Hi everyone! This is my first post to the FFML! I'm posting Masks & Dragons 1 for anyone out there that is interested, if you want me to post the rest of the chapters I have so far, or would like me to send it to you, just ask me to wandererd@hotmail.com or check my page at www.cdreams.com/wandererd/index.htm anyway, here it is! C&C are always welcome!
I hope you all like it!!
" I'm LAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEE!" Usagi screamed as she ran at Mach 5 towards Jubaan High. "Usagi! I thought that after all you've been through you'd at least become a little more responsible!" A black cat said as she ran after her. Usagi, ignoring her, pumped up her speed to Mach 7, which ofcourse, Luna couldn't catch up to. She sighed as she saw Usagi ran and turn right, losing her from sight. Luna smiled slightly as she walked back past a small dead-end street. After everything that had happened, it seemed everything was back to normal, except that maybe there wouldn't be any more enemies for a while, it helped her a lot to see Usagi taking it as well as she had. Back on the dead-end Luna had just passed, some rats were digging into the trashcans while others fought. Suddenly, there was a small popping sound, followed by sizzling; on the cement wall, directly infront of the street a large black claw-finger opened a large hole, strangely the wall didn't show any signs of being damaged as the claw descended from its point of origin to the ground, followed by a tearing sound. Behind the claw, an infinity of stars and novas could be seen. The claw pulled back and a human sized creature passed through, it's features obscured by the shadows. Looking back at the wall, the creature smiled, revealing rows and rows of white pointed fangs. By now, all the rats were gone.
------------------------ Sailor Moon; Masks and Dragons----------------------
Chapter 1
The New Student, A New Enemy
By Wanderer D
Usagi did arrive late, and as she stood outside her classroom she noticed a boy standing infront of Ami's and Makoto's class. She hadn't seen him before, and he obviously wasn't Japanese... with golden hair and large sea-blue eyes. She was about to talk to him, when he was called inside. Usagi sighed, another day alone in the hallway. That's when she noticed Minako puffing to get to class, and smiled.
Ami and Makoto looked at the new student as he was introduced by the teacher as Nathaniel Hunter. If she didn't know better Ami would've sworn that that name was made up... she also half expected to hear an obvious accent from the boy, so she was quite surprised (as many others) when he spoke almost perfectly, his accent barely noticeable. Nathan stepped forward after the teacher told him to tell about himself. "Uh, hi. Well, um, well... I..." "Tell us what you like to do." The teacher prompted. "Well, I'm a guitar player, I like to read, write music and cook." He said, while the teacher nodded. "Any hobbies?" "Yeah, I know everything there is to know about dragons, and I'm also a sword collector." One of the girls close to Ami asked; "Why did you come here to Japan?" "Well, my aunt died some weeks ago, and since she was Japanese I came all the way here to see her, since she was my last family member alive, and well, I liked it here and decided to stay for a while." Most of the class seemed to feel sorry for him, since he was apparently all alone now, and trying to avoid more awkward situations the teacher sat him next to Makoto. Makoto sympathized, and knew that the death of a loved one was a terrible thing, as did most of the senshi. She looked at the new boy and couldn't help to notice the saddened look in his eyes. She also couldn't help comparing him to her old sempai.
When break finally came, all the girls gathered under one of the trees, talking and sharing lunch with Usagi, who had, again, forgotten hers. While she devoured the offered food, Usagi asked Ami something. "Excuse me?" Ami asked, eyeing Usagi's food-full mouth. Usagi gulped down everything. "I said; who was that guy I saw standing infront of your classroom this morning?" "Oh, that was Nathaniel Hunter, a new student, seemingly from the US." "Oh, and, did you find anything about him?" "Not much... Makoto, where are you going?" Ami raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm going to see how Nathaniel's doing..." she answered. "Where is he, anyway?" Asked Minako looking around. "I'm the only one who hasn't seen him yet!!" "Up there," Makoto pointed at the building's roof, where a figure stood, reclined.
When Makoto finally arrived at the roof, she found Nathaniel seated against the wall looking at the sky. He turned his head towards her and raised and eyebrow. -Second time in a day- Makoto thought as she approached him. He stood up.
Usagi, Ami and Minako looked up at Makoto as she talked with the new student. Ami had told the others what Nathaniel had said and, even muttered under her breath that the name sounded made up, but, who understood occidentals anyway? Usagi, as always, had been close to tears, and Minako shook her head sadly. Ami couldn't help but remember what Makoto had said earlier about his eyes, and thinking about it she could see what she meant.
"So, you're a guitar player, huh?" Makoto looked at her companion. "Yeah, I play other instruments too, but the only one I'm really good at is guitar." "Classical?" "Yeah, once you can play a classic guitar, you can play an electric one. More easily at least." "You also said you could cook, Nathaniel." He blushed slightly. "Call me Nathan, please. That's how my friends call me, and I like it better." "Sure. Nathan-kun" "Just Nathan..." He said smiling "Anyway, I know it's not common now-a-days, but I find that cooking is quite an experience. I especially like cooking for my friends, it's nice to see them liking it..." "Hey, I like cooking too, maybe we should get together someday to exchange recipes." "I'd like that," he smiled again. And Makoto could see that his pain wasn't so obvious now. She was infused with the warm feeling of doing things right. They talked about everything and nothing for the reminder of the break.
That night...
The park was almost devoid of people, maybe a few couples that walked around but they were all in their own universes, so they didn't count. One girl of said couples had golden hair and a weird hairdo, she was the one that seemed to be in the farthest galaxy. As she and her companion walked, and left behind a small clear area where they had stopped for a moment, a shadow dropped lightly near there. It stood taller than a normal human, about three meters high, leathery wings protruded from it's back, it's color blackened by the night, the only things that stood out were red glowing eyes and white teeth that flashed when he spoke strange words. When it finished speaking nothing seemed to happen for a moment. Then slowly, without making a sound, the leaf-covered ground around him shuddered, then it seemed to flow upwards, grass, leaves, dirt, and all without moving, until it formed four human-like creatures. They slowly seemed to flow towards different directions, not leaving a mark of their passing, it seemed as if something was moving under a carpet, never disturbing the top of it, but it's form obvious. The winged figure stood for a moment in the same place, then jumped upwards. It's wings opened twice it's height in length, then after hovering it flew over the park.
Usagi, walked with Mamoru through the park, their arms entwined, when suddenly, they heard a scream.
A young couple backed away from the earth creature as it moved towards them. It suddenly stopped where it was and it seemed that it's flowing motions stopped completely, then restarted again. One moment it was covered with grass and leaves, the next it was dark soil, it continued to flow inside out, as if digging. The couple backed up, and the girl screamed again when she saw another creature moving towards them, followed by two more. Turning around yet again, their desperation evident in their faces, they bumped into another creature, this one different, falling backwards, they stared at the green creature with wings and a long snout, filled with fangs, as it smiled cruelly at them. "You are young, a pity that your life will end so quickly," it showed a claw at the paralyzed couple "but you have seen what you shouldn't have. Maybe I could erase your memories, but this is much more easy." As it raised its claw to strike...
"Stop!"
It turned around to glare at the idiot who would dare stop him, and smiled. Eternal Sailor Moon stood silhouetted against the half moon. "How dare you threaten a young couple in their moment of intimacy! I am Sailor Moon, and in the name of the moon, I will punish you!" The creature stood mutely, its smile gone and a huge sweatdrop appeared next to his head. There was a small sound and it turned around. There on the other side, standing on a lamppost was Tuxedo Mask. Tux held a red rose in his right hand while he spoke; "Love is one of the most beaurk!" His tirade was stopped suddenly, as the winged creature held him up by the throat, and threw him to the ground. Tuxedo Mask hit the ground unceremoniously. Sailor Moon jumped down next to him. "Tuxedo Mask!!" She was relieved when he groaned and looked at her. "Damn, he's fast!" The creature looked at his creations as they dug into the ground. "This is taking too long!" he snarled "Take care of all the intruders! I'll take care of it from now!" Sailor Moon helped Tuxedo Mask up as the creatures moved towards them. They jumped away when one of the creatures attacked. As the rest of its body moved slowly, it pulled back and sent an incredibly long arm flying towards them at a great speed, the others did the same, and soon Tux and Moon were busily trying to avoid earth-made blades, maces and spiked balls. The leader and creator of the creatures stood hovering over the large hole its servants had made. He then put his hands in-front of him and fired a blue blast at the hole. The earth trembled.
Tuxedo Mask jumped backwards and threw five roses at one of his antagonists. The roses embedded themselves in the creature. Then they started to grow. Tuxedo Mask flinched slightly. -Uh oh- soon all of the creature was covered in rose foliage, and it continued attacking. Tux was barely able to avoid one of the attacks, and his cape was shredded by the thorns. He gasped in surprise. Then he heard laughter. "How stupid can you be? Throwing flowers at an Earth Elemental!? That's a first! HA!" The leader had spoken to him, never taking his eyes from the hole as he blasted at it. "Yes, it is a first, but it is within human nature to learn from its mistakes." Said a new voice. There was a silver flash and the sound of a moving cape, and Tuxedo Mask's attacker was blown to pieces. Tux landed to a halt and looked at his savior.
He was covered from head to tow with a silver armor, a silver mask covered his face revealing only blue eyes, his head was covered with a silver helm that closely resembled the creature's leader's head, a black cape that reached his ankles and a katana that shone brightly even if it was shadowed. The winged leader stopped blasting at the hole and glared at the intruder. "Who are you and what do you want?" "I'm known as... Mask!, as for what I want Jade... your head... and the thing you're looking for." "I don't know how you know my name, human. But you're going to find out that my head will stay where it is. As contrary to yours!" Jade then dived towards 'Mask' while the armored man looked back at Tux. "Try to feel the center of the elemental's power! Attack there! Disrupt the spell!" He was thrown back by the speed and strength of Jade. His feet left a trail in the dirt as Jade slammed him against a tree. Tuxedo Mask transformed into Prince Endymion and pulled out his sword. He then noticed the inner senshi jumping in to save Sailor Moon. "Mercury!" he shouted as he ran towards one of the elementals, "Find the origin of power in each creature and destroy it!" Sailor Mercury nodded and activated her computer. Endymion concentrated and found that he could feel the origin of power within the creature. He poised his sword and jumped forward.
Jade clawed at his opponent's armor, and was surprised to discover that it didn't bend or break. He sighed inwardly, just more work. Jade jumped into the air and fired a small blast. Mask recovered quickly however and sliced he blast with his katana, Jade opened his eyes widely and crossed his arms infront of him protectively as the katana's cut sent a white u shaped ray at him. Jade closed his eyes as the blast reached him, too fast for him to avoid. The ray cut deeply into his left forearm. As blood dripped from the wound, he saw Mask sheathing his sword, and extend his armored fingers. Surprised, Jade watched as the armor seemed to create claws for Mask's hands.
Jupiter looked down at the crater Jade had formed, and saw something glistening between the dirt. Jumping down she took a small golden dragon statue, carefully detailed to the tiniest scale, she half expected it to start breathing, to that extent was the craftsmanship. She tossed it to Sailor Venus, who caught it as Jupiter jumped out. Endymion had finished destroying the last of the earth elementals, when they heard a war cry.
Mask had launched himself at Jade who grabbed his outstretched claw and tried to hit with his own. Something seemed to glint in Jupiter's eyes when she saw Jade. Rae noticed this and was about to say something when Jade threw Mask to the ground, following with hundreds of small red blasts. Mask seemed to bounce of the ground with the strength of the blow, when the blasts hit him. The dust flew up as all blasts connected with the earth and him. "JADE!!" Everyone turned to look at Jupiter as she jumped at the creature. "You're going to pay for everyone that you've hurt you sorry excuse for a dragon!" She then shot at him with a black energy blast. Jade, surprised, received the hit and grunted while Jupiter landed, confused, on the ground. She looked around. How on Jupiter's name had she landed that far from everyone? She hadn't run or jumped or anything... Then she heard the roar. Turning around she gulped loudly. Jade was standing infront of her, his green scales covered with soot, his right wing hung useless from his back, grazing the ground, and his right shoulder and half his face were badly burnt. "DAMN YOU!!!" the green dragon shouted as he fired a large black energy blast at her. Makoto saw her life pass before her and she closed her eyes, she was engulfed in a strong wind that seemed to try to pull her apart. She then felt something cold fall over her. She opened her eyes quickly and grabbed the cause of the extra weight with her hands. Jade was gone, and she was the only thing preventing Mask from falling down. She was about to lie him down when Ami stopped her. "Look at his back!" She said. Looking over her shoulder she could see the armor was red hot, and she noticed a burnt smell in the air. Ami using her powers cooled down the armor. Mask grunted and looked up at her. He suddenly jerked back. And looked at the senshi. Specially at Jupiter, then he kneeled down looking tired and... disappeared.
Those left, looked at each other confused, then hearing sirens ran towards a safe haven; the Temple. As she ran, Jupiter asked herself the same question that lingered in the minds of the others; what had happened to her?
Jade stumped through the tear in the wall into the space like place where his master was, the streets of Tokyo disappeared as it closed. He stumbled forward until he arrived before his master, and, hissing in pain, kneeled before him. The throne couldn't be seen clearly, nor the creature that sat on it, but it had the same form Jade had, although the aura of darkness that surrounded the other was incredible. "Jade. Did you bring the statue?" Jade flinched slightly when he heard the cavernous voice, and was rewarded with pain as his burnt skin moved. "No my Lord." "Idiot!" the figure stepped forward revealing another dragon like Jade, the only obvious differences were the black scales and the size. "How dare you show yourself without the prize I sent you for?!" "I... I'm sorry my Lord!!" Jade stammered and moved back, pain forgotten, "But I encountered resistance and..." The black dragon seemed to notice Jade's burns for the first time, as well as the cuts in his arms. "Tell me everything." He said flatly.
"Okay," Said Rae as soon as they all were seated in the ground, Artemis and Luna had arrived shortly after and had found everyone talking at once. It had taken some time but Rae, being Rae, finally shut them all up. "Let's get things straight, you start Mamoru." Mamoru coughed softly. "Well, Usagi and I were walking down the park when we suddenly heard a scream," He conveniently avoided mentioning Usagi's whining about getting into another fight. "After changing we arrived at the scene and found that these earth elemental had scared a couple that apparently found it. The creature ignored them and seemed to start digging into the ground, when Jade appeared he was about to kill the two of them when we arrived. He was pretty fast and hit me shortly after I had arrived. He then muttered something to the elementals and they attacked us while he blasted a hole into the earth." "That's when that Mask guy arrived, isn't it?" asked Minako. Mamoru nodded. "Yes, after one of the elementals almost killed me with my own roses. He destroyed it, and gave me the clue on how to do so. He then began fighting Jade, seemingly on even ground." "Seemingly." Ami stated. "I get the feeling that if Makoto hadn't intervened, he'd be dead. If you watched closely, you'd have noticed that Jade had gained the upper-hand in the battle." "Yeah, and what happened to you Makoto? How did you know Jade's name and what kind of attack did you use against him?" Makoto was speechless, "I.. I don't know... all I really remember is standing besides you, then 30 feet away facing a maddened dragon! Then he shot me, and..." "Mask received the blast instead of you," Ami finished. "Makoto I would have liked you to see what size the energy blast you threw was and what Jade's blast size was. I mean, everyone saw what kind of damage it did to Jade, if his had hit you..." Rae frowned, "I wonder how both managed to sustain that extent of damage and survive." She sighed "Well, did any of you manage to find out what Jade was looking for?" Makoto handed Ami the statue she had found in the hole. "I think I did, this was the only thing in there..." Rae looked at Ami as she used her computer on the dragon statue. "Well?" "I don't know," Ami started "There's nothing in here about this enemy, even the earth elementals are new, although they've been stored, but about the dragons... nothing" Minako shrugged in defeat. "Well, that's it. We can't do anything now until we find and interrogate our enemies." "Well, maybe not..." Makoto said. Ami shook her head. "No. Definitely not." Everyone looked blankly at the two girls. Makoto looked strangely at Ami. "Well, why not?!" "Well... for starters we can't trust him on this, then there's the fact that the monsters appeared the same day he arrived and..." "You can't blame someone for that!" "Remember the twins?" "Oh." "Besides," Ami said a little more gently "it's probable that he doesn't even know this kind of dragons." Finally, deciding it was already getting late, they decided that they should call it a night. Ami took the gold statue with her for further analysis.
The next morning everything went as normal, Nathan and Makoto talked during class, which annoyed Ami a little, but did pay attention to it so in her view there was no mayor harm done. She did notice however that Nathan avoided putting his back to the chair. Suspicious, she decided to check on that fact.
During brake that day, Makoto insisted that Nathan meet her friends, and so, they went towards their favorite spot. "I heard you were good with math, Ami." Nathan said leaning against a tree. Ami noticed he didn't flinch when the tree touched his back. -So much for that lead..- she thought, then answered; "Yes, why Nathan-san?" "Well.." he scratched his head "I'm having trouble with an advanced calculus course I'm taking, and I was thinking that maybe you might be able to help..." he stopped. Ami was looking at him strangely. "Did you say advanced calculus!? SURE, I'D BE GLAD TO HELP!!" Makoto sweat-dropped. "Help with what?" Asked Minako as she arrived followed by Usagi, both Artemis and Luna rested -respectively- on their shoulders. When they found out what it was about, they lost interest almost magically. They all seated down, Makoto very close to Nathan, but he didn't seem to mind. After eating, they all started talking. Luna looked at Artemis and sighed. With Nathan here they wouldn't be able to talk about anything. Nathan looked curiously at the cats. "Hey, those are weird marks for a cat," he said pointing at Luna's forehead "like a crescent moon, hmm.. reminds me of something I once read.." Everyone turned to look at him. "What did you read?" asked Usagi. "Well.. it was one of those old legends like Atlantis. It talked about an ancient moon kingdom, or some such thing, well anyway, the people there were supposed to have crescent-moon marks on their foreheads," He scratched Luna's head softly and patted her. " who knows, maybe these are moon cats, huh?" He smiled. The girls smiled nervously. Ami, thinking fast, changed the subject. "That's interesting, maybe you could lend me that book someday.." Nathan nodded. "Sure, if you're interested.." he looked up at the sky, leaving everyone to their own thoughts. When the bell rang, he looked at Makoto. "Well, Mako-chan, then, we'll meet today for that recipe exchange?" Makoto blushed as the others stared at her, "Sure."
After school they all shadowed Nathan and Makoto to his apartment as they went for some ingredients. They, ofcourse, were painfully aware of them, and had huge sweatdrops next to their heads. "Are they always like that?" he whispered as he watched amusedly how they tried to hide themselves behind a tree. Makoto blushed furiously. "Yeah.." They stopped. "It's okay girls, you can come out now..." The girls fell over themselves from behind a post. As they started making up excuses, Nathan stopped them. "It's okay, really. Why don't you all come along? I sure could do with the company..." The girls looked a little unsure, so he insisted. "I also have a recently made pie that..." Luna and Artemis sweat-dropped. They knew what would happen next. The next thing Nathan knew, he was standing infront of his apartment. "How..." "Don't ask!" Usagi urged. "Just take me to that pie!" He sweat-dropped. "Uh... sure..." He opened the door and stood to one side, motioning them inside. "My home, is your home."
End part 1
Okay, this is the first chapter of what I hope with be a long fic. Ofcourse, as always, comments, flames, suggestions and the many other things you might want to tell me, please e-mail me at wandererd@hotmail.com And yes, 'Mask' is a pretty lame name, okay!? [sniff] Don't you think I don't know that!? Also, if your a fan of Ranma & or Dragonlance, you might want to check out my page at; http://www.cdreams.com/wandererd/index.htm
Standard Disclaimer; I'm using the Sailor Moon characters with no permission whatsoever, and therefore anyone reading this must remember it's not what the original creators had in mind. I'm also gaining absolutely nothing remotely similar to money and what I write is as an appreciation of this wonderful series. The other characters however, are my creations and are also copyrighted, anyway I know you really don't care so I wont mention anything else.
Wanderer D