Haruka smiled slightly, her sandy hair falling into her eyes as she and her lover approached the mortal band. The blonde haired warrior called Usagi looked at the rift, then at Setsuna. "That leads into the Oni's realm?" she asked. "Yes," Setsuna said grimly, "possibly right to the queen." "Then we're going in," Usagi said grimly. "Daring," Haruka acknowledged, a slight smile teasing her lips, "exactly what I would expect from the Princess out of Shadow." "I can't talk you all out of this?" Rei's grandfather asked, the balding little man giving them a gently worried look. "If we don't take the chance to end this now," Rei said softly, "more lives could be lost." Taking a set of prayer beads off he laid them around Rei's neck. "Then I wish you luck," he said, "and will pray for your safe return." Rei kissed her grandfather on the cheek as she sighed, "Thank you." "I should introduce you to my allies," Setsuna said softly, power shimmering around her, "this is Haruka, a storm elemental and Michiru, a water elemental." "It is a honor meeting ones who have fought so valiantly," Michiru murmured, her green hair flowing around her like water. "Yo," Haruka waved. "We don't have much time," a bit of strain was showing in Setsuna's voice as she continued, her dagger throbbing red in the tear in space, "I can't hold the rift open for long." "Ami?" Usagi looked over at the professor. "I've got my freeze gun ready," Ami nodded, her blue hair damp with sweat. "No freeze bombs left," she added regretfully. "Ready," Sailor V said simply, her golden chain gleaming between her hands. Rei slung her bow over her shoulders, the black haired miko looking confident as she said, "Let's do this." "I've wanted a chance like this from the start," Makoto answered, the brown haired woman cracking her knuckles, her studded gloves looking dangerous on her strong hands. "We'll follow you, mistress," Luna said, Artemis nodding in agreement. Oddly the two cats seemed to have forgotten their mutual hatred in the heat of battle. "Setsuna?" Usagi looked at her worriedly. The black haired woman nodded, her face a bit pale. "When you're ready I can expand the rift into a portal, but there is a risk," she said. "Yes?" Rei asked softly. "The rift will close once we go through," Setsuna said grimly, "we'll have to find or create a portal once we defeat the Queen and her servants." "So it could be a one way trip," Makoto murmured. She shrugged casually, "I've never planned to live forever." The members of the group quietly chimed in their intention to carry through, each putting it in their own way. "I think they're everything we hoped for," Haruka murmured to Michiru admiringly. Michiru looked up at Haruka thoughtfully, "That they are." "I'm not leading us into this to die," Usagi sheathed her sword, setting it across her back as she continued, "I intend to do everything I can to bring you all home again." "Then let's do this," Setsuna said to them firmly, "while we still have the element of surprise on our side." With that she began to chant, ancient words of weight and substance, power rising up all around them. The tear in space shifted, growing swiftly, then finally stabilized a little larger than the tallest among them. Usagi moved to go in first but Makoto reached out a hand, "Let me, please." "I..." Ami started to say something then stopped with a frown. One by one they ran through, until finally Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna were the only ones left. "Does it bother you," Haruka finally said, "that we may be sending these mortals to their deaths?" "Their fate is their own to decide," Setsuna answered her honestly. She smiled slightly as she continued, "I believe in them." "Good enough," Michiru hesitated then reached out to take Haruka's hand, "let's go." And together the final three leapt through the portal. Makoto hit the ground first, looking around the crowded hall warily. The Oni seemed confused, thrown off balance and she followed up on that ruthlessly to clear a space for the others. Reaching out she grabbed two of them and hammered their heads together then unleashed a devastating spin kick to throw more of them backwards, "Duck!" Makoto dodged instinctively even as the first flight of arrows zipped by, igniting as soon as they struck the stunned Oni. Rei Hino set her next flight of arrows arching up, plunging into the mob of Oni that faced them, sowing more confusion and chaos among them. "More than I expected," Sailor V murmured, swinging her weighted chain out to capture a enemy and breaking his neck with a twist of her wrist. Usagi smiled, a frightening, almost feral look on her beautiful face. "Just more and easier targets," she answered, her blade a shimmering blur as she cut two Oni down in a single sweep. "Luna, Artemis, go!" she commanded. The cat's shifted, growing to human form as they followed Usagi and Minako, each watching their mistress' back. Luna tossed a handful of throwing blades into a Oni's face, staying close to Usagi even as she scowled, "Where is the Queen?" "That would be my question," Haruka scowled, lightning dancing around her. A single bolt exploded the rough cavern floor, sending Oni flying backward, but dozens more rushed forward. Setsuna's eyes glowed purple even as Ami sprayed the front rank of Oni with pure cold, freezing a few where they stood. "She's here," she murmured, "but where?" "Buy me some time," Ami said as she drew her personal computer from the bag and slipping her visor on. Calling up the search program she designed for the Oni portals she modified it, scanning the cavern for the strongest energy signatures... Manticore emerged from the mob, her eyes wild with rage and grief. "How dare you follow me here?" the rose tinted warrior cried, swinging her blade viciously. Usagi parried, metal ringing on metal as she met the other woman's maddened eyes. 'Is that what I'm like,' she wondered, 'when I fall into one of my rages?' In deadly silence Usagi fought on, the sounds of battle falling away around them as the Oni and Senshi watched in awe as the duel went on. Back and forth they went, each one only able to gain a momentary advantage, then slowly but surely the tide turned. Maybe it was Usagi's greater will, her determination, but for whatever reason she began to drive Manticore to the defensive. "No," Manticore cried as her blade faltered, then her mouth dropped open in shock as Usagi cut her down with her return stroke. Michiru watched Usagi, frowning slightly. 'She really isn't too far from the Oni herself,' she mused, 'the bloodline calls to her.' The Oni fell back a bit, watching the ten warriors who had suddenly appeared in their midst. "I think I've found her," Ami called, "the strongest power reading in approximately 100 meters north!" "Guess we'll just have to break through," Makoto said, cracking her knuckles. "Maybe not," Sailor V murmured as she quickly moved to murmur something to Usagi. "You can't be serious," Usagi looked at her in surprise. Sailor V smiled slightly, "It's worth a try." Usagi turned to the Oni, her long blonde hair flowing like a banner. "AS the princess of the Oni I command you to move aside," she said, raising her blade still smeared with some of Manticore's blood, "or face the consequences." Slowly at first, then with more speed, the Oni force parted. "Weak," the Queen muttered from where she watched through a silvery orb, "they're all too weak!" "Don't worry," Mamoru said softly, "I will defend you, m'lady." "You and another," Serenity murmured, gazing to the shadows. She emerged from the darkness, short black hair flowing around her expressionless face. Calmly Hotaru Tomoe hefted her rune decorated glave and murmured, "I live to serve, m'lady."
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