Sailor Moon Silver Legacy

Act V: Secrets and Liars (Part 4)

With a blinding orange flash, Venus' transformation failed, and she collapsed to the floor in her Sailor V guise, her Crystal Change Rod lying next to her with fresh signs of damage.

"Minako!" Mercury cried, lifting herself off her protectees and rushing to the girl's side.

Minako was in bad shape. Her skin was red raw once again, and despite being unconscious, she was shaking slightly with a pained expression across her face.

"Try to bring the others round, Luna," said Mercury. "Artemis' energy should return now that the monster's gone, but since he's not human, it may still be a while. I'm going to take Minako up to her apartment."

Luna nodded and mumbled affirmatively as Sailor Mercury scooped up the injured girl and her rod, then leaped into the night air. "Makoto? Makoto can you hear me?" Luna spoke as she leaned her front paws on the schoolteacher's shoulder and rocked her gently.

"Wha-what?" Makoto uttered groggily.

Luna sighed with relief. Makoto had only been knocked out. Ami would have to check her for a concussion, but she would probably be up and around in no time. If what Ami said was true, Artemis should be okay too. Minako was another matter.

***

After Mercury returned, she powered down with a soft flash of blue, and carried Artemis up to Minako's apartment via the elevator, while providing a shoulder of support to Makoto.

"What's wrong with her?" Makoto asked, observing the sleeping Minako shake as Ami laid Artemis down on the other side of her bed.

Ami didn't answer. She was torn between telling the truth and respecting Minako's wishes.

"How could she have taken so much damage? With her powers, a monster like that should have been a pushover!"

"It was stronger than it looked," Ami asserted evasively.

"Maybe physically, but other than its ability to reform, it didn't seem to have any special powers. Why is Minako so red and bruised?"

Ami fussed with Minako's pillows, but Makoto pressed for an answer.

"And what about that cut on her forehead? That's not new, it's been stitched up. Was she injured before tonight's fight? And what were you even doing at the park tonight? Were you in the area to visit Minako? Or were you tracking the monster?"

"Just tell her, Ami," Luna urged. "Makoto needs to know what's going on."

"Yes. I suppose it can't be avoided any longer," Ami sighed.

"Tell me what?" Makoto asked with a note of frustration.

"Not here. Artemis will recover naturally if he's kept hydrated, but I need to fetch some equipment from the hospital to monitor Minako and administer medication. I'll tell you everything on the way," Ami explained. "Will you watch over them, Luna?"

"Of course," the black cat replied.

***

"Your keys," Ami said as she and Makoto approached the red hatchback ten minutes later.

"What?"

"Give me your keys."

"I can drive!"

"You were knocked out. You could have a concussion. I'm not letting you drive."

"Fine, but you better explain what all this is about!" Makoto snapped as she reluctantly handed over her car keys.

Makoto waited patiently until Ami started the car and they got underway, but after a few minutes of silence, she finally had to ask, "So, what's going on, Ami?"