As Doro led the girls into the Spirit World, the Sailor Senshi, Naru, and Luna looked around in wonder. The three Makendo girls looked at each other and smiled. Sabi, Hikari's dog, had elected to stay behind.
"Is that a Tengu?" Sailor Mercury asked.
"Karasu-Tengu. They are the ones who act as forces of nature to prevent too much power being held by any one person," Mai replied. "This is the Spirit World or Yokai Plane or in the West the Faerie Realm. This where the creatures of most myths and new formed legends live when they don't visit the Human World."
Sailor Mercury frowned, as she looked around. "You mentioned a throne to the Spirit World. What is that about?"
Mai looked up at the sky and shrugged. "The Spirit King vanished a while back and no one has been able claim the throne fully. There is a belief that the fall of the Moon Kingdom is what caused the throne to be vacant. The Spirit World exists alongside the Human World and is probably what formed contacts with the old Moon Kingdom."
"I've always believed that Earth was not ready to be part of the Moon Kingdom," Luna said.
"Propaganda spread by the Moon Kingdom to their subjects. Tir Na Nog, Atlantis, Mu, Prester John's Emerald Realm, Never Never Land, Oz, and a lot of other mystical and mythical lands exist here. Yes, Atlantis did sink," Doro explained with a smile. "However, the various aquatic Spirits moved in and it has become a valuable member of the Spirit World."
"How could Never Never Land be a part of the Spirit World? I mean it's a fictional world created by an author," Mercury inquired.
"Belief," Doro said. "Remember what Mai said that magic is belief and belief is magic? That's what happened with Never Never Land and Oz. Heck, we even have two British fictional characters that work in England. I believe you know them. They are Sherlock Holmes and John Watson."
"What? They're real?" Mercury exclaimed.
Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Luna, and Naru blinked in shock at that revelation.
"Sort of. They aren't human and really don't leave the Spirit World, other than in dreams or living through their adventures on various television programs," Mai answered.
The group stopped in front of a megalithic building that had four columns stationed around each corner. On the top of each column was a jet-black gargoyle.
"Welcome to Spirit Police Headquarters," Doro said. "Don't mind the gargoyles, they had lunch half an hour ago."
With that cheerful statement, Doro lead the group inside the police station. The Sailor Senshi and Moon Cat tried to fight off their shock when they saw a bunch of human looking beings, save the pointed ears and occasional odd skin and eye color, wearing black uniforms that had the image of a pair of menacing eyes on the front.
"The eyes on the uniforms can glow in the dark, blink and wink," Hikari said with a laugh. "Just think of seeing a pair of glowing eyes like that in the dark approaching you. It tends to keep the normal humans far away from Spirit World incursions."
Sailor Moon shivered at that. "No thank you. Why didn't you three show up when...?"
Mai took a deep breath and released it. "Usagi, we don't live in Tokyo. Most of the stuff that we have to deal with only starts making incursions on Tokyo if they aren't stopped. Other than the pranksters, the Spirit Police and Makendo can put a stop to them. The stupid Spirits try for Tokyo and usually wind up getting wiped out by a tourist by accident. Japanese Spirits aren't all that scary compared to some of the stuff that has come over from the West."
"Tell me about it, cousin," Saya said. "The snake-legged woman from Greece was really annoying."
"Snake-legged woman?" Mars asked.
"I believe her name is Echinda. She moved to Japan during World War Two to start a family after her husband Typhon was freed from his imprisonment by bombing runs," Saya said. "They're the ones responsible for a lot of the newer Spirit species that we've had to deal with. We have the two of them confined to the Northern Island for the most part."
Sailor Mars felt like gagging at that comment. Doro snapped his fingers and headed over to a computer station and started typing on the keyboard. Seeing the looks of disbelief from the Sailor Senshi, Doro chuckled.
"Just because we're magical and beings of myth, doesn't mean we're stupid. Computers are very useful tools on storing information," Doro said, smiling, and patted the side of his computer. "We've enchanted this computer with high amounts of magic and in three years, it's going to have to be replaced. There are a few Spirits that have embraced technology such as computers and have pushed it beyond normal boundaries. Dr. Mud works with cyborgs and Mashin Garekki is the culmination of another Spirit scientist's work. Ah. Here it is. The Moon Kingdom's Silver Crystal."
"You have a file on the Silver Crystal?" Mercury asked.
"Yes. It is an artifact of magical power and is one of the central items during the war with Metalia," Doro replied. "Ouch. This thing is not nice to leave laying around."
"Doro? What are you talking about?" Mai asked.
"It's an artifact of peaceful order. Note, I did not say good. Whoever wields it, unless they are strong of will and emotion will be influenced to bring about an orderly and peaceful society. If this Beryl twit gets it, she'll be influenced to create a very nasty regime where any disobedience is punished by death. If Sailor Moon, for example, wields it without knowing of its power, she'd be influenced to bring about what would look like a peaceful utopia where no one would be upset by banishing the evil from human's hearts along with any and all free will," Doro explained. "The pieces should be gathered up and locked up or destroyed."
"The Silver Crystal is the only thing that can stand up to Beryl and Metalia," Luna objected.
Doro turned his chair and stared down at the Moon Cat. "You are wrong Luna. There are other artifacts that can do that. It was the over reliance on the Silver Crystal that brought about the end of the Moon Kingdom. You're former queen relied upon it, instead of herself to keep the peace. It just sat there for two generations and gathered dust, while influencing the rulers. That's why Queen Serenity is dead. She didn't push herself of her magic. At any rate, let's get the other five crystals and get them locked up."
Sailor Moon nodded and held the Crescent Moon Wand out to Doro. Doro did a quick scan on the wand and chuckled when it came up. He tossed the wand over to Saya and shook his head.
"Saya, you're the expert with the long range abilities. It's time to play magical sniper. Put the wand into the barrel of your gun," Doro said.
Saya did as Doro directed and blinked as the crescent moon started revolving. Upon a closer look, it turned out the wand was revolving inside the gun. Doro quickly tapped at the keys of his computer and a map of Tokyo appeared. Six different colored lights appeared on the map. One was at the Hikawa Shrine. The color red was missing from the map.
"I think we can do this in a single night," Doro said. "Saya while the wand is in your gun, your own sight will be affected. Those who carry a crystal will glow with an aura. You gun will fire a blast of healing energy that will prevent the being from turning into a Youma and will extract the crystal harmlessly."
"A single night? That's impossible," Luna said.
"No, it's not. It's just very difficult," Hikari said with a laugh. "Doro, I think I should go in case Zoicite shows up."
"True. Go on," Doro said. "As to being impossible, you forget one thing. This is the main police station that handles all the Spirit problems for Japan. The Makendo are our heavy enforcement arm."
The two younger Makendo girls left Spirit Police Headquarters, leaving Mai to shake her head at the stares of disbelief.
"Hikari and Saya have worked on their own before. I can't pretend that they can't take care of themselves. Hikari is great at straight out assault and Saya with her healing abilities and sharp shooting can keep the both of them on the field for long periods of time. Sabi, Hikari's dog, is great at scouting and has the ability to fly," Mai stated.
"What's your?" Jupiter asked.
"Mine? My specialty? I don't have one. For a little while, I was equal to all three of them, along with Makenkah. They slowly pushed one of their abilities to exceed mine in relationship to their personality. I think that has to do with me being the only Makendo on the force. I was forced to learn everything, and if you tell me that I'm the master of none, you are mistaken. I'm a master at what I do; I'm just not a grand master," Mai replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Mercury asked.
"Your mother is a doctor isn't she?" Mai asked.
Mercury nodded.
"Well, if my skills were translated to doctor skills, I would be equal to the current masters in the various fields. Now let's say Saya is specialized in brain surgery. I'd be able to do what a master doctor can do in brain surgery, but Saya would be able to take individual cells from dead animals and successfully transplant them into the patient with no rejection. That's what I meant. I'm a master in the fields I do know, but they are just so much more in their specialties," Mai explained.
"Oh," Mercury whispered.
"Mai? What happens when the crystals have been recovered?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Lock them up in different holding vaults and then move on to more important things, such as getting you trained to access your abilities better," Mai said and jerked her right thumb towards Doro. "If I know, and I do, he'll be after you to join the Spirit Police."
"Mai, we do need to keep the more impulsive elements of the Spirit World in check," Doro said.
"Right. Like the giant bird that just goes around creating a strong wind to cause girls' skirts to fly up? Doro, most of the Spirits are harmless pranksters," Mai said in a weary tone and then looked at Sailor Moon. "Old argument. Don't worry about it."
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(Posted Sat, 06 Jan 2007 05:40)
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