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Usagi led them to the spot where the eyes and Sailor Mars disappeared. Haruka went over to the bushes first, noticing the broken twigs, a trail of foliage, tracks in the dirt.
"It seems that Mars has followed something into these woods," she observed. She looked back at the others. "We will do the same."
They all transformed and began following Uranus into the trees, calling out for Mars as they went. Going deeper and deeper into the dark forest, Eternal Sailor Moon was the first to hear the shouting.
"Who are you? Answer me!," Mars was yelling.
She received only laughter in response and Sailor Moon's heart froze at the chilly sound.
"Itai!"
Sailor Star Healer turned. "Monarch? Something wrong?"
Sailor Monarch was holding her forehead in alarm, but quickly waved away Healer's concern. "No, no, it's nothing, Healer. Come. We must help Sailor Mars."
Healer nodded and she and the others ran through the branches in the direction of Mars' frightened voice. Monarch didn't follow them immediately. Instead she first sent up a quick prayer to Mother Goddess, asking for guidance. This does not bode well, Mother of all. What is this feeling? She touched her forehead again, feeling the symbol of the Elite, the pointed star and spiked sun hot to the touch. It couldn't be....
Looking skyward, she spread her butterfly wings and took flight. Perhaps from the air she could have a better vantage point and gain better insight on the enemy. Clearing the treetops, she looked down at Sailor Moon, the Scouts and StarLights...and her heart nearly stopped.
The senshi were surrounded by a sea of huge black feline-like creatures making escape impossible. Mars was wounded, blood streaming from slashes on her body, her fuku ripped and torn. She leaned on Sailor Jupiter in her weakened state, eyeing the creatures with distaste. Venus and Mercury were trying to keep the dark cats at bay, but their blasts were having little effect.
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
The orange and blue energy blew the yellow eyed creatures a few feet, but they rallied instantly, advancing again. There was a feral scream and Monarch turned to see one black cat lunge towards her beloved StarLights, its teeth bared, claws unsheathed.
"No! Black Butterfly Blast!"
Bright yellow and orange chi sparked in her outstretched palm, rolling over and over, becoming darker and darker and Monarch hurled it fiercely at the beast where it struck its side, sending it rolling into its companions. The beast got up slowly, injured by the attack, and roared its outrage. Its anger was short-lived by the appearance of a very furious Monarch in front of it.
"Shut up."
Quick as lighting, her spear thrust up and slit the creature's throat. Blood splattered the grass and the cat keeled over, dead. The bloody deed done, Monarch flew back to the StarLights who were grateful for her intervention.
"Domo arigato, Monarch," thanked Sailor Star Fighter. "Star Serious Laser!" A blast from her weapon sent black forms away from them. "Any idea what this means?"
"No real idea, but I have a bad feeling about this," Monarch told her. "In the meantime, let's dispose of these abominations, shall we, my friends?"
Seeing the grin on her face, the StarLights agreed with a shout and charged the dark mass. Fur flew, teeth flashed, energy exploded, claws slashed as hero and evil collided again and again. In the midst of battle, Monarch caught sight of Sailor Moon trying her hardest to fight off a beast, but it was proving too much for her. Without pausing to take a breath, Monarch grabbed the beast she was fending off by its throat and, with an intensity fueled by pure rage and desperation, flung the cat hard in the direction of Sailor Moon's creature. The two beasts collided, knocking themselves out of Sailor Moon's range shortly followed by another Black Butterfly Blast. Sailor Moon was on the ground, waiting for the blow that never came. Opening an eye to peek, she saw not a snarling dark creature, but Sailor Monarch reaching for her instead.
"Milady? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"Iie, genki desu. What about the others?" Sailor Moon got to her feet, looking around. The cats had either retreated or were lying motionless on the ground, dead. Mars was no longer the only one bleeding. Everyone was wounded somehow, including Sailor Moon and Sailor Monarch.
Mercury limped over to them and collapsed to the ground. "What were those...things? I tried downloading data on my computer, but I got nothing. Just a red haze."
Venus leaned on Jupiter too in exhaustion. "This is the evil we're up against? A bunch of huge cats?"
"I don't think they're the only ones to worry about." Uranus rested her fatigued body against the trunk of a tree, Neptune beside her and the StarLights nearby. "I distinctly heard laughter before we came to Mars' aide. Somebody was here, but who?"
All eyes went to Mars. She hung her head as she spoke. "When I followed one of the beasts here, the clearing was empty but there was somebody laughing. I tried to figure out who it was, but I got no answer. Just more rustling in the trees. I did see a streak of brown and...for a brief moment..I saw the silhouette of someone through the leaves. A girl...holding a spear."
The earlier alarm Monarch felt before engaging in battle returned, but she composed herself. There was no need to worry the others now so soon after such an attack. A hand went to her forehead again, touching the symbol. The heat is gone now, she thought, but something is definitely wrong.
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