now?*
*Approach her with cofidence but caution. Never does she open with the same attack twice.*
Deragonu turned once again to the emotionless warrior. She floated, staring at Deragonu in an expressionless way. Deragonu took a few steps towards her. Suddenly, the woman floated down to the ground, and held out her hand. She spoke, and her voice was as quite and gentle as a breeze.
"You are worthy, young warrior. You seem to have enough courage to face me. Very well, but first, I must know the name of my challenger." Deragonu grimaced.
*Is this part of it?* Cosmos answered.
*Yes. If you defeat her, you will be forever known. Each goes the same for all the Elemental Warriors. Give her the name of the Dragon.* Deragonu spoke to the lady of the wind.
"My name is Sailor Silver Dragon. What is yours?"
If it was possible, the woman looked shocked.
"No one has ever asked before. My name is Nekian Bunmaki."
*Wicked Wind?*
*Yes. That was the name given to her.* Deragonu looked back to the warrior.
"Then, Bunmaki, shall we dance? I'm ready to the this over with." The woman's lovely features suddenly grew sharp. Her beautiful face had left her, and she now looked powerful enough to blow a whole city apart. Deragonu winced. *What have I done? There is no way I can defeat her.*
*Yes, you are powerful enough. The power is within you. Who saved you from the wind? You did. That power you felt... was your true power. You must use it to defeat Bunmaki.* Deragonu sighed.
*Fine. I guess I don't have anything to lose.* She grinned confidently.
"Let's rock Bunmaki!" Deragonu tensed, ready to begin her first battle.
~~~~~~
Tenba whizzed through colors and sounds as he traveled through space and time. He was searching for a warrior; one whom he must protect. The amulet glowed slightly as he neared his destination. He thought of the memories it had give him....
He was a Protector. He was initially assigned to the most powerful warrior in the Universe, in her juvinile stage. He was many years older than her, but that was really not a option he had to pick. When first assigned to her, we was frightened. She was so powerful; why did she need a Protector? He found out soon after that she didn't need physical protecting; only her heart was very fragile. He soon grew very good friends with her; she had spunk, character, and a sweet nature. He soon was in love.
But only a year after her had confessed his love, her henshin was stolen by a powerful Golden Force. Without her henshin, she could not transform into thr powerful fighter she had become. The Golden Light destroyed their planet, Akari, the planet of light. Sailor Cosmos was able to save everyone on the planet by sending them to Earth; where they would begin life over again, mingled with the natives. Now that he knew this, his hear longed to see her again. But would she remember him?
The amulet began to pulse slightly, and Tenba knew he had come to the place where he would enter. He stepped through the portal...
He was in a pairie. Long yellow grass whipped around his legs as a rough wind blew. His cape ruffled wildly. Surveying the area, he saw no one.
"Perhaps the amulet could have been wrong?", he thought. He pulled it out of his pocket. It still pulsed gently as it had in the timp warp. Tenba sighed and turned around to leave. Suddenly, the amulet began to pulse harder. Tenba stopped, then turn the amulet to his right. The hard pulsing stopped. He turned to his left, and it began again.
"Like a tracking device!" He spoke aloud to himself. Looking far to the left, he could see a giant tornado. He began walking towards it. As he got closer, he saw that it wasn't a tornado; but some kind of human, and something smaller across from it. Closer still, he could see clearly enough to identify the objects. The tornado-being was a woman; dressed in white and blue, glowing in power. The smaller object stood tensed across the the wind-woman. Tenba's heart skipped a beat.
"Tearusuno Deragonu!" he whispered. He stared longly at her; she was just as he remembered her. He long to run to her, but he knew he must wait until the time was right. Drawing his sword, he crouched in the tall grass, waiting for the battle to comense. His heart was racing; he could not take his eyes of her. Even in her angry challengeing face; she was beautiful. But still, he had to have one question answered;
"Does she remember me?"