Disclaimer: The following story is based on the Anime series Sailor Moon. All characters are the property of Naoko Taeuchi and DIC. The character of Sailor Minerva is mine.

Sailor Minerva

The secret Sailor Senshi

by LPrior

Chapter 4

The following morning was to prove to be a real test of Iriko's abilities. Beryl decided that the best way to get the Imperium crystal was to collect the old crystal bearers and combine them into one massive Youma to fight the senshi. She sent Endymion to gather the crystal bearers, which enraged Kunzite. He called her to his side and gave her express orders in how to deal with the Prince of Earth.

Amethyst was careful to stay back from Endymion's sight. Though she was ordered to foul him up, she wasn't exactly sure how. As Amethyst her powers were much like those she used as Sailor Minerva. Here on the earth she had never used the powers. She knew that two of the guardian cats were near the scouts and she didn't need Artemis or Luna remembering her. Endymion was more like a dark kingdom warrior this morning than usual. She cursed under her breath. Being called away last night had probably messed with her work. She always before tried to stay near the whole night to be sure that Beryl didn't visit him and feel the work she had done.

It looked like it wasn't to be helped. She was going to have to transform to Sailor Minerva to use her mind slip power. Endymion had collected most of the crystal bearers. As he disappeared to collect the last one, a boy by the name of Greg, she hid behind a booth at the park and powered up. "Minerva power!" With a flash she was out of the dark kingdom persona and back to Sailor Minerva. She hid and looked about. The inner scouts would be showing soon. Of this she was sure. They always showed when the dark Kingdom energies were on the rise. If she was lucky the prince would show and she could jog his mind just enough that the princess could get him back. Then she would be able to leave. With Tuxedo Kamen back on their side the inner senshi would be able to defeat Beryl. She could give them the information she had gathered over the long years and finally be done with her service. She truly longed to go back to tending the growing things.

After a short while she saw Lady Mercury and a young man walk into the park. She recognised the boy. He was one of the past crystal bearers. She slid from booth to booth, looking around. Anytime now Endymion would be showing up to collect this boy. She knew from experience that Sailor Mercury’s attacks where not that strong. The girl was more the brains of the scouts. She would need to back her up if they were to keep the boy out of Endymion’s hands.

She could hear them talking quietly. It seemed that the two had some feelings for each other. Minerva smiled. It was good to see that the other scouts were finding people to care for. She always thought that the lives of the inner scouts was lonely, never thinking on how lonely her own life had been over the years.

So intent on watching the young couple was she that she too was startled when Endymoin appeared standing on the top of the ferris wheel. The entire wheel lit up, throwing Sailor Minerva into the shadows. She smiled. No one could see her now. She eased closer to Prince Endymoin. She heard Sailor Mercury cry out that she would fight him and his responce about waiting for all the sailor scouts. Iriko smiled. He wasn’t expecting one extra scout to show up.

Mercury called on her bubbles and Endymoin just ignored them and used the crystal to imprison the sixth of the crystal bearers. Sailor Minerva could see the tears come to Sailor Mercury’s eyes as the boy was obsorbed by the crystal and she started to call on her powers but before she could get close enough Sailor Mercury and Prince Endymoin started to fight.

Endymoin easily blocked Mercury’s shabon spray but she had somehow gotten her hands on the crystal and throwing it to the ground, she shattered it. The six people trapped inside reformed as their old selves. Iriko was glad but they were blocking her path to the prince.

Next, to her surprise Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Moon showed up. This would be interesting. Each time in the past when the princess had shown up the prince had pulled back from the battle. Iriko hoped it would happen but was disappointed. He started to fight the princess and the others. He commented that he would defeat them. It was time for Minerva to use her powers before something happened to him or the princess.

She ran along the booths until she was behind the prince and then as he was struck by Jupiter and Mercury’s attacks she added her own. She whispered, “Minerva mind slip.” Though this was really meant to be done in the touching range she could extend her power to reach a mind she had been in before. She could see Sailor Moon powering up her wand to heal himand then sent a blast of her power to bring all his memories to the front of his mind. The flare of her power was quiet compared to the power coming from the princess’s wand but it had been noticed.

She could feel Endymoin’s memories returning and could see him return to his earthly form of Chiba Mamaru but then felt a massive surge of dark energy as he was engulfed in blackness and teleported away. With her mind still inside his she let out a cry and fell to her knees. The pain of having a mind she was in contact with ripped away stunned her for a moment. Long enough for Kunzite to find her and grab her. He teleported back to the dark kingdom, carrying her with him.

He threw her to the ground and glared at her. “Who are you?” Kunzite took a long look at the woman on the ground before him. She looked familiar but he had not seen this particular sailor scout before.

Salior Minerva shook her head for a moment. Part of her mind was still trapped inside the prince of the Earth’s mind. She could feel her Sailor transformation starting to slip. She lost control of it and she faded back into the form of Amethyst.

Kunzite’s eyes widened as he watched this strange Sailor scout transform into his most trusted aide. “YOU!” he roared and blasted her with a beam of nega-energy. She flew back a few feet and moaned. Once more she tranformed. The cold dark kingdom warrior faded from view and left a small woman dressed in a simple gown. Kunzite was enraged. He had trusted this being with all his plans. The thought that she had been the aide to all the failed generals passed his mind. In the blink of an eye he realized that she had to have been responcible for the failures that had cost the life of Ziocite. “I will kill you!” He prepared to attack her again when a amused voice stopped him.

“No, Kunzite. I don’t think so. I have other plans for this one.”

He spun about and then bowed. “What ever you wish, my queen.”

Iriko looked up, in pain, at the being responsible for the destruction of her home and people. Beryl was a beautiful as ever and smiled cruely at her. “I believe I recognise you. Sailor Minerva, am I correct?”

Iriko slowly nodded.

Beryl looked impressed. “You are amazing girl. I destroyed your planet a very long time ago. I thought I had killed off all of you.” She reached down and grabbed Iriko’s chin. “How long have you been hiding in my service?”

“Long enough.”

“I see,” Beryl answered. She turned about. “Kunzite, take this and put her in a cell. I think I have a use for her. She holds lots of energy inside her that can be useful.” She let out a cruel laugh. “It has been a long time since I had a Minervan to drain. It will be a great day for us. She will hold enough energy to release Queen Metilla.” Iriko struggled in Kunzite’s grip. He reached back and slapped her hard. Normally Iriko could deal with any attack but she was weak from the earlier blast and he knocked her senseless.

***************************************

To be continued