Sailor Uranus took up a fighting stance but Sailor Mercury urged her not to attack.  Sailor Uranus said she had to do something. Uranus launched her World Shaking attack but Nehelenia reflected it right back onto her!  Sailor Uranus fell to the ground.  Sailor Mercury desperately tried to think of a way to fight back. 
In her memory of childhood, Mercury thought about how even though she couldn't play basketball with the other girls she helped them by drawing up strategies using her geometry skills.  Mercury realized she should fight Nehelenia using her own strengths. Sailor Mercury activated her visor and flipped open her computer.  Nehelenia said to herself that she hated the look in that girl's eyes that wouldn't surrender.  Nehelenia sent out some dark energy beams like lightning that crackled around Sailor Mercury, but Mercury stood her ground.  Sailor Uranus, still lying on the ground, couldn't understand why Sailor Mercury wasn't fighting back. Sailor Mercury continued typing on her computer, gathering data. In her mind she remembered her primary school friends winning the basketball game using Amy's strategies, and how happy it had made her feel.  "This is my way of fighting," thought Sailor Mercury.

Suddenly, the dark energy was no longer hitting Sailor Mercury. Sailor Uranus was standing in the way and absorbing Nehelenia's attack.  Uranus told Mercury to hurry.  Finally Mercury completed her calculation.  "Up there!" Mercury pointed to where a circular outline like a dark moon hung in the sky.  Sailor Uranus launched her World Shaking attack at the circle and the illusionary world around them crumbled. 
Nehelenia stood for a moment dumbfounded.  But in reality it was only one of Nehelenia's crystal statues. Sailor Uranus shattered it.
"An illusion" exclaimed Sailor Uranus. She turned to Sailor Mercury "how did you know."
"Even though there was wind," said Mercury, "Nehelenia's long hair wasn't moving."
Sailor Uranus said she hadn't realized that Mercury had such a different way of fighting.  Mercury said that really it was the same way - a wish to save Serena.
However, Nehelenia wasn't finished!  Mirrors appeared behind the two unsuspecting Sailor Scouts and Nehelenia's claws shot out of them. The claws grasped the two girls and drew them into the mirrors.
"Now you're trapped in my nightmare!" laughed Nehelenia. "You White Moon people will feel the same solitude that I did!"
Meanwhile Serena trudged through the cold wasteland, calling Darien's name. Elsewhere, in a thick forest, Mars and Neptune were standing back to back, Mars with her talisman and Neptune with her mirror. They were both auguring the direction to take, but each came up with a different answer.  "What will you do?" asked Neptune in her characteristically polite yet somehow commanding manner.  Normally stubborn Mars meekly agreed to follow Neptune. "Serena would have gone the way I said," muttered Sailor Mars under her breath.  Neptune heard her and smiled, "you and Sailor Moon are very close, just like Sailor Uranus and I."  Mars disagreed but could do nothing but shrug and chase after Neptune. Suddenly, Neptune threw out her arm and the two girls halted.  Nehelenia stepped out of the darkness before them. "I'll show you my nightmare as well!"
A circle of violet flame lept up and surrounded Sailors Mars and Neptune!

To Be Continued...!

Castle in the Sky


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