"Sailormoon Dark Episodes 1-3," Pretty Soldier Sailormoon, PG-13
A note from the author: Sailormoon Dark was inspired by the original Japanese version of "Sailormoon," meaning that it will use the names and relationships that were present in that version, including some Japanese words and customs. "Sailor Moon" was created by Naoko Takeuchi. This fanfic will at times have a bit more violence than you might be used to from Sailormoon. Because of that, and because of certain romantic relationships that some may consider adult territory, I am putting a warning on this fanfic that it may not be appropriate for those under the age of 13.
To enjoy this fanfic, you should probably fit the following "requirements":
--Love the original SM in Japanese (subtitled), not the dub
--Like the anime over the manga, although some manga elements are explored
--Believe Haruka and Michiru are lovers
--Don't mind Tuxedo Mask being kidded for being lame, or just outright hate him (notice I said Tuxedo Mask; I like Mamoru sans tuxedo and stupid top hat)
--Like yuri (girl/girl) relationships (most of the senshi are female, so I don't see how yuri can be completely avoided)
--Enjoy Outer Senshi-centric fics
--Enjoy relationships being the central focus and conflict over constant battles (though they are there, primarily to cause angst)
--Love fan-created senshi
--Love long fanfic series
--Have a sense of humor
--Have a tolerance of "fringe" religions
--Don't mind that I may not agree with all of your favorite things/couples/characters from Sailor Moon; therefore, I may pair up two people you would not, or kill off a character you love. Nothing personal.
One last thing and then I can shut up and get on with the story. This fanfic is full of spoilers for the entire Sailor Moon series. Just wanted to warn you!
Sailormoon Dark: Episode One
"University Orientation I. The broken mirror!"
Written by Laurel
Word Count: 4,002
Inspired by the Japanese animated show Pretty Soldier Sailormoon. The ideas for this fanfic were conceived in 1995, but this actual episode was written in December 1999-January 2000.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh! Can you believe it??!! Me, Tsukino Usagi, a university student?! Really, it's true! But our very special orientation is spoiled by a new enemy. How dare they interrupt the most special day of my life! Well... the second most special day... or is that third? Pretty Soldier Sailormoon Dark: University Orientation Part I. The broken mirror! The moonlight carries the message of love."
In the dark of Usagi's room, she lay in her bed, unable to sleep because of her excitement over what was to happen the next day. "Luna, do you think the university orientation will be interesting?"
The moon cat stretched before folding her legs under her and laying down to rest. "Yes, I think it will be very interesting for you, Usagi-chan. The beginning of a wonderful period in your life."
"Do you think there will be snacks there?"
"Yes Usagi. A whole table full."
"Do you think there will be gifts for all the new students?"
"Yes Usagi. It is most polite to give gifts at such major events."
"Do you think there will be lots of cute boys there, Luna?" Usagi asked with a giggle.
Luna sighed, a sweat drop appearing on the side of her head. "Yes Usagi, but you will not be able to keep your eyes open to see them if you do not go to sleep!"
"Alright, I get the picture, cheeky cat." Usagi spent a minute being silent and lying completely still. Then she suddenly sat up, throwing off the covers so quickly that Luna flew from the bed. "I am too excited to sleep, Luna! There will be snacks and presents and cute boys there! Tomorrow I will be beginning my adulthood at a prestigious university! Me, Tsukino Usagi, the girl who used to cry over everything and get nothing but poor grades. This is the most exciting moment I have ever experienced! Lucky!" She flashed her first two fingers at a cat that was no longer there. "Luna?! How could you leave when I am discussing the most important moment of my young life?!"
A furry black head slowly poked up over the side of the bed. "You knocked me out."
"Oh." Usagi looked most embarrassed. "Eh heh heh. Sorry Luna."
Crawling back up into the bed, the cat suggested, "Why don't you take that sleeping aide your mother prepared for you? There's no harm in getting a little help to rest before an important day."
"But what if it makes me oversleep? I don't want to be late for orientation," Usagi protested.
Luna licked at her paw. "Then I will make sure you get up on time. I have not taken a sleeping aide, right?"
"Right!" Quickly downing the sleeping aide (which was a sleeping pill crushed and dissolved in water), Usagi diligently settled into bed. "Goodnight Luna!"
"-Yawn!- Goodnight Usagi-chan.
"Useless fools, all of them. What did they ever do for me?"
Her head feeling muddled, Usagi was partially awakened by a familiar voice speaking in her room. "Issssh someone thhhere?" she slurred. The sleeping potion was strong, and she had not been asleep for long.
Someone's long black hair flowed in the breeze coming in through the open balcony doors. The moonlight reflected on its shiny strands. The figure moved toward the bed until the terribly sleepy Usagi could see her. Usagi found herself looking into her own face.
"I have evolved beyond you," the figure said. "I do not need you anymore."
Usagi yawned so wide her mouth was like a miniature Grand Canyon. "That'sh nice, Usagi." She laid her head down and went back to sleep.
There were low, critical snickers in all corners of the room. Several figures leapt from the balcony, leaving the sleeping girl to her dreams of university life.
With a mighty stretch, Luna awakened in Usagi's bed alone. "Usagi? Usagi-chan?"
She answered the cat's call, emerging from the closet dressed in her university uniform. "Here I am Luna."
"Usagi! Don't you look nice. You're all ready to go?" She looked at the clock. "You're not anywhere near being late! Haven't you grown into a responsible young woman..." Luna beamed with pride.
Preening her plaid pleated skirt, Usagi beamed back with her own pride. "I have been up for an hour already. I even beat you to getting out of bed." She laughed giddily.
Luna narrowed her eyes. "It's not that funny. Come, Usagi-chan, go to the full-length mirror and have a good look at yourself in your lovely university uniform."
As Usagi approached the mirror, Luna walked the length of the bed, continuing to beam with contentment over how well things were going for her Usagi. The girl realized that the mirror had been rotated in its stand so that the backside was showing. She instantly turned it so the mirror side would be in front instead.
Large pieces of glass clattered at her feet. The entire mirror had been shattered. Both Usagi and Luna gasped.
"What happened to my lovely full-length mirror, Luna? Someone broke it," the girl asked with dismay.
All Luna could do was shake her head, looking at the shards of glass on the carpet. "I don't know. It is strange, Usagi-chan. Very strange."
"Ami-chan!" Usagi called, waving as she ran to catch up with her friend.
"Usagi-chan, good morning. Are you ready for orientation?"
"Yes!" she answered. As they walked along, Usagi munched on a piece of toast. She was paying more attention to that than where she was going. Ami watched helplessly as Usagi stepped on a very big rock, and braced for the big crash and Usagi's cry of pain. Instead, Usagi back stepped, looked down at the rock in her path, and kicked it out of the way. "I could have tripped over that!"
"Yes, you could have." Ami listened to their footfalls on the sidewalk for several seconds. "You have matured quite a bit over the last year, Usagi-chan," she finally said. "I still remember how regal you were when you received your diploma."
Nodding happily, Usagi gave an energetic skip. "I was sure I was going to trip while walking across the stage. But I made it! And you, Ami, accepting your honors without a hint of your usual shyness. Only pride in yourself! That is as it should be."
It was Ami's turn to smile. "You don't think I should have been more humble?"
"No, no, Ami-chan! You earned your special academic honors! You should show your pride."
The two girls reached the corner near the young, highly acclaimed university they would be attending. Mirai Mugen.* They marveled over the modern skyscraper, which had been recently expanded and completed, although the university had already been open for two years.
"Built on the site of the old Mugen High School," a voice said from nearby.
"Rei-chan!" Usagi cried with delight. "Have you seen the others?"
"I think they are on the front steps of the university. I can see Minako's blonde hair from here." Scratching her chin, Rei considered the building. "Do you think it is dangerous that they built this university on the site of the old high school? The location of one of our previous wars?"
Usagi considered it too. "It is possible that there could be danger, but if there is, we will be right here to meet it, right? Since we are enrolled here?"
This surprised Rei, but she nodded. "Usagi-chan, you really have changed, haven't you? In the past, you would have told me I was being overly suspicious." She grinned mischievously.
"And usually, you would have told me I was a dummy for not being suspicious enough, Rei-chan. I think you have changed too." She discreetly leaned over to Ami. "For the better!"
Ami giggled behind her hand.
To that, Rei simply tossed her hair over her shoulder and waited to cross the street. "If I have changed for the better, then I will do fine at our university. That can only be a good thing. Shall we join the other students for orientation?"
As they crossed the street, Ami commented, "You let a perfectly good chance for an insult slip through your fingers, Rei. It looks like we have all matured."
"Ami-chan! You have grown bolder!"
Ami giggled behind her hand again.
Minako and Makoto were lounging on the front steps of the university. "Usagi-chan, Rei-chan, Ami-chan! Over here!" Makoto called. The girls joined together for an excited chat about what they were about to experience.
"...and Luna said there will be snacks! And welcoming gifts for all the new studen..." She watched as a very attractive boy walked by. "Mako-chan, he looked just like your sempai. Didn't you notice him?"
Makoto looked up. "No, I was thinking about cooking class. I wonder if it will be awfully difficult..."
"Everyone, look! It is Haruka-san and Michiru-san!" Minako cried. Indeed, the stylishly dressed couple was approaching, arm in arm. "What are you two doing here? Checking the university out?"
Smiling, Haruka gave a curt nod of greeting. "Yes we are. Hello Dumpling. Hello girls."
"Hi Haruka-san and Michiru-san!" they answered in unison.
"Dumpling?! Don't you think I have outgrown that nickname by now? I am a university student!" Usagi reminded her.
Haruka pretended to consider it. "But Dumpling, you still have that hairstyle. It is the most appropriate name to call you."
All of the girls laughed, except for Usagi. She stomped her foot. "Why don't you call me Usagi?"
"But everyone calls you that."
"Humph!"
Rei interjected, "Haruka-san, are you worried about this place because it is the site of one of our past wars?"
Before Haruka could answer, Michiru offered, "Maybe a bit, but the main reason we are here is because I will be teaching a music class. Haruka has decided to take some classes to update her computer skills."
"I was going to tell them that..." Haruka scolded. "I am not accustomed to you taking the first word."
"Then you should be quicker," Michiru teased.
"I thought you liked me to take my time?"
"Everyone!" Setsuna called as she approached. "May I introduce possibly the youngest student at Mirai Mugen University?" Her hands rested on an adolescent Hotaru's shoulders.
"Setsuna-chan! Hotaru-chan! You will be going here too?" Usagi asked.
"I will act as her guardian while she is on campus," Setsuna explained. "Hotaru is still young yet. Although you wouldn't know it from the fact that she accelerated so far ahead of her peers academically; the school system thought it would be best if Hotaru came here to study so her mind would continue to be challenged. We should all be very proud of her for her accomplishment."
"Of course! Hotaru, good job!" Minako told her.
"Congratulations!" Makoto added.
"Welcome Hotaru-chan," Usagi said with a gentle smile.
In a proud, loving voice, Michiru said, "Yes Hotaru. Welcome."
"It is always good to challenge your mind," Haruka assured.
Hotaru gave everyone a loving smile. "Thank you everyone. It is good to have friends here, and Poppa Haruka and Mama Michiru. It makes the adjustment easier."
"You will do fine, Hotaru," Setsuna tried to reassure.
"Of course, with so many dear friends here, how can I not do well. I only wish... that my best friend could be here to cheer me on."
Setsuna sympathetically stroked the young girl's hair. "I know you miss Chibiusa. Perhaps we can arrange a visit again soon, and the two of you can discuss your new lives together."
This made Hotaru smile again. "I would like that."
A tall girl with yellow and red-highlighted hair stepped out of the front doors of the university. She clapped her hands sharply to get everyone's attention. "Everyone, please file into the building in an orderly fashion and follow me to the library. There will be enough seats for everyone. We will begin the orientation as soon as everyone is seated. I am your Head Librarian, Chochin Himinori." She bowed respectfully. The girl wore an argyle sweater over a nice dress shirt, and a black skirt, which was the required uniform of library managers.
A boy joined her at her side, holding the hand of a girl who appeared to be his girlfriend. The boy's red and blue-highlighted hair looked a bit wild, but combed; it was an interesting contrast to his orderly university uniform. The girl who accompanied him had long copper hair, as long as Minako's, held back in two red barrettes on the sides. Her uniform was crisp and had obviously been ironed with care.
"These are two of your Library Aides. My brother, Chochin Mombanno, and his companion, Tama Kitaeru. They will be your guides through orientation today."
"Welcome. Please follow us," the Library Aides said in unison, bowing with respect. They led the large group of new students to the library and got them all seated.
As the speakers prepared the podium with fresh notes for the speaker, Michiru leaned over to speak to Minako. "Minako, would you like to accompany me with your lovely singing voice some time in my music class? I think my students would enjoy the performance."
Minako actually blushed. "Oh no, no. I am not that good. I would just embarrass myself."
This took Michiru aback. "You, Minako? What happened to that confidence that fueled your dream to be an idol singer?" she asked.
After thinking about this a few seconds, Minako's face became troubled. "I don't know..."
"Greetings students," the speaker began, "to the orientation of Mirai Mugen University!"
The crowd cheered and clapped, all of them full of hope and excitement for the new, fascinating year ahead.
Halfway through the orientation, the speaker introduced two American students. "Please welcome our two new exchange students from America and make them feel at home here in Japan. This is Miss Ursula Majors, and Miss Tara Mason. We here at Mirai Mugen University hope you will welcome them with open arms. They are here to appreciate our culture as much as their chosen courses of study. We know you will give them as much help as they require so their stay in our country will be an enriching one."
Ursula bowed, looking confident and well put together. Her uniform was in impeccable condition, and her well-kept hair framed her lovely dark-skinned face. Her friend Tara was a bit of a different story. The tails of her uniform top had been tied at her waist to reveal a provocative midriff. She wore a baseball cap backwards over her short orange-red hair. Not very appropriate for an acclaimed new university with a dress code. But, because she was a guest in the country, no one said anything that first day. The way Ursula stood proud next to Tara, as if Tara was definitely someone to be reckoned with, also swayed everyone's opinion of the bawdy girl.
Soon after the introductions, everyone was allowed to break for lunch. Many curious students crowded around Ursula and Tara to ask them all about America. Tara perched herself atop a table and rested her chin on her hands to make herself comfortable while she flirtatiously chatted with the boys.
The library workers ate their lunches at the main desk so they would be there if anyone had any first-day questions.
"Should we eat in the courtyard? It is very pretty out there," Ami suggested. The others agreed this was a good idea, and they followed her.
As they passed a set of windows, Rei looked at her reflection absently, but she had to look back. What she saw was her own face surrounded by flames with the most bitter, evil expression she could imagine. Was this a vision?
"Rei-chan?"
This snapped Rei out of it; the vision was gone. "Usagi-chan?"
"Are you okay? The others have already gone into the courtyard."
Putting on a fake smile, Rei hid her troubled feelings. "I'm fine, Usagi. You go on. I am going to wash my hands, then I will join you."
Usagi hesitated; Rei was obviously worried about something. But usually, the best thing for her when she was troubled was to be left alone to collect her thoughts. "Alright. I will see you in the courtyard, then?"
Rei gave a nod.
In the library, Kitaeru stopped eating for a moment, lifting her head. It was as if she heard a far away voice no one else could hear. "Ban," she said, turning to him, "...a talisman is close by. It is calling to me. There is a senshi in this building."
"But we are all right here," Mombanno, commonly called Ban, pointed out. He gestured toward himself and his sister.
"There are more. They are here. Several talismans, all here."
Himinori, usually referred to as 'Nori, put her chopsticks down and grabbed the staff she kept behind her desk. It was a simple wooden staff which 'Nori told everyone had historic origins so they would let her keep it in the university. She always traveled with her staff wherever she was allowed to take it. "If there is a large concentration of talismans here, that means something is up. We should transform and find the trouble."
Kitaeru took a deep breath. "The trouble will not be hard to find. We just follow the vibes given off by the talismans. You're right, there would not be this concentration of senshi here if everything was alright." Suddenly she gasped, grabbing the edge of the counter she was leaning on until her knuckles turned white. "The Silence Glaive! The talisman of destruction and rebirth is in this building! This could be serious."
"We must transform, now," Ban commanded. He pulled both girls into the periodicals room where they had their privacy.
"Vulcan Planet Power, Make-Up!" A trail of fire moved up Kitaeru's leg, burning her clothes away. In place of her clothes the flames left behind a senshi uniform. Her skirt alternated the colors red and copper, to go with her hair. The flames moved down her arms and through her hair to form her gloves and her choker. A quick wind blew up her hair as the fire burned out from her hand in both directions, forming a long staff. On the tip of the staff, the flames formed Vulcan's symbol in metal, which held within it a large diamond and a huge round purple jewel. The diamond that sat in the middle of Vulcan's bow glowed brightly as she held her Forging Staff behind her back. She had finished her transformation into Sailorvulcan.
'Nori held up her sun-shaped locket, which she kept pinned on the front of her sweater. "Sun Star Power, Make-Up!" Beams of sunlight sprang out of the locket, covering her and dissolving her clothing. A whip of flame, a sun prominence, snapped over her body, leaving behind her yellow senshi skirt. Another prominence snapped over her, leaving behind her gloves and her top with her front bow. Sailorsun stretched out her arms and a blue corona of energy surrounded her, changing her shoes into high-heel slingbacks, and creating a black choker and red back bow on her body. The corona moved over Sun's staff in her hand to change it into a tall, menacing scythe with a white metal blade. She slammed the end of the scythe on the ground, which made a loud rattling sound as the blade shook in the handle, then she crossed one leg over the other to stand proud as Sailorsun.
"Hyperion Satellite Power, Make-Up!" Ban yelled. He was covered all over with floating sunflowers which quickly blew away, leaving behind his pants, lace-up shirt, and boots. Catching a sunflower as it flew away, Hyperion sniffed at it thoughtfully before letting it go. It caught in the wind, then stretched and metamorphosised into his blue cape. He snatched another floating sunflower from the air and held it casually on top of his head, striking a pose as Soldierhyperion.
"Let's go!" Hyperion said. The three disappeared into a nearby hallway.
Just as she was about to leave the bathroom and rejoin her friends, Rei heard the strangest noise above her head. As if someone had moved in the ventilation ducts in the ceiling. No, that was silly. She was just worried about her vision, and was creating figments of her own imagination.
Suddenly a vent flew off the wall. Rei gasped in surprise. What she saw next absolutely took her breath away. There in the duct where the vent had been was the face, the evil Rei face, she had seen reflected in the window. It was her own face!
"You are not creating figments, Rei. I am real, and I am going to be your replacement." The other Mars chuckled darkly. "Can you catch me before I decide just how to get rid of you? Well?! Move faster, idiot! You could have caught me already!" The face disappeared with a flurry of noise inside the ventilation.
"Wait! Who are you?!" Rei leaned into the gaping hole that the vent had left. It seemed to be empty now. She momentarily wrestled with what she should do--go after the Mars imposter immediately, or get the others first? Then it occurred to her that if she didn't follow the imposter on the double, she would lose her, so Rei climbed into the vent.
"Ahhh, such a lovely atmosphere we are experiencing for our special first day at university. But who is that twin Rei encountered in the vents of our school? Could this mean trouble for the pretty soldiers of love... AGAIN???!!! Gaaaaaaaaaah! When will it end?! Pretty Soldier Sailormoon Dark: University Orientation Part 2. Unknown senshi save the day. The moonlight carries the message of love."
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* Mirai Mugen = means Future Infinity in Japanese
Sailormoon Dark: Episode Two
"University Orientation II. Unknown senshi save the day."
written by Laurel
Word Count: 2,639
Inspired by the Japanese animated show Pretty Soldier Sailormoon. The ideas for this fanfic were conceived in 1995, but this actual episode was written in January 2000.
"Here we are, enjoying a nice lunch on our first day of university life, and you know how much I love lunch... shrimp, sushi, rice, cakes for dessert... Makoto's cakes... mmm... where was I? Oh yes! Our delicious lunch is rudely interrupted by a real honest to goodness seamonster! But I can't transform because he has my brooch! What will I doooooo?! Pretty Soldier Sailormoon Dark: University Orientation Part 2. Unknown senshi save the day. The moonlight carries the message of love."
In the courtyard, the students were chatting and eating their lunches. "I wonder what is keeping Rei-chan?" Makoto wondered aloud. "She's been gone awhile."
"I'll go check on her," Usagi offered. As she got to her feet, her brooch came loose from the front of her uniform and rolled into the bushes. "Oh dear, my brooch! That is the clumsiest thing I have done in a long time." She carefully crawled into the bushes, feeling around for the lost brooch. "I must find it..."
"Ish thish what you'we wooking fow?" a funny voice asked. There was Usagi's brooch, being held out to her... by a tentacle!
"Thank y..." Usagi glanced at the creature holding her brooch. "Gaaaaaaaah!"
The others watched in confusion as the bushes gave a mighty shake, leaves flying in every direction, before spitting out Usagi. She was screaming, "Octopus! Octopus! There's an octopus in the bushes!"
A funny-looking green creature with six tentacles scurried out of the bushes after her, still holding her brooch. "I am not an octopush, I am a sheamonshtew!"
Several students screamed and got up to run. "Seamonster!" someone yelled. "It's a real seamonster!"
"Is that what it said? It's a seamonster?" Minako asked.
"Yesh! A sheamonshtew, a sheamonshtew! Why is that sho hawd to undewstand?!"
"What did it say?" Hotaru asked.
The seamonster sighed, sweatdropping, then held up Usagi's brooch. "Wook what I have! I'm Shailowmoon! Watch me get naked and twanshfowm. I will punissssh you!"
"Did you hear what it said?! It knows I'm Sailormoon!" Usagi whispered to Ami.
"We can't transform here. All the students will see," Ami replied.
"This is a strange scene. Where did a seamonster come from, and what is it doing here?" Michiru wondered aloud.
In answer, the seamonster scurried toward some other students. "The sheamonshtew ish hewe to scawe evewyone. Have you evew sheen a weal sheamonshtew? Don't wet me toush you, or you'll tuwn into a sheamonshtew too! All swimy and gween!"
The students bought it. They screamed and ran around in circles as the seamonster chased them.
"We have to do something..."
"This seamonster is ruining our orientation!" Usagi cried with much frustration.
Suddenly, a figure carrying a trident staff leapt down from an upper window and landed right in the path of the rampaging seamonster. It made a sudden stop to recoil in horror. "Ohhhhhhh noooooo, not you!"
The figure pointed the end of the trident at the creature. Her long blue hair whispered over her senshi uniform, which had a navy skirt trimmed in pink.
"Another senshi?! Who is she?" Usagi wondered.
"These students gathered here today for their university orientation, a time of great promise for young dreamers. How dare you show up to spoil their special day! I am the nightmare on the seas for monsters like you. I am Sailortriton!" the figure cried.
The seamonster dramatically put a tentacle over his eyes. "Ohhhhhhhh no, not Shailowtwiton!"
"Don't say my name! It sounds stupid when you say it!" Sailortriton stomped her foot.
Michiru gasped at a long-forgotten memory that came to the surface. "Sailortriton... a Sailor Satellite, from the moon Triton. A member of my court from the past.
Reaching the roof, Rei took the time to look around. The Mars imposter had to of come up here, as this is where her trail lead. "Come out and face me imposter!" She raised her wand to the sky, and cried, "Mars Crystal Power, Make-Up!"
As she transformed, two girls dressed in senshi-like uniforms came out of the shadows to watch. "So you are the Light Mars? You aren't all that impressive."
Sailormars quickly took on a fighting stance. "Who do you work for? And what do you think she will do to you when you return as failures?"
The two predictably laughed. "We will not be failures. Everything has been planned brilliantly. Every last detail. Even your death."
"You will not find that so easy a task."
The other evil senshi spoke, her voice sounding like someone on helium. "Such bravado. You have no idea who you're dealing with. I am Sailorheliumsparrow."
"And I am Sailorantimonyhawk. We are servants of the Dark. You have been targeted for death."
The imposter Mars stepped out in front of them. "It is only through your death that I can truly live. I am Sailordarkmars."
Sailormars took in the other girl's appearance. She looked just like her, except that her uniform was a bit different, and instead of a tiara, she had a small oval mirror in the middle of her forehead. As if she was Mars' reflection, but a very negative reflection. This angered Sailormars. "You are not me." She raised her hand, preparing to attack. "How dare you take the name of my home planet and twist it to the purposes of Darkness. Mars Flame Sniper!"
The two evil Sailor Elementals jumped in front of Darkmars. The Flame Sniper arrow dissolved as it hit their bodies. They stood there unharmed and untouched.
Sailormars gasped in horror. If they were immune to her attacks, how could she beat them alone?
"Fool! Helium does not burn."
"And my element, antimony, is used in the making of fireproof compounds. Your attacks are useless against us."
Before Mars could do anything else, Heliumsparrow raised her arm to the side. "Helium Levitate!"
Sailormars was lifted off the ground at least 15 feet. "Ahhhh!" With a grin, Heliumsparrow lowered her arm in an abrupt arc. Mars crashed to the surface of the roof as if someone had thrown her down. She cried out in pain.
A foot firmly planted itself into Sailormars' back. She did not have a chance to react. "You are wrong. I am a part of you, a part you would like to forget was ever there. Flame Sniper Solidify," Sailordarkmars said with confidence.
Mars screamed as the solid searing arrow of flame buried itself deeply into her back.
"Trident Ice Geyser!" Sailortriton yelled, pointing her trident at the seamonster. There was a loud rumble before streams of almost frozen water sprang out of each tine, entwined in a braid, and gushed at the seamonster, blowing him against the far wall of the school. The force was so great that the little monster left a crater in the bricks.
"Th-that-t wa-washn't in... the plan," the seamonster croaked.
"Shut your mouth!" Sailortriton snapped.
When he hit the wall, Usagi's brooch flew out of his tentacle. She watched it clatter to the ground, debating whether or not she should pick it up. Wouldn't that identify who she was to the other students? The seamonster had already said the brooch belonged to Sailormoon...
Sailortriton turned to the others. "Michiru. It is good to see you again."
Her reaction cold, Michiru simply gave a nod of acknowledgment.
"Michiru, I'm hurt," Triton said with a sly grin. "Why are you so cold to me, hm?" Her tone indicated that she already knew why.
"We did not get along in the past," Michiru answered simply.
"Oh, but shouldn't you judge me by my present actions? Did I not just save you all from the seamonster?" Sailortriton pointed out, her voice still sly.
With a sigh, Michiru admitted, "Yes, I suppose you're right." Triton's demeanor told Michiru that the other girl had not changed much.
The others wondered what had happened between them, because their memories of Sailortriton were very hazy.
One of the students screamed, "The seamonster is getting away!" It was true; the creature was trying to sneak off to a nearby door where he could make his escape through the school.
The monster stopped in his tracks when he realized he had been found out. "Uhhh ohhh," he moaned.
Visibly caught off guard, Sailortriton blathered, "Uh, I taught him his lesson. Just let him go. He won't hurt anyone now."
"Yesh, yesh. I have wearned my wesshon. I'll be sheeing you!" The seamonster turned to the door. "Gaaaaaaah!"
There stood Sailorvulcan, Sailorsun, and Soldierhyperion.
"Who are they?!" Usagi exclaimed.
"Damn!" cried Sailortriton. "It's okay, I've taken care of the problem. You can just go home."
Sailorsun scoffed. "Are you kidding? Soldiers of love never skip out until the problem is properly taken care of. I bathe the Earth in my nurturing light, but I can also destroy life with my energy... the Senshi of the Harvest, Sailorsun!"
"My home planet lies in ruin near the center of the solar system, destroyed by monsters like you. I am still here to carry on its legacy as one of the Last Senshi. The forger of the jewels of battle, I am Sailorvulcan, the Senshi of Destructive Fire!"
The seamonster started to sneak away as Vulcan was doing her spiel. Soldierhyperion instantly got in his way. "You wouldn't want to leave before finding out who I am. As a member of the Satellite Senshi, I protect the planets of this solar system. My home is the moon Hyperion. I am Soldierhyperion, Gatekeeper of the Sun!"
These intruders were trying Sailortriton's patience. "Those were some very nice little speeches, but you're not needed here..."
The other senshi were not listening. Soldierhyperion took a sunflower out of a fold in his cape. "Sunflower Explosion!" He casually tossed the flower at the seamonster. It exploded, blowing the creature across the courtyard in a shower of tiny sunflowers.
"Waaaaaaaaaah!" the monster screamed as it careened through the air, landing on its head.
Triton gasped. "Stop it! You'll hurt him! He's just a dumb animal."
"That'sh an awfuwwy mean thing to shay," the monster commented, still on its head.
Usagi winced at the loud explosion. "Those flowers are dangerous! You shouldn't explode them in a university courtyard."
Gently, Soldierhyperion moved her back. "Look out, this could get messy."
Sailorsun held her scythe out in front of her, the handle perpendicular to her body. "Prominence Whip..." The scythe transformed into a flaming whip in her hands. "...Snap!" She menacingly wielded the whip of flame, cracking its tip on the seamonster's body.
"Yeeeeeeeooooooow!" he cried. He ran for the nearest door. Students near the door screamed and scattered.
Stepping forward, Sailorvulcan raised her staff to her forehead. The diamond in its crest began to glow from within. "Destructive Burning," she said almost sweetly.
The seamonster's tentacles suddenly burst into flame. "Yaaaaaaaaaaah! Thish washn't shupposed to happen! Stop dwop and wooooooooll!" He ran crazily into the school, heading for the bathroom with his burning tentacles flailing.
"I don't think he'll be back," Hyperion commented. Then he suddenly grabbed Sailorvulcan and planted a firm, passionate kiss on her mouth. "I'm so glad you weren't hurt."
Vulcan lightly pushed him away, blushing. "Do you always have to do that?"
Angrily Sailortriton bopped Hyperion on the head with her trident. "Don't be so happy. Why did you three have to go so overboard? He was just a little seamonster."
"But he ruined orientation," Sailorsun interjected. "Troublemakers must be taught a proper lesson, or else they will return with stronger allies. We should have learned that lesson by now." As she said these words, Sailorsun looked right at Usagi. "Unless you all enjoy the wars."
The other senshi looked at each other with troubled expressions. She knew their identities?
Putting her sly smile back on, Sailortriton relaxed her stance. "Of course, I do not appreciate the wars. You are right, Sun-sama. I will find the seamonster and finish him off." She ran into the school in the direction that the monster had gone.
Carefully Sailorvulcan gathered Usagi's brooch into her hands. "Here you are, Sailormoon. It is not damaged."
"How do you know who I am?" Usagi asked with exasperation.
Vulcan reassured her with a gentle, pretty smile. "I am the forger of the jewels of battle, Sailormoon. It is I who gave my sweat and my energy to make the brooch that you hold in your hand. I created all of the talismans that you use. All of you. Because of this, I have a special connection with each talisman. I can feel their connections to you. You are known to me by the talismans that you keep."
"But you were not there when I received each new brooch and wand..."
Sailorvulcan explained, "The talismans were forged before the first war against the Moon Kingdom. They were kept in a secret room where the enemy could not find them. When the Kingdom was threatened, each talisman chose a soldier worthy of wielding them for eternity. This permanently linked these talismans with your souls. They became pure energy and were made a part of you. You cannot wield each talisman until you have evolved into it. At the time that you have earned the responsibility of such power, then your talisman will emerge and evolve too. For the time being, though, all future talismans are encased within the energy of your bodies."
"Then is it possible that I could evolve further?" Usagi asked.
"It is a certainty."
"What about those of us who do not wield a talisman?" Makoto questioned.
"Even you have talismans. They are just not physical objects you can hold, like a staff. Instead, you wield intangibles, like the thunderbolt, and the spirit of the oak, Jupiter-san."
Sailorsun cut in, "A new war has just begun for us. I see a dark shape eclipsing the sun in my dreams. I haven't seen such a thing for a long while. We must prepare."
"How do we know we can trust you? We've never seen you before... in this life," Haruka remarked.
"I would say the same thing of you," Sun retorted.
Usagi had heard this before. "Let's not begin the arguing and estrangement this time. We will fight together. I admit, I thought your methods were a bit drastic, but I feel I can trust you three. Especially you, Sailorvulcan."
"But Dumpling--"
"We will fight together!" Usagi snapped. "You must trust me, Haruka-san."
Haruka nodded, feeling humbled. "Of course."
"Put you in your place," Michiru teased.
Suddenly, Sailorvulcan grasped her head in her hands and stumbled badly. Soldierhyperion caught her up in his arms to support her with a gentle embrace. "Kitaeru?!"
She shook with the effort of speaking through a haze of pain. "A talisman is crying out in agony. A senshi has been pierced through her Soul Shield. She is dying! Her soul is enshrouded in darkness!"
"Who?!" Ami cried.
"The keeper of the bow and arrow of flame. She is being murdered... she is murdering herself!"
"REI!" Usagi anguished.
"My best friend Rei is in terrible danger! I have to find her before our new enemy hurts her any further. But what did Sailorvulcan mean, that Rei was murdering herself? I do not understand. I just want to save my friend! The soldier of the moon will not fail. Hold on Rei! Pretty Soldier Sailormoon Dark: University Orientation Part 3. An opening born of fire. The moonlight carries the message of love."
Sailormoon Dark: Episode Three
"University Orientation III. An opening born of fire."
written by Laurel
Word Count: 3,482
Inspired by the Japanese animated show Pretty Soldier Sailormoon.
The ideas for this fanfic were conceived in 1995, but this actual episode was written in January 2000.
"Rei! My best friend Rei! Where are you?!"
"I know where she is. I have her life in my fist."
"Who are you?!"
"Sailordarkmars. Find me, so you can get there in time to see your friend DIE."
"Hold on Rei! I'll find you before it's too late!" "Sailormoon Dark: University Orientation III. An opening born of fire." The moonlight carries the message of love.
A scream loud enough to be heard down in the courtyard hung in the air as Sailormars was struck with another solidified arrow of flame. Heliumsparrow and Antimonyhawk were holding the weakened Mars while her Dark half took easy shots at her. Several flame arrows protruded from her body.
"Damn you, will you die already?" Sailordarkmars complained. "How can half a soul have so much will?"
With much effort, Mars croaked, "I wouldn't... expect... someone like you... to understand... my will."
Darkmars, shaking her head, let out a brief laugh. "Don't you understand yet? I am you." She sighed. "I cannot be whole until you are dead, so let's finish this. Fire River!" As Darkmars threw a mass of red energy to the ground, it spread in a line toward Sailormars at lightning speed, like a river of fire flowing toward the sea. The energy jumped up and slammed the now frail Mars in the chest. Its power was so great that her body was ripped from the hands of her captors and tossed across the roof in several painful skips.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Sailormars howled as she was struck. The next thing she was aware of was the group of evil ones standing over her. She tried to get up, pushing up with her arms, but she collapsed again to the surface of the roof with a grunt. Suddenly her body was embraced by ribbons, and they dissolved to reveal Rei's university uniform.
"Ah, that did the trick. The rest is a piece of cake." Raising her hand, Sailordarkmars prepared to strike her final blow. Red energy quickly sprang to life between her fingers.
Unable to fight back, Rei watched a dark red river trickle across the roof, away from her body. She did not want to end her life here. Alone. If only she could see her friends and loved ones one more time... Suddenly Rei realized the red river was running toward a pair of feet clad in snakeskin cowboy shoeboots. Her eyes came alight with a glimmer of hope. Was this person here to save her?
"Ahhhhhhgh! Ow!" Darkmars cried. A blade stained with her blood cracked against the cement roof as Darkmars cradled her cut hand to her chest. "Who the devil are you and why are you crashing my party?" she asked with a bored sigh.
The dark-skinned senshi held her double-bladed weapon ready for another strike. "I cannot let you finish the cowardly attack you began on this innocent girl. We are here to better even the odds. From the Galileon Satellite of Jupiter, I am Sailorcallisto, leader of Team Galileo!"
With another sigh, Darkmars turned to the red-haired senshi who accompanied her. "Now that her spiel is done, who are you?"
"Jerks like you deserve nothing less than the most pain I can give you." She held up a bejeweled goblet. "So Sailorganymede of Team Galileo will give you nothing less than a big cup o' whoop ass!"
Sailorcallisto sighed in embarrassment, sweatdropping. "That isn't the speech you practiced."
"Who says I have to do what I practice?! I can improvise if I want to!" Ganymede protested.
Taking advantage of the distraction their little spat provided, Sailordarkmars cried, "Fire River!" The river of flame energy coursed toward the two Satellites so quickly they barely had time to turn to see it coming.
A blanket of light green hair swished by Sailorganymede as another senshi she did not recognize ran out in front of her. The girl was yelling, "Passage Denied!" as she held a large black key staff up to the Fire River. The red energy bounced off an invisible barrier between the senshi and the evil ones. The green-haired senshi grimaced in pain as the red sparks rebounded off her staff, but she stood her ground.
"Who are you?! Are you one of the other members of our Team Galileo? We're looking for them!" Sailorganymede asked with excited hope.
The girl brushed pale green tresses from her shoulder. "No. I am Sailorcharon, keeper of the Key of Styx. I'm also a Satellite. Now move away from this area; my barrier isn't permanent."
The three Satellites leapt to separate places on the roof in an effort to surround the evil senshi. Seeing that she was raising her hand to strike again, Sailorganymede aimed for Darkmars with her attack.
"Cup Runneth Over!" She spun and tipped the goblet as if to spill its contents. A waterfall of precious jewels flowed out.
"Fire River!" The flame river coursed toward Ganymede. As the jewels flowed over the red energy, they clustered together, hardening the river of flame. The jewels continued to the source of the flame and clustered over Sailordarkmars' feet up to her knees. "I can't move my feet!" she screeched in surprise.
"Jewels! Hundreds and hundreds of real jewels!" Sailorheliumsparrow squealed. She enthusiastically began picking diamonds and rubies off the stream of clustered jewels.
"You idiot! Do something!" Darkmars barked.
The girl jumped up, looking embarrassed.
All she saw before she was struck was the image of a large grizzly bear gnashing its teeth at her as Sailorcallisto cried, "Grizzly Bear Razor!" and threw her Razor Claw Staff at Heliumsparrow. The staff with its serrated blade on each end turned end over end as it sailed through the air, finally slicing into Heliumsparrow's soul; not bringing blood, but cutting through the evil senshi on her deepest level. The girl screamed, her entire body quaking. The Razor Claw came back to Sailorcallisto like a boomerang. She caught it neatly by the handle.
"Things are going well, huh?" Ganymede said conversationally to Charon. "So are you a student here?" Her head shook back and forth suddenly, like a toy bobber, as Sailorantimonyhawk smacked her across the cheek.
Not even taking the time to sigh, Sailorcharon slammed the end of the Key of Styx into the roof. "Tornado of Suicides!" A whirlwind of moaning souls flowed from behind the large coin in the top of the staff. It swallowed up Antimonyhawk and tossed her around among the souls before throwing her down on the roof.
She curled up into a ball, screaming to herself. "So lonely! They're so lonely!"
This was the moment that Usagi arrived on the roof, finishing the climb of the stairs that would take her there. She threw open the door and clamored out onto the roof. Before her was a group of senshi she had never seen before. Three of them wore skirts with a stripe lining the bottom edge, like Sailortriton. There were two lying on the roof with expressions of horror and pain on their faces; their senshi uniforms had a jacket for the top, with exposed midriffs. Then Usagi saw her best friend Sailormars struggling to free her feet from a jewel encasing... but she was not Mars. Her uniform was different. It had a heart-shaped cutout where her bellybutton was, and the top encircled her neck where she usually had a collar. Why were her eyes so hard?
Sailordarkmars spotted Usagi. "Oh great, the stupid klutz is here. What are you going to do now, Usagi? Do some fancy spin and waste all the mega-baddies while I take a permanent back seat to you? Everyone knows I should have been the leader. I would definitely make a better leader than stupid crybaby Usagi!" she ranted angrily.
The three senshi with the striped skirts turned to her. "Usagi? Do you know her?" Sailorcharon asked. She held the Key of Styx ready. A friend of Darkmars could mean more trouble.
Usagi was shocked by everything she saw, but more by what she heard. "Sailormars, why are you talking to me like this? What did I do? What's the matter with you?" She wondered to herself if these other senshi had turned Mars evil somehow...
Scowling, Darkmars yelled, "Don't you get it? This is the way I've always felt all along, deep down. You can't even take care of this problem without talking it to death first! You should have finished me off by now, but stupid Usagi always has to take her time. What a disgusting display."
Still confused by Mars' behavior, Usagi looked to the only senshi standing, tears forming in her eyes. "What did you do to her?! She's never been that cruel to me."
"We did nothing," Sailorcallisto answered with some irritation. "How do you know her? She's evil. She and her companions were killing that girl when we arrived." She pointed at Rei.
Instantly Usagi glanced to where Callisto pointed. The horror that she witnessed was almost unspeakable to her. It was Rei, lying on the roof, with many arrows protruding from her body, and bleeding so badly that Usagi feared she would not survive. Rei raised her battered face so that her eyes met Usagi's.
"Usagi-chan... you're here..." was all she could manage.
In a split-second, Usagi recalled what she had experienced the night before. The raven-haired Usagi in her bedroom. "I have evolved beyond you." Somehow it was significant, the two Reis told her.
There was a deep intake of breath. "REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIII!" A silver crescent moon burst to life on Usagi's forehead, giving off a light so bright that the others had to shield their eyes. The light warmly bathed her body. The others were amazed to see her transform into a senshi, but a senshi like they had never seen. Usagi wore a white uniform with a cape, completed with pearl and winged accents. The odangos in her hair became heart-shaped and adorned with perfect white pearls. She extended her hand to curl it around the staff of a new weapon. This weapon was topped with a large winged pearl, the most beautiful staff any of them had ever seen.
"Who is she?" Sailorcharon asked with wonder.
"Bitchen!" cried Ganymede. Sailorcallisto sweatdropped again.
The others who had been following Usagi suddenly clamored through the door and onto the roof. "Usagi? Did you find--"
Hotaru let out a harsh gasp, turning her face to Michiru's chest. "Rei!"
The others spotted her then too. "Rei!" Minako moaned.
"Oh Rei, no..." Ami burst into tears.
Makoto gasped too as she saw Usagi. "Sailormoon! What's happened to her?!"
"A new awakening!" cried Haruka.
"Sailorcosmos, save Rei," Hotaru begged.
Her body filled with an energy she had never felt before, Sailormoon somehow knew she had become Sailorcosmos, the senshi of the universe, before Hotaru spoke her name. Was this her ultimate form? Was she not to be the protector of the moon anymore, but now the protector of the entire sea of stars? If she had not been so focused on Rei, Usagi would have doubted all of this was real.
She turned to Sailordarkmars and her lackeys. "You deeply hurt my best friend. I will never forgive you for that. I am Sailorcosmos. In the name of the precious sea of stars, I will punish you!"
Panicking, Darkmars babbled, "You can't kill me. If I die, Rei dies too!"
Rei replied weakly, "She's lying. Her death is the only way we can be reunited."
"Reunited?" Makoto wondered aloud. The evil Mars looked just like the good Mars--were they separated aspects of Rei's own being?
Sailorcosmos nodded in understanding of what Rei said. She raised the Winged Pearl Staff with her eyes closed, concentrating. Many large pure white jagged crystals materialized in the air around her. "Cosmic Crystal Blood Embrace!" Cosmos swept the staff down in a dramatic arc. The large floating crystals cut through the air so quickly they became a bright blur as they reflected the sunlight.
"Nooooooooo!" the three evil senshi cried. The crystals tore them apart molecule by molecule, dissolving them into piles of dust. The only piece left of Sailordarkmars was the oval mirror from her forehead. It shattered into many pieces and littered the pile of dust that had been Rei's dark side.
"Her love for her friend evolved her into a new awakening," Sailorvulcan commented as she stepped out onto the roof. "But she may not have the emotional energy to maintain the evolvement for long. I can feel the Winged Pearl fading..."
Sailorvulcan was correct; Usagi's knees buckled and her uniform dissolved back into her school uniform. She looked at herself in shock. "What happened to Sailorcosmos?! Can I not even be Eternalsailormoon? I don't understand..."
"You have evolved too far beyond Eternalsailormoon to ever be her again. You must learn to maintain Sailorcosmos," Vulcan explained.
Usagi collapsed into tears next to Rei. "I don't know how. I can't heal Rei without the Therapy Kiss. Please tell me how!"
"I'm sorry. I don't know," Vulcan gently whispered. She was on the verge of tears.
With tears streaming from her eyes, Hotaru knelt beside them. "I have a healing power. It heals physical wounds."
Usagi hopefully rested Rei's head in her lap.
But Rei just shook her head. "You can't heal me, Hotaru. My mortal wounds are not physical. I can feel the arrows sucking the life from my body..."
"Then we'll pull the arrows out." Taking hold of an arrow, Hotaru pulled, even though it burned her hands. This produced a howl of pain from Rei like no one had ever heard before. It was almost primal, like a wounded animal caught in a trap.
"Hotaru..." Haruka placed a hand on her shoulder. "There is nothing that can be done. The arrows are a trap. If you pull them out, her life-force will flow out. If you leave them in, they will finish draining all the life from her. It's too late."
"She's right," Sailorvulcan lamented.
Minako and Ami fell to their knees next to Rei, sobbing hard. With her hand to her eyes, Makoto stood over them, her own body shaking with sobs. Usagi wildly shook her head back and forth. "No! No no no nononono! I will not let it happen! Eternalsailormoon could heal Rei, I know it. I want her back. I renounce Sailorcosmos! I cannot be her anyway! Give me back my previous self!" She covered her brooch with her hand and concentrated on being Eternalsailormoon again.
A shaking hand interlaced its fingers with the ones Usagi had placed over her brooch. "Usagi-chan..." Rei whispered. "Do not doubt yourself. You must be Sailorcosmos. It is your destiny. You must not deny your new awakening because of me. It is too late for me. There is a powerful new enemy out there and you must evolve to fight them. To save our universe."
Usagi sobbed in great breaths. "I don't want to live in a universe without my best friend."
Rei shook her head again. "Don't insult my memory by believing that. We are soldiers of love. Don't let me die in vain by giving up. Promise me... you will do your best... to fight on." Her eyelids fluttered as her consciousness began to fade.
Usagi promised, "I will fight on bravely, Rei-chan. I will work to evolve fully into Sailorcosmos. I will save our universe."
"That's my Usagi. I am grateful that I was blessed to see my friends one more time... and our new allies. Thank you for protecting me... long enough... to see my friends again. And your beautiful new transformation, Usagi-chan."
Sailorcallisto, Ganymede, and Charon nodded to Rei. "I only wish we could have done more for you," Charon said with much emotion in her voice.
"Usagi... I will return before the final battle. Somehow, I know I will. I will be there to fight alongside you. Will you save a place for me?" Rei asked.
"Of course. Of course," she promised.
"Tell... Grandpa..." Her eyes fluttered, and finally closed. One last breath blew past her lips. Rei was still.
"Noooooooooooooooo!" Usagi wailed. She gently hugged Rei to her body, sobbing over her. The arrows dissolved, then disappeared from Rei's body. A shining translucent object floated up from her heart. Everyone looked at it with surprise and wonder.
"Is it her soul?" Minako asked.
"It is one half of her Soul Shield," Sailorvulcan answered. "See how it looks like the white half of a yin-yang?"
"Where's the other half?" Ami wondered.
Remembering the raven-haired Usagi who had been in her room again, Usagi turned to the pile of dust that had been Sailordarkmars. Floating above it was the dark half of Rei's Soul Shield. "It's there!"
"No part of Rei could have been that monster!" Makoto declared.
"The sentiment is admirable, Makoto Kino, but you are wrong," a voice said behind them. They all turned to see another unfamiliar senshi dressed in mostly white, with black bows, and silver suspenders and sandals. Her white hair was done up in long thin braids. She carried a skinny staff with a flat blank block of stone on the top. An air of great mystery surrounded her.
The senshi held her staff in front of her face, her eyes peeking over the flat stone. It glowed for a few seconds, but stayed blank. "I am the Unknowable. Sailorodin. I come to tell you what you must hear." Odin moved the Rune Oracle staff away from her face. "Your friend Rei will return. You must take care of her until the final battle. Take her to Valhalla. The Witches will look after her. When the final battle begins, her Soul Shield may return to her body."
Sailorodin held out her black-gloved hand. The two halves of Rei's Soul Shield easily floated up into her palm. They fit themselves together with a musical tone. Inside the Shield was a bow and flaming arrow with a warrior's helmet. Odin slipped the Soul Shield into a velvet pouch. "This will protect it and hide its light from the Dark."
"Where is Valhalla? Who are these Witches? Aren't Witches dangerous?" Usagi asked desperately.
Sailorodin tittered, shaking her head. "Those are only stories. You must take a chance and learn the answers by yourself." She placed her staff before her face again. The Rune Oracle glowed. When the light calmed back, the stone showed the fourteenth Rune.
"Kano." Sailorodin lowered the Oracle. "An opening, born of fire. Now you will be able to begin dispelling the Dark that has been shrouding your future. This is an opportunity." She carefully circled her hand in the air. A thick book with a leather cover, some cracks in its spine, materialized below her hand. It levitated there as she spoke. "The Itsubun of the Past. I will give it to you. Use it wisely."
Setsuna collected the book and the pouch from Sailorodin. "The Itsubun? Lost writings?" She noticed that the cover did have the kanji for "Lost Writings" engraved into it, under an engraving of a crescent moon.
"Yes." Odin bowed to them all. "Take her to Valhalla. I hope you trust my Oracle. If you have been operating in the Dark, there is now enough light to see that the patient on the operating table is yourself.*" Spinning her staff in front of her, Sailorodin disappeared as if behind a drawn but invisible shade.
Usagi, confused and tired with grief, examined the faces of the others. "Do we trust her? Where do we find Valhalla?"
Off in the shadows where the others could not see, Sailortriton stood and watched the action. She had the burned seamonster in her arms. "That girl... Odin... she looked right at me, like she knew I was here."
"You'we imagining things. We wewen't successhfuw..." Siggy the seamonster sighed.
"Sure we were. Our distraction worked. Sailormars is dead."
"My best friend Rei is dead... and there are all these new senshi... another war. I've got to find this place Valhalla, too. There are Witches there. Witches! Life couldn't be more confusing for the soldier of the moon. Uh... correction... soldier of the universe!"
"Don't forget, Usagi. Classes start tomorrow."
"Ami, are you kidding??!! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" "Pretty Soldier Sailormoon Dark: The Itsubun Gives Clues. We're off to the Witch!" The moonlight carries the message of love.
----------------------------------------------------
* A phrase from The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum
On to Episode 4: The Itsubun Gives Clues. We're off to the Witch!.