Sailor Moon Silver Legacy

Act VII: Cleansing Fire (Part 2)

Screwing up her eyes and thrusting her rod-filled hand into the air with all the courage she could muster, Makoto cried out the hitherto forgotten magic words, "Jupiter Crystal Pow—argh!"

She had taken too long. A green flash like the ones she had witnessed earlier filled the room and she was overcome with pain. From its fallen position, the Youma had fired an energy ray into Rei's room. It struck Makoto in the back, causing her to yell out and drop her crystal. She fell to her knees as her enemy rose.

"Your actions did not compute," the Youma chided, entering the room again.

Makoto could sense it standing over her, but she had spotted her crystal. It had rolled under Rei's bed. She stretched out her arm to reach it as the monster continued, "Why would you attack an opponent who is obviously—would you desist?"

The Youma had turned to Rei, who was screaming louder and with more fury than ever.

"What's going on in there, Datadump?" the deep voice from before called out. The Youma's ally was approaching. If Makoto could just reach her crystal

"Just a human that won't shut up," said Datadump.

"Then shut it up!" its unseen ally instructed.

"It was no use. Makoto's crystal was out of her reach and the Youma was moving toward Rei. As its screen began to glow ominously, Makoto abandoned her attempt, launched herself upward, and dove in front of Rei. She took the force of a second energy Ray to the back and collapsed on the screaming girl.

Rei fell silent, her bulging eyes transfixed on Makoto, who whispered, "I'm sorry Rei. Forgive me..." before passing out.

Those words. Those same words —Usagi's last words—triggered something in Rei, and the memories of that day flashed before her eyes.

***

"Burning Mandala!" cried Sailor Mars, her red collar and waist-length black hair rippling behind her as she released a spread of eight fireballs at the alien insurgents. Each fiery globe found a target and exploded on impact. However, more of the yellow creatures soon replaced them.

"There's more coming!" cried Sailor Mercury. "They're flowing out of the queen's body!"

Mars took a moment to scan the distance. New enemies were indeed pouring out of a gelatinous being four times the size of the others. It was producing new warriors as fast as the Sailor Soldiers could defeat them. Could the queen produce them indefinitely? If so, taking out her minions wasn't going to get them anywhere.

Across the battlefield, Rei's comrades were engaged in battle. Even the outer planet soldiers, with their stronger powers, were having trouble holding back the oncoming horde. She knew it was up to her. She had the best long-distance attack, after all. If she could take out the Queen, it might put an end to the fight.

First, Mars had to take care of the next wave of gooey lifeforms slopping their way toward her and Sailor Moon. Bringing her hands together with her index fingers extended, she created a focal point for her energy. Then, when a spark of flame appeared, she thrust outward as if pointing a gun, and cried, "Blazing Soul!"

A jet of fire burst forth from Mars' fingertips and consumed a mass of enemies. Mars turned around momentarily, distracted by a muffled gasping noise. Behind her, Sailor Moon wore an agonized expression as she watched the mouthless aliens silently drowning in the sea of fire.

Mars tutted in annoyance. Who did Usagi think they were fighting for? It was the Sailor Soldiers' job to protect her, the Moon Princess, their future queen. Just because these aliens had spun some sob story about losing their planet—if they were even telling the truth—didn't mean they could just invade Earth.