THE SHADOWS OF TIME

By Christine Joseph


ACT SIX: SHADOW WARRIOR VS. SAILOR PLUTO - BATTLE FOR THE STONES

(Story continues after mysterious shout from a female voice. In the distance stands Rei, and some other guests.)

From out of the darkness, a golden sword shone, sticking out in direct threat to the evil within Mamoru.

"Don't move, Mamoru-san, " warned Sailor Uranus. She stepped out of the darkness, and beside her, Neptune revealed herself. Rei looked on as Uranus threatened Mamoru.

Strangely, Mamoru smiled deviously at Uranus. Her eyes narrowed at the blatant invitation for battle. Neptune pulled out her mirror, ready to back Uranus all the way.

"Let her GO!" shouted Rei. She was tempted to transform into Sailor Mars, but this was not the right time to do it.

Mamoru raised his hand toward Rei and sot her with a blast of energy, sending her to the grassy surface. Uranus wanted to go and help Rei, but she knew that she had to hold her ground. Sailor Pluto stepped between Uranus and Neptune, facing Mamoru.

"Release her, Warrior. She is not the one you want," Pluto declared, pointing her staff at Mamoru.

A deep devilish voice erupted from his throat. "You know I cannot release her, Pluto. Unless you give me what I want," the being from within spoke.

How could Pluto plea-bargain with this demon from another dimension? That was one thing she couldn't stand for. With the assurance that her aim was excellent, Uranus began her attack.

"Crystal ATTACK!!!!!!" She jumped into the warrior with all her might only for him to hold the edge of the sword with his two forefingers. Uranus stood in shock and was "greeted" with a excess of energy blasts that sent her into the water.

"Uranus!" Neptune screamed in horror, looking at her fallen partner. She was filled with extreme rage. "SUBMARINE REFLECTION!!"

Her blast hit a red forcefield that was surrounding both Usagi and Mamoru. Neptune was fortunate to not have been hurt after what he did to Uranus.

"Will you give me the crystals now, Pluto? Time's a wastin' . ." the being asked roughly, far from the tone of a request. "This precious one here. ."he said, lifting Usagi from the ground by the neckline, "will die a slow and very painful death if you do not give them to me."

Pluto looked briefly at Uranus and Neptune, trying to decide her course of action. What could she do? She didn't have the Golden Prism yet, and she couldn't defeat him as he was in his heightened energy state. She had to give her crystals up wit the hopes that she could get the Prism back. At the very moment Pluto took a small step toward Mamoru, the rest of the Inner Senshi and Sailor Saturn arrived.

Rei turned to face them. "How did you know we were here?" Rei asked curiously.

"Thanks to Saturn," Jupiter smiled at her fellow senshi. "She woke us up and told us Usagi was in danger." Her smile dissipated at the sight ahead of her. "What are you doing Pluto?"

Pluto stopped to look at Jupiter. "I have no choice, Jupiter.""Of course you do! You can fight!" Rei shouted. "Mars Crystal Power, MAKE UP!!!"

Mars looked on with the other Sailor Soldiers as Pluto laid the crystals on the ground.

"I'm not moving from this spot until you release Usagi," Pluto said, her hand covering the 4 crystals.

His lust for the crystals was great, so he dropped the impenetrable forcefield, allowing Usagi to fall to the ground. The being raised Mamoru's hands, summoning the stone within. Mamoru's body blended into an intense red light, forcing the senshi to cover their eyes. From the center of his chest flew out a red stone in a gush of blood. They could see the pain Mamoru was in as he screamed. The stone floated in front of his body for a few seconds until it cracked open to reveal a large red crystal within. As the light began to fade, the senshi noticed that the Shadow Warrior had left Mamoru's body and now stood on his own two feet. His dark, disfigured hand grasped the floating crystal tightly.

"I now have three, Pluto. I released the two humans, NOW MOVE!!!" his voice echoed, commanding.

Pluto nodded slightly to Jupiter and Venus. She then turned her head in the direction of Usagi and Mamoru. Get them, she thought. Almost hearing what she thought, they quickly ran to the two and pulled them a safe distance from the Shadow Warrior. Pluto got up and stepped away from the stones. The Shadow Warrior put out his hand and the crystals floated to him.

Everyone stood in awe as the crystals formed the Golden Prism. It floated in a circular motion for a second until he grabbed it.

"I've got it now!! NO ONE can stop me!!" his evil laugh made itself at home in each senshi.

"How can we fight him now?" Neptune asked Pluto, her eyebrows drawn.

She looked to Mercury for an analytical answer, but all she could do was shrug. Even Mercury didn't know how to compete with the power of the Golden Prism.

"Enough! If no one will fight, then I guess I will!" Jupiter stepped forward. "Jupiter. . .Oak EVOLUTION!!"

The Golden Prism blocked all of Jupiter's shots with a golden barrier. Nothing works, she thought.

"You won't control time, Shadow Warrior. Only I can truly stop you. You know this," Pluto stepped forward. "You were once a loyal, good warrior for the Queen. You can still return home."

"Home? I have NOTHING there. They banished me from the entire galaxy. I know I cannot go back. Not that I'd WANT to with all this power in my hands!" he said raising the Golden Prism above his head.

Venus decided to take advantage of the opportunity. She stepped forward, a deeply serious look on her face.

"Venus!" she shouted, beginning her NEW attack. She dropped her hand to pick up her. ."PLANET. .." A figure of her guardian planet appeared in her hands. Her body turned to the right and the "planet" began to separate into ribbons.". .LOVE RIBBON!!!!" She aimed directly for the Golden Prism, and ribbons of hearts shot with extra force at the object in his hand.

The other senshi stared at Venus for a second and wondered what that attack was. Where did THAT come from? The important thing was that it worked.

The Golden Prism flew out of his hand and was suspended in the air for several seconds, and abruptly fell in front of Sailor Pluto. A smile came across her face.

Now to end this mess they had both created, she thought, as she bent down, and picked up the Golden Prism.

"Dead SCREAM!!!" Pluto whispered her shockwave attack. The Shadow Warrior held his ground, still powered up from the Prism's power and Mamoru's energy. Pluto waited for him to return the fire, but he didn't. What was he up to?

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