Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sailor Leto watched in awe as each mirror shattered into the two civilians and absorbed into them. It was amazing to her- to get to see it happen this way. It was entirely different from being the one thrown into a mirror and changed in the midst of a Court disaster. This time though, she got to see it right before her eyes, almost as if it all happened in slow motion. To her, it was like watching a child being baptized or being reborn. Ares’ raw power was almost overwhelming for Leto, and she respected her Queen for it all the more every time it was shown.

We’re more than good. We’re righteous. The words repeated in her head over and over again. Righteous. If she was righteous now, what did that make her when she was a Senshi of Order? She shook her head quickly to rid herself of the thought- it didn’t matter now. What mattered now was that she was on the right side, and that she had two brand new Dark Mirror Senshi to teach. And after them, there would eventually be more- whether they are newborn Senshi of Chaos or they bring Order Senshi over to their side, there would be more.

She smiled broadly at the two new recruits. “I’m Super Sailor Leto, Dark Mirror Senshi of Camoflage.” She circled around Mal as she looked the girl over in her fancy new fuku and poked at the fur around her upper arm, then glanced over at Jett who was still in the pool.

She walked to where Hiro was laying on the ground and dropped down next to him so she was sitting cross-legged. She absent-mindedly scratched him behind the ears as she spoke up to the two new Senshi.

“Welcome to the Dark Mirror Court.”

Princess Ares did not give Milkweed or Puppetry too much time to react. They were a court of action, and she needed them to be quick learners. "I am Ares. I hold the Crystal of the Dark Mirror Court. We have much to discuss, but Leto here will be handling the information side of things to begin." A hand gestured toward the girl.

Hiro's comments received no reaction from her. The truth was that Ares missed Zirconia and having any cat -- even if it wasn't her true cat -- at her side was a welcome gift. "Soldiers, you have come into your powers. This is a momentous occasion -- but we must work quickly now. You need to remain here and continue to parade around as a civilian. Let no one know how you have changed. Stay here and learn all you can about the Zodiac soldiers, their defenses, and how they plan to stop the Negaverse's assault. You are our eyes and ears in this place." It was so convenient to find two senshi so quickly. Ares mouth practically watered to think of how many more might be lingering out there in the outposts.

The Princess drew her staff to the side. "I lead our court, but I am a soldier first. We have a purpose that is great, and my expectations are high." Her eyes softened and she smiled warmly. "But today, I welcome you home. I am so proud to see another parallel face shining out here in this dreary place." Was that... sentimental? It was an odd emotion coming from such a stoic woman.

Ares glanced over her shoulder. She needed to continue moving -- and fast. She didn't want to risk blowing Mal and Jett's cover... or running into too much trouble herself. The element of surprise was a tactician's friend.

Considering the phrase “I promise it won’t hurt,” usually preceded the kind of horrible life-altering moment that could only be scrubbed away by years of therapy and heavy drinking, Mal was more determined than ever to put as much distance between her and the trio of bad news bears as possible. She tried to make her walking away look as coolly disinterested as possible, but she had just witnessed three mythical beings emerge from the water and had one of them tell her what roughly equated to “We gon’ make you squeal real pretty like.” She couldn't stop a little fear from seeping in, her calm strolling turning into a tense jog before becoming a dead sprint. Unfortunately, she was too late, and her efforts to appear completely unfazed sealed her fate.

Mal stumbled as she was struck, despite the fact that the glowing mirror lacked any real impact. It was more surprise than anything that sent her tripping over her feet and falling to her knees, hands making harsh contact with the ground as she caught herself. Her entire body tensed as the shards melted into her skin, wrenching her eyes shut as she was enveloped by smoke. She felt herself reeling again, being pinched by some invisible force and tugged back before she was released and sent hurtling forward. When she snapped back into place, eyes springing open and dark clouds dissipating around her, she felt... different. Something about her had changed, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

Oh, wait. Yes she could. It was the butterfly wings, which she could physically put her fingers on. Which she did, gloved hands running over the translucent material as she regarded her new outfit with an amused sort of interest. “Oh,” she said, looking up at the trio with a smirk, as if everything had suddenly clicked into place. “Oh, yeah, I could get used to this.”

Mal was aware that she was being addressed, but didn’t seem particularly interested in what any of them had to say. She was far too preoccupied with the strange energy she felt coursing through her, flexing her arms and legs as she adjusted to the swell of an unfamiliar power. She lifted her hands above her head in a stretch, interlocking fingers and cracking knuckles as she allowed herself a moment to experience the new sensations. Mal had imbibed enough controlled substances in her life to understand the importance of just sitting back and going with the flow.

She raised an eyebrow at being poked, tilting her head at Leto and Hiro as she let her arms drop. “Milkweed? No, I’m Mal. But you can call me Peaches,” she said, watching Jett climb onto the bank looking every bit the cosmic warrior as she did. She shifted her eyes to Ares, unconsciously straightening her posture beneath her stern gaze. “That’s how this works, right? We all get codenames? In which case I want to be Sailor Peaches, or Sailor Runs-With-Buffalo, or, uh, Sailor Arcade Fire."

She kindly shut up once Ares began to speak, nodding her head as she pretended to understand every word of nonsense that came out of her mouth. Crystals, Dark Mirror Courts, super secret spy missions. Where Jett wanted to know what all of these things actually meant, Mal seemed content in deferring to the woman with the awesome smoke wings and kind smile. "Sure thing, Boss." She nodded with a mock salute. "Me and Sailor Technicolor Sweater Vest over here can totes be your double agents. But, uh, as much as I adore our new digs, they don't exactly scream 'inconspicuous.' I fear butterfly wings may make fitting in more difficult for me than it usually is."

[Danae, after which a genus of Milkweed butterflies is named.]

"Ready when you are," Hiro said. He rose back to all four paws, reluctantly stepping away from Leto's scritchings. Later, when he wasn't expanding so much energy hiding four corrupt energy signatures - especially one as powerful as Ares'.

Really, perhaps he'd have to spend more time with the Dark Moon senshi. They had no cat of their own, and someone had to be available as an outlet for scritchings and snugglings and food treats. Hiro would suffer that fate, to protect his fellow Mauvians from experiencing it. Very selfless, was Hiro.

The newest female senshi earned herself a dour look from Hiro. It was a very good thing that senshi didn't get to name themselves. The less input this one had into naming, the better. "Danae," he said, staring straight at her so that she would understand that This Was Her Name Deal With It. His eye flickered to the blond man. "Remarque. When you two are ready?"

Which had better be soon, his slowly lashing tail information them.