Episode 05 - The last stand of Lapis Lazuli! Ran and Tyr awaken.

Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta stand around a crystal table. On the table lay a woman in a sailor uniform. Her light-blue hair was short and puffed out widely around her head. A dark gray-blue colored her skirt and collar. The bow on her chest was colored in a deep, purple-red and her back bow was a paler version of the same color. She wore knee-high boots that matched the hue of her hair. her gloves reached to her elbows and purple-red metal armor was strapped around the gloves, protecting her arms. "What is this all about?" Vesta questioned.

"It's so strange." Ceres said. "Our enemy left behind a Sailor Crystal and now this girl has formed in it's place. I guess she's a sailor soldier, too, but..."

"Where is she from?" Pallas pondered.

"Does it mean that the horned woman was really a sailor solider?" Ceres answered back.

"It just can't be, can it?" Vesta countered, raising an eyebrow.

The girls quieted down as they thought on the situation. Serenity sat away from the other girls and stared at her hands. She was fidgeting nervously. "Serenity?" Juno called, turning to the princess, "Are you okay?"

"I-- I'm okay."

"How's Helios doing?"

"Not so good right now. The Maenads are taking care of him but he was hurt badly in the attack."

"Why don't we go and see him. I'll take you," Juno offered.

"Wait!" Ceres called.

Pallas marveled. "It looks like she's coming around! The girl's waking up!"

Elsewhere in Elysion, Jasper watched as her master paced about and ranted wildly. "Lapis-sama, what's is it? Why are you so nervous? With Unakite out of the way we can be together and go back to Obsidian."

"You stupid girl! Don't you understand? We can't go back after this! They'll have both our heads."

"Because we didn't take out this planet? We can do that easily. If it hadn't been for Unakite going crazy I could've taken those weakling soldiers with no problem."

Lapis shook his head. "I don't think they'll forgive us even if we take the light of this planet now. This has gotten really out of hand. I never expected Unakite to get killed."

"Lapis-sama, what's so important about her? What's going on?" the cat woman questioned.

"There was a Sailor Crystal inside of her."

"What? That's impossible. She wasn't a--"

"It's not impossible! You hold one, too. I don't know how much you remember from that time when you decided to come with us. You remember your planet, don't you? You betrayed your planet's protecting soldier and joined with us. You stole her Sailor Crystal and hid it inside your bosom for us. Taking over the planet after she was gone was too easy. It was the same for Unakite. But now, with her gone the light has been released once more."

"Such a mistake I've made," Jasper whispered in a horrified tone. "What can we do?"

"We must take reclaim the light of that soldier as well as the life of this planet. If we do that maybe we will be forgiven," Lapis offered.

Jasper's face filled with determination. "Then there is no time to loose."

The soldier stood facing the other girls full on. Her face reflected the image of a tomboy type. "My name is Sailor Ran. I am from the deep water planet-moon of Ran. Thank you for releasing me from my captors."

The girl bowed respectfully. She rose her head once again as Ceres stepped forward. "What is going on? Who are these people?"

Ran turned her head downward to the ground. Sadness reflected in her eyes. "There is a lot this solar system does not yet know. There is a powerful force trying to extinguish the light of the universe, but the light they have found necessary to destroy is within Sailor Soldiers. Unfortunately for them, the stars within soldiers are not easy to shatter. Once a soldiers dies their star returns to the Galaxy Cauldron, the sea of origin where they were formed. Once again they will be born."

"When we were attacked, Empress Opalite did not yet have the power to silence us indefinitely so she found warriors in which she could house our Sailor Crystals... holding them hostage. I was able to build up enough strength to rebel against that body and rebuild myself. I don't know how long this will last."

"However, now it is a completely different story. The empress has found a way to steal the light of our stars. Planet by planet, she is traveling with her minions, using the power of black holes and swallowing up the universe."

Serenity looked at the soldier. "How can we defend ourselves against--"

The princess felt herself get hurled back as a force of energy pushed through the walls. Groggily, she placed her hand to her head and shook off the debris. The other girls raced to her side. The foreign soldier was knocked to the ground by a cat-like woman. "I'm sorry, little one, but we're going to need that Crystal back... right now!"

As Jasper raised her hand her fingernails lengthened into sharp claws. Her hand came swinging down toward Sailor Ran's back, hoping to rip the crystal right out of her body. Before she could strike, she felt herself pummeling backward with the weight of another person on her. Vesta had managed to body-slam into her before she could take notice. The two landed in the debris behind them. "Amazones Virgi--" Vesta was cut off as another entity appeared in the room. "Charon Andalusite! Take care of this bothersome child!"

The hooded creature reached its hand out from under the long robes. It opened it's fist to reveal an old coin. Vesta noticed that her limbs had become hardened. She couldn't move as the charon flipped the coin into the air. The word 'obolus' echoed in her ears and she squinted her eyes shut as she awaited its impact. The coin struck her chest causing her to fall to her knees in pain. She had not been strapped down like her companions were when they had been attacked. Long wings sprouted from her back and feathers danced around her. A Sailor Crystal to appeared in front of the girl.

Vesta's gritted her teeth as she opened her eyes. The charon approached. It's long hand reached out to take the light of her crystal. A single sweatdrop rolled down Vesta's forehead. Gathering all of her strength, Vesta jolted forward and reclaimed her light, forcing it back into her body. "We'll have none of that! Amazones Virgin Hearth!"

The creature was effortlessly pounded out of existence by Vesta's attack. She patted her hands in triumph as she stood to her feet. "If that's all we're up against, we shouldn't have any problem defea--"

The soldier's words were cut off as she felt something seize her from behind. It was the woman with the feline features once again. She had forgotten about her! She turned her head away from the woman and realized that her friends had fallen. In the time it had taken her to exterminate the charon this woman had managed to take down her friends. Vesta began to think that she had underestimated the situation after all. She squinted her eyes shut awaiting the attack.

"Release her!" a voice shouted from behind.

Jasper's head whipped around to find the source of the voice. Sailor Ran stood defensively behind her, her eyes serious and bright. The cat woman's eyes narrowed as she dropped Sailor Vesta to the ground. Vesta exhaled loudly in relief.

"Just who I was looking for," Jasper said as a cold smile appeared on her lips.

"I said RELEASE HER!!" Ran repeated harshly.

Vesta then realized that the other soldier was not trying to help her but someone else. There was another soldier hidden away within this enemy.

In a loud whisper, the blue soldier called out her attack, "Ocean Orchid!"

A wave of green-blue water splashed around Ran. As it ricocheted off the ground, the water formed into purple orchids and swiftly blasted her opponent. As they whisked by Jasper, she felt the petals rip at her skin. "All right!" Vesta cheered.

Jasper fell to her knees. Ran raised her arms, preparing to send another blow at her enemy. She felt a gentle hand touch her arm and she looked to her side. She was met with gentle eyes. The soldier of the moon spoke softly, "Sailor Ran, this woman has learned her lesson. If you attack her again she'll die. You don't need to take her life to win."

"LOOK OUT!" Vesta screamed.

Ran and Moon turned their heads back to find the cat woman had leapt into the air and was coming straight for them. Panicked, Sailor Moon lifted her weapon in the air and cried out "Pink Lady's Freezing KISS!"

Jasper's body ripped apart before she even landed. Moon stood frozen in horror. She had killed the woman. Vesta and the other girls, who had finally recovered, ran to their princess. Ran rushed forward, unfazed by the incident. Her arms outstretched as she caught a glowing crystal floating toward the floor. She cradled and felt weak as she did. Ran fell to her knees and the other soldiers watched in amazement as a darkly tanned body formed around the crystal. "Tyr, my comrade, finally you have returned."

Juno, Vesta, and Ceres sat in a dining hall with the two new soldiers. A grand meal lay before them on the table. Pallas entered the room and sat herself down quietly. She apologized for her lateness. Vesta turned to her with concerned eyes. "How is she?"

"Serenity doesn't want to leave Helios right now so Pallas left her alone. She'll be okay in a little while. She just needs a little time."

The newly reformed soldier slammed her wine glass onto the table. She brushed her mauve hair out of her angry eyes. "Dammit! Why are we just sitting around here? We have to track the rest of them down and stop them now!"

"Tyr!" Ran scolded in a hushed voice.

"No, this is stupid. We should be out there. We have to finish this now!"

Ceres' eyes narrowed. "We're doing all we can to find them. Right now all we can do is wait."

"No wonder they've targeted this planet," Tyr retorted, "with your additude you're all an easy target."

Vesta boiled over, unable to contain herself any longer. "We'll the way it seems that you were the only ones in this room they were actually able to take out!"

"Vesta, that's enough!" Ceres yelled, standing to her feet and raising her arms out on either side of her as if to motion for both sides to stop.

"Ceres is right. This fighting isn't going to get us anywhere and faster," Juno added.

The women tried to regain their polite composure and began to eat quietly. The only sounds that could be heard were their spoons hitting their soup bowls.

Night had fallen over Elysion. An occupied bed sat under an open window. The fresh air blew in, gently tickling the faces of the occupants. Helios lie unmoving, Serenity sitting beside him. Her eyes were squinted shut. "Helios... I... please wake up."

She looked over at him, tears in her eyes. "It's selfish for me to say this, but I need you now. I need your kindness more than ever. Today we fought again and I... I took the life of our opponent."

The princess shook her head as if she were trying to gain some clarity. She inhaled deeply. "Killing those charon... it's not the same thing. They were only demon creatures, this was a live person. I... I just don't think I can do this. It's wrong."

"Serenity," a familiar voice whispered sadly.

The princess jerked her head up in surprise. Sailor Vesta was standing at the doorway. "Serenity, we found where the enemy is hiding. We have to go."

"No."

"Don't do this."

"I don't want to fight anymore. Everyone I love is getting hurt."

"Serenity, if you don't fight more people will get hurt. This whole world will die."

"I'm not going, Vesta."

Vesta stepped forward and slapped the princess hard across the cheek. Serenity held a hand to her face, cradling the pain. "Coward!" the red-haired woman yelled, "How can you back out now?"

The other three of the Quartetto ran to the room. "Vesta! Tyr and Ran have disappeared. I think they're going to fight alone. We gotta go now!"

Vesta's eyes widened. "Those idiots! Alright, I'm right behind you."

The women ran off. Following suit, Vesta ran to the door. She turned back to look at Serenity one more time. "Serenity, I believed in you. I still believe in you with all my heart. Stand by us and protect our planet, protect our home... Sailor Moon."

"Vesta..." the princess said, shocked by her friend's words. "Wait, I'm coming with you."

Vesta smiled. "I'll meet you outside."

Serenity turned to the man lying in the bed. She smiled softly, "Helios, I'm going to be strong. I'll fight to protect you and the people of this planet."

Blood and bruises marked their bodies as they stood their ground against the blue-clad man that they classified as a demon. Ran and Tyr had realized only now that they were not yet strong enough from their awakening to fight. The man seemed immune to any attack they called upon. The tanned soldier cried out in a cracked voice, "Lapis, you devil! I--"

"My darling Sailor Tyr, have you gone so low as to resort to name calling. Tsk, tsk! And you call yourself a Sailor Soldier. Why don't you just give this up. Come back with me and I surely persuade your guilty feelings as I hold you in my arms."

"Sorry, you're just not my type, Lapis!" she spat. "Crimson Spear Restitution!"

As she finished her attack cry, a spinning, red spear that had appeared in her hands was heaved into the night air. Without missing a beat Lapis launched an outstretched limb forward and captured in his hand what would have been a fatal blow. The spear and crumbled it to dust in his clenched fist and Tyr's anger turned to despair. "Ran, I think we will be joining our queen...."

"Yes, we shall see her again... together."

Lapis Lazuli's smile widened into a menacing smirk as he hovered in the air above them. A glowing blue light started to appear about him, forming wide around his body in the shape of a circle. His laugh burned in the soldiers' ears.

Suddenly, the battle was interrupted by a regal voice, piercing the night. "Pink Lady's Freezing Kiss!!"

The light vanished from Lapis' body and he growled in anger. Five soldiers stood together, each colorfully adorned in Sailor Suits.

"How dare you attack these newly reawakened stars," the moon soldier called out. "They have come seeking Justice, and I shall be there to make sure they find a way! I am the pretty soldier in a sailor suit who stands for Love and Justice, Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"

"So shall we, the Sailor Quartetto!" Ceres, Juno, Vesta, and Pallas called in unison.

The man in blue drifted higher into the sky, hoping that the distance might protect him. "There are just too many of them for me to fight on my own. Even I can notice my limits... I'll go back and ask Empress Opalite-sama to--" his thoughts cut off as a figure appeared in front of him.

When the figure fully solidified, Lapis recognized her as his commander, Calcite. She had a fierce look in her eyes. He could tell that she was displeased... very displeased. "Ca-calcite! It's funny that you would show up now. Your help would be most appreciated. Then, maybe after we defeat them we could go back to my quarters and--"

"Shut up, Lapis. Is seducing women the only thing you're good for?" The commander's face was full of disgust.

She turned her head for a moment and then back to Lapis. "I see you let both soldiers get away."

"Please, Calcite, help me to--" Lapis' words cut off again as he heard an attack cry from four of the girls below.

"Amazones Jungle ARROW!!"

Lapis looked into the eyes of his commander. "I do not accept failure, Lapis. And neither does Opalite-sama," was all she said before she disappeared.

With no time to react, the attack that would have hit Calcite pierced his chest. A cry of pain echoed through Elysion. Then, a small black hole tore open and Lapis Lazuli's body was drained into the void, never to return to the living.

After the soldier returned to the white castle, the princess questioned the two soldiers angrily. "Why did you run off so rashly? Why did you not give us the opportunity stand by you? We are trying to help you all we can but you just can't--"

"We're sorry, your highness," Ran answered, "but we live now only to avenge the death of our Queen."

Tyr continued in their explanation. "She was taken in by a traitor, much like we were, but we were there to witness her death. Before our very eyes, she was slain, and there was nothing we could do to prevent it."

"We were born to be her protectors, but now we can only avenge her."

Once again in the white room, Serenity sat alone with Helios. She pondered deeply. She stared at the moonlight from the window as she spoke to the sleeping man. "Those women... they are so devoted to their queen, even long after her death. Is that the true power of friendship? Is that the power of a Sailor Soldier? I want to always protect my friends, the ones dear to me, forever and ever..."

"That is why your heart was chosen, Serenity."

The voice startled her. She jerked back around to see those kid orange-yellow eyes open and bright. Tears instantly started falling from her eyes. "Helios! Helios! Thank God you're alright."

End Episode 05.