“Have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
Minako sighed exaggeratedly. “Paige Yosano, the best equestrienne around, is giving free demonstrations at the high school.”
“Cool,” Makoto said, leaning forward to hear more. “I’ve heard of her. She’s amazing.”
“Her skills are exceptional for one so young,” Ami said, examining the stats on her Senshi computer. “She’s only fifteen, and she already has lots of trophies.”
“We’ll go along and make it a girl bonding thing,” Miranda said, tossing back her thick obsidian plaits, eyes wide with enthusiasm. “I love horses and horse riding.”
“I love horses too,” Chibi-Usa put in dreamily.
“So let’s go already,” Usagi said impatiently. “Rei, don’t start. We can Make-UP for study buddies tomorrow.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” the raven-haired girl said, laughing. “Let’s go.”
On the way, Usagi told her friends what had happened two nights ago, and the others were quite concerned. “So, we have a new enemy, a friendly flying horse, and a giant panther on our team,” Rei commented. “I don’t like the sound of this at all.”
“So that’s how you got your scar,” Minako asked Miranda.
“Yeah,” she replied absently. “I didn’t want to talk about it, but--”
“But you can’t keep a secret from us for too long,” Rei said, giving Miranda a quizzical look. “We know you too well.”
“Oh shut up,” Miranda told her, laughing.
~*~
“Here’s an excellent target.”
“She’s gorgeous. And she’s a horsewoman.”
“Sounds like an ideal candidate to me.”
“I wouldn’t have chosen her if I didn’t think otherwise. Kenji, you take a rest.”
“Okay. I could do with sitting back and watching someone else doing all the hard work.”
“Thanks a lot, Kenji! You’ll be eating those words when I come back with Pegasus.”
“I’ll have the salt ready.”
“Stop it, you two. Osan, I’m counting on you.”
“I won’t let you down, Akinari.”
“Good. Good luck.”
“Thank you very much.”
~*~
“Look at her go!” Usagi cried excitedly. Paige Yosano had just ridden her horse over seven jumps, each more difficult than the last. At the end, she reared her mount, much to the delight of the crowd, who were cheering by way of appreciation for her skill.
“She’s a marvel,” Makoto said, in admiration. “Her skills blow me away.”
“And she’s only fifteen, too!” Usagi added, “That’s what amazes me so much.”
~*~
A woman, standing close by, smiled coldly. Her hair was long and black, falling in one long braid over her shoulder. She wore a long red velvet skirt, a matching silk blouse and red leather boots. Slung over her arm, a velvet jacket, the same color as her outfit, and ruby studs gleamed in her ears. Her eyes were as black as her hair, and her skin shone startlingly white in stark contrast to her dark features.
“Perfect,” she purred. “That little girl is my ticket.” She thought, and melted silently into the crowd.
~*~
Usagi, her daughters and friends, tracked Paige down to the stables, and congratulated her.
She smiled warmly, “Thanks a lot,” she said, offering a gracious smile as she patted the neck of her trusty steed. “It’s worth all my hard work to hear you say that.”
Her hair was long and curling and a warm golden brown, her eyes dark and flecked with gold, her skin amber. Paige’s eyes sparkled with life and vibrancy. Anyone could tell she was a girl who lived life to the full.
Usagi couldn’t help feeling slightly envious as she looked at the younger girl. Then told herself she was also young and had the potential to achieve whatever she so desired if she just put her mind to it. Usagi pushed these thoughts aside and set herself the task of making friends with Paige. The other girl responded positively to her efforts with genuine warmth, wanting friendship between them as much as Usagi did, and she was flattered such a talented and accomplished girl would want to be friends with such an Odango Atama like her.
“You know,” Paige, said laughing as Rei finished recounting a hilarious trip to the beach on the weekend, when Usagi had been buried in the sand and fed by her friends, “you should all try your hand at riding. I bet you’d be really good at it.”
“You think so?” Makoto asked, stroking the horse’s ears.
Paige nodded. “Sure,” she said. “You all look like you could be good riders.”
“But the only riding we ever do is on bikes,” Minako told her, looking at Paige with an apologetic smile.
“If you can ride bikes, you can ride horses,” Paige told her, with a smile and a wink. “Tell you what. My dad owns the stables. I’ll let you each choose a horse, and they’ll become your very own to ride. I’ll even teach you how to look after them properly, and give you riding lessons if you want.”
“You’d really do that for us?” Rei asked, surprised. “But you don’t even know us.”
“Maybe not, but I know truehearted people when I see them,” Paige said, her face serious. “I’ve ridden for as long as I can remember…before I could even walk if my memory serves me right…horses can sense things humans can’t. Growing up with them, I’ve learned how to read people the way they do. I might not be as good as they, but I’m good enough to know how each of you think, and get a sense of your outlook on life.”
“You can tell that just by looking at us?” Usagi asked incredulously.
Paige smiled at her. “Yup,” she said, feeding a sugar cube into her horse’s mouth. “You, for example…have very deep emotions, and you’re mature beyond your years. But you have a childlikeness about you that blends very well with your womanhood. You’re very trusting and loving, and you give all of yourself in your friendships and relationships with other people. You have a huge heart, and can find the good in people, whether they can see it for themselves or no, and your belief in their better natures is so strong, these people open up like a flower under the sun. And you have a natural talent for making everyone around you feel loved and wanted, simply because you are such a loving person. Even perfect strangers feel better for having been around you, whether or not they see you again. It’s like the ocean, in a way, but it goes a lot deeper than that.”
Usagi was surprised to hear an almost complete stranger giving such a detailed description of her personality. Paige smiled and turned to Chibi-Usa. “You’re a little sweetie,” she told the diminutive girl, “and at the same time you’re mature beyond your years. You have the same gift for making everyone around you feel loved and wanted. And you have the same boundless love inside and open your heart to give love openly and trustingly, because you want everyone around you to be loved.” She smiled, turning to Miranda. ”And you have the same gifts, too… but you’re a little darker. You’re like the shadow of love’s light… You guys must be related.”
“We’re cousins,” Usagi said, her eyes doubling in size and Miranda shaking her head in amazement as all was blown away by Paige’s perceptivity. “We get that response from quite a few people, but haven’t quite got it down as accurately as you have, Paige…that’s awesome!”
“That’s pretty right,” Paige responded, smiling as she turned to Ami. “You’re a very cool and collected person,” she said thoughtfully catching the glint in Ami’s deep blue eyes, “but you have a capacity for deep and passionate emotions. You’re a very private person, and you are only open and trusting with the people you love and closest to. But essentially, you have a deep and loving nature.”
“Don’t forget her genius,” Minako said, winking at Ami, and the blue-haired girl blushed.
Paige smiled. “Oh yes,” she agreed, turning her gaze to Minako. “And you’re a great believer in romance, Minako-chan. You read romance novels by the truckload, and you’re a hopeless romantic. But you’re also a realist, and you’re a great believer in the power of love to heal all. And you have the potential for a deep and lasting love. The guy who wins your heart is going to be thanking his lucky stars. Come to think of it, you’re very similar,” she said to Makoto. “You need to let go of that guy you keep using as a comparison to other guys… I gather he treated you badly? Mako-chan, I hate to stick my nose in where it might not be wanted, but you’re going to have to let him go, otherwise a guy out there who loves you will look somewhere else… tell him you love him, or you’re going to lose him.”
“I guess you’re right,” Makoto said, with a rueful grin. “I wanted to give him a chance to bite the bullet, but he’s starting to get a little distant with me, and I have a bad feeling that he might be getting sick of waiting.”
“Well, what the hell are you doing here?” Paige told her, giving her a look that said -- get-going girl, times a wasting. “Go… and when you see him, kiss him…tell him you love him. You are so stubborn and independent, and very strong-willed… while those are commendable qualities, they land you in hot water sometimes. Now scoot!”
Makoto gave her a knowing smile. “Can I at least choose my horse before I go?” she asked with a wink.
Paige nodded. “Sure,” she said, with a laugh. “Your young man can wait for a little longer, but you’ll lose him by the end of the week if you don’t tell him your feelings before the day is out. And last but not least,” she said, with another beaming smile as she looked at Rei. “You have a stubborn streak in you, and you’re also very strong-willed and passionate. You have a bit of a temper as well, but you do your best never letting it fly without good reason. You’re a deep person, and you’re capable of very passionate emotions, especially love.”
“You should become a priestess,” Rei said, laughing as the breeze caught her dark locks in its grasp. “You would be fantastic.”
“Thanks but no,” Paige declined with a smile. “I’d much rather stick with my horses. But please, choose one now. Daddy won’t mind. He’s always complaining that they don’t get enough exercise.”
Paige gave everyone pointers regarding the temperament of each animal. Rei and Miranda chose two black stallions, both brothers and quite spirited. Their names were Thor and Hercules respectively.
Usagi was a little apprehensive as she looked at them. “You sure you’ll be able to handle them?” she asked, shuffling nervously from one foot to the other.
“We’ll be fine,” Miranda assured her mother.
“I hope so,” Usagi muttered.
Chibi-Usa asked Paige if she had a white pony, and Paige led her to the stable where a beautiful pony, the color of white pearl, with a silvery mane and tail that shone like silk stood looking at her with deep dark eyes. “He’s beautiful,” Chibi-Usa exclaimed, stroking the silken nose. The pony pushed insistently into her hand. “What’s his name?”
“I call him Pegasus,” Paige replied, smiling affectionately at the beautiful pony.
“Hello, Pegasus,” Chibi-Usa said to the pony, who butted his head against her hand once again and looked at her with loving eyes.
Makoto found a lovely chestnut mare, eighteen hands high, with a black mane and tail. Her name was Teena, and Makoto was delighted to see that she was tall enough for her to ride. “She’s just the right height for me,” she said, stroking the horse’s brow.
Minako chose a bay stallion that like Teena’s possessed a black mane and tail. He turned out to be Makoto’s mounts half-brother, Thowra, his nature just as sweet. “We’ve got similar tastes,” the blonde girl said with a laugh, looking from her choice to that of that made by Makoto.
Ami found a lovely grey mare, with a silvery mane and tail. Her name was Cloud, and she had an affectionate nature. Placid and considerate of her rider, Paige explained. Cloud’s mother was a palomino Arabian mare, and she was the mother of Thor and Hercules, and half-sister of Cloud’s sire, Demon. Her name was Yseult, and she had the sweetest nature of all. Usagi selected her, liking the beautifully sculpted head and gracefully arched neck. “A horse fitting for a princess,” Rei teased, and Usagi laughed, and blushing a little.
At that moment, the black-haired woman approached. “Hi there,” she said, her face seemingly friendly enough. “You must be Paige Yosano.”
“I am,” she answered cautiously. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for someone,” the woman replied, “and you’re just the one I need to help me fine him.”
“What do you want?” Usagi demanded, stepping protectively in front of Paige having detected a veiled darkness in the dark haired woman’s aura. “I don’t like your attitude, so beat it.”
“I think not,” the woman said scornfully. The woman then lifted her hand, and in an almost imperceptible gesture, Usagi found herself flung aside as if she were a discarded rag doll as her head struck the wall of an empty stable and she lost consciousness.
“Usagi-chan!” The girls ran to her side.
Paige backed away from the woman. “Get away from me,” she warned.
“Not until I’ve found what I’m looking for.” The woman lifted her hands, and a swirl of red light surrounded her. When it cleared, she stood clad in a red silk cloak, embroidered with silver and runes of dark power, red silk pants and matching tunic -- the look completed with a pair of vermillion knee-high boots. This dark and striking woman held an elaborately carved staff of mahogany in her hands.
“Who are you?” Paige demanded.
“I am Osan, known as the Red Shadow,” the woman purred. “And you’re the key to my success.” She lifted her staff, and Paige found herself shackled to a red shield, unable to move, though she tried to free her legs and tossed her head about only succeeding in making herself feel giddy.
The dark Amazonian mage laughed and waved her staff, a glittering mirror of magenta swirled into view, emerging from a portal that spun like a wheel of ruby-fire. The red granite gateway of Paige’s dream world with its roses carved into its stone arch hummed with a soft musical chorus. The translucent curtain was torn apart as Osan leapt across the threshold in a hurry to seek out Pegasus, causing Paige to scream in agony as her soul – like Lizi’s -- was ripped apart. “Now then,” the Red Shadow whispered, beginning her search. But a few minutes later, she was drawn back into the physical world by a bright and blinding silvery light. “Huh?” The Red Shadow looked around, unsure of what had caused her to be pulled out of the girl’s realm of beautiful dreams and blinked. “Who did that?”
Moon stepped from the empty stall standing with her arms folded, feet braced apart, the wind ruffling her Odangos and fuku. “I don’t particularly appreciate your unwanted stampede into my friend’s day, especially by the likes of you.”
“And who might you be?” the Red Shadow demanded, in a contemptuous tone. “And who does your hair, anyway?”
“I am Sailor Moon, champion of justice,” she snapped, and glared at the red clad woman with eyes of ice. “And I just had to ask… do you have a sister by the name of Medusa? You look just as hideous… you trashy turnip!”
“I’m Sailor Chibi-Moon!”
“And I am Sailor Dark Moon!” Both Senshi flanked Sailor Moon. “And we’re the Senshi of love and justice!” Moon cried as the four remaining Senshi appeared, surrounding the Red Shadow. “And in the name of the Moon… We will punish you!” they chorused.
The Red Shadow looked bored. “Oh darlings, to answer your first question, Moon...is it? You blonde wench…I am an only child, haven’t heard of your friend, Medusa, and second…as much as I would love to tussle with you, I have other important things to take care of. I believe I will let my companion speak for me. He is just dying to make your acquaintance.” She raised the staff aloft and shouted an incantation of some kind. Suddenly, a deep, rumbling growl shook the stables and caused the horses to fly into a panic. It was all the stable hands could do to keep the horses calm and safe – quickly moving the horses to stables far from the fray. Some stable boys unable to turn away from the sight of the stunningly beautiful and powerful Senshi, who were legend in Japan and around the world. Fortunately, the stables were some hundred feet from the Youma -- a huge blood-red lion with golden eyes and thick red fur -- the Red clad woman smiled at their discomfort. “Now, if you will excuse me…” She started walking towards Paige once again, but a high whistling sound stopped her in her tracks as a red rose whistled past her face, piercing the ground at her feet. “Now what?”
“Now you’ll have to deal with me!” Kamen said, leaping from the roof of an adjoining storeroom, landing sure-footed before the Red Shadow. “No one is going to take anyone’s dreams while I’m around.”
“Oh give me a break,” Osan snarled. “I am getting a little sick and tired of you people… Deal with them!” she yelled. The Youma roared in response, leaping over Osan’s head, bearing down on Kamen. He leapt clear of the big cat Youma. It roared again as it pursued him.
Kamen emerged from the nearby underbrush, the lion, hot on his heels. He whirled; flinging a handful of roses at the creature, but the roses struck an invisible barrier and fell to the ground.
“He’s going to be tough to defeat,” Mars warned. “But I’ll give it a good go -- Burning Mandala!” She hurled eight rings of fire at the big cat Youma, but the barrier around him had absorbed the attack, and a great sheet of flame roared straight back at Mars. She cried out in alarm and ducked quickly as its super-heated flames passed harmlessly overhead, while Kamen flung his cloak out to shield Chibi-Moon. Jupiter and Venus like the others dropped to the ground.
“This is no good,” Venus exclaimed in dismay. “Whatever attacks we use are going to be absorbed and sent back at us ten times stronger than before.”
“Let’s give it our best shot,“ Jupiter said, drawing on her Senshi power. “I’ll try -- Sparkling Wide Pressure!”
Jupiter hurled a projectile of lightning at the youma, but once more, the protective field neutralized the lightning attack. He roared, and a huge burst of lightning came back at Jupiter, and all were forced to fall to the ground once again.
“Venus Love-me Chain!” she cried, launching an attack while crouched upon one knee, but as with all their attacks, it had rebounded and all took cover once more.
Then Mercury tried next. “Shining Aqua Illusion!” She cried, directing a wave of ice water at the youma, but to no avail. “This is really bad,” she said, shaking her head. “We have no way of defeating this creature.”
They watched in horror, as the big cat lifted a mighty paw and directed a beam of light at a nearby hillside. Then a deep crevice opened, releasing an army of red-granite gargoyles. These fire-breathing creatures charged at the Senshi. They stood resolute as they combined their attacks, while Kamen unleashed an endless barrage of roses in an attempt to repel the creatures. But for each one they destroyed, three more appeared. The assembly of stone youma with reptilian hands extended, claws glinting balefully in the sunlight, ready to tear their victims’ flesh to ribbons, continued their relentless march towards Sailor Moon and her Senshi.
“Pegasus, we need your help!” Chibi-Moon cried in desperation as had Dark Moon as she petitioned Kantaro. “Kantaro! Come and help us!”
There was a high-pitched whinny, accompanied by an earsplitting roar, and in the golden burst of light that heralded Pegasus’ arrival, the gargoyles were turned to dust by a wave of golden light, only the lion youma remained standing.
Kantaro thundered from the trees, knocking the youma into the air. It crashed heavily against the stable sidewall, and lay there, stunned. “Way to go,” Dark Moon shouted gleefully. “That’s putting that big cat youma in its cage!”
Pegasus and Kantaro cast their power upon Sailor Moon and her daughters and they instantly transformed into their Super Sailor forms, as the others stared in awe.
Moon and Dark Moon assumed their battle pose, eyes hard as they faced the big cat youma that managed to climb to its feet, before Dark Moon let fly. “Dark Moon Cosmic Charge!” she cried, and a sphere of black light shot from her scythe, slamming into the youma and it was thrown off its feet once again.
Moon stepped up. She went down on one knee, scepter in hand and it pulsated with brilliant light as Chibi-Moon as before gave her mother strength. “Super Moon Target!” An orb of golden light then hurtled towards the creature and struck its chest and it roared in pain and dissolved into a funnel of darkness and was gone.
“And good riddance,” Dark Moon said vehemently, as Kantaro punctuated her words with a soft growl, and Pegasus whinnied. Then they were gone, and Moon, Chibi-Moon, and Dark Moon powered down to their earlier Senshi forms.
“So… that’s Pegasus,” Mars said -- her voice full of wonder. “And that huge black panther… Who’s he?”
“That’s Kantaro,” Dark Moon told her, twirling her translucent bladed Scythe in her hands. “But goodness knows where they came from, or why they’re here.”
“Well, as long as they’re our friends,” Jupiter said, patting Dark Moon’s shoulder. “That’s what counts.”
“Guys?“ Artemis looked up into Minako’s eyes and turned to Luna. “I think it time you powered down and checked on Paige.“
“Yes, we were able to use the healing wand to calm the horses…there was no way those people could have managed otherwise…all in a day’s work as they say,“ Luna commented as Tuxedo Kamen stroked her head.
~*~
“Don’t say a word, Kenji.”
“I had no intention, Osan.”
“Stop it, you two. I can’t stand your endless bickering.”
“Sorry, Akinari.”
“So you should be. Now let’s see what we can do about these Senshi… Hmmmm?”
“Yes, Akinari.”
