Race Through the Night: Comet’s Pendant Has Arrived.

____________________________________________________________________

Chrystia stared at the Petri dishes filled with solutions made from salt ammonia and food coloring. After several days the solutions had developed various seeds, and several were available to be put into a much larger tank.

“I have failed,” She said as she grabbed a fork. It was special fork crafted out of pewter and had two clear crystal stones set into the handle. “I have failed my wolf, my hawk, and my shark. They were not strong enough.” Borice may not have seemed too angry with her, but she had failed in killing those Ladies, those Galactic Ladies as they had called themselves.

She took the special fork to the dish and lifted the crystal seeds from the solution. One buy one she carried them to the tank that was filled with the same solution and slowly dropped them in. The tank would provide ample room. There were other seeds that she had grown earlier and had started to grow. It will take months but she will have tank full of multi colored crystals that resembled coral. These were her gardens. She preferred the everlasting beauty of crystals instead of flowers that would end up withering and dying.

Chrystia frowned at that thought. Sylvite was pissed at her for coming up with such a wonderful plan and after it failed she had walked into the medical wing not to offer sympathy and well wishes but to gloat. The plant loving witch didn’t even say anything. It was the look in her eyes that did the job.

“Now it is her turn,” Chrystia said as she cleaned the fork and put it back in her box. What kind of plan could she come up with on such short notice? It certainly could not be any where near as good as hers. She will see herself.

She passed by two other doors. The music on a clarinet was heard from one door. Chrystia froze in her path. He was playing that song again, the song that was for his princess. She had overheard him telling Feldspar that his princess was his promised reward for when they have taken over. His princess was in love with him long ago, but forbidden to be with him by her father.

She tilted her head to the side. She was angry when he brought her back to the kingdom. After she had some time to think about it she was glad that he did save her, and he actually visited her while she was recovering yesterday and played a song for her.

The second door she walked past belonged to Feldspar and she could hear him sharpening his knives. He was skilled with swords, knives and daggers. He was a master of the magical knives. He was cunning and handsome, a skilled fighter and a caring man. After they take over the can finally get married and there will be no one, no feuding planets, nothing that would stand in their way.

She eventually made it to Sylvite’s room. She opened the door just a crack and stared inside.

Sylvite stood in front of a potted plant with bell shaped blossoms that were pale orange in color. She held her light green watering can and hummed to herself as she watered the plant.

“What are you doing?” Chrystia kicked the door open. “You are supposed to be harvesting energy, not gardening.”

“Don’t you ever knock?” Sylvite asked as she set the watering can down. “And I am working on a plan.”

“What is the plan?” Chrystia placed her hands on her hips.

“This is my plan,” Sylvite pointed at the plant. She threw a handful of sparkling dust on the plant. “That was my special fertilizer.”

“What are you going to do with it? Send it to a flower shop and hope that it drains all of the shop’s customers?”

“That does sound like a good idea,” Sylvite picked up on the pot and sent it down on a large square of white paper. “Maybe next time your turn appears then you will get to try it.”

“This isn’t helping,” Chrystia gritted her teeth. Her rival was too calm and chipper. She had something up her sleeve and Chrystia wanted to know what it was.

"Well if you insist,” Sylvite folded up the paper. It was sparkling red wrapping paper. The white smooth part was the under side. “I'm sending it to Marcus Shyer.”

“Marcus who?” Chrystia asked. She had no idea, and she thought Sylvite was interested in their leader.”

“He owns a sandwich shop,” Sylvite explained. She had folded up the paper and it covered the pot. She tucked the edges into the soil. “ I'm using Nephrite’s style to gather energy this time. The stars are lining in his favor. This little gift will amplify his energy.”

“His style was good,” Chrystia rubbed her chin. She had always admired Nephrite. The man had class and he was a good fencing partner for Feldspar. Sure he betrayed them, but it was for a good reason. He had fallen in love with an Earth Girl. It was romantically beautiful that he died for her.

“So you understand my goal,” Sylvite tied a white ribbon around the base of the plant. “And now to send it off.” She threw a mixture of petals and pollen at the plant until it disappeared.

Demona was slowly crawling back to the top. She had drained a significant portion on the Nightstone account and deposited into a various holdings. She also had sold several shares that were in her name only. Her attacks may seem little and insignificant were stabs at Thailog. When she realized he was still alive she had to have her revenge on him for trying to kill her daughter and creating that whore of a freak.

She could try to kill him. She could face him at night and fight him or try to find his stone form during the day and shatter him, but searching for where he slept had proved futile and a part of her told her that no matter how much she tried to kill he would rise again like a phoenix. No. She would not think of him as a glorious bird. She will think of him as a filthy insect, like a cockroach. That was it. He was hard to kill like a cockroach.

With Thailog she had decided to go for the jugular and that would be in his pride. The bastard thought of himself as a diabolical mastermind, a genius of a business man. His pride was in Nightstone. She planned to nip at him and drain him little by little until he was forced to sell the company and she will buy it and make it hers and hers alone. There was a very likely chance that he will create a new company, but she will make certain he will be destroyed financially by her business.

She needed to learn from the master. She had disguised herself during the day and slipped into the crevices and moved around the hidden passages of the castle. She had set up spy cameras in a secret location near Xanatos’s office. She had watched him, written things down and learned how to be a better businesswoman. She will have her revenge on Thailog and run Nightstone until it found a way to destroy all the humans.

Her eyebrows raised when she saw that trickster bring Xanatos a small package. She turned up the volume so she could hear it better.

"Ah my package has arrived," Xanatos said when Owen presented him with a small manila envelope. “We need to let either the girls or their rabbit know.” Heopened it and shook it until a small velvet box slid out. He opened the box. A pink metallic star shaped pendant with a purple gem in the center was inside.

There was something about that necklace. Demona had thought it was just a simple piece of jewelry at first, but she remembered she had seen it some where. Yes, it was in one of her books.

She sprung up from her chair and ran toward the library while cursing her human feet and legs. She would have been faster if she were in her gargoyle form and could run on all fours.

When she had reached the library she grabbed several books of their shelves and thumbed through them. The blasted necklace was no where to be found. Perhaps it was just a normal trinket after all.

She was two thirds of the way of the final book when she had come across it. There were three others just like it, only made with different colored metals and had different gemstones The fifth was the solar pendant. All five were worn by warrior women who were given the jewelry by a goddess. I gave them the power and the strength to fight a powerful demon.

“Xanatos has one of these,” Demona smirked. If the legend were true, and she had learned through her millennia on the planet that most legends had some truth to them, she will be able to harness the power for herself. She could use that pendant in spell against Thailog, maybe even use it to wipe out the Quarrymen, maybe even all of humanity.

“Enjoy your pretty necklace,” Demona said. Tomorrow she will claim it for herself.

It was a great day so far, Riley thought as she approached the Cloverway arcade. Her parents and bought her little white lie and she had studied even harder. Apparently a lot of people got poor marks on the test and they had a make-up test that day. Riley felt like she had done much better. She knew all the definitions and only felt like she had struggled with two of the words. She even whistled on her way into the game center.

Riley was about to enter the arcade when she noticed Mr. Shyer next store. Shyer’s delicatessen made some of the best sandwiches Riley had ever eaten. She usually went to the sandwich shop for her break.

Mr. Shyer and pursed his lips into a frown, creating a few more wrinkles than he had before. He seemed to be studying a plant with pretty orange flowers that someone had wrapped the pot in sparkling wrapping paper and tied a bow on.

"Good Afternoon Mr. shyer." Riley said. She and several of her workers were on friendly terms with Mr. Shyer and his employees.

Mr. Shyer looked up at her and smiled. "Good afternoon Riley. How has your day been?"

“Wonderful,” Riley answered. “I feel like I aced that test today.”

“That is always good to hear.”

"Where did you get that pretty plant?"

"Someone left it here, as a gift."

“Who is it from?”

“I’m not sure,” Shyer stared at the plant again. “There is no card.”

“It must be a surprise gift then,” Riley suggested.

“It could be. You are right. It certainly is a pretty plant. My wife will love it, but I’ll keep it in my office for now.”

"You have a good afternoon. I’ll see you on my break."

“I’m looking forward to seeing you,” Shyer said.

Riley waltzed into the arcade, whistling the good ole classic song from Snow White.

Sylvite watched from her room. The fool had accepted his gift. She put a little twist on Nephrite’s old scheme. Instead of tagging a tool or item the target uses all the time she had rigged the plant and the sweet fragrance will make him forget to remove it from his office while he was at work.

"Powers of the Kingdom,” Sylvite folded her hands together. “Powers of the plant kingdom. I summon the power of goddesses of the green and harvest. Focus on this human, let his constructive energy multiply tenfold."

She watched as Marcus Shyer began to chop the corn beef faster. He splashed whole wheat bread with mustard and placed on lettuce, the meat, tomatoes, cheese and pickles. He cut the sandwich in half and wrapped it in paper.

“Sir,” One of his teen employees tapped him on the shoulder.

“What do you want?” Shyer barked. His face was red and his eyes were wide.

“Oh this is what I want to see,” Sylvite said as she continued to watch.

“Well you see the customer-“ The employee tried to get out.

“Spit it out,” Shyer snarled.

"He wanted two different kinds of cheeses on his sandwich," the employee said.

“Two cheeses?” Shyer’s eye twitched. “Fine.” He unwrapped the sandwich, and after one glance of the order he sliced the cheese in a only two second before he placed it into the sandwich and rewrapped it.

“Thank you,” the customer said and paid for his sandwich.

“Are you okay?” The employee asked after the customer had left.

Shyer was trembling. He groaned and grabbed his heart.

"Mr. Shyer?"

P-please get-t-t out." Shyer stammered.

"Are you feeling all right?"
"Get Out!" Marcus collapsed after the employee ran out.

“I really thank you for doing this,” Celeste said as she and Sadie rode the elevator up to the castle. “I would of asked Laurine, but she had prior engagements.” Celeste rolled her eyes. She had told her friend Gina that she would help her find the right kind of wig and other small details to help her with her costume.

“She promised Gina she would help,” Sadie said as she gave Celeste a gentle rubbing between the ears. “That is one thing you can count on her for. She keeps her promises.”

“Her main engagement should be being devoted to fighting the Dark Kingdom,” Celeste said. She had lost track of how many time she had to drill that in their heads.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask us to go to the castle yesterday,” Sadie said.

“You and Laurine had your athletics practice and Riley was at work,” Celeste said. “And Mr. Xanatos received the package while you were at practice or at work.”

“But if fighting the Dark Kingdom is the most important thing then why didn’t you tell us to ditch yesterday?”

“Having you three skip out would have seemed odd to your peers,” Celeste said. “We cannot allow them to know that you three are the Galactic Ladies.”

“That is why you didn’t ask Riley?”

“Of course,” Celeste said. She knew Riley had a track meet. She also mentioned something about being concerned for a man near where she works.

The elevator doors opened and Mr. Burnett was there to greet them.

“Good after noon,” Burnett said. “Do you need anything to drink?”

“Just some juice in a container of ice,” Sadie said.

“Follow me,” Owen said as he led them to the gargoyle’s living room.

“Nothing for me right now,” Celeste said. She still couldn’t shake the feeling about Burnett. There was something odd about him.

“I’ll be right back with your drink Miss Starkfelsen,” Mr. Burnett said as he took Celeste from Sadie’s arms and carried her to Xanatos’s office.

“I can walk,” Celeste leapt from his arms.

“If you insist,” Burnett said.

“I do.” She just didn’t trust him. The energy that he was giving off was not the energy of a youma or a Dark Army general. It was something odd.

“Miss Celeste is here to see you,” Mr. Burnett opened the door for her and she hopped inside. “I will attend to Miss Starkfelsen.”

“Thank you, Owen,” Mr. Xanatos said. He was standing next to his desk.

“Thank you for letting us know,” Celeste said once the door was closed. “And for purchasing the pendant, and for letting me use your computer.”

“It is nothing,” Xanatos said as he grabbed a small jewelry box from off his desk. “I do not want these energy eating monsters in my city.”

“They are called youmas,” Celeste said.

“These youma’s then. The gargoyles are strong and capable warriors, but not even they can stand up against them. Your girls, or should I say Ladies are the only ones with the abilities to stand up against them.”

“We really appreciate your help,” Celeste said after the wealthy man placed the jewelry box before her.

"There is a bit more," Xanatos said. “A Castle has many room and there are several that are not being used. I am going to convert that room into a meeting are for the girls. That way you won’t have to keep on sharing with the clan.”

“They don’t mind at all,” Celeste said as she opened the box. The necklace inside did have a star shaped pendant, but it was silver like Laurine’s, or it was. It was covered in tarnish and instead of an amethyst it had a pearl. "That’s not the star pendant."

"May I see?” Xanatos asked and walked around.

“Here,” Celeste held up the box for him.

Xanatos squinted. “That is not the same pendant that I ordered. I looked at it yesterday. It was made out of rose gold and had small amethyst stone set in the center. It was exactly like the one I gave to Laurine.”

“Who could of stolen it?” Celeste asked. “The Dark Kingdom doesn’t know who the Ladies are or where they meet.”

“I doubt it is the Dark Kingdom,” Xanatos scratched his chin. “This castle is old, with several different passages that I am not aware about.”

“You know who it is?”

“Yes I do,” Xanatos nodded. “I believe it is a good time to warn you about Demona.”

“Demona?” Celeste perked up one of her ears.

“The former mate of Goliath. She despises humans and blames us for the tragedy that happened to Wyvern. She can turn human during the day. She is practically unkillable and a sorceress.”

“What does she want with the pendant?” Celeste asked.

“Most likely she will use it to either create a clan for herself, or use it to destroy humans.”

“But she can’t use it. Only the Galactic Ladies and the Moon Queen can.”

“It will not stop her from trying,” Xanatos frowned.

“Mr. Xanatos,” Burnett entered the office. “I’m sorry if I am intruding.”

“You never are,” Xanatos said. “In fact you are the man I want to see. I need to view some security tapes.”

“Right away sir,” Burnett said. “But I have an important message for Miss Celeste. Miss Starkfelsen received an important phone call from Miss Dipoesia.”

“What’s happened?” Celeste asked.

“She’s calling Miss Chancerdd as we speak,” Burnett explained. “She needed all of you to meet at Cloverway Arcade, including you Celeste.”

“I’m on my way,” Celeste said. They will seek the pendant when she returns.

_________________________________________________________________

Demona slithered down the side of the castle. The sun had just set and she still felt he pains from her transformation, but she could not wait until the pain was gone. She had to leave before the clan knew of her whereabouts and what she had done.

It was almost too easy to disguise herself as a cleaning lady and sneak into the castle during the day where she hid until Xanatos had left his office, but there had been several times in the past when Xanatos had played the fool and she was able to dupe him into her favor.

The pendant was tucked away into the small pouch on her loincloth. That left her hands free as she was able to scale down the side of the building. Her talons had left the stone of the castle and sank into the steel of the building itself. She will wait until she had descended several more feet before she would spread her wings and glide of towards the direction of the museum.

She had done more research on the pendants. They were used to amplify the power of the weapons the warrior women used. The goddess that provided the power to the pendants was a moon goddess. They still had that unusual moon rock at the museum. She would take it and use it together with the pendant as a spell on a weapon. She still had to think about the weapon that will use on the humans.

She reached the point where she was low enough to glide. She released her hold and allowed herself to drop several feet before she spread her wings She felt the wind catch against the leather like membrane of her wings and carry her along. She stuck to the shadows and landed on another building several feet away before she crouched down and looked up at the castle. There was no movement, not a single sign of the clan.

She leaped off the building and glided away, trying to stay within the shadows and darkness.

"What did he say to you?" Riley asked her coworker, Marty. She was just waiting for the others to arrive and decided to spend the time by talking with her co-workers about Mr. Shyer’s behavior. She had started to notice it yesterday when she went to get her sandwich, but she had shrugged it off. He could have just finished dealing with a mean customer. She had a run in with those before, but other patrons to the arcade were talking about how Mr. Shyer was acting odd and his employees were complaining about him when they came in on their breaks to play a game or two.

"He said nothing," Marty said. He was keeling down in front of the fifth ski ball game and had opened it up. “I asked if he was feeling all right and he just ignored me.”

“That doesn’t sound like him at all,” Riley said. Mr. Shyer loved to talk, but he was able to tell when someone was short on time so he would just cut the chit chat short to an exchange of basic pleasantries.

“Yeah,” Marty nodded. “I half expect to find a giant green pod in his office.” He slid in a fat roll of bright pink cardboard tickets that were exchanged for one of the prizes the arcade had to offer.

“I’m going to try and speak with him,” Riley said. “Later Marty.”

“Good luck, Riley.”

She left the arcade and went into the delicatessen next door. Mr. Shyer was chopping bell peppers as fast as a drummer beating his set in a rock band. It reminded Riley of that one chef, Martin Yan. There was no way she would attempt to chop that fast. She did not want to lose a finger.

"Uh big order Mr. Shyer?” Riley asked.

"No go away!" Shyer snapped.

"Is everything all right?" Something defiantly was not right. Mr. Shyer never got angry before.

"Didn't you listen?" Mr. Shyer did not stop chopping.

"B-but..."
"Leave!"

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong." Riley said with her fists clenched. She felt the tears burn her eyes. This was the man who made her a free sandwich on her birthday. He would entertain her with funny stories before she started her shift. He cheered her up when she was feeling down.

"Nothing's wrong I'm preparing an order for a party, Now Get out!" He threw a knife at her.

Riley ran out of the shop. She could not believe he did that. She leaned against the building and slid down. She could no longer hold back the tears.

Despite her stealth and her confidence Demona felt like something was not right. She just had that feeling that was being followed. She looked over her shoulder and snarled.

Three of Goliath’s clan were chasing her, her old leader and mentor, Broadway and Lexington. How could they have caught up? Goliath had to have sent them on broad patrols, sweeping around the city in the hope they could find her. glided towards her mansion when she heard a shout.

She bit down on her lip. She should have not have doubted Hudson. The gargoyle may be old and past his prime, but he was an expert tracker. The other patrol groups have the beasts to sniff her out.

“Uh-oh,” Broadway said. “She spotted us.”

“You are a bigger fool than I thought,” Demona said to herself. How could her daughter have chosen the dumbest member of the clan to be her mate.

“Aye,” Hudson said. “She may know that we are after her, but she cannae get away.”

“That is what you think,” Demona said. Two of them would be no problem to shake off. Hudson was a true warrior and capable of tracking her down, but the years have slowed him down and he could not glide at fast speed for a long distance. Broadway was also slow in speed as well as thought. The only one she had to worry about was Lexington. Not only was the small gargoyle the most intelligent of the clan, but he was also the fastest.

"Return that pendant," Broadway called out.

"You can have it when I’m done with it," she yelled back and shifted her wings to glide faster.

“No,” Riley rubbed her eyes. “That is not going to help.” It was obvious that Mr. Shyer was not himself and she remembered what Marty had said about a pod person. A youma had locked up the real Shyer and changed his form to look like him, or it had possessed him.

She slipped into a narrow alleyway. The other would be there shortly, but she couldn’t wait forever. If Laurine was able to fight on her own. Then so was she.

“Comet Galaxy Power Make-Up!" She inhaled deeply and kicked open the side entrance.

“Breaking and entering?” Laurine’s voice was heard from behind.

“Don’t mind her,” Celeste hopped into view. “She’s just being a smart mouth.”

“Someone has to provide the humor and the super hero banter,” Lady Andromeda said and jumped down from the dumpster she and Lady Centauri were standing on.

“Guys this is serious,” Lady Comet frowned. “And when did you two transform?”

"A few minutes ago,” Lady Centauri explained. “Celeste said she sensed something evil.”

“There is no time to waste,” Comet said. “Follow me.” She and the others ran into the shop and headed straight to the front where Shyer was still chopping.

"All right youma. There are a few things that I despise and possessing the body of a kind and friendly man is one of them." Lady Comet. “I am the soldier of cosmic justice Lady Comet.”

“I’m calling out on your bad service,” Lady Andromeda said. “And when we are done with you, you would have wished we just called the Better Business bureau instead. I am the soldier of love and music, Lady Andromeda.”

“Allow me to intro-“ Centauri’s speech was cut short.

“Get out,” Shyer shouted. His face was crimson and his eyes wide. “Get out, get out get out.” He dropped the knife and screamed. “The pain.” He grabbed his head and doubled over.

The door to the office flew open. Inside the plant that Shyer received the other day was illuminated. The light shot up and took on the shape of a man riding a bull. The figure inside was solidifying as Shyer collapsed.

“I should have known it was the plant,” Lady Comet said. “They set a trap.”

“You had no way of knowing,” Centauri told her.

“Oh shit,” Andromeda said and pointed towards the direction of the office.

The glowing had subsided revealing dark purple bull with long and curving grey horns, glowing red eyes and sharp hooves. Growing out of the bull’s back was a lavender humanoid torso with the arms and head of a man. The man part wore blood red armor on his shoulders and across his chest and he wielded a scythe.

Centauri clamped her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming.

“Christ,” Lady Comet fought to keep from screaming herself. That thing was the largest and scariest monster yet.

The bullhead snorted and the monster tore out of the front part of the store.

“What are you waiting for?” Celeste asked.

“We’re on it,” Andromeda ran after the monster with Centauri close behind.

“Mr. Shyer?” Comet whispered. She knelt down beside the man and checked for a pulse. His heart was still beating and his chest was rising and falling.

"He will be fine," Celeste said. "The other’s need you."

Lady Comet ran outside. Several people were staring at them in shock while Lady Andromeda was grumbling and had annoyed expression on her face.

“Where is it?” Lady Comet asked.

“In the sky,” Lady Centauri pointed up.

The monster was galloping across the sky as if it were running on an invisible road in they sky.

“I shot it in the leg with a sound wave,” Andromeda said. “And it did nothing.”

“C’mon let’s get to the rooftops,” Lady Comet said.

Rodney Green was sick of the night watch. He and his friend Thomas Stuebner were usually working the day shift and Mr. Castaway had decided it was time they would transfer to nights, and by nights they would be wearing the full armor, carry the hammers and either riding around in vans or in helicopters. Except they were not lucky enough to ride around, they had to stand on the top of the building and keep on the look out for gargoyles

“You see anything?” Thomas asked. He was standing on the opposite end and staring through his binoculars.

"We’ve been here for three hours," Rodney complained, “Three hours and nothing."

"Quit bellyaching" Thomas said. "Castaway said we are bound to see one of those demons."

“I doubt it,” Rodney sat down. “And what are we going to do if we see one?”

“What we were told to do,” Thomas said and pointed to one of the folded up hang gliders that was resting on against the railing.

“I hope we don’t see one,” Rodney said. He did not care for that particular detail. He and Thomas had both trained for weeks with the gliders. He still did not want to chase the monsters through the air.

“This is an honor,” Thomas lowered his binoculars. “We should be grateful we are getting this opportunity. We are actually hunting down those demons instead of leading rallies and putting up flyers.”

“I would rather be doing that,” Rodney said. “Even if this pays better.”

“You are such a chicken shit,” Thomas said.

Rodney sighed and turned around. His eyes widened when he saw a pale blue female gargoyle with bright red hair gliding at a fast speed. She was leading three other gargoyles toward something.

“Thomas,” Rodney said and pointed to the gargoyles.

“Great,” Thomas grabbed one of the hang gliders. “You alert dispatch. I’ll get these ready.”

Lady Comet felt perspiration dribbling down her chest. She and the other Ladies have been running after that monster for almost an hour. They kept to the building tops, leaping from building to building.

“Why doesn’t this thing do what the others do?” Lady Andromeda asked between gasps. She was carrying Celeste on her shoulders. “Why doesn’t try to attack us?”

“That is a good question,” Comet said. “The others usually pop out, and attack everyone.”

“I wish it would tire,” Centauri said. “I could get a good hit on him.”

“You girls have to be strong,” Celeste said.

“That is easy for you to say,” Andromeda said. “You are the one that is being carried.”

The monsters humanoid head turn around.

“I hate to say this,” Centauri said. “But I think we been spotted.”

Then the bullhead lowed and the whole body started to rise. The humanoid head turned around. A winged creature was about to glide into him.

“Oh good,” Comet gasped. “They came to help.” She was not familiar with this gargoyle though. There were only two females in the clan not one was the color of the sky with fiery red hair.

The gargoyle had a shocked expression on her face and glided lower to avoid the monster.

Lady Comet stared up as the new gargoyle glided over them. “Thank you.”

“She’s not here to help,” Celeste says. “Mr. Xanatos told me about her. She’s dangerous.”

“What?” Comet turned to Celeste in time to see both her and Lady Andromeda get tackled by Lexington.

“Watch out,” Broadway cried.

Lady Comet and Centauri leapt back in time as Broadway nearly face planted onto the roof top.

Hudson regained his balance before he landed next to them.

“Oh shit!” A man in blue armor cried out as he crashed his hang glider against the top of the building.

A second man in armor landed his hang glider, but fell over onto his side.

“Is everyone okay?” Centauri asked.

“I’m fine,” Broadway said before he sat back.

“We’re cool,” Laurine said after she detangled herself from Lexington.

“Sorry about that,” the small gargoyle said.

“Thomas?” The second man in armor had cut himself loose from his glider. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” the first man in blue said. He had also gotten back onto his feet. “I’ll be better after we had taken care of the monsters.”

“Monster,” Lady Comet corrected. “There is only one.”

“There are three of them,” the man said and pointed toward the gargoyles. “These beasts must die.” He twisted the bottom his hammer and it glowed with sparking electricity.

“Ye be foolish to engage in this now,” Hudson said. “The real problems are getting away.”

“You won’t,” the man in armor ran up to him and brought down the hammer.

Hudson deflected the attack while Broadway and Lexington pounced on the other man.

“Idiots,” Andromeda raised her fists. “You have your hooded heads so far up your-“ The roar’s cut her off.

Broadway and Lexington had the second man pinned down.

“You won’t be needing this,” Broadway said as he removed the hammer from the second man’s hands.

“I got your back,” Andromeda said. She had her ax in her hands.

“No,” Celeste stood in her path. The rabbit narrowed her eyes at her owner. “Your weapon is for battling against the youma’s of the Dark Kingdom.”

“This isn’t helping,” Centauri said.

“No it isn’t,” Comet clenched her fists and inhaled deeply. “Stop it.” She shouted at the top of her lungs. Andromeda, the armored men, and the gargoyles were looking at her.

"Will you all stop this?" Centauri asked. "We shouldn’t be fighting each other."

"Centauri's right we need to work together and fight this youma." Celeste said.

"Youma?" The armored man who was addressed as Thomas asked. He had turned of the electricity in his hammer, but still held it up.

“The real enemy,” Lady Andromeda said. “That purple bull monster we’ve been fighting, and now because of you blue bozos we lost sight of.”

A fierce roar similar to the cry of a cougar brought their attention over to the next building where the azure gargoyle was fighting against the Youma.

‘Now is our chance,’ Comet thought. “Comet Interstellar Explosion.”

“Andromeda Sound Wave Shatter!”

“Centauri Stalagmite Slash!”

The youma sliced through the gargoyle’s throat and was hit head on by the attacks. He only grunted every time he was struck. He did not die. He was not even fazed, even with a few of Centauri’s stalagmites sticking out of his legs.

“No,” Centauri gasped. Her eyes glistened with tears.

“Maybe I did hit it after all,” Andromeda said softly.

“Ye don’t have to shed yuir tears fer her,” Hudson placed a hand on Centauri’s shoulder. She tampered wi powerful magic in the past and is im-“

“Get your hand off her, monster,” Thomas shoved himself in between the gargoyle and Centauri.

“Um what did we just talk about?” Andromeda asked. She had her hands on her hips.

“She helped us,” Centauri wiped away her tears. “She risked her life against that youma.”

“How do we kill it?” Thomas’s friend asked. “I’d throw my hammer at it , but I don’t think it will do much damage.”

“I could try attacking it with my ax,” Andromeda said. “But he also has a weapon and I’m not quite trained well with it yet.”

“It has to have some sort of weakness,” Lexington said.

“Weakness,” Comet breathed. She was able to find the weakness on the football monster.

“Comet use your tracking,” Celeste said.

“I’m on it,” Comet said. “Comet Tracking. Where is this monster’s weak spot?” A tiny glowing pink sphere flew over towards the youma and flew around before it stopped in front of it’s chest and flashed.

The youma growled and shattered it.

“Too late,” Thomas’s friend said and threw his hammer towards the monster’s chest.

“Andromeda Sound Wave Shatter.”

The youma stuck it away with his hammer, and left it open to the attack. He screamed and shook from the pain.

“Maybe if you pooled your attacks together,” Lexington suggested. “Maybe use something as a conduit.”

"We'll use my ax, "Andromeda said.

“We’ll distract it,” Lexington said and glided off towards the monster. Broadway and Hudson following.

"Get ready, " Celeste said.

Lexington glided behind the monster, while Broadway landed in front of it and grabbed the bull by the horns.

The monster swiped at Lexington with his scythe but his blade was blocked by Hudson’s sword.

"Andromeda..."

"Comet..."

"Centauri..."

"Sound Wave..."

"Interstellar..."

"Stalagmite..."

“Now,” Lexington cried and grabbed the human head’s eyes from behind.

Andromeda threw her ax towards the beast’s chest. "Shatter!"

"Explosion!"

"Slash!"

Their attacks were aimed and centered on the ax. They came to it at once. The ax pulsated with sound waves, sparkled with cosmic power and had stalagmites poking from each direction. The powered up ax spun through the air until it hit the monster in the middle of it’s chest plate.

The human head screamed while the bull lowed. The monster trembled until it disintegrated.

“We did it,” Comet released a sigh of relief.

"All right Ladies! "Broadway cheered .

"Now for the demons," Thomas said and turned on his hammer.

“Dude,” his friend grabbed him by the arm. “Not tonight. Not after that. I lost my hammer. You crashed your hang glider. I’m tired and we just fought against a very powerful monster.”

“But-“

“No. We are going to pack up the gliders and return to the office. We’ll tell Castaway that we assisted the Galactic Ladies.”

Thomas sighed. “Fine.” He turned to the gargoyles. “You lucked out tonight monsters, but next time you will die.”

“There won’t be a next time,” a lady’s voice screeched. A twister made of leaves appeared and faded away to reveal a woman in a green dress adorned with a floral pattern and flower shaped barrettes in her hair.

"Its that plant lady," Andromeda said.

"You twits will refer to me as Sylvite," Sylvite said. “You have destroyed enough of my youmas.”

“We’ll keep destroying them if you keep sending them,” Lady comet said,

“Not any more,” Sylvite turned towards the gargoyles and threw something at them. From where Comet was standing they resembled tiny seeds. They hand landed on Broadway and Hudson and turned into nets made out of roots that ensnared the two gargoyles.

“And as for you,” Sylvite turned back to them. "Pollen rain." She held out her hands and flower petals and dust rained on the Ladies.

Lady Comet sneezed when she was struck. Her eyes were welled up with tears and couldn’t see straight. She tried to see what Sylvite was doing.

Sylvite held what resembled a vine in her hands. She lashed at them like it was a whip.

Comet tried to jump back and stumbled. She landed on her butt. She heard Centauri scream in pain. She wiped her eyes

Another scream was heard coming from Sylvite’s direction, along with what sounded like electricity sparking.

Thomas had used his hammer and struck it against the vine. The electricity had fried it and burned Sylvite’s hand in the process.

"You shouldn’t have interfered!" Sylvite yelled.

“Comet Interstellar Explosion,” Comet sent her fireworks at Sylvite.

The general screamed again. Half of her hair was frizzled and stuck out in all kinds of directions. Half of her dress was black. She had noticeable burns on the side of her face and she was favoring her arm.

“Nice new look for you,” Lady Andromeda said. “It’s the love child of Two Face and Poison Ivy.”

“You bitch,” Sylvite snapped before she disappeared.

"She escaped," Thomas muttered.

"Dark Kingdom Trash do that a lot," Andromeda pointed out.

“Thanks for helping us with her,” Lady Comet said. She was not a fan of their organization, but he appreciates help from any form.

Thomas nodded. “How is Centauri’s arm?”

Lady Comet wasn’t sure. She had looked over to Centauri and saw the large welt on her arm from where she was struck.

“I’ll be fine,” Centauri said. “I just need to get some ice on it.”

The two quarrymen folded their gliders, picked them up and climbed down the steps.

Lady Andromeda shook her head as she watched them leave. “I still can’t believe they helped.”

“Why?” Celeste asked. “They are not evil, just misguided. They do not understand our friends.”

“I think one of them might come around,” Centauri said. “Or at least I hope.”

“That is one things we have t’ do,” Hudson landed next to her. “But we canae rely on hope alone. We have t’ make an effort t’ let the humans know we wish t’ befriend them.”

“Maybe we can speak on their behalf?” Centauri asked.

“We might,” Andromeda said as Broadway handed her ax back to her. “Then again it might end up being like a cheesy public service announcement.”

Comet bit her bottom lip to keep from chuckling. She pictured the three of them filming public service announcements with cheesy line were they tell children to don’t use drugs, don’t play with guns, to recycle and that gargoyles are everyone’s friend and ending with The More You know shooting star over head.

She opened her eyes when she felt someone tapping against her leg.

"I got your pendant back, "Lexington said. He held up a necklace, similar to what Andromeda wore, except for the metal appeared pink and had a purple gemstone, most likely an amethyst set in the center.

“Thank you,” Comet said as she accepted it. “But what do you mean by get it back.”

“Demona stole it from Xanatos,” Lexington said. “That’s why were chasing her.”

“Oh no,” Centauri blinked. “Poor Demona. She lost her life.”

“She’s healing,” Lexington said. “We better leave before she wakes up.”

“Shouldn’t we try and capture her?” Broadway asked. “We could put her in the dungeons.”

“I don’t think so,” Lady Andromeda pointed toward the building where Demona and the youma were righting. The azure gargoyle was gone.

“Never mind then,” Broadway said.

“Maybe we can discuss this later?” Comet asked. “Maybe have a Lady meeting?”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Celeste said.

__________________________________________________________________

“They think he is going to be fine?” Riley asked. She was on the phone with Marty. As soon as she and the others had arrived at the castle she had to call her co-worker and find out the condition of Mr. Shyer.

“He just needs to rest.” Marty said to her.

“Thank you,” Riley said. After they had exchanged their goodbyes she went to meet with the others.

Laurine and Sadie were smiling and Celeste appeared to have been proud with herself.

“What’s going on?” Riley asked.

“We have located Sadie’s crossbow,” the rabbit said in a proud tone. “It’s in Germany.”

“It’s wonderful news,” Sadie smiled. “What about Riley’s weapon?”

Celeste’s smile faded. “We still haven’t located that yet.”

“It’s okay,” Riley said and sat down with her friends. ‘We got my pendant and defeated a nasty monster. All in all I say that it has been a good night.”

-

Usagi had her hand over her stomach as she waited in the Sailor meeting room in Rei’s temple. She hadn’t had a bite to eat since lunch and it was hard to concentrate. She had asked her friends if they had brought along any snacks but no one had any. Ami did not bring any noodle cups this time. Minako forgot to bring along any Sailor V snack bars and Makato had told her that she had eaten everything that she prepared that day. The final hope is for Rei to bring something.

The door slid back at last and Rei was carrying a tray that held a teapot, five cups, a bowl of sugar cubes, a bowl of lemon slices and a plate full of daifuku.

“Arigato Rei-chan,” Ami said as soon as Rei and set the tray down.

“Arigato Rei-chan,” Usagi echoed and reached out for one of the delicious looking treats, only to have her hand smacked away by Rei. “Why?”

“We did not come here to eat,” Rei said as she sat down. “We have to study for entrance exams.”

“She means we have to study,” Minako said. “Rei-chan’s school has both junior high and high school.”

“I still have to study,” Rei said as she poured tea into everyone’s cups. “We have the same kinds of tests as everyone.”

“We also have something to announce,” Luna said.

“Is it about the dream that I had?” Usagi asked as she tried again to grab a daifuku and once again her hand was smacked away by Rei.

“The dreams you all had,” Artemis said. “You all had dreams from when you were on the Moon Kingdom and you all befriended the Ambassador Princesses.”

“Ambassador Princesses,” Makato repeated.

“Artemis, who were they?” Ami asked.

“They were welcome and frequent guests to the Moon Kingdom during the Silver Millennium,” Luna answered. “They were princesses from the neighboring Andromeda Galaxy. You all had dreams of them.”

“I remember a princess who wore a silver gown,” Minako said. “She had wavy silver white hair and she was in love with her castle’s royal musician.”

“I was friends with a princess who had long dark hair,” Makato said. “She kept her hair pulled back and she loved to run.”

“I remember playing games with a princess,” Ami said. “She had blonde hair and was quite smart.”

“I was friends with a princess with bright red hair,” Usagi said. “She had her own crystal.”

“The princess I was friends with had brown hair styled into a bob,” Rei said. “She wore a yellow dress and wanted to invite me to her planet.”

While Rei described her princess Usagi tried once again to take a daifuku and once again Rei slapped her hand away. This time Rei glared back at her.

“What did I say?” Rei asked

“I’m hungry,” Usagi said and her stomach agreed with her.

Another growl came from the direction from Rei and from Minako. A large stomach growl came from Makato and a small one came from Ami who immediately covered her stomach with her hands and blushed.

“I guess we can all take one,” Rei said.

Usagi grinned as she and the others each took one.

“These princesses were also warriors like you,” Artemis said. “But not Sailor Soldiers. They were called Galactic Ladies and recently they are being reawakened.”

“Where are they?” Minako asked before she took a bite from her snack.

“Why are they being reawakened?” Ami asked.

“Do they need our help?” Makato asked.

“They are being helped because of a great enemy,” Artemis said. “The Dark Kingdom has returned and has a new leader.”

Usagi gagged at the mention of the kingdom. She coughed until a small bit of chewed daifuku was launched and landed between Rei’s eyes.

“Usagi-chan,” Rei said in exasperation and wiped away at the food.

“Where are they attacking?” Minako asked.

“Manhattan,” Artemis said.

“Manhattan?” Usagi asked.

“It’s a section of New York City,” Ami said.

“New York City,” Usagi repeated. She imagined herself standing in the torch of the Statue of Liberty, standing in front of the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center. She imagined herself visiting all of the shops, approaching Times Square and eating pizza and hot dogs. “We have to go and help them.”

“Usagi your English is bad,” Rei reminded her.

“Rei-chan why did you crush my dream?” Usagi asked. It was true though. Most people in America spoke English and she barely knew any.

“We are trying to supply them with much information as possible,” Luna said. “Although there is someway that one of us could go there.”

“I know of a way,” Rei said. “My school is planning on an trip to New York that will last for a week. I haven’t signed up yet, but I will and I will convince my grandfather to let me go.”

“Can we go too?” Minako asked.

Rei shook her head. “Sorry. It’s only for students at my school.”

‘Or people that look like they belong at her school,’ Usagi thought. She could use the disguise pen, sign up for the trip and then disguise herself again for the day of the trip.”

“You can forget about using the disguise pen,” Rei said and took a sip from her tea.

Usagi pointed at her. “That’s twice today that you ruined my dreams.”

“We should leave this to Rei-chan,” Luna said. “We will get the information on where they have their meetings and the names of their civilian forms and give it to Rei before she leaves.”

“I promise to take a lot of pictures,” Rei said. “And I will bring you all back some souvenirs.”

That did sound nice, although going to New York would have been better. Someday she might. Usagi pictured herself and Mamoru as they were getting out of a bright yellow cab and entering a Broadway play, and hopefully Rei will not ruin that dream.