Sailor Moon Silver Legacy

Act VI: Time to Heal (Part 4)

"Hiiiii-ya!" Makoto expelled, kicking the air forcefully after a series of punches. She then paused to wipe the sweat from her brow and catch her breath. She couldn't believe how out of shape she was. After a week of using the school gym after hours, her old training regimen was still proving to be too much for her. If the dull ache in Makoto's joints was any indication, she may even have overdone it.

She knew that overcoming her fear of fighting wasn't going to be a straightforward process, but she was dissatisfied with her progress. It wasn't just a matter of fitness either. Makoto could tell that her moves lacked power and precision. Apparently, even fighting imaginary opponents was giving her pause.

Suddenly aware of how tired she was, Makoto decided to call it a day. After all, on top of training every morning and evening that week, she hadn't given up her day job, and that had become more stressful recently. The school had insisted that Mr. Mori take some time off following his hospitalization, so Makoto was spending a lot of additional time and energy assisting the class next door and their substitute teacher.

Most of the students had settled back into their normal routine since Maladoll's appearance, but their parents were another matter. Every drop-off and collection brought with it a horde of concerned mothers and fathers, who pressed Makoto for information on how their child was coping or what new safety measures the school would be introducing.

Some parents even questioned what Makoto had been doing during the attack, which she, of course, had mixed feelings about. She still felt incredibly guilty about what took place that day, but it wasn't as if she had done nothing to protect the children. She may not have transformed, but she had certainly done as much as could be expected of a regular teacher in such a situation.

After downing some water from her water bottle, Makoto returned to the staff changing room, removed her karate gi, and took a quick shower before packing up her things and heading to her car. As tired as she was, it occurred to her that she hadn't visited Rei in days, so decided to stop by the hospital on her way home.

***

"Report, Jadeite," Morgan ordered.

"Yes, Mistress," the blonde man answered with a smug smile, stepping out from behind her chair at the meeting table, so he could be seen clearly by the other three Blood Moon Alliance leaders and their guards. "Energy collection has been going well—"

"Oh?" King Tanzan interjected. "I heard that a number of your warriors have been disposed of."

"And I heard that the humans have been made aware of your activities," added Commander Vardas.

Morgan frowned, annoyed by the other leaders rudely interrupting her servant.

"The humans have indeed noticed our operation," Jadeite continued with a polite nod of acknowledgment to Vardas. "I'm afraid discovery was inevitable considering our energy requirements. Even so, while they send large numbers to intercept us, they are slow to respond. By acting quickly and decisively, the Youma have been able to gather what we need.

"The ones that make it back alive, you mean?" said Tanzan dryly.

Jadeite nodded to Tanzan this time. "We have lost a number of Youma to the cause, but they are easily replaced, thanks to my mistress," Jadeite simpered.

"I can create more than one a day with my magic now," Morgan boasted.

"But why have they needed replacing at all?" Vardas asked. "Is it the Silver Crystal's protector?"

"The humans may have played a hand in the Youma's destruction," Jadeite proposed, "but it seems more likely that Sailor V is responsible."

"Corg?" Vardas spoke, and his new sub-commander stepped out from behind his chair.