Chapter3

Sailor Moon RPG:
The Roman:
Koriana, Kaminora, Jikanchi, and Hiroshino all awoke within cages. They had no idea who
had brought them, nor how they had gotten here. All they knew was that each of their transformation objects
were gone. Hiroshino, being the strongest in the group currently, struggled against the bars, but it seemed
as though it was no use. Koriana, however, had a different approach.
"I've been researching and analyzing my own human body ever since we had gotten the
power to transform, and it seems as though our natural forms have begun to mutate... erm... 'change' in
accordance with out other transformations. I've begun to notice that my natural form has begun to adopt
an affinity for coldness, and that things actually stay cooler in my prescence. It's actually possible that if I
concentrate like I would transformed, I could possible pull off a minor ability... even in my human form. Heck,
we all probably could. I mean, Setsuono and Jikanchi, you both have those psionic capab---" it was not until
this moment that Koriana realized that Setsuono was not in the cages with them.
The lock on Hiroshino's cage cooled slowly at first, but as the metal became colder and colder,
Hiroshino finally was able to shatter the lock. They all waited as Hiroshino searched the room for a key, but,
after not finding one, figured that it would be best if Koriana continued her current strategy.
"We'll find them... both of them." said Jikanchi to Kaminora and Koriana, trying to reassure them.
Checking the door, the group found it was unlocked. Exitting, they followed a long hallway until
they came to a room with a bunch of assorted objects on a table. They found all of their transformation objects,
and even some others they hadn't seen before. Taking those, as well as Haryunetso', Setuono's and Nikkaro's,
the group transformed and hoped to find their missing comerades.

Anrui awoke in a strange dark jail cell. It was cold, and damp. He had no idea why he was here,
and he liked even less that he knew he wasn't dreaming. A sillouette, cast upon the floor, caused him to look up
at a woman who was unlocking the door. She was beautiful, and yet... yet she looked so sad.
"Who... are you who brought me here?" he asked... rather shakilly. He was more frightened than
he had ever been before.
"I am.. I am bloodstrike. I've been sent here to kill you. He... I must kill you." she whispered, her
right hand turning into an axe. She leapt into the cell and took a swing at Anrui, who dodged out of the way, and
ran out of the cell, locking the door behind him. "Please, don't! He'll do worse! He'll do so much worse to you! I
would have killed you without pain! DON'T!" she screamed after him. Anrui wasn't listening, all he knew was to run,
even though he knew nothing of where he was or where he was going.

The group entered a room with many bodies. People trapped within crystal formations, crucified
upon crystal crosses... impaled upon crystal spears. There, within a couple of the crystal formations were Setsuono,
Haryunetso, and Nikkaro. Hiroshino broke them free, and the group rested while these three regained their strength.
"We have to find a way out of here..." whispered Koriana, cradling Setsuono in her arms.
"We can go." said Kaminora, not wanting to see Nikkaro in this state. Haryunetso wasn't nearly as
mangled as the other two, and he volunteered to go with her. Jikanchi and Hiroshino thought they would explore
another room while Koriana tended to the two wounded.
As soon as Kaminora and Haryunetso had begun searching through the maze of hallways, they
realized that they could easilly get lost. They turned around, and as they stared at a wall, realized that they apparently
have already. Down a different hallway, they heard a pounding of feet.

Jikanchi opened the door right outside of the crystal room, and was immediately assaulted by a horrible
stench coming from within.
"It smells like rotting meat..." she whispered, and was struck in the chest by some sort of whip-like-thing.
Flying back, she struggled back to her feet. "CLOSE THE DOOR!" she urged Hiroshino, rushing to help him.

"Get back!" cried Haryunetso, pointing to a door behind them. "This attack will probably hurt you too!"
Kaminora rushed to the nearest door, opened it, walked through, and closed it behind her.
"Dragon... King... SLASH!" roared Haryunetso, drawing back his sword, and closing his eyes. The
troll-like creatures poured forth, their arms reaching out to grab at him. Any of them that even came near immediately
burst into flames. "You like that, don't you," laughed Ranger Mars. "Dragons blood runs through my veins as long as I
have this power on, and with this power... comes your DEMISE!" and he pulled the blade forwards, slashing through
the air. The sword sent waves of heat roiling out at the assorted monsters. They all turned to ash. Haryunetso fell to his
rear. He had never before used so much power, and he was still weak from being sealed within the crystal cage.
Suddenly... the part of the castle... or whatever... that they were in began to shake.
"It's falling apart, you idiot!" cried Kaminora, rushing out and grabbing him, dragging him through the
maze of corridors. "I don't know why you're even a part of this damned team... using such powerful attacks, not only
without warning that you're going to do so, but without using what little brains you have to realize that this old castle is
probably going to collapse under such a heavy assault!" suddenly, she paused, realizing what she had said... and just
how angry she had gotten... but she quickly dismissed the thought. She was justified in her anger... wasn't she?
They were back in the room with the others, as the roof to the hallway behind them collapsed. It
appeared as though there was only one place to go... through the smelly room.

Anrui heard a crashing in the distance as he reached a set of stairs. There, at the foot of the stairs sat
a young boy.
"Who... who are you? Are you trapped here too?" asked Anrui, walking up to help the young boy up.
"My name is Kagami... and I'm here to help Roman, until he fails. In which case, you should be dead,
anyhow." growled the boy, his eyes flashing a deep red color and his teeth growing sharp into fangs. His nails turned
sharp, into talons, and he strode forwards. Anrui, not wanting to hurt him, reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt,
and tossed him behind himself, right into the Lady Bloodstrike who had been sneaking up on Anrui. Her blade went
through the young boy's chest, who let out a roar of pain and indignation. Anrui, too frightened to even look back, rushed
up the stairway, right to a door. On the other side, he heard the sounds of fighting and explosions. Behind him he heard
the two rushing up the stairs finally, trying to catch him.
"What I know... or what I don't know..." he sighed, grabbing the door handle and pushing. Falling through
the open doorway, he just narrowly missed a blast of frozen liquid. Slamming the door shut behind him, Anrui stayed on
his rear as he watched the horrible scene before him.

Setsuono and Nikkaro had awoken as the door had begun to get battered down. Whatever was within
that room wanted out... and was trying to tear the door down to do so.
"Let's take the fight to them..." nodded Setsuono to Nikarro.
"Telekinetic Force..." began to Setsuono, drawing in his power. "Crescent Beam..." also began Nikkaro,
touching Setsuono's arm. Setsuno pointing out his left hand, and Nikkaro, his right.
"Telekinetic Beam!" they cried in unison. A bright burst of light shot form from their hands, and struck
the door, tearing it from its hinges and throwing back everything behind the door into the wall at the far end of the room.
The group leapt through the door, throwing attack after attack. Jikanchi stayed back with Koriana, the
two giving support by slowing down or freezing any of these wretched hellish looking dog-beasts. Each of them had
what looked like tentacles coming out of their backs. Every now and then Jikanchi would work up enough power to
age one of the creatures nearly to death.
Setsuono and Nikkaro were in about mid-battle, fighting anything that came past the others. Setsuono
kept on raising barriers of softened time to slow down attacks and would lift and throw some of the beasts around
using his telekinetic force. Nikkaro was happy just firing machine-gun-like bursts of light that would singe the faces
of these beasts, severely harming them, as well as blinding those dumb enough not to close their eyes.
In the front was Kaminora, Haryunetso, and Hiroshino, tearing through the beasts like they were grain.
Haryunetso slicing through their bodies with his burning blade, and Kaminora and Hiroshino electrifying anything
too far to reach, and beating anything within striking distance senseless with Hiroshino's fists or tearing the
monsters a new one with Kaminora's glaive.
With only a few of the beasts left, they began to get desperate. Retreating into a small pack, the
monsters let loose with their tentacles, reaching far without being in striking distance of the short-range powers
and attacks. Jikanchi, a little too close to the battle, was hit hard, and went sprawling. From her pocket fell a
strange looking mirror to the floor next to her.

No one seemed to have noticed Anrui, when suddenly, a mirror went skidding towards him.
It stopped inches before his face, and as he looked into its depths, he felt something... something... familiar.
All of this... familiar...
The memories, they poured through him. None of the other senshi felt the rush quite nearly
as much as Anrui suddenly was experiencing, as so many different memories entered. Raising the mirror up,
tears were pouring down his face, as he whispered...
"Neptune... Power." There was a suddeny rush of water, as Haryunetso took the finishing blow
to the creatures, and he was also apparently the last to notice that everyone was watching the sudden
new-comer instead of praising him over the kill. Ranger Knight Neptune fell to his knees, the memories
almost driving him insane, and suddenly... they stopped.
"I think it's a new Ranger Knight." whispered Haryunetso. Kaminora felt like stabbing him.
The door behind Neptune opened, and there stood the young boy and Bloodstrike.
"He's failed... I must returned." whispered the boy, and he shimmered out of view.
"I have failed him... the master will not be pleased... he will... he will hurt me again...
he will hurt you..." whispered Bloodstrike, falling to her knees.
"Stop this. You don't need to be afraid any longer. Your master lied to you, and he
hurt you out of malice and spite, not for any other reasons. Look, bloodstrike, into the mirror. I know you
have a kind soul... look into the mirror, and see it for yourself." whispered Neptune, as he stood, turning
the mirror to the woman. Tears ran down her face as she raised a hand to her cheek, gently touching it.
"Rangers... Senshi, the way out is this way. I came from this direction earlier, and I know it's the way out.
The mirror tells me so." said Neptune, turning to the others. Suddenly, his eyes focused on one of the
assembled soldiers, and then closed as he fell to the floor, a single mumbled whispered name escaping
his lips as he fell.
"---shi...."
The group ran to catch him and gently lay him on the floor. They were rather surprised at his
appearance, and now, even more purplexed at the turn of events.
"That's the sign of Neptune..." said Haryunetso, looking at the back of the mirror.
"Not now, dumb-dumb." said Nikkaro, trying to make sure the young man was alright.
As soon as Anrui awoke, still transformed, the group tried to get further information out of him,
but he shook his head.
"I-- I'm really not sure what happened. I'm sorry. There was this rush of knowledge, like a
damn errupting or a tidal wave... but now it's all gone. Most of it, anyway. All I remember are a few memories,
like... the Moon Kingdom... and Neptune..." then he shook his head and laughed. "But that doesn't... those
are all impossible. Neptune is uninhabiltable, and the moon isn't colonized, how could...?" asked Anrui.
"Alternate dimensions and timelines. Also a silver light and awesome power like none other."
spoke Setsuono, nodding. "It's what I remember. Just how we got here, not before that or anything else.
We each seem to remember different parts of the puzzle, and all of us have already given our renditions.
They all seem to match pretty well, and I would sure like to hear yours soon, but first... let's just get the hell
out of this... hell."
"Wait..." whispered Nikkaro, suddenly heading back to the crystal room. "I remember how I
got captured... I felt... I felt drawn to someone. Someone in here, someone I need to save." He came to
someone within a crystal coffin. Her eyes were closed, and her blonde hair seemed to float in nothingness.
Nikkaro carefully pried open the coffin lid, and there lay a young girl, only slightly older than Kaminora.
"Honizen..." he whispered, lifting the girl into his arms.
Not too sure exactly what was happening, the group assembled around this child,
wondering exactly what to say. Seeing that everyone seemed as clueless as he was, including Nikkaro,
Setsuono opened his mouth to speak, before Haryunetso beat him to it.
"She looks like you, green-hair. Only... her hair's not green. You ain't ditchin' Kami for this
bimbo, are you?" asked the older male. Kaminora's eyes flashed darkly at him, but Koriana put up a hand
to stop her.
"Look, we'll find out all the specifics later. Right now, we all need to gather up ourselves
and get the heck out of here." urged Koriana. "Like... now!"
The group went back to the dog-room and down the stairs and past the cells that Anrui
had earlier escaped. Bloodstrike stayed in the crystal room, insisting that she remain behind. The fight
would be theirs and not her own, and she was far too terrified of Roman to put up a resistance to his will.
Soon, the group came upon a metal sealed door. Hiroshino strode forth, touching the
handle, and pulled the door open. There in the center of a large room, stood a man with his back to them.
"So... the children have finally escaped. And it looks like my pathetic dog has failed in
exterminating the only one I wanted dead... the Knight of 'Truth' and 'Revelation'... no matter. What's
done is done. The experiments upon the few of you I believed to be perfect specimens are finished
anyhow. I guess that's all the data I'll be able to glean from simple tests... now, the true test begins,
however. Prepare yourselves, children, for the might of Roman, is all encompassing!" laughed the
large man, turning.
"I'll take Honizen," said Hiroshino, taking her from Nikkaro's arms.
"Jikanchi, Koriana, try to disable him! Haryunetso attack up close! Kaminora, hang
back with Nikkaro, strike him from a distance!" cried Setsuono, beginning to throw out orders. The
group leapt to their stations, attacking the man with as much fervor as they had. One by one,
however, they began to fall. Haryunetso first. Roman reached out and grasped his chest, and
laughing, threw the young man back. Already, a crystal cross was forming, and soon, Mars was
incapacitated.
"Crown of thorns!" he yelled, pointing out to Koriana and Jikanchi. Thorny vines
reached up and wrapped themselves around the two, disabling them.
"Dark spear!" and a rain of shadow spears lanced out, striking Nikkaro and
Setsuono, who leapt in front of Kaminora to stop the spear from striking her.
"I... I've never really fought before..." whispered Anrui. "I... how can you all so
callously take lives? How am I supposed to bring myself to fight another man? I... I'm not a
fighter... a soldier... a knight... I'm weak, I--"
"No. You aren't. You are just like the rest of us. You are a strong human
being with a heart. We all know what it's like to doubt ourself, but really, you can't be worrying
about that now. We don't fight just to fight... we fight to save ourselves, and those we love and
care about." said Kaminora, pulling Anrui aside while the others tried to fend off the attacks.
"We all have to someday find a way through our shadows... but right now, you have to put all
that aside, and try to help, because if you don't, you're going to die." she said, suddenly pausing.
Reaching up, she took a single blue rose from the ribbon tied in her hair and handed it to Anrui.
"Roses and gardening always helped me get back to my own human roots... maybe
it'll help you through this dark choice of yours." she said, before turning and rushing to Nikkaro's
side to help attack Roman.
"Blazing Chariot!" laughed Roman, sending flames to drive Setsuono and Nikkaro
to the floor. Kaminora alone was left to stand against Roman's attacks. Soon, she resorted to
melee combat, attempting to drive the glaive through Roman. Grasping her throat and lifting her
from the ground, he created yet another crystal cross and tossed her aside.
Hiroshino placed Honizen on the floor and pounded his gauntletted fists together,
ready to give a Royal butt-whooping to this man.
"I think not, my young friend. Tears of the Chosen!" he laughed, firing a burst of
dark energy at Hiroshino. Suddenly, a watery film flowed over Hiroshino, and expanded into a
globe of water. He was immediately immobilized in the liquid.
"You, my good knight, are all that now stand before me. So why don't we get this
over with, and why don't you just DIE!" he said, raising his arms and grinning at Anrui. Dark
energy crackled between his fingers.
"NO!" came a voice behind Roman, and a blade was suddenly sticking through
his upper chest. "Attack him, Anrui! Please, just release me from this horrible fate! I am bound
to him, and if he dies, so do I. He is my master, and I'm trying to help you. Anrui, please!" cried
Bloodstrike, holding Roman's arm, trying to stop him from attacking.
All of the past hour's events came back to Anrui, and he wasn't sure what to do
next. So much chaos... and death... and destruction... is that what it was to be a knight? A
soldier? Was he only a killing machine?
"Anrui, please!"
"I can't kill him! I can't kill you... I can't deal out death so... easilly..." whispered Anrui.
"Anrui, please... death is not always such an ugly thing. In death, I will finally have
purpose! Please, just do it!" pleaded Bloodstrike, as Roman reached back to grab her.
"Silent Squall..." said Anrui, a single tear falling from his eye. He rushed forwards,
eyes closed, and thrust the water blade that had formed in his hands into Roman's chest. There
was a roaring of water as an explosion of the oceans pressure came bearing upon Roman, and
the weight of his sins suddenly drove him into the floor, as did the power of the attack.
As the group picked themselves up from the floor, they saw that as soon as Roman
had fallen, a portal had opened in the wall. There was no sign of Bloodstrike's body, and Anrui
could only hope that she was in a better place.

A dark figure laughed as it looked into the scrying pool. At the figure's side smiled
a woman, and she raised an eyebrow as she heard the laughter.
"You rejoice that one of your top servants just fell to a group of children?" she asked.
"No, my dear. I rejoice that the time will soon come... that I shall have the honor of
meeting these 'children'. They are much more than they seem. You will have to greet them for me...
give me time to... ready my welcome."

Chapter 3: The Roman