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 Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:42 pm
Damian Cole hated homework, he hated having to waste his time writing essays and doing projects on subjects that he’d never return to once he left school. He only enjoyed doing research on things he found interesting, and wars from centuries past were not interesting. Unfortunately his step-mother insisted that he got good grades so he could go to an Ivy League university. The eighteen year old wasn’t actually planning on going to college, university or otherwise, but he knew it would be easier to just go along with Adella’s plans until he graduated and moved out. Then he could promote his band and become a Rock Star.
So, that was why he was locked in his room, slaving over his history project trying to think of any reason to sneak out. He could patrol, but he did that the night before and it was bori-
”What the ********> A feeling had swept over him, it was like he was being called from something far away. It was an undeniable tug, that he couldn’t resist. Maybe it’s the Moon Princess? That thought made him stand up. This was a good excuse to sneak out. He dug in his pocket for his henshin pen and grasped it in his hand. Time to sneak out, and then transform.
Opening the window he snuck out on the balcony and then slid down the roof until he was hanging from the rain gutter, his henshin pen between his teeth. Small drop, small drop, small drop He repeated the mantra to himself and then let go. He fell for a second and then hit the ground, rolling to cushion his landing. Pushing himself up he brushed off his knees and then ducked behind a tree.
”Orion Power, Make-Up!” The pen was held up and there was a flash of light that swirled around him. The light was tinged orange and there was small little pebbles that kind’ve looked like miniature meteors that swirled around him. After a moment the light faded and he was standing there as Sailor Orion. ”Time to follow that tug.”
Orion took off down the street, hopping onto the roofs as he passed through the business district. After a while he realized the call was coming from the park, which was on the other side of town from his house. By the time he reached the park he was slightly out of breath. Being a senshi was kind’ve like being on roids, only his balls didn’t shrink…he hoped. Resisting the urge to check under his skirt he crept into the park, sticking to the shadows.
After a couple moments it was obvious where he was headed, a large tree that was set out from all the others. It also had a crowd around it. Other senshi? He crept closer, and heard the tree? No, a girl that was tangled up in the tree speak.
"Please - where is your Moon Princess? We need her, she can make everything all right again!"
It was looking for the Moon Princess? Then the call definitely hadn’t been from her. Was it from the tree? Orion was disappointed, but he wasn’t going to leave he wanted to find out what was going on. He crept closer, silver eyes taking in the rest of the senshi there. He listened to talk of the Princess and what she could do and wished he had some kind of information that could help. He hated feeling useless. He drifted closer and his eyes landed on the dead body, the other…kids? He wasn’t sure if they were kids, he had a weird feeling about them. His eyes moved to the top of the tree where a senshi and another girl were. Why were they up there alone?
Furrowing his brow he clenched a gloved hand and then moved closer to the tree. He didn’t know anything about the Moon Princess, but he could get up in the tree and try to help the senshi up there. Looking up at the branches he gauged the distance, and remembering the fiasco with the fire escape he tried not to put too much energy behind his jump. Lucky for him he managed to grasp on to the lowest branch without slamming into it.
”Hey, I’m coming up okay?” He yelled up to the girl and then started to climb. His boots and gloves helped him ascend quickly, though his tights kept getting snagged on pieces of bark, but he let them tear. He didn’t particularly like them anyways. It took him a minute but he was finally sitting on a bench just below the senshi and the girl. ”Hey, are you guys okay?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:04 pm
Amelia loved her job, working part time at the Sports Shack was fun, and it gave her a great discount on equipment. That’s where she currently was, in her sporty uniform, helping a customer pick out the perfect pair of skis. She was mid sentence when she felt a tug, she tried to ignore it but the tug got stronger like she was being called to go somewhere. She hoped this didn’t have to do with being a senshi. She still thought the costumed people were crazy, only now she was one of them.
The eighteen year old tried to ignore the call, but by the time she was done ringing up the customer it was unignorable. Going to her boss she frowned, one hand on her stomach. ”Jackie? I’m really not feeling good do you think I could head home early?” She was pretty sure if she’d been Nathan who asked to go home early almost every day Jackie would’ve said no, but since she usually never asked to get off early her boss agreed, letting her go.
It didn’t take her very long to gather her stuff and head out the back way. She was in an alley and thankfully it was empty. She stashed her messenger bag between the dumpster and a pile of trash and then ducked further into the alley. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out her henshin pen and held it up. ”Eskimo Power, Make-Up!” She still felt silly saying the words, but they worked. The alley lit up as light and snowflakes swirled around her, the nearby air cooling down. It wasn’t seconds later that Amelia Kane was gone and in her place was Sailor Eskimo.
She looked down at herself and frowned. ”God, I hate this thing.” The furry bikini top and stretch of naked abdomen wasn’t exactly the style Eskimo enjoyed going around in, but it seemed she had no choice in the matter. Adjusting her bolero she ran out of the alley, still a little shaky on the stilettos. She’d fall flat on her face if her Sovereign Heights uniform didn’t require heels.
Eskimo followed the direction the call came from, the wind pushing her hood back and her hair out of her face. She couldn’t help but grin as she ran, the wind chilling her bare skin, but she enjoyed it. She loved the cold, just not showing all that skin. The girl slowed down as she reached the park, sticking to the shadows as she headed towards what look to be a giant tree. When she finally got there she ducked behind a tree that was on the edge of the clearing that surrounded the giant tree. She knew she didn’t camouflage well being in ice blue and white, but she tried to hide behind the tree, watching the crowd of senshi. She’d never seen that many in the same place, and she had no idea what they were talking about. Moon Princess sounded vaguely familiar from when she was awoken, but she was in such shock that day that it was mostly a blur. She had decided to stay behind the tree and listen for now, but then she saw the dead boy through the gaps in the bodies. That made her act.
When she spoke her words were soft. ”I think it’s time for a Snowball Fight.” A small surge of energy left her and then five medium sized snowballs encircled her waist, hanging in mid air. She picked up the two in front of her and stepped forwards, leaving the other three behind. Holding the two snowballs in gloved hands she stopped a couple feet away from the senshi and looked to try to figure out who was in charge. ”What’s going on here? How’d he die?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:29 pm
The Tree remained silent as the numerous senshi arrived on the scene, its demands for purification going unheard by the newcomers. It remained silent as the Parallel senshi attempted to attack it - it remained silent as it was defended, as Iya managed to be pried half-loose by Saiph, as the newest senshi began to carelessly kick away at its skin as he made his way up its branches.
Confusion was evident for all parties. The aliens remained terrified, their maker enraged on a level they'd never witnessed before. For the majority of their lives, the Makaiju had remained dormant, silently caring and nourishing its offspring with its energy - now it was angry, now it had even killed one of them and they were left confounded. The senshi had no way of helping; answers and ideas continued to be tossed around, but no solution was to be found. Some paid more attention to the trapped alien, others attempted to touch the Tree, to fuse with the energy still pouring out in waves from its surface.
Finally, it spoke once more, the voice remaining as steady as it had been when it first spoke.
It seems we are not the only ones who have lost our way, children.
All at once, branches slid down and around both Saiph and Orion. Both senshi were caught off guard by the sudden plant-limb onslaught and quickly found themselves tugged into the air, encircled by vines. Iya managed to let out a small cry before she too was lifted into the air by the remaining branch holding her. It was just as the senshi began to rethink Aphrodite's suggestion that all three dangling individuals were gently planted back onto the ground. The branches loosened and released them all, snaking their way back into the Tree's top.
The giant trunk groaned as the Tree shifted once more, everyone standing directly beside it taking a few steps back, save for Irre, who couldn't be budged away from kneeling beside her fallen brother no matter how hard Iya had pulled at her. Even bold MuCephi stepped back as splinters of wood began to rain down as the Tree moved, the giant being clearly restless in its current position.
No one could explain how or why the voice had entered their heads, but it clearly belonged to the Tree. It was neither hostile nor comforting - it spoke without emotion, without any change in tone as the story began to unfold.
My children and I come from a long distance away but this is not my first journey to your planet. Years ago I came here with what was then the last of my children - they had fallen astray in their ways just as my children now have. They learned the ways of evil, of selfishness and greed. They took but never gave and it was through this unhappiness that I was no longer able to provide for them what they needed. They came to Earth to search for energy, believing that was all it would take to revive me.
The Tree shifted once more, branches slowly making their way down towards the fallen Ilitzi, gently moving to separate the distraught Irre from her pod-partner as it raised his body in the air.
They were stopped by your Moon Princess - she and her beloved taught my children the ways of love, the meaning of sacrifice. It was through her healing that I was restored once more and we were able to depart on happier terms. But those children passed on as the ones before them did and now my children, my six, have lost their way once more. They believed that returning to Earth would solve my decaying but it appears time has repeated itself for me.
Branches began to cover Ilitzi, cocooning his remains within their bark and leaves until he disappeared entirely beneath the branches. As the movement stopped, the branches pulled away, revealing nothing left of the alien now absorbed within the Tree itself. Irre began to sob and small Iya darted forward to fall to her knees and clutch at her sister's hands, Sailor Saiph following quickly (and protectively) behind her new friend.
I grow weary, senshi and am in need of answers. Who among you is capable of cleansing me, if you have lost your own Princess?
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:45 pm
Saiph was quick on the heels of Iya and swooped down on her and her sobbing sister protectively, shooting defiant glares at anyone who might even think of ordering her away from them. Reaching out, she put her arms around each, gently pulling them both to her shoulders. From where she knelt, she tilted her head to look up at the tree.
"What kind of energy did she give you exactly? Do you know what made it special and different? I'll give you all I've got if it would help you."
And in her voice rang the unmistakable sound of absolute and total sincerity. Sailor Saiph was ready to let herself be drained to the dregs if it would help and keep the tree and its children from dying.
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:51 pm
Times like this made Eridanus wish that Senshi came with some kind of yearbook that would let them know what kind of powers came in the roster, if there were anyone who could help the tree, if the Princess of the Zodiacs couldn't.
"We'll do everything we can. If we can at least help you until we can find the power to heal you, would that help?"
He chimed in on Saiphs sentiment, though he was pretty sure at least some of his own stolen energy had gone out in the broadcast over the city.
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:13 pm
Nothing like getting your answers from a talking tree, she mused as she listened to it's tale. It was a sad one, almost heartbreaking, and she could almost understand why these aliens would think to come back. After all if coming to Earth had helped once why not again?
Mentally she reeled at how she could believe such a thing was happening but being one of these "super heroes" perhaps she was beginning to believe that not everything was as it seemed. And really it seemed this would all be going easier for everyone if their princess was here. But she wasn't and, sadly there wasn't much one could do.
But they were the good guys, right? (Right.) So surely they could do something. When one talked about giving energy, another offering to help in anyway possible... Well it made sense and she stepped foreword even more. She didn't know a damn thing about these beings but she wanted to help. She wanted no more deaths on her hands.
"I'll help too!" she called, rather bravely she noted. "I don't know much about what has happened with your children, or how long you've been here, but no one should ever have to suffer. No one should have to die." She'd been through that once okay? And once was more then enough. "I'll do anything I can, give you anything I can!"
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:18 pm
As the tree began to talk again Sailor Corvus was overwhelmed with a 'bad feeling' that only seemed to grow. They couldn't help it, not without their Princess, not with the powers that were gathered together here. Something she knew well enough was that Vengeance couldn't heal and that holding it it was only likely to hurt more in the end.
She stepped back, ignoring all of the others for a moment as she reached out to lightly take hold of Eridanus's cape, giving it a light tug. Her voice was soft when she spoke, meant only for his ears. "I think we need to get everyone out of here... The civilians, the clueless... Anyone who might wind up hurt, anyone who doesn't know what they're doing. We aren't capable of giving the tree what it wants..." She hated admitting that, but it was true. This might very well be a fight that they couldn't win, but now that everyone was free from the tree's branches... Maybe, just maybe, they could fight back.
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:25 pm
"We can try..." He insisted, fervently, but he was a little too tired to argue much. "...But maybe from a safer distance." He agreed. "We need a better plan... more information... I... I dunno." He sighed wearily.
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:34 pm
((HEY GUYS, at this point if you'd like to post, please shoot me a PM so I can figure out a tagging order and let you know when you can - thanks! <3))
Your generosity knows no boundaries.
The senshi heard the voice once more in their heads, but it was the first time they were able to pick up any emotion in its words, a hint of sadness.
But I am afraid if none of you are capable of wielding the same power as your Princess, there is nothing that can be done for me.
No words were exchanged between any of them for several minutes, the time stretching by longer than any of them could have guessed. What was the Tree going to do, then, if there was no one to help it? Would it attack them? Would it simply die and take its children along with it?
Branches descended once more, moving down to motion in the direction of Chronos, one of the few senshi that had remained silent during the discussion.
They called you a Princess. Are you capable, young one, of possessing the same powers as the Moon Princess?
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:43 pm
((sorry posted while you were I guess, would you like me to delete it?))
Yet more Senshi arrived and Maia couldn't help but me a little overwhelmed. She knew their were more Senshi around, but she'd never though that she would meet so many at once and all of them new to her. None that she'd met in her previous adventures. Confusion, seemed to be as thick in the air as the energy coming from the tree. It seemed as though no one really had any true idea what was happening.
Maia head shot up her eyes trained on the tree as she it spoke? Yes, it spoke and moved. Releasing it's captive and bringing two Sailor scouts she did not know to the ground.
Maia listened intently to the trees story, hurt churning up from her stomach straight into her hurt. The story saddened her thoroughly and she see tears swim across her vision, threatening to spill as the tree questioned them.
She did not know what to do, but she did not think her powers would be off much help. They were meant to slow her opponent and to calm them. They were useless in this situation, yes?
"I do not know exactly I could help," she said speaking for the first time, "but I do know that I will do whatever I can to help." As plain old Lily she was always helping, she had a giving heart, this was no different her as a senshi. She wanted to help and she would do whatever she could to help.
She looked around to the other senshi whose words seemed to echo hers. It was moment like this that truly made being a person very worth while, to really see the good in the hearts of others.
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:48 pm
Chronos never got an opportunity to answer. And the good hearts of others couldn't stop an assault.
"Fan out."
And Corvus' gut instinct had been correct, too, though for reasons other than the ones she'd thought. At the bottom of the mound, the Dark Kingdom soldiers were moving out at the command of their leader. The General-King stood watching as his men encircled the area, unmoving and unhurried himself, and at this new threat the tree started to recoil. There was a whip in his hand. He did not look surprised or mystified, just intent and a little bored. The other Negaversers, too, looked as though they'd been prepped for this time and time again rather than milling around, because at fan out they were weapons at the ready and were running.
One of the Captains remained at his side -- a woman with an enormous, bestial arm -- and he said, "This bullshit's been going on too long."
"Does your wife want a pot plant?"
Charonite ignored this. Instead he raised his voice louder: "Advance. Your target's the tree first, senshi second. Go!"
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:07 pm
In his short time on earth, Ishi had come to see and experience amazing things. Joy at successfully gathering energy. Sadness at his failures. Fear at possible loss. Happiness at making new discoveries. So many new things. So many new foods! New friends! Like the lady at the sub shop that would smile at him and put extra cheese on the rolls. The cashier at the little fast food joint that made funny jokes. Ishi would call them friends.
For the short time he'd been on earth, Ishi had experienced so much.
So much he had yet to experience remained.
So much had changed since he'd first arrived.
He'd hated the senshi at first. Loathed them even. Now, they were helping the tree, protecting the tree. They tried to help Iya. They weren't bad anymore.
But the newcomers...
"Ilie! Ilie what's going on? I'm scared!" Grabbing his sister's wrist, Ishi was holding onto her for dear life. "I- I- Ilie! Who are those people? I- I-" His blubbering was muffled as the fat Alien buried his face into his sister's taller form. He just didn't understand. So much was going on. He didn't understand anymore.
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:16 pm
There was little time to react as the sudden surge of negative energy swarmed the area. It was more powerful than any energy the Tree or the aliens had ever felt before. The senshi recognized it immediately - Chronos was already trembling at the mere sound of the voice she never wanted to hear again.
As the officers began to rush in, branches came flying down, grabbing senshi left and right (and Azzo!), which only added to the terror of having a Negaverse General-King and a handful of his Captains attack from out of nowhere. Senshi were picked up off of the ground, left to dangle in the air for a split second and then found themselves crashing into one another as the Tree unceremoniously dumped them all into a pile on the ground. Arms and legs tangled with one another - it would have been a humorous sight, had it not been for the very real threat of death looming over all of their heads.
Your Princess saved my children once - now it is my turn to save those that belong to her.
All at once, a thunderous crack echoed throughout the park and a glowing light began to emerge from the Tree. It passed from the bark, the leaves, the trunk, floating and resting around the pile of senshi, forming a barrier of energy. Some senshi had untangled themselves from the pile and tried to escape but the barrier locked them within, protecting them from their enemy with the very last of the Tree's strength.
I'm sorry, my children.
The words were barely a whisper in all of their minds and then the last remaining light engulfing the leaves disappeared, leaving the broken half of the Tree to come crashing into the ground.
Makaiju was dead, leaving its children defenseless as the enemies of the senshi closed in for the kill.
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:29 pm
For the second time that day, Saiph felt living branches twine around her and pull her through the air. This time, the branches tore her away from the two alien girls she'd been trying so hard to comfort. Away from the one she'd promised to help. And as she was dumped unceremoniously on the ground, she started to try and scramble back to them to pull them away from the frightening man with the whip who was so blithely ordering their destruction.
And then the barrier went up, shutting the senshi away and leaving the tree's children exposed and vulnerable. Just on the edge of hearing, she caught the tree's last words. Was it letting itself die to save them? But not its children? What kind of parent would do that? Old favors or not, it couldn't... it wouldn't....
No.
"No!" Saiph was already at the barrier, screaming and pounding at it with her fists, throwing herself against it in an effort to escape, to protect the tree's children. She'd promised... she'd promised... With wild animal ferocity, she continued to pound, howl, beg the aliens to run and find somewhere safe. Felt the tears streaming down her face as she saw the little girl's frightened face beyond the barrier.
"God damn you, no! I promised you stupid tree! I ******** promised!"
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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:38 pm
The arrival of... more humans... didn't go unnoticed, but Ilie was still... confused. How could people not want to kill them? She would end them, given the chance, why were they letting them live--
In confusion, she watched the tree lift the senshi, deposit them all in a pile and them form a glowing dome.
"No," said Ilie, but it was little more than a whisper. The tree was dead; that meant they would all die, too. They couldn't live without the Tree. There was nothing left to lead, but--awkwardly, she patted her pod mate's back. One of the senshi was screaming. She might have explained, had she not caught the woman with the bestial arm walking towards them. Her stomach twisted. If their target was the tree, then the senshi, then this must be the end. "It's all right, Ishi." It would be much less agonizing than... however they would have died from the end of the Tree.
Well, she hoped.
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