[Episode 28862] [Episode 28862]She had managed to determine what had occured and cursed herself for the overlook. She searched for the senshi too far into their lives. She should have started at conception, if she had this would not have taken her by surprise. Apparently, Metallia had cast their souls into the Makai when Serenity had woven the spell of resurrection.
Naturally, they had all been conceived and born as darkstalkers. Once the basics had been determined she found it relatively easy to determine most of the specifics. None of them were what one would call average denizens of the Makai. So they had two sets of enemies to worry about now, and hiding in human form was difficult for a number of them now.
Secrecy was about to be blown out of the water. They were coming to a time of open warfare. And glancing forward she saw something approaching that would make sure of that, but she was unclear as to what it was exactly.
As for where the others were, they were nearby, near enough to come by their own powers, either dark or light, quickly. Assuming she needed the aid, of course.
All she had to do was send a message.
She took a deep breath to take in the aroma of her tea (with a deal more honey than she was used to, and paused, something smelled -
Setsuna gagged as a cord slipped around her neck and she was pulled backwards out from behind her chair. Glancing back she saw what appeared to be a grey-skinned man smiling widely and pulling on some sort of lasso the other end of which was around her neck.
"I knew this would be a good place to watch when I smelled the place," the man spoke in English with a distinct Australian accent. "You're a powerful one girlie, I can tell, make a right fine sacrifice for my boss, you will."
Before, Setsuna would have been in some trouble, unable to talk and call out the activation phrase to call upon her senshi power, but not all her powers were sealed behind a disguise any longer. She grabbed at the rope lasso and pulled back. Giving enough of a pull to shock the other darkstalker for long enough to regain her feet.
"Oh, quite a strong one you are lady," the gray man said smiling and pulling her closer to him. She pulled down enough to keep the pressure from her throat and glared at him coolly.
"You don't begin to know," Setsuna said, hoarsely, rubbing at her throat. "By the way, your rope is hemp."
"What's that got to do with any..." Setsuna's attacker was interrupted as his rope began curling in his hands and growing alive and green with thorns.
"Hemp is a plant," Setsuna said simply as the now-living vine joined her body and moved down merge with and appear to exit her arm.
"Oh, indeedy," the angry Australian said.
An instant later Setsuna's appropriated vine was ripped asunder as the darkstalker dropped its surprise and she found herself facing a large skeletal zombie wielding what appeared to be a guitar.
"Well, Lord Raptor has still has a trick or two up his sleeve, he does," the zombie said, watching as Setsuna completed assorbing the vine that was now dribbling sap as if from a bleeding wound. "Did that 'urt? Oh, I'm sorry."
"A minimal pain," Setsuna said, shaking out her hand as the vine completely joined her body. The wooden frame work of the wall near Raptor contorted and shifted, spearing into the zombie.
"Ooof," Raptor gasped as he slammed into the opposing wall. "Not much you can do to my body little girl, I'm undead, you know, tear me apart the spirit goes on. Not like you, little flower girl."
The rib bones speared out from him and into Setsuna who covered her face as they stabbed into her. She slid back, gasping at holding at the wounds in her body, bleeding sap. Strangely it didn't feel so painful or debilitating as it should have.
"Granted," the zombie continued as it advanced on the stumbling girl. "You'll be plenty hard to kill, and I don't get nothing for killing you in battle so it'll be even 'arder to take you down. Still, ain't nothing you got that can take me down good, so I'll get you sooner or later, and then we'll be pouring some plant killer down yor throat and sending your soul to my employer."
Setsuna rolled her eyes at overlooking something so simple. Plants were much more capable of surviving massive physical damage than humans were, and had much less in the way of complex internal organs. There was virtually nothing the zombie could pierce that would do much damage to her.
"We'll see about that," Setsuna said. Worse come to worse, Ami's computer would have alerted the others to the battle and she'd soon have help, but she'd rather take care of this on her own. She didn't like the idea of being rescued.
Something she smiled as she considered an experiment. She didn't think she'd have the time for a full senshi transformation fighting this creature, and the transformation would leave her more vulnerable than she liked.
It would mean a little mixxing of powers but, she needed to touch his spirit and that would require some of her senshi powers, even if she didn't have the full set up for a dead scream. That was the problem with the powers of order, they were stronger when given preparation. They presented a stronger defense and set longer lasting effects. Chaos was much better at spontaneous need.
"Oh, and what are you going to do about it?" Raptor asked. Setsuna stood up straight and smiled in a superior manner. Then she flicked her hands and vines grew into existence to wrap around her opponent. "You tried this before..."
"Castigation," Setsuna whispered, triggering a coruscating aura of green and white lightning along her arms and vines settling into the zombie and setting him to screaming in pain as their spirits clashed and the stronger tore into the weaker.
The vines retreated back into Setsuna and she faced the staggering zombie confidentally.
"Shall we continue?" she asked.
"That weren't the Dark," Raptor said, humor all gone.
"Well it was, and it wasn't," Setsuna said. "Want me to call my full power and try some more experiments?" The zombie faltered and considered.
And then the sound and feel of more approaching darkstalkers decided him.
"We'll settle this, later, chicka!" he declared and ran for his undead existence shortly before Minako flashed into existence beside Setsuna.
"Setsuna what..." she gasped. Setsuna was the very appearance of a victim from some American slasher film. Except the 'blood' wasn't pouring quickly out of her and was actually a viscous sort of sap. "Did they attack you?"
"Another darkstalker," Setsuna said. "He was lying in wait for someone to show up." Usagi came in and saw Setsuna and gasped. "It's not as bad as it looks Usagi." She paused a moment. "I think I will sit down, though."
"Yes, do," Usagi said authoritatively. Gently pushing Setsuna down into a chair before standing up and calling on her senshi powers.
"He got away," Rei said as she came in to the house, her anger and irritation was visible in the form of the smoldering footsteps she was leaving behind. Above and beyond the obvious fury in her face.
"He had help nearby," Ami added.
The yuki-onna had been waiting patiently for the angry Rei to walk safely out of the doorway before entering herself. Ami was apparently her normal cool and calm self. But apparently the little control she had learned had vanished somehow as the doorframe froze solid as she passed by it.
Setsuna was too busy looking at Usagi's Sailor Moon form to notice the continued destruction to her home.
Sailor Moon, as mixed with Princess Aensland, presented an interesting image. Mature, caring and incredibly sensual.
Her light had always been strong as Sailor Moon, and she was still as bright as ever, but the shadows stood out clearer now, sharper. The contrast was brighter, but it wasn't at war as light and dark were expected to do.
Setsuna was rapt as the warming touch of light and the soothing cool of shadow reached down over her and drove the pain of her wounds away. She gasped as Usagi's hands trailed over her, finding the places where Raptor's ribs had slashed into her and closing each one.
"Are you feeling better?" Sailor Moon's voice seemed to be coming from somewhere distant (the moon) and close (her own soul) as Setsuna nodded in answer.
Then Sailor Moon stepped back and the effect faded, though Setsuna was comforted by the fact that she apparently wasn't the only one affected by the picture of light and darkness so exquisitely mixxed.
"But we need to speak to the others now more than ever," Setsuna said, reluctantly trying to shake off the rapture. "Before someone like this Lord Raptor finds them."
"I thought you made enough money that you didn't have to fly freight anymore."
"Just check me out of baggage already."
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(Posted Sat, 15 Feb 2003 14:21)
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