Chapter 5: The Ransom is the Silver Crystal! Rescue the Senshi of Fire! “Begging your pardon, Harumi-oneesan, but why do you put chocolate syrup on your vegetables? That’s rather disgusting,” said Arashi, staring at her red-haired older sister. “Because I like chocolate syrup! Try it!” Harumi explained cheerfully, squirting some onto Arashi’s food too. Before the younger girl could say anything, their father, Zircon Canter, came in with Minako. “Hello, Aino-san? Where’s our mother?” asked Atsuko. “Girls? I’ll just say it. She was kidnapped by the enemy at the coffee shop,” Minako said plainly, trying to hide her worry from the three sisters. “If you ever want to see your precious Sailor Mars alive again, come to the abandoned Haunted Tower. Bring the Silver Crystal and give it to us in exchange for our little fiery pet,” Neo-Queen Serenity read aloud from the ransom note. Usagi looked at her, wondering what she would do. Himeko and Kodachi watched from a distance, curious but not even knowing what the note was about. “Small Lady, we have to do this. Let’s give the Silver Crystal to them. Rei-chan is not worth the...the...” The Queen started sobbing into her white gown, tears splotching her silver-rimmed glasses. “No, Mama! It doesn’t have to be this way! We can send a group of Senshi to go rescue her without the Silver Crystal! I could go!” Usagi begged. “Rescue who?” Himeko asked. “Rei-chan. She’s been kidnapped by the enemy and they want us to give them the Silver Crystal in exchange for her,” Usagi explained to her daughter, who was already touching her Chibi Moon brooch. Himeko stepped up to her grandmother. “I believe that we can get Hino-san back without sacrificing the Silver Crystal. The other ‘Chibi Senshi’ and I can go and save her,” she suggested determinedly. “She’s got a point. We don’t need to be nice to the enemy and give them what they want! They’re pure evil!” Kodachi shouted, agreeing with her younger sister. “Well, okay. But please, Hime-chan. Make sure none of you get kidnapped too,” Neo-Queen Serenity said. “And I’ll send out a notice to everyone to send the daughters with the power of the planets to the palace. That will be our starting point, so everyone can begin from the same place,” added Usagi. “What?! You mean I have to rescue Rei-san?! Can’t the others do it?” Kaori whined. “Definitely not. It’s Princess Usagi Small Lady’s orders,” Minako said sternly, trying to shove Kaori to the door. “Oh yeah? And what’ll happen if I don’t go? Serenity cuts off my head? Hah! Not likely, she’s a wimp,” Kaori snapped. “If you don’t go, I’ll confiscate your Senshi powers until you learn to use them for teamwork with the others,” Minako threated, clutching Kaori’s brooch to show that she meant it. “Fine. I’ll go to save someone I don’t like much, just so Senshi powers I don’t like aren’t taken away,” Kaori grumbled, slamming the door behind her, not even letting Minako drive her to the palace. Soon, Himeko, Hikari, Atsuko, Sakura, Kaori, Niji, Kuniko, Megumi, Shizuko, Sushi, Nabiki, Hoshi, and Utsukushii were all gathered on the front steps of the palace with Usagi. “So, Serenity, where is this warehouse? Do we drive there? Sailor Teleport?” Hikari asked. “You’ll be driven there. Haruka-san is coming with a limousine. And I’m Usagi, or Small Lady, as some call me. ‘Serenity,’ as you so rudely call her, is my mother,” explained the pink-haired princess in a sharp tone. “Yeah, idiot! Can’t you be smart like your mother?!” shouted Sushi. “At least my mother’s not mentally retarded,” Hikari retorted. “What did you say?!” Both Nabiki and Sushi were quickly right in Hikari’s face, hands on their transformation items. “Stop that, you three. Seiya-oneesan can’t help that her IQ is lower than normal. And this is certainly a VERY inappropriate time to be insulting other Senshi; it’s time to go. I see Haruka-san driving up right now,” Usagi scolded. All 13 of them transformed, squeezed into the limo, and were soon zooming towards the place where the fire Senshi was being kept captive. “Do we really have to fight in the haunted place?” Kuniko whimpered, hiding behind Haruka. “Yes, you do. Senshi duty is often meant to be scary; now stop whining and transform. Everyone else has done so and is waiting for you,” Haruka told her daughter firmly. From afar, they heard Chibi Mercury say “Let’s just go in. The baby can wait outside and suck on her pacifier.” Kuniko then ran to the other Senshi, calling “WAIIITTTT!!!! Don’t leave me out here, Niji-san!!!” She then crashed into Chibi Neptune, half-accidentally, hugging her tightly. But the younger, teal-haired girl shoved her away, and followed the others. “Niji-san! Can’t we be friends like our mothers?” Kuniko pleaded. “Why would I be friends with a wimp,” Chibi Neptune retorted coldly but calmly. “WAAAAHH!!!” Kuniko slumped to the floor and started wailing loudly. Hearing this, Chibi Mercury came back, roughly pulled Kuniko to her feet, and started dragging her along. “Haruka would be ashamed of you! Uphold the name of the Uranus generations!” Chibi Mercury scolded the older girl. “Hikari-oneechan, you don’t act like Mizuno-san, though! You’re a hypocrite!” Chibi Fighter shouted from ahead. “WHATT!!! Like you act like Seiya yourself! Who’s the hypocrite?!” Chibi Mercury retorted, still dragging Kuniko. Suddenly, a whistle was heard. “Enough!!! This is NOT the time to argue over who acts like who’s parents. You’re forgetting that we need to save Rei-san! Kuni-kun, let’s go! Transform!” Chibi Aurora commanded. “Okay...Uranus Prism Power, Make Up!” Kuniko finally transformed. “Good timing. I’m starting to sense Mama’s aura; we must be close,” the usually quiet Chibi Mars said. “I’m telling you! Let me go or face the wrath of the Sailor Senshi!!!” Rei screamed. She was tied up, hanging upside-down from the ceiling, her raven hair touching the floor. “The Sailor Senshi are weaklings. I’m sure they’ll give up the Silver Crystal for your life,” Rebecca sneered, poking her captive and letting her swing a bit. “No we won’t! YOU give back Rei!!” Chibi Maker shouted. The other Senshi soon appeared at the doorway as well. “Hmm? Giant girl? You’re so tall, just like your mother. But you’re even prettier than her; you don’t have those ugly muscles,” Rachel’s voice dripped with sickening sweetness. “How dare you insult Taiki!!! Star Primordal Ooze!!” Chibi Maker screamed, shooting purple slime at Rachel, who zapped it with her electricity. Meanwhile, Chibi Healer was loosening the ropes that encircled Rei, furrowing her brow with concentration. As Chibi Maker grappled with Rachel, Rei fell to the ground, freed. The Senshi ran out, with Rebecca and Rachel chasing them. “Mars Snake Fire!” “Jupiter Coconut Cyclone!” “Venus Rolling Heart Vibration!” Chibi Jupiter, Chibi Mars, and Chibi Venus all shot their attacks at the two villains, who teleported back to their dimension before the attacks could hit them. “How come you couldn’t catch them?!” Chibi Mercury scolded. “Just drop it, Hikari-kun. We got Rei back and kept the Silver Crystal. And that’s the important part,” Chibi Aurora said. “Yes. Let’s go home. Your older sisters must be waiting, Atsuko-chan,” Rei said, kneeling down and hugging Atsuko.