Sailor Moon Millennium – Dark Sun Rising
Chapter # 4 – Old Friends : A Worthy Foe  –
Created December 18th, 2001
By K.W. Isenor (sailor_sun_@hotmail.com) & Jason (Omartin6@home.com)

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With a cold chill the portal opened and Reptile emerged inside his master's palace, he walked past the many demon guards then entered the main courtyard and bowed in honor to Akajun who looked very pleased with himself, "you ssssssssummoned me masssssssster?" he asked the fallen elder.

"I did, entertaining performance by the way. I only have one order, leave Sailor Sun and Daystar Knight to me" he ordered Reptile,." The rest you and the other generals can deal with. Now what have you learned about them?"

Reptile grinned, "well they have no idea of your plan to ressssurect Shi-ryuu nor of the one involving Sssssskorr" he said with a yawn, "Sssssailor Ssssssun issssss alsssssso having family difficultiessss, like ssssssay with a rebellioussssss cousssssin."

Akajun stood tall and looked at Reptile, "so she has been reborn" he said slowly.

"I am not ssssssure my massssster but I will find out ssssssoon enough" he said as he continued to kneel before the elder god who ruled the Neatherealm.

"Good, return to your assignment my servant."

Reptile slowly got up, "and my people my masssssster?" He asked Akajun.

"They will be restored once I have my amulet Reptile, rest assured of that" Akajun said with a smile as he looked over the lizard-man, a warrior and servant like Reptile wasn't found very often and if his people were like him then he was sure to have no problem bringing them back. Whether it be to serve him or not.

Reptile bowed then vanished in a flash of light and teleported back to the Earth realm. He appeared in a flash outside the walker home, and watched. His eyes glowed in the darkness of the night and he moved to keep downwind of the dogs themselves, when he heard the Stellar Scouts approaching. Quickly Reptile stepped back into the shadows.

Jessica and the others rubbed their sore spots. More lives were lost and because of this Jessica felt the worst. After all she was the leader and was supposed to be protecting these people.

"So that is a what-did-you-call-it?" Alissa asked confused.

His eyes glowed in the dark, his binocular vision allowing him to see them clearly. "A Zattarin." Nova said softly.

Reptile hissed, his tongue darting in an out in order to taste the very air around him. "Well whatever it was I don't want to run into it anytime soon. My back will be in pain for sometime." Brooke made clear.

"I know what you mean." Madison replied as she pulled up her jacket sleeve, there was a long cut on it. "This will take a little time to heal.”

He watched them and shook his head, *humanssssss* he thought sourly, *it wassssn't until Khan arrived that I became a fighter. *

"I'm just sick of all this fighting. Not only do I have to fight the evil that threatens to wipe out this world but I have to fight non stop with my cousin." Jessica sighed. Kevin placed an arm around her shoulder to help comfort her.

Reptile twitched, *yessssss talk all about your coussssssin* he said with a smile.

"Anybody have any suggestions?" Jessica asked doubtfully.

"Punch her in the nose." Madison mumbled.

*sssssuch violenccccce* Reptile thought with a smile, *only Eclipssssssse could do that.*

"Find something that she likes and get involved." Brooke paused. "As long as it is something safe and legal." He watched them, and focused on a friend from long ago.

"The thing is the only things that I know that she likes would be dangerous and far from being legal." Jessica pointed out.

*Alwayssssss breaking the rulessssss* he thought with a smile, *that isssssss sssssso much like her. * He mused, unbidden a memory flashed of Reptile training a fallen Sailor Scout, training her to fight and to use powers that no other scout had.

"I'm beginning to think that she is a lost cause that I should stop wasting time and energy on her." Jessica said sadly.

"No don't ever give up Princess, you can get to her if you just keep trying." Nova said with a nudge to Jessica's hand.

At the exact moment loud music blared from out of a part of the house and Reptile screeched as he fought to cover his ears. The loud punk rock song Anarchy in the U.K. played and a slim girl with black hair bobbed her head in time with the music.

The startled group held hands over ears and looked around for the source of the blaring music. *Figures* Jessica thought. Tasha continued to move and dance in a way that seemed very gothic, as she opened up the window itself.

"She is going to wake up the entire street!" Jessica exclaimed as she ran up the stone path to the front door. Alissa looked up at Tasha with shock. Jennifer looked at the mysterious girl with judging eyes. Brooke looked up and felt sorry for Tasha, While Madison looked up in disgust.

"I thought she was supposed to be baby sitting Jon and Hannah!" Kevin said startled as he opened the front door in horror.

"Look I'll see you guys tomorrow." Jessica waved apologetically. Eclipse followed the pair into the house. Tasha continued to dance to the loud music blaring throughout the house, least until Jessica turned it off.

"Hey!!" Tasha exclaimed, "there's a reason I had it on!"

"What was that to make the entire street including yourself deaf?"

"No to listen to a song I like." Tasha said, "and it isn't loud at all."

"No it is just making all of the dogs in the neighborhood bark wildly." Jessica pointed out, and sure enough a dozen or more dogs were barking loudly.

"They appreciate good music." Tasha said.

"Please don't play it so loud next time." Jessica pleaded. "And where are Jon and Hannah?"

"sleeping" Tasha said, with a shrug before the phone rang and she went and picked it up.

"Not anymore." Jessica said for Eclipse and Kevin's ears only.

"Hello?" Tasha asked politely before she then screamed at decibel shattering levels, "Kat's is that really you?" she asked.

Kevin and Jessica exchanged glances. * Could this be one of Tasha's friends? *

Tasha smiled, "yeah, whoa ripping off a cell-phone?" she said with a laugh. "Bet the guy was mad."

*Guess so. *

"He was ... cool" she said as she talked into the phone, "what happened afterwards?" she asked mischievously.

Jessica and Kevin decided to go and check on Jon and Hannah. Eclipse stayed to pick up as much information on this Kat girl as he could.

Tasha smiled, she'd missed her friends. And wanted to see them, not be here in this town, this ... this ... this prison, she thought darkly as she continued to talk to Kat about boys, drugs, alcohol and concerts and so on. "They actually tested Bianca to see if she was drunk?" She said as she laughed, "what happened?"

The dog walked over and nudged Tasha's hand to test her reaction. Eclipse had decided to see if anything would have a positive affect on Tasha.

Tasha just batted Eclipse away, "ohhh that is sooo funny, don't tell me ya actually showed them some tricks" she said as she tried to stifle laughter. Eclipse tried again licking Tasha's hand every so tenderly.

Tasha looked at the dog then pet him a little, "wish I was there." Well at least it had some sort of affect. Maybe is she wouldn't accept affection from humans, maybe from an animal?

Tasha nodded, paying attention to her conversation, "what the hell happened when you got pulled over?" she asked Kat.  "You beat him down, the one two combo? Sweet." Eclipse trotted out of the room long black tail wagging. He wouldn't tell Jessica just yet, he hated getting her hopes up. But it was worth a try.

Tasha smiled and laughed as she listened to Kat, while Eclipse went to where Jessica and Kevin where. "Yeah, wish that you were Kit-Kat" she said as she teased Kat with the nickname she'd first given her friend who had promptly smacked her upside the head.

Eclipse went to see that Jon and Hannah were all right then went back to lay at the threshold of Tasha's room. Tasha sighed, "yeah, working on the fake id thing Kat." she said in a resigned tone, "my cous doesn't want me to leave though. Of course I'm not going to listen, what does she know anyways. I mean come on, she's a nice kid and all but she's always judging me over this and that. Hell her friends are worse" Tasha said, not seeing Jessica who was standing in the doorway.

Eclipse looked up at Jessica and gave her a lick on the hand. Jessica clenched her fists together in anger. It wasn't like she wanted to judge Tasha. She was just trying to look out for her. Tasha chuckled as she talked to her friend, "wow, you did? How much did you take off them?" she asked. "Two hundred dollars?" Tasha asked before she laughed, "cool."

Jessica turned and ran down the hallway, Tasha looked up to see the trail of red hair. Eclipse whined and followed. Tasha looked over then frowned, "great now she hates me" she muttered. "No, no not you Kat, my cousin. She.. she overheard me" Tasha stammered, as she began to cry a little bit, Kat trying to reassure her.

Kevin walked by and looked at Tasha then down the hall. He mouthed 'what happened?' "Nothing" she said as she clenched her hand into a fist, "nothing frigging happened,” she said as she turned away from him, she didn't trust any male, and she never would again. Kevin nodded and followed Jessica.

Eclipse came trotting into the room and gently poked Tasha with his nose. She petted the dog in frustration, "no, I don't know what to do around her. Half the time she's on my case about me drinking, stealing, and so on. Half the time I feel smothered Kat. I doubt she'd miss me if I did kill myself" she said before she flinched as Kat yelled at her about trying to kill herself again.

Eclipse barked a defiant "no" then tugged on Tasha's shirt. Tasha swatted him away, "I know Kat, it's just that everyone here looks down on me ... no… Yes … I don't know!" she said.

Eclipse rubbed his head under Tasha’s arm in the fashion that dogs often do to get someone’s attention. "What?" Tasha snapped angrily. "No not you Kat, the sodden dog." Eclipse whined and jumped up so his paws were on the desk that Tasha' sat at. His face was now level with Tasha's. He looked at her with his big brown eyes.

She turned her head then went back to her conversation, "stupid dog's looking at me funny, it's scarin' da hell outta me" she said as her Brooklyn accent became more noticeable. Eclipse had to hold back a laugh. If only she knew. The large Doberman didn't stop there he decided to paw at Tasha's lap. Tasha shoved him away, starting to get agitated even more so, "do I have to look for sometin' else to burn ya wid?" she demanded.

Eclipse jumped down and started rolling around on the floor like a big puppy. Glaring Tasha kicked him in the right hind leg to get him to stop, "I think I need a cig" she said as she pulled out a cigarette then her lighter and lit up. Eclipse yelped then turned and glared at Tasha out of kicking distance, just sitting there staring at her.

She turned her back to him then inhaled the smoke as she calmed down a bit; she never really did well with confrontation. Barking Eclipse twirled around in a circle. "WHAT?" Tasha hissed angrily at her. Eclipse barked again then trotted over to the door, then back to Tasha, he let out another bark.

Tasha glared at him then smacked him, "go'way!!" she yelled.

"Tash, whazz going on over der?" a voice asked over the phone. Eclipse sneezed and shook his head. The large dog growled and made himself look bigger. Tasha put down the phone, "get lost, I ain't afraid o' ya!" she snarled angrily before Jessica and Kevin entered the room.

"Heel." Jessica said to the snarling dog. Eclipse stopped growling and sat at Jessica's side.

Tasha flipped Eclipse off then went back to the phone call, "sorry 'bout dat" she said into the phone.

"Tasha I don't care if you verbal abuse me or my friends but leave Eclipse alone!"

"He started it,” she snapped back, glaring at Jessica defiantly.

"I bet he was just trying to play! Didn't mean you had to hit or kick him, whatever it was you did! I head the yelp."

"Whatever," she said as she turned her back on Jessica then began to talk to Kat some more. Jessica rolled her eyes and stormed off into her bedroom, Kevin and Eclipse followed. Once they were inside she slammed the door shut in anger.

Tasha laughed as she began to talk to her friend again

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Jessica threw herself down on her bed in anger. "I just don't understand her! Why does she constantly try to hurt me?" Kevin placed his arm around Jessica and held her close, Eclipse licked her hand both trying to comfort her.

Tasha said her goodbye, trying her best to not cry as she hung up. She then headed for her room. "I just don't understand it. First she bashes me, my family, then my friends now my dog! What next you?" Jessica looked to Kevin. "I really wish that she would make some type of an attempt to care for someone other then herself and her friends. She only has so much family left!"

Tasha blinked then clenched her hand into a fist; "screw you" she muttered then entered her room, got her stuff then walked out to her motorcycle then drove off. As Tasha zoomed off, Jessica looked out the window and saw her go.

From his perch on the roof, Reptile watched her go then dropped down the roof and followed her, this time he didn't take the time to be silent and they heard him and saw his shadow following Tasha.

"Quickly! Reptile is after Tasha!" Jessica said as she turned to Kevin. The pair followed by Eclipse ran from the room. They had to do something.

Reptile slinked after the motorcycle, his speed allowing him to follow the angry black haired girl easily as he used his forked tongue to follow her to a small hill where she just stopped then began to cry.

Reptile waved his right hand and instantly a small portal opened up, and he looked at Takai, "Takai? I think I have found her." he hissed.

"On my way" Takai said right before a portal appeared and Takai stepped followed by a ninja clad in yellow and black with dead white eyes.

"You brought Sssssscorpion?" Reptile asked, "why?" They both knew that Scorpion at times was very unreliable and was more vengeance oriented then anything else, and at times his priorities got in the way of the mission.

Scorpion looked at the other General, "Like you I too am being given a reward for loyalty to Akajun" he said, "in exchange for that I will serve him loyally." he said in a resounding dead voice.

Reptile nodded before he turned to Takai, "she'ssssss not all there but I ssssssenssssse ssssssome power from her" he pointed out.

Takai nodded once, "alright, Reptile you and Scorpion will keep the Scouts busy. I will see for myself" he said as the three planned out a strategy and Takai teleported a few yards behind Tasha then morphed into a six foot tall demon with bat like wings and spikes along his back.

Tasha didn't even notice when Takai first attacked her. Tasha screamed then flipped away from him, only to find him standing before her, she dodged then tried to get to her bike only to have him attack her, as he charged her she sidestepped then slammed her right foot into his face, causing him to stumble.

Reptile hissed as his tongue flickered in and out, "their here" he whispered to the equally invisible dead ninja who nodded once.

The Stellar Senshi ran up the grassy hill to attack the enemy and protect Tasha. Reptile charged at the small group.

"We meet again,” he hissed.

"That we do, and this time will you be going off to see this Master of yours? You went to him like a faithful dog." Sailor Sun said with a smug look on her face. "No offence to you two." She said to the two canines.

"Allow me to introduce my fellow General," Reptile said as Scorpion appeared before them.

"I am Scorpion" Scorpion said in that ghostly voice of his, a voice which seemed to be coming from all around the scouts, reptile and Scorpion himself.

Reptile chuckled, "we shall sssssee,” he hissed as both he and Scorpion charged them.

Tasha meanwhile dodged Takai's energy attacks and continued fighting, she didn't know why but the creature before him seemed ... familiar. As Takai snarled and spat fire at her, she dodged then gasped as he hurled two fireballs at her. She screamed just as they both vanished from sight, and her body glowed with a shadowy aura.

Takai grinned inwardly, *she's here* he thought to himself before he blasted at her with energy beams.

Scorpion dodged the Stellar Scouts and Daystar Knight easily, then he reappeared and looked at them, "GET OVER HERE!!!!" he bellowed as a harpoon shot right out of the middle of his left hand and attacked them.

Reptile chuckled, "by the way, he'sssssss a ghosssssst. A dead dissssssssshonored sssssssoul if you will" he said as he watched Sailor Sun break off from the group.

The Stellar Senshi aside from Sailor Sun continued to attack the best they could. Even though they were getting a lot more scrapes and cuts then their new enemy they fought strongly.

Meanwhile Sailor Sun ran up the hill towards Tasha. What had Takai done to her? There was an eerie shadow surrounding Tasha's limp body.

There was a roar and she turned to see a hulking demon the exact same color as Takai. "We meet again Sailor Sun" the demon said only it was in Takai's voice. His body then re-morphed into his original form and he looked at her, "shall we do battle?" he asked her.

"What did you do to her?" Sailor Sun demanded as she tried to get close to her cousin up was unable to due to the power which was radiating off of her.

Takai shrugged, "not your concern at the moment" he said as ninja stars appeared in his hands.

"It is my concern! What did you do to her?" Sailor Sun demanded again, this time she got into a fighting stance. Takai shrugged, "that's for me to know and you to find out."

"Fine I'll find out!" Sailor Sun ran at Takai. Just before she got to the demon she did a flip over his head and landed behind him. She had been working on her skills.

Takai vanished then reappeared behind her, he kneed her in the back. Sailor Sun spun around quickly and her foot grazed Takai's waist. He stumbled back then uppercut her. Sailor Sun spit a mouthful of blood to the side and swept her foot at Takai's knees. He flipped over her then punched her in the head.

Sailor Sun stumbled but quickly gained her composer. Lashing out with her fist then and elbow to Takai's head and chest. He avoided the blow to the head but doubled over in pain from the other blow, then he dropped to the ground and spun kicked her legs out from under her.

Sailor Sun fell towards the ground, when she landed the senshi quickly flipped up and did a few back flips. Takai chuckled then began throwing ninja stars at her.

Managing to dodge most to the stars sailor Sun flipped from side to side nearing Takai. Once she was close enough she began to violently attack the demon with fists, elbows knees and legs. He blocked her attacks then head banged her twice, and then flipped her over him.

Sailor Sun swung her fists madly, determined to beat out what the demon had done to her cousin. Takai chuckled then kneed her in the stomach, as she bent over he uppercut her twice then punched her in the stomach hard, "you don't get it do you! there's no way I'm telling you what happened to her!"

"Why the hell not?!" Sailor Sun demanded as she placed a series of hits in on the demon.

"Because I'm not going to be defeated by the likes of you!" he spat as he blasted her in the stomach with lightning. Sailor Sun was flung several feet, but surprised Takai when she flipped to her feet with a hand spring. He chuckled a little, "well well a worthy foe. Then again this was just another test" he said as he vanished, Reptile and Scorpion following suit, the shadow vanishing from Tasha.

Sailor Sun ran over to where her cousin lay. The senshi following suit. Tasha remained unconscious, none of them noticed that Reptile returned and was invisible again, *pleassssssse let her wake up* he asked himself.

"Come on Tasha!" Sailor Sun pleaded, herself as well as the others de-transformed. "Maybe we should take her back home."

Slowly Tasha opened her eyes and groaned, not remembering a thing, "what the hell hit me?" she asked before she looked at Jessica, "Ohh great ya gonna yell at me some more?" she asked as she got up albeit dizzily then walked over to her bike.

Jessica hugged Tasha tightly. "I'm so glad you are alright!" Tears began to stream down her face.

Tasha didn't return the hug, "whatever" she said as she began to check her bike in order to make sure it was all right.

"Look your bike is fine, but what about you?" Jessica asked pleading for her cousin to answer her.

"I'm fine" Tasha said as she reached into one of her bike's saddle bags then got out a small flask, opened it and began to drink, "why do ya care anyways, ya made it clear dat ya don' wan me 'round"

"I never said such a thing! Tasha I would never wish that and you know it!" Jessica cried out.

"Ya made it clear to yer boyfriend, I know I heard ya both" Tasha said angrily, "now lemme da hell alone!" she snapped.

"Tasha I don't want you to leave, I was so glad when I saw you at my doorstep! I missed you so much. Please don't do this." Jessica continued to plead.

"Like I was? I hate it here, I want to go back to San Fran where I belong!" she stated angrily, hot tears forming in her eyes.

"Please Tasha, what can I do to make your stay here more enjoyable." Then it hit Jessica like a ton of bricks. "Your friend Kat, does she have any place to stay? In San Fran?"

Tasha shrugged, "no, neither does Lexy, Bianca, Danielle an' Breana."

"Well why don't we see if we can get them a place to live here? Get them off the street. I am sure that there are people who will want to take them in without thinking. Then you can be together again."

Tasha shook her head, "Kat's an orphan, Lexy and Bi already have a family, and Daniell and Bre like livin' on da streets like da rest o' us."

"Why?" Jessica asked confused.

She shrugged, "no one to tell us what to do."

"Oh, well so much for that idea. Please Tasha is there anything I can do?" Jessica asked looking at her cousin, searching her face to see if she could get anything from it.

"Umm gee just leave me alone" she said as she hopped on her bike only to have her cousin put a hand on her right arm.

"Tasha please." Jessica pleaded. "I need you to try to make an attempt, an attempt on just changing a few things, and I will loosen up a bit. I'll make sure that mom and dad hook something up so you can talk to your friends every night if you want."

"Like what?" she asked warily.

"I don't know anything. Please just give me suggestions and I will see what I can do."

"I've already got a job where I'm making enough money to buy a fake ID" Tasha said.

"Why do you want a fake ID so much?"

"So I can head back to San Fran, only dis tin without some bloody social worker pickin' me up."

"What if I had mom and dad arrange a trip for us both to go down there the next long weekend?"

Tasha shook her head, "ya don't understand. I do not want to be here, your the only thing here that makes this friggin' town more den a slaggin' two bit hole in da ground."

"Why do you hate it so much here?! Everyone is trying to help you fit in and get used to the place and you can't accept it! Why the hell not?" Jessica asked angrily.

"Because it ain't San Fran!" she shot back, "that's why da hell not!"

"So what?! Try living with the change once! Stop thinking about the fact that this isn't San Fran! And just think that it is Halifax, give this place a try!"

"It isn't home to me" she said.

"This isn't home for me either! Nor any of my friends! For crying out loud Alissa has a ocean keeping her from her home! So does Madison!"

"Screw them" Tasha said with a shrug.

"Alright you know what Tasha you really have to grow up!" Jessica turned and ran down the hill a tear as it feel off her cheek caught the light of the moon and sparkled as it feel to the ground.

"Too late, already did" She said quietly, "and in da worst possible way" she said as she turned the ignition on then zoomed off.

Jessica ran to Kevin's open arms. He held her close and stroked her hair as Tasha disappeared from sight. He would try to talk to her but knew she'd pull away from him.

"Come on Jessica don't worry. She will figure it out sooner or later that this is where she belongs. She just needs to find that out for herself." Brooke said softly.

Reptile watched them silently, his eyes glowed as he did, he looked down the picked up a small lizard and ate it slowly.

"I hope so." Jessica replied.

"Look on the bright side, you did pretty good in a one on one fight with Takai, better then us and Scorpion." Madison pointed out.

"What was he doing to Tasha?" Alissa asked from behind Jessica.

"I don't know, but I intend to find out. I think Tasha will start to ask questions, like why she keeps getting attacked by really weird things and we are always there at the end of it."

Reptile chuckled, *you don't know the half of it human* he thought to himself with a knowing smile.

"Look why don't we just get you home and you can curl up with Eclipse. We will have to give Tasha her space." Jennifer suggested.

"Yeah your right." Jessica said with a forced smile.

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:: Neatherealm :: 

Akajun looked at his son, "you are certain?" he asked his youngest son who nodded slowly. "Good, don't you agree Skorr?" He asked as they both turned to a huge demon, the same size that Reickon had been, but only with spike like barbs along his arms.

"Yeah, do I get to play with the Scouts?" the new demon asked insanely.

Akajun nodded, "of course my eldest son," he said before he turned to Reickon, "find my amulet" he ordered.

The sorcerer bowed then vanished and the fallen elder looked at his two children, "go, wreak as much havoc as you like," he said calmly. Together the two demigods vanished in Neatherealm fire.

---

Reptile watched the Scouts, he followed their movements silently, he still had a score to settle with Daystar Knight, or did he? Skorr was already coming back, and Sailor Eclipse would soon join them.

"Does anyone have any idea what that thing was around Tasha tonight?" Jennifer piped up.

"I have no idea. But it was really eerie. What do you think Jessica? You were close to her." Madison replied.

Reptile hissed silently as he watched them, *they have no idea* he thought to himself. "It was really weird, I couldn't really get too close to Tasha when it was around here, it was like some kind of magnetic field. It gave me the chills, there was definitely something evil about it."

*Her shadow chi powerssssssssss ssssssstill exissssst* he thought with a smile to himself, *she'sssssss the one alright*

** Weird things keep happening. Ever since Tasha arrived. ** Jessica thought to herself. ** No she has nothing to do with this, she just got caught in the middle because of me. **

Reptile watched then hissed, as Nova looked his way. Had he been discovered? He asked himself, getting ready for battle just in case he came under attack. The dogs and reptiles eyes locked for a moment then Nova looked partly away. Never really taking her right eye of Reptile. He fidgeted, and then headed into the shadows. He had never gotten a good glimpse of Nova, but he doubted she was the dog who had befriended his father when he was just a mere hatchling.

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© 1999-2001. Sailor Moon Millennium: Dark Sun Rising is copyright material of K.W.Isenor also known as Sunrose and Jason along with any characters mentioned excluding the original Sailor Moon characters. Pretty Soldier Sailormoon is copyright of Takeuchi Naoko-sensei, TOEI animation, and other companies. This site and its stories are non-profit and are only for free entertainment purposes.

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